It may have taken decades but for Randy Scott, it was worth the wait. Earlier this month, Scott, chief collections officer of the city’s Wastewater Department, was named the 2019 Rod Olsen Employee of the Year for the city of Sedona.
“I feel very honored to be picked by my peers,” he said. “It does make me feel very good after 21 years of work.”
Scott said he did not know he was up for the award.
“I was totally surprised,” he said. “I was asked to talk and was so unprepared. I wished I would have said more to thank them. Public speaking is not my thing.”
Scott started with the city in 1997, beginning his tenure as a wastewater plant operator. He was promoted to chief collections operator in January 2000 and since then has helped train and mentor numerous facility operators.
“Randy is one of those employees that you can always count on,” Wastewater Manager Roxanne Holland said. “He lends a hand anytime someone needs it, without question. As a leader, Randy encourages and fosters an environment where his staff can grow both personally and professionally.”
Holland went on to say, “His hard work and dedication to the city for the last 21 years certainly is indicative of him winning this award. Overall, he is just a great guy and a great employee, one that we’re proud to have as part of our team.”
In addition to Employee of the Year, other city employees recognized for outstanding service in 2019 are:
- Ambassador/Customer Service: Michael Reid
- Unsung Hero: Police officer Kevin Hudspeth
- Leadership/Team Player: Pete Garcia
- Creativity/Innovation: Phil Clay
- Safety Matters: Katie Johnson
Scott was nominated for the award by his coworkers for consistently being a role model and demonstrating concern for his staff, Holland said. His award nominations cited his participation in team building exercises, including cleaning wet wells and oil changes, and his willingness to cover a shift for any coworker who needs time off because of an illness or family emergency.
Scott was instrumental in researching and installing a new wastewater pipe that saved the city $50,000.
Scott enjoys meeting and educating residents about wastewater operations and often takes a backseat to ensure his staff receives recognition for a team effort.
“Randy consistently demonstrates exemplary customer service, initiative and dedication to the department and city. Under Randy’s leadership our wastewater operations have improved tremendously. He’s an enormous asset,” Holland said.
Ron Eland can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 122 or by email at reland@larsonnewspapers.com
