Personnel Center reps demonstrate 'Excellence in Government'

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RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNEWS) --  An individual and a team from the Air Force Personnel Center here received Alamo Federal Executive Board "Excellence in Government" awards during a luncheon May 4 honoring the nearly 90,000 federal employees in the San Antonio area. 

AFEB officials presented Emily Covarrubia, from the Civilian Force Integration directorate, with the award for outstanding customer service.  The 15-member casualty services branch, from the Force Operations directorate, received the award for outstanding teamwork.

"These are well-deserved recognitions," said Maj. Gen. Tony Przybyslawski, AFPC commander.  "They're a testament to AFPC's commitment to quality customer support and dedication by providing first-rate customer service 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Our goal is a totally satisfied customer."

Col. Jim Sturch, director of Civilian Force Integration, praised Ms. Covarrubia, a human resource specialist, for her award and her customer-first focus.

"Emily is a great choice for this award because she is extremely attentive to the needs of the customers she serves in the civil engineer, communications and medical career fields," said Colonel Sturch. "She is the kind of person who will go the extra mile to provide customers the information they need, whether or not the caller is someone in one of the career fields she supports."

Ms. Covarrubia accurately processed more than 1,000 complex personnel actions last year, a figure that exceeded unit production goals. Her customer concern showed during a project involving incorrect pay settings for seven Palace Acquire Intern employees. Ms. Covarrubia ensured six employees received their retroactive pay and provided the other overpaid employee paperwork to request a waiver.

The casualty services branch team consists of Maj. Dianne Dzialo; reservist Lt. Col. Ralph Jones; civilians Susie Parson, Michael Potter and Jose Pizana; Master Sgt. Alan Freeman; Tech. Sgts. Scott Graham, Robert Gullion, James Hughes, Shawn Naus and Jeff Tingle; and Staff Sgts. Alfredo Chavarria, Johnny Fontenot Jr., David Gardner and Keisha Sallee.

The team certified 213 Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance cases and 262 Family SGLI cases that provided more than $92 million in benefits. They also trained more than 50 casualty assistance representatives on the latest casualty benefits and entitlements to provide the best assistance to customers worldwide.

"To be selected for the Excellence In Government award from among the 21 teams nominated in our category is a tremendous honor and is indicative of the quality and caliber of the entire casualty services branch team," said Col. John Kresek, director of Force Operations. "The Alamo Federal Executive Board recognized the team's significant accomplishments in their 24/7 'must do, can't-fail mission' caring for our wounded warriors and their surviving families." 

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