GFC Receives Top Customer Service Honors    group photo with Governor Perdue

Governor Perdue Congratulates Director Robert Farris	Governor Perdue Congratulates Chief Ranger Hal Sharpe

The Georgia Forestry Commission has been named the “Customer Service Agency of the Year” by Governor Sonny Perdue. In addition, McDuffie / Warren Chief Ranger Hal Sharpe won in the category of “Individual Excellence” and The Jasper / Jones Unit was a finalist in the “Team of the Year” category, at the Third Annual Governor’s Customer Service Awards ceremony in Atlanta on September 28, 2009.

With 123 state organizations employing some 130,000 public servants, the awards committee (comprised of many executives from leading businesses in the private sector) combed through well over 500 nominations from 42 different agencies across Georgia. Nominees demonstrate "above and beyond" service that is helpful, courteous, and knowledgeable.

GFC Professionals Collected Awards in Three Categories at the Third Annual Governor’s Customer Service Awards Ceremony

In considering the GFC nomination for Agency of the Year, judges learned about GFC’s Moving Forward meetings, which brought employees together to brainstorm ideas about cutting costs and raising revenues while providing outstanding customer service. Several complimentary letters from customers enhanced the GFC nomination package. The nomination for Hal Sharpe’s Individual Customer Service honor highlighted his outstanding service in the areas of fire prevention, community education, process improvements and cost savings. The five-person Jasper/Jones Unit, which includes Howell Crutchfield, Randall Frazier, Tommy Williams, Chris Buchanan, and Joshua Howell, was a finalist for the Team Excellence Customer Service award. The Unit was recognized in nomination documents for its reduction of wildfires and increases in pre-suppression firebreaks and number of customers served.


Complete List of the 2009 Winners


Future Award(s) Note
State employees can be nominated by anyone for an individual or team customer service award.
For more information visit www.Team.Georgia.gov or contact GFC’s Customer Service Champion, Hannah Cowart at hcowart@gfc.state.ga.us or 478.751.3480.