FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2003
Contact: Wida Karim
714.834.3731
County Managers Receive
Awards
(Santa Ana, CA) -
Two County managers were honored this month for their
professional achievements. Larry Leaman, recently retired
Director of the Social Services Agency (SSA), was honored
last week and Karen Roper, Homeless Prevention Specialist,
received her award on October 17.
Leaman, on temporary assignment as Special Assistant
to the Orange County Executive Officer, received the
Executive Leadership Award on October 9 from the County
Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) during
its board of directors meeting in Sacramento. CWDA is
a statewide association in which all 58 California counties
participate.
Leaman was recognized for his leadership in chairing
various CWDA committees and holding all three vice president
positions during his 21 years as the SSA director. He
was also honored for his contributions to human services
programs at state and local levels. In addition, he
led the association's efforts to reform the State Child
Welfare System and documented the need for greater state
funding of this program which counties are mandated
to operate.
During his 31 years in County government, Leaman served
as Director of the Human Services Agency and twice as
Interim Director of the Health Care Agency. He is currently
a commissioner on the Orange County Children and Families
Commission.
Homeless Prevention Specialist Karen Roper received
the Distinguished Service and Leadership Award from
the National Association for the Education of Homeless
Children and Youth (NAEHCY). Roper was recognized for
taking the lead in coordinating the County’s Continuum
of Care Strategy and implementing the Homeless Management
Information System, which promotes seamless service
delivery for the homeless. She received the award at
the NAEHCY annual conference in Washington, D.C.
Other County managers who received awards this year
include the following.
On September 17, Mona Gustafson, Staff Specialist at
SSA, was one of eight women who received the 2003 Women
of Vision Award. Gustafson received the honor for her
work with the Toys for Tots program, a collaborative
of the Marines (Toys for Tots), Fire Department (Spark
of Love), St. Vincent De Paul (non-profit), and the
County’s Operation Santa Claus. This annual award was
presented by We Give Thanks, Inc.
Joyce LaFleur and Jeff Welch, both of Integrated Waste
Management Department, received the 2003 Association
of Information and Imaging Management International
Best Practices Award in July. They were honored for
working as a team to help implement the County's Electronic
Report Management and Imaging system.
Diane Thomas, APR, CEO Media Relations Manager, received
the 2003 Distinguished Service Award in June from the
Orange County Chapter of the Public Relations Society
of America (OCPRSA). Thomas’ contributions include service
as chapter president, membership on Chapman University’s
PR advisory committee and mentoring students.
Ignacio Ochoa, Chief, Public Works/Road Program/Traffic
Engineering in Public Facilities and Resources Department
received the Serafines de Orange County Mexican American
Award in January. Ochoa received the award for his humanitarian
and volunteer efforts. He helped design and build a
church in Mexico. Serafines de Orange County is a non-profit
organization working with the Anaheim Angels.
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