PennDOT honors Pike employee

DUNMORE — Ken Thiele was honored this Friday at an awards luncheon at the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg, among 24 PennDOT employees statewide who received the 2008 Star of Excellence Award. “Ken Thiele,” George Roberts, PennDOT district executive said, “understands the value of system preservation and how to accomplish this despite budgetary challenges. He is driven by his dedication to customer service and personally addresses many customer concerns in a fair and equitable manner. He is respected by our customers and his opinion is highly valued.” Ken Thiele, of Matamoras, has been an assistant county maintenance manager in Pike County for two years. Ken has significant contact with the public in Pike County, one of the fastest-growing counties in Pennsylvania bordering New York and New Jersey. His interaction with State Police, contractors, legislators and public officials has helped improve communication and cooperation among these agencies. The Star of Excellence Awards are presented annually to employees who represent the department’s values of service, performance and integrity. The recipients represent a variety of organizational positions, spanning from highway maintenance workers and purchasing agents to IT specialists and planning managers.