Mahmoud’s nominee praised him first and foremost for his incredible intelligence, but also stressed that his work experience and commitment to Tempe pushes him to use that intellect to consistently improve Water Operations. Mahmoud recently made some changes to water pressures and flows while serving as a temporary supervisor and helped reduce the TTHMs (dissolved chemical compounds) to near-historic lows, something which was accomplished simply by system tinkering and not new equipment or procedures.

Brian was praised for his commitment to customer service and knowledge of the library - the person who nominated him praised both the service he gave her and the care he provided to the next customer, two things which went above and beyond. Besides his skills and attitude. Brian is a longterm City employee who works to ensure all library staff are looped in to UAEA activities and are receiving the support they need to be successful in their daily work.

Kecia has served Tempe KidZone for nearly 30 years and served in nearly every role across the program. Her experience allows her to be a “jack-of-all-trades,” making her an invaluable reference for other employees in the organization running new or existing programs. In addition to her main work in the business office, Kecia also frequently jumps in to assist with other Kidzone projects, making her an integral part of the team and greatly appreciated by all staff.

Zarina is an Admin Assistant whose “consistency, initiative, and commitment to supporting TCA…have a meaningful daily impact on the success of the department.” Zarina was praised for her positive and uplifting demeanor, her dedication to her work, her incredible attention to detail, and her consummate professionalism, even in the face of consistent unexpected operational changes or challenges.

Efren is a longterm Tempe employee who is praised by his peers for his ability to act “almost like a dad to everyone.” He consistently provides guidance to his fellow team members to ensure they remain safe while out in the field, provides tips on how to best repair asphalt, concrete, and crackseal, and balances multiple priorities each workday with a laser focus on making sure people are happy and operating safely.

Jacob is characterized by his peers as someone who is “always ready to help,” usually being the first to provide both direct support as well as positive encouragement to his team even in difficult situations. Jacob also is a great source of information about UAEA and city resources, providing little-known details about employee benefits and UAEA if anyone ever has questions

Helene is praised by her peers for using her sustainability and grant expertise to help fund and launch the Tree Steward, business incubator, and green stormwater programs across Tempe. The sheer volume of work required to make these happen is applauded by her team, who also noted her incredible ability to navigate the complexities of cross-departmental collaboration.

Albert, also known by his peers as “Spoony,” has worked for Tempe since 1999 and has built a reputation over the decades as a hard worker who treats everyone with fairness and respect. While his peers claim he is “loved by everyone in the department,” Spoony also looks out for his team on and off the clock, most recently helping out a fellow UAEA member by giving him rides to work when his car was undergoing repairs.

Allan is described by his peers as “an incredibly hard worker” with a “sunny disposition” who “gives his all every day.” Allan brought his skills to a new role leading the container shop in 2025, and navigated some tough challenges, including the unexpected replacement of hundreds of solid waste containers after the October microburst.

Sophia is described as “one of the most passionate and dedicated workers [her peers]” have ever worked with, providing “110%” to every client to make them feel heard and cared for. Her incredible attitude was also praised, with peers claiming she “is a shining light of positivity” who “creates peace in every room she is in.”

Marjorie is a longtime Court employee who constantly strives to help her peers do the best possible job on a daily basis. Besides providing direct training and being an inexhaustible source of information on specific topics, Marjorie “embodies professionalism,” maintaining a positive attitude even when faced with overwhelming workloads and multiple demands on her time and attention.

Shannon is applauded by her peers as someone who “embodies empathy, innovation, and resilience, continually seeking ways to improve the quality and impact of the CARE7 team.” Shannon also was the only CARE7 staffer responding during the October microburst, and spent many weeks afterwards interacting with impacted residents and connecting them to local resources.

Andrew is a cheerful and hard-working employee who uses his knowledge of solid waste equipment and software to benefit his workgroup on a daily basis. Besides helping UAEA on a few past committees, Andrew also represents Tempe at the Arizona Chapter of SWANA, the Solid Waste Association of North America

Megan is described by her peers as someone who always rises to the level of her work with “positivity, empathy, and determination.” Besides treating every employee with grace and courtesy, she frequently dedicates time to help her peers find the information they need if she doesn’t have an immediate answer.

Megan is a passionate librarian who does amazing work for the Tempe community, serving 400+ children each month with events like Storytime, Mini STEAMers, Budding Builders, and so many more. Perhaps most impressively, she does all of this as a part time employee, with just 30 hours each week. 

Cameron is a friendly and easygoing Signal Technician who is constantly looking out and advocating for his peers. He makes sure they take full advantage of their City benefits and facilitates conversations internally (or with UAEA) to make sure his coworkers are aware of their union rights. 

Chelsea is a longtime City employee who loves to help - she often goes above and beyond her work as a Records Specialist to help train new employees and assist on a variety of projects. 

Roxanna’s nomination describes her as someone who is always ready to step up and take on whatever tasks need to be done with a positive attitude. Her work at the Tempe Center for the Arts has required her to consistently deal with a diverse population of patrons and employees - she has always done so in an equitable and inclusive fashion. She is “an exemplary employee, a skilled ambassador for the TCA, and a tremendous asset for the City of Tempe.”

Erasmo is “dedicated to the work he does and “always willing to drop whatever he's doing to lend a helping hand.” He's friendly and generous in all that he does, even when the workdays are long and the temperature is through the roof. He works without any fanfare, yet he expects none, and “is content in just doing what is good and right.”

Tim is an incredibly positive employee who actively works to improve the security of both the IT Department and the City as a whole. He also is incredible at providing assistance to his peers, frequently going above and beyond his job description to either solve issues or direct people to those who can help. Tim has also been very active in UAEA in the past few years and has served several times on the annual Elections Committee. 

Lance Novasad is described as “an outstanding fire inspector” who has a “deep knowledge of fire safety, attention to detail, and commitment to doing the job right.” What sets Lance apart is his ability to bring positivity and fun to the workplace. Reliable, approachable, and always ready to help, Lance makes any team stronger and every day more enjoyable.

Maryam is “dedicated to assisting anyone at any time.” She spent eight years with PD developing useful tools, then joined the Fire team in 2024 and quickly made an impact. Maryam is also a valued mentor, known for supporting her coworkers and helping them grow. Her energy and dedication make the workplace better for everyone.

Jill is known for being “incredibly passionate” about the customer service she provides as a librarian. and it shows! Whether she's answering questions at the desk or leading big projects, she puts her heart into everything she does. Jill also helps run some of the library’s popular events including Tempe FanCon, the Tempe Writing Contest and Tempe Writes workshops

Jonny is described as a favorite among both TCA employees and visitors. His work is always “above and beyond,” and he’s always ready to lend a hand with a smile. Whether it's helping out or going the extra mile, Jonathan’s got it covered!.

Jeremy has been with the City of Tempe for a long time, and he’s “dedicated to both the well-being of UAEA and the TCA. He works hard, always has your back, and truly cares deeply about everyone who walks through the doors of Tempe Center for the Arts.” If something needs doing, Jeremy’s probably already on it —with a smile.

Brady provides “critical support to individuals facing some of the most challenging moments of their lives.” But she doesn’t stop there—she’s also a key part of the office, mentoring interns, working with volunteers, and always ready to help her colleagues. With a big heart and endless empathy, Brady is dedicated to making a real difference in the lives of everyone she works with.

Shawn is described as insanely selfless, frequently dedicating personal time before and after work to help employees in solid waste with computer problems, educate them on their benefits, and, on at least one occasion that the nominee knows of, change a tire. UAEA applauds members who strive to be a positive presence in their area both during and after work hours. 

Jodi is “someone who goes above and beyond for the community and the clients that Crisis Specialists serve.” Jodi started in a part time role and after several years worked her way into a full-time role. UAEA understands how difficult crisis intervention can be and applaud Jodi for her dedication to the work. 

Luis is “always willing to help our team and members of the City,” someone who is always the first person to raise his hand and help regardless of the task or the time of day. Luis is also described as incredibly cheerful, a ray of sunshine in an area that can be incredibly stressful. UAEA understands that IT support is incredibly important for the success of the City as a whole and applauds anyone who helps keep the team happy and on-track. 

Sam is a hard worker who throws himself entirely into all of the tasks that come his way. He is an active member of the union and is described as the person in his area who stays on top of union business and passes along key updates to union peers who are not as active. UAEA recognizes that not every member has consistent access to email and greatly appreciates anyone who can help us educate our membership.