Secretary Mike Carroll today recognized 30 PennDOT employees for their outstanding performance with the Star of Excellence Award, PennDOT’s highest recognition. Two employees from PennDOT’s District 6, which represents Bucks, Chester, Delaware Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties were among the honorees.
“Every day, I am reminded of our employees’ dedication, their excellent customer service, and in many cases, their sacrifices,” said Carroll. “The accomplishments of our Stars of Excellence exemplify PennDOT’s mission to provide the very best transportation services to Pennsylvanians every day.”
Local winners Krys Johnson and Danella Hunter-Sterling were honored Wednesday afternoon at an awards luncheon at the AACA Museum in Hershey.
“I am proud to have them as members of the PennDOT team,” said PennDOT District 6 Executive Din Abazi. Krys and Danella are exemplary employees who go above and beyond their job descriptions to help PennDOT meet its goals and better serve its customers.
Credit: PennDOT
Safety Press Officer Krys Johnson distinguished herself on the Interstate 95 fire and bridge collapse in Northeast Philadelphia in June 2023, by serving as a key liaison between the cleanup and reconstruction efforts on the ground and with Harrisburg. Johnson’s government relations experience have been invaluable for top-level staff, including Governor Shapiro’s Office, to manage the high level of interest from local, national, and international media surrounding this public emergency. She has been the point person for the District Press Office during the ongoing rebuilding process and has been working on-site to facilitate communications and manage media demands. Johnson’s creativity and can-do approach have been a critical part of the Press Office’s success with its traffic safety awareness campaigns across the five-county Philadelphia region. Krys has established high-profile partners with the Philadelphia Phillies and other organizations to better underscore PennDOT’s efforts to improve traffic safety and reduce crashes and fatalities.
Safety always comes first for Danella Hunter-Sterling. She has built a strong and lasting culture of safety at PennDOT with every position she’s earned, from garage clerical assistant to purchasing agent, to her current role as a roadway programs technician supervisor in Philadelphia. Hunter is a true leader and role model who often goes above-and-beyond to welcome and train new employees on some of the best practices and processes she’s learned at PennDOT. Her readiness to add to her skills and knowledge base have been instrumental with assisting in many areas where PennDOT is short-staffed. As a dynamic member on the County’s safety committee, she brings her knowledge, experience, and proactive approach to developing real solutions to improving worker safety. Hunter is a positive force in the office and works diligently to provide exemplary service to our customers, partners, and stakeholders. 
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 and driver and vehicle services workers to traffic control specialists, communications staff and design and engineering specialists.
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