Gordon Burnham has been with Comcast’s Xfinity Store in Muskegon for over 36 years and is known for providing customers with the utmost service.
“I get emails almost weekly from customers saying how great of a job Gordon did, which shows how committed he is to the company. He takes care of customers, team members and anyone who comes into the store to the best of his abilities,” says Kaelton Heil, West Michigan Market Manager, Comcast Heartland Region.
Burnham was one of eight area frontline workers recognized by West Michigan Works! with Beverly A. Drake Essential Service Awards. He was recognized in the retail category.
Honorees were recognized at The Economic Club of Grand Rapids on Feb. 27 and presented with a $100 Meijer gift card. The Essential Service Awards recognize frontline workers who go above and beyond their daily responsibilities and display integrity, passion, and commitment.
The 2022 Essential Service Award honorees are:
- Ruby Alvarado, Paws With A Cause
- Bayard Brooks, Grand Rapids Community College
- Gordon Burnham, Comcast’s Xfinity Store in Muskegon
- Tyler Eickhoff, Creative Dining Solutions (at LG Energy Solutions Michigan)
- Julie Ellsworth, Laurels of Carson City
- Michelle Huerta, Ottawa County Department of Health and Human Services
- Dreama Parker, D.A. Blodgett - St. John’s
- Ronald Vanden Toorn, Perrigo Oral Care
“As we all know, frontline workers have always been the foundation of any business, and as businesses continue to operate at less-than-optimal staffing levels, it’s more important than ever to celebrate dedicated employees who go above and beyond and exhibit exceptional integrity, passion and commitment in their work,” says Mark Bergsma, chair of the West Michigan Works! Workforce Development Board.
Award recipients
Michelle Huerta was recognized in the government category. Huerta has been with the Ottawa County Department of Health and Human Services for more than 20 years and is instrumental in helping refugees access benefits. With a caseload of Cuban refugees, Huerta has been instrumental in helping new community members navigate the eligibility process for receiving benefits.
Her Spanish-speaking skills have been especially valuable, and her welcoming personality has made a lasting impact on the clients she serves. She has gone out of her way to attend resource fairs and provide information to families in need, even on her day off. Huerta's joy and passion for her work are contagious, and she treats everyone with respect and dignity.
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Michelle Huerta has been with the Ottawa County Department of Health and Human Services for more than 20 years.
Tyler Eickhoff was recognized in the food service category. Eickhoff has been with Creative Dining Solutions at LG Energy Solution Michigan for four years and is known for building a Micro Market program from the ground up. He takes pride in the program and helps with stocking, ordering, and rotating products. Eickhoff is a dedicated and kind employee with a good sense of humor, according to his employer, who added he shows up early and is a team player who is always thinking about his customers and coworkers.
Ruby Alvarado was recognized in the cleaning and maintenance category. Alvarado has been with Paws With A Cause for five years and is known for providing extra love and care for assistance dogs being trained at PWAC.
“I love working for this team and company so much. The first month I was here, I was so nervous because I don’t speak good English, but I’m learning more because the people are so nice. They don’t care that my English isn’t perfect,” says Alvarado. “That’s why I love working with all of these people; they’re not just people; that’s my family.”
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Tyler Eickhoff has been with Creative Dining Solutions at LG Energy Solution Michigan for four years.
After being hired as a student employee, Bayard Brooks has worked at Grand Rapids Community College for more than 20 years. He oversees the day-to-day operations of the Applied Technology Center (ATC), which includes the setup and tear-down of many events and meetings. He’s the primary point person for any external clients hosting events at the ATC.
“I just take pride in my work and I want to make sure everything goes as well as it can. I just love to make sure things are right,” says Bayard. “It just makes the whole experience a lot easier and smoother for everybody. I enjoy it; doesn’t feel like it’s a lot of going above and beyond for me. I’m just being me and I enjoy what I do.”
Categories and eligibility
Essential Service Awards categories include administrative/office worker, cleaning/housekeeping/groundskeeping, childcare, food service, government, health care/elder care, hospitality, nonprofit, retail, skilled labor and transportation.
To be eligible for an Essential Service Award, individuals must have at least two years of employment with their current company; hold a non-managerial position; and exhibit pride in their job, a positive attitude, a strong work ethic and effective time management. Additionally, the nominee must work within the West Michigan Works! service area of Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon and Ottawa counties. Winners are chosen by a committee of the West Michigan Works! Workforce Development Board.
West Michigan Works! provides a network of employment and training programs and services for employers, employees, and job seekers in Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, and Ottawa counties. Through its programs, West Michigan Works! is helping to build a more skilled and diverse workforce that will drive economic growth and opportunity in the region.