December 2025 Employee of the Month Damon Canter

The December Employee of the Month is Damon Canter. Damon has worked in the Fleet Management division since September 2024. Damon is responsible for assisting with basic maintenance, to include oil changes, on the ever-growing fleet of Town vehicles. Damon is always willing to step in and help the fleet management team when needed on repairs. Most recently, Damon stepped up and showed his willingness to exceed his job duties when asked if he could do some body work and paint the four door International dump truck that the Street Department uses for leaf collection. Damon took on this project willingly and put in about 40 hours doing body work, sanding, and painting the truck. Damon put together a plastic enclosure to ensure a safe way to paint the truck and even came in on the weekend to ensure the painting did not interfere with other activities in the garage. In addition, he applied the new logo to the doors of the truck. That ugly green truck is now a beautiful shade of white proudly displaying the Town logo. The truck is pleasing to the eye and the work done in house by the garage was pleasing to the Town’s funds. The entire project turned out great thanks to the hard work of Damon.

Thank you, Damon! You are appreciated!

November 2025 Employee of the Month Ron Gillenwater

The November Employee of the Month is Ron Gillenwater. Ron has worked with the Town since 2019 and serves on the facilities team as a custodian but that does not speak of the commitment that he has to the Town. His normal buildings to maintain is the Visitor’s Center, Utilities/Fleet Maintenance Building, Fitness/Training Center, Courthouse bathrooms, Wastewater Offices and Gillespie Building. All this plus set up at the Visitor’s Center for events.

Ron is very dependable, and his work ethic has been evident throughout this work in many departments; he sets up multiple events each week and often on weekends which ensures visitors and residents have a memorable experience here in Jonesborough.  Ron also maintains a clean work environment for the departments and buildings which he services. Ron does an incredible job with his duties and goes beyond making sure his tasks are done correctly and in a timely manner.

Ron’s initiative demonstrates his above and beyond attitude. He is always willing to help others while continuing to keep his work done. Recently, the facilities team was short a staff member due to some requested time off, but Ron has stepped in to help with Town Hall, McKinney Center, and set-ups. His attitude is one of let’s get it done.

Thank you, Ron! You are appreciated!

October 2025 Employee of the Month Craig Ford

The October Employee of the Month is none other than our Operations Manager, Craig Ford.  Craig is a valuable part of the Town team, leading the Directors of Public Works, Public Safety, Fleet Maintenance, Park & Rec and Facilities Management.  Craig has held various roles since he began his work with the Town in 1999.
The nomination began with the statement “Craig wears lots of hats within the Town and I think this past month he has really shown just how valuable he is.”  Sometimes we overlook the leaders, but they are very valuable to the Team and Craig is truly valuable to the overall operation of the Town.
Craig has been leading the charge on the new sidewalks around Town which has taken a lot of planning and coordination. In addition to overseeing the new deck project at the International Storytelling Cetner and handling bid documents and BMA presentations for the Academy Hill sidewalk replacement and the new outdoor stairs at the Senior Center.  All this plus the finalization of Tiger Park.  Tiger Park faced many delays but when Craig was tasked with completion, he jumped in and made the deadline.   It’s clear that Craig has been the one pulling all the pieces together to keep things moving forward.
Craig constantly offers suggestions, jumps in wherever needed, and his knowledge and work ethic makes a huge difference for the Town.  Craig doesn’t just do his job, he goes above and beyond, and it shows in the results.

Thank you, Craig! You are appreciated!

September 2025 Employee of the Month Skyler Wyatt

The September employee of the month is Skyler Wyatt. Skyler began his career with the Jonesborough Police Department in July 2023. He and his wife are, also, reside in Jonesborough.

Officer Wyatt was nominated by Chief Rice for the exemplary way he performs his duties as a Public Safety Officer. Skyler routinely receives compliments on comment cards and from the public about how he represents himself and the Jonesborough Police Department.

Recently, Skyler sprung into action, while off duty, to perform the Heimlich Maneuver to assist someone choking. Skyler successfully prevented this situation from getting worse and potentially saved the man’s life. Now, this is not the first time that Skyler has been attuned to his surroundings and sprung into action when someone was choking. When he graduated from the police academy, he was celebrating with his wife when the exact situation arose, and he jumped in and performed the Heimlich Maneuver to save this person from choking.

Skyler is proof that whether on duty or off, in Jonesborough or outside of Town, Jonesborough Police Officers operate at the highest standard when called upon.

Thank you, Skyler! You are appreciated!

August 2025 Employee of the Month Nicole Widner

The August Employee of the Month is Nicole Widner. Nicole has been with the Town since January 2023; she is an integral part of the Water Quality team. Nicole has streamlined the cross-connection data collection and has demonstrated her vast knowledge of working with FEMA and TEMA to recover and receive reimbursement to the Town following the devastation of Hurricane Helene last fall. Nicole is currently working on the FEMA project due to additional damage assessment being collected. She is also assisting with the integration and setting up of the asset management software being beta tested in utilities. Nicole assists any department within utilities when called upon to lend a hand and she has offered innovative solutions and idea proposals to make utilities operate in a more smooth and efficient manner. Nicole’s eye for detail and her positive approach to her work is another reason she is employee of the month’s criteria.

Thank you, Nicole! You are appreciated!

July 2025 Employee of the Month Nick Bogle

The July 2025 Employee of the Month is a relatively new employee to the Town but one that has made a significant impact within the Park & Rec Team. Nick Bogle has been with the Town since May 2024 as our Wetlands Director.

Nick was nominated by 4 different individuals- his supervisor, 2 co-workers and another Department Director because the tremendous effort he has displayed to improve Wetlands and to be a great supporter of the Park & Rec team. Indeed, his work has not gone unnoticed.

Allow me to share some of the items listed in the nominations:

  • His creative programming is driving great attendance and allows for a longer season. The Wetlands attendance is up, and the park has made a profit for the first time in many years.
  • Nick & the Park & Rec staff did an excellent job with the presentation of Wetlands at the employee picnic. The updated painting, plants, and umbrellas made everything look good.
  • Attention to detail is what makes Jonesborough a special place to work and live and Nick is playing a crucial role in helping Jonesborough shine.
  • He is making a difference.
  • Nick has shown his willingness and desire to join us with all our programs and projects.
  • He has a true passion for ensuring our participants have the best time possible, which is a positive reflection on our Town staff.
  • As a former director myself, I can attest to the kind of dedication one must have to operate Wetlands Water Park while handling all the issues, pitfalls, and unforeseen circumstances the season can bring; Nick has not only handled these but has excelled in the position.
  • The fresh look of the park as well as it has updated operations is all because of Nick’s vision and hard work.
  • He truly embodies what it means to be an employee of the Town of Jonesborough.
  • Has taken on the role of Jonesborough’s flag football league; coaching 2 divisions and working on multiple Saturdays. When one team needed a coach, Nick stepped up without hesitation.
  • He performs his duties with a smile and calm attitude.
  • Nick does not cut corners; he fulfills his duties going above and beyond and is never hesitant to lend a helping hand when needed even if it is outside his normal duties.
  • Nick brings an infectiously positive attitude to everything he does. His energy, leadership and commitment to excellence have not gone unnoticed.

Thank you, Nick! You are appreciated!

June 2025 Employee of the Month Paul Harris

This month’s Employee of the Month has been employed with the Town since 2021 as a part time Event Coordinator and Visitor Center Host. Paul Harris is a person we all know, and he represents the Town so well thru his work at events and at the Visitors Center. Paul was nominated by his supervisor and two of his co-workers added to the nomination which demonstrates Paul’s commitment to not only the visitors of the Town but to his co-workers and everyone he engages with on behalf of the Town of Jonesborough. Some of the accolades that demonstrated Paul’s qualities for this award include:

  • Performs his duties flawlessly; he exudes a level of hospitality that leaves lasting impressions on both visitors and residents.
  • He is one of Jonesborough’s most enthusiastic advocates, embodying the essence of what makes our Town special.
  • He has a personal social media account where he shares updates about his adventures and activities in Jonesborough.
  • Always ready and willing to help whether it’s an employee or visitor in need; Paul can always be counted on.
  • When I think of Jonesborough, I think of Paul and how much his actions have helped the Town grow.
  • He ALWAYS has a positive attitude and never fails to put a smile on a visitor’s face.
  • He brings an upbeat attitude, is extremely kind, absolutely hilarious and someone you want on your team.

Paul recently listened to a visitor with a difficult situation, and he recommended several businesses that might be hiring. She shared his attitude and help was the motivation she needed and ultimately lead her to secure a job in downtown Jonesborough. Recently Paul was awarded the Northeast Tennessee’s Frontline Employee of the Year at the Tourism Pinnacle Awards on May 28th.

Thank you, Paul! You are appreciated!

May 2025 Employee of the Month Bre Walker-Schadler

Bre Walker-Schadler deserves to be Employee of the Month because of her constant and consistent friendliness and welcoming attitude for each person coming through the McKinney Center front doors or calling in.  Bre is the face of the McKinney Center and works hard to maintain a positive and professional atmosphere at our center.  She strives to make sure every student, parent, renter, etc., feels heard and has a positive experience at the McKinney Center.

Bre easily gets along with our coworkers and faculty.  She is a favorite of our Advisory Committee and each of the hosts that work here loves to take a moment to stop and chat with Bre.  Bre works hard, is always willing to help by showing up to outreach events, staying after hours, and giving a helping hand whenever needed.

Bre interacts with students, parents, faculty, guests, customers, volunteers, every single person that comes through our front door.  The most difficult part of her job, in my opinion, is keeping up with our constantly changing schedule including private lessons for three different teachers, McKinney Center events, and rentals.  Bre keeps exceptional organization  of every little thing going on.  Within the past month, she has helped to organize the Masterpiece Mingle, the Center’s biggest fundraiser, by moving art pieces all over the building for the show and silent auction.  She catalogued all the donations for the silent auction, wrote bid sheets for the items, and arranged them in a pleasing fashion for the event.  She checked with artists to make sure they were informed about the special reception the night prior to the Mingle, helped set up for the reception, and worked to clean the Center and get it looking its best for the big night.  Thanks to her efforts, we hand another sold-out event with glowing reviews from the people who came and participated.  While all this was going on, Bre was also registering students for class, for summer camp, fielding rental calls, and scheduling our hosts to make sure the Center is well staffed.

One of Bre’s goals this year is to increase rentals at the McKinney Center.  She has created and distributed rental brochures, sent out press releases to advertise the McKinney Center, designed advertisements for the paper and bridal show magazines, and even went on the local news this year to bring attention to the McKinney Center as a rental facility.  She has also created plans for  Skye McFarland to post about rentals on our social media throughout the year.  This extra attention tot his part of the McKinney Center offerings has been something we have needed for years!

Not to mention, everything Bre has been doing lately she has been doing while expecting her first child.  It hasn’t slowed her down at all.  She is still more than willing to run up and down the stairs, move tables, etc.  In preparation for her upcoming leave, Bre has been creating a guide for everything she does, and it is A LOT.  She has actively been training fellow staff and the hosts to take over certain aspects of her job.  It’s easy to say, though, that she will leave big shoes to fill in her absence.  Nine times out of ten when the phone rings, we hear, “Is Bre there?”  Our hosts, students, parents, and renters all trust Bre to take care of them.  She has become synonymous with the McKinney Cetner and unparalleled customer service.  Good job, Bre!

Submitted by:  Theresa Hammons, McKinney Center Director

Thank you, Bre! You are appreciated!

April 2025 Employee of the Month Jimmy Nease

The April Employee of the Month is Jimmy Nease. Jimmy has been a part of the Jonesborough Team for over 35 years; yes, over 35 years. Jimmy received 2 nominations for this month’s award which demonstrates the quality and quantity of his work.

Jimmy is always eager to help and keeps his fellow co-workers in mind constantly; taking the time to train them, show them anything and everything about our Town’s water system. One of his nominations read that he has a very initiative-taking approach to his work so that not only is he early to work and ready to get a jump start on tasks, but he is also volunteering to work on call and overtime. He is basically on standby all the year as his knowledge of water distribution is amazing; he is a human GIS map for the placement on lines and values in our system.

During the flood, Jimmy showed his leadership skills as he directed crews to locate water lines, shutting off lines, valves, and hydrants. His locating and repairing main line leaks are vital to maintaining our water system. As Jimmy is responsible for value maintenance, he does it with a friendly demeanor and is always offering a helping hand to other departments whenever an emergency arises.

Jimmy Nease, our April Employee of the Month, goes above and beyond and gives 100% in everything he does for the Town.

Thank you, Jimmy! You are appreciated!

March 2025 Employee of the Month Morgan Rogers

I would like to nominate Morgan Rogers for Employee of the Month. Morgan works as the Options Counselor for the Senior Center and has worked for the Town for four years. Morgan assists area seniors with services in their home. Meals on Wheels and works to help keep them independent as long as possible. Her job takes her all over Washington and Unicoi County and she is a champion for the underprivileged. Her heart is so ready to help and give back to her community. She does an excellent job working with different agencies to secure services and resources for seniors in need. She helps with getting individuals additional food through partnerships with the First Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability. Human Resource Agency. Good Samaritan, Neighborhood Service Center and area churches. Morgan is a great help at the Senior Center as well, always the first to help the front desk, in the kitchen with meals or when volunteers can’t deliver meals. she is happy to help deliver.

Morgan has a can-do attitude and takes every opportunity to help any senior she can. After the flooding when the Senior Center collected food, Morgan helped with the collection every day and helped deliver food to various churches. The work Morgan does can be very difficult, being in some of the home situations in our area can be discouraging and she handles it with grace. Always showing the upmost respect for those she works with and realizes the limitations of certain situations: she takes that all in stride and works hard to change the things she can. Recently when talking with the staff about their goals for 2025, Morgan shared that her goals were for the Senior Center to provide more outreach to Bethal Housing, to have some specific events for the residents. She had the idea to use some of the Benevolence funding that we raised from the Christmas trees at Lincoln Park to help the residents of Bethal Housing. With some of that funding, detergent and quarters were provided to each person who lives at Bethel. In February, Morgan completed Understanding Dementia Training seminar to stay current on best practices in working most effectively with individuals and their families dealing with dementia. The Senior Center received a large number of adult briefs that were donated to our center and Morgan worked very hard contacting various agencies to get them to folks who need them most. I appreciate that Morgan always works diligently to get resources to those most in need. I could not be prouder of Morgan and the heart she has for our area seniors. She is an advocate and a champion of people in need. She is someone you want in your corner, and she serves with a giving heart every day. I would like to nominate Morgan Rogers the work she does every day to improve the lives of our seniors.

 

Thank you, Morgan! You are appreciated!