News Detail
Franklin County Recognizes Employees For Dedication, Outstanding Service
Commissioners
March 17, 2025
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – The Franklin County Commissioners recently announced the county’s highest employee honors when naming its 2024 SERVICE Value Award winners, Employee of the Year and Community Hero.
“Franklin County is fortunate to have incredible staff who work across all our departments,” said Franklin County Commissioner Chairman Dean Horst. “There are many employees who would have qualified to receive these awards and it’s difficult to select just one person for each of these honors. Even though each of these awards celebrates just one individual for their efforts, we know these recipients recognize that it takes a team effort to serve our community. We are grateful for everything all our employees do each and every day to serve the residents of Franklin County.”
SERVICE Value Awards
Franklin County’s SERVICE Value Awards recognize those employees whose performance exemplifies and represents one of the county’s seven established values, which, as an acronym, spell S-E-R-V-I-C-E. Employees are nominated by coworkers and recipients are selected by division leaders. Those values and descriptions are:
- STEWARDSHIP: Balancing efficiency and flexibility with fiscal discipline, we will seek sustainable resources, practice long-term planning, and be prudent when using resources.
- 2024 Recipient: Jennie Aines, Chief Registrar, Voter Registration
- EMPLOYEES: We will value individuals’ contributions to the organization and provide encouragement, opportunities and resources to support them in reaching their maximum potential.
- 2024 Employee of the Year: Nicole Shindle, Payroll/HRIS Administrator, Franklin County Human Resources
- RESPONSIVENESS: We will deliver on our commitments in a timely manner.
- 2024 Recipient: Ashley Sanders, HR Coordinator, Human Resources
- VISIBILITY: We will honestly exchange ideas and information, with the public and coworkers, transparently and respectfully at all times.
- 2024 Recipient: Kara Shindle, Director, Geographic Information Systems
- INTEGRITY: We will strictly adhere to the moral, legal and ethical principles underlying our operations and service delivery.
- 2024 Recipient: David Sunderland, Deputy Warden of Inmate Custody, Franklin County Jail
- CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT: We will hone our processes, our services and ourselves, knowing that big results come from small changes over time.
- 2024 Recipient: Michelle Garber, Accreditation Compliance & Training Coordinator, Franklin County Jail
- ENGAGEMENT: We will work together to incorporate the needs, assets and perspectives of all aspects of the community into the design, implementation and delivery of programs.
- 2024 Recipient: Ashley McCartney, Fiscal Officer II, Fiscal Department
Community Hero Award
Terry Bookhamer was named the 2024 Community Hero award recipient. This honor is presented to an employee who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to improve or save the lives of Franklin County residents. Bookhamer has been with the county since December 2014 and currently serves as an Adult Probation Officer III in the county’s adult probation department.
Bookhamer was recognized for his off-duty assistance of a motorist experiencing a medical emergency while behind the wheel. Bookhamer and another officer jumped into action after witnessing a vehicle moving erratically before crashing into a tree. Bookhamer and his coworker called 911 and attended to the driver until medical personnel arrived on the scene. The incident occurred while Bookhamer was attending training in State College, proving that Bookhamer’s sense of duty expands even past the borders of Franklin County.
“I appreciate the acknowledgment, but I believe this award is more reflective of the people I work with daily,” said Bookhamer. “My fellow officers demonstrate the same values and characteristics that qualify for Community Hero. I have witnessed other probation officers act in a similar manner or better than I, when in critical situations. The only difference is I was nominated for my actions. Thank you to all those who serve the community.”
Employee of the Year
Nicole Shindle received the 2024 Employee of the Year Award. Shindle has been employed with Franklin County since July 2006 and currently serves as payroll/HRIS administrator with the county’s human resources department.
Franklin County’s Employee of the Year is chosen annually from among the county’s 12 Employee of the Month recipients. Shindle was honored as the November 2024 Employee of the Month when she was recognized for demonstrating a hard work ethic and commitment to ensuring county employees are paid properly and on time despite being short staffed for several months.
“I’m truly honored and grateful to have received Employee of the Year, especially with so many other talented Employees of the Month,” said Shindle. “I love my job and aim to make sure employees are compensated properly and on time. The county is a wonderful place to work, and I’m lucky to be part of such an amazing HR team. I want to thank my coworkers and leaders for their guidance and support over the years.”
Employees of the Month
Those individuals who were recognized as Franklin County Employees of the Month in 2024 were:
- January: Sara Holtz, Correctional Officer, Franklin County Jail
- February: Becky Lease, Food Service Worker, Franklin County Area Agency on Aging
- March: Devin Schaeffer, Deputy Sheriff Sergeant, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
- April: Dalton Daywalt, Probation Officer, Franklin County Adult Probation
- May: Anthony Merletti, Network & Applications Administrator, Franklin County Information Technology Services
- June: Cody Eichelberger, Probation Officer, Franklin County Adult Probation
- July: Tyler Scott, Probation Officer, Franklin County Adult Probation
- August: Zachary Long, Administrative Assistant, Franklin County Planning Department
- September: Samuel Jones, Sheriff Corporal, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
- October: Elaine Rotz, Senior Center Coordinator, Franklin County Area Agency on Aging
- November: Nicole Shindle, Payroll/HRIS Administrator, Franklin County Human Resources
- December: Erica Kershner, Aging Care Supervisor I, Franklin County Area Agency on Aging
The commissioners extended their heartfelt thanks and gratitude to each of these individuals for their hard work and dedication on behalf of Franklin County residents.
