Two at Christie Lane honored

Two employees of Christie Lane Industries received special awards Friday and Santa Claus made a visit to hand out presents to all workers.

Three outgoing board members were also honored for years of service.

Mary Laferty, 44, of Norwalk, was named the winner of the 8th Annual Ernie Strow Community Employment Memorial Award. Albert Greenlief, 38, of Norwalk, was named Mary Hornsby Most Valuable Worker of the Year. Both awards recognize employees who demonstrate high work standards at their jobs.

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Laferty has worked at Catering By Berardi’s in Norwalk for three years. Before taking that job, she worked in other businesses for several years.

Denise Waaland, of Berardi’s, said Laferty “brings a smile to everybody” and is a great worker.

 “The first thing she asks a new employee is how they like their coffee,” Waaland said. “When she sees us getting stressed, Mary brews up a pot of coffee and brings it to us. She knows how I like mine — black and with a cookie on the side.”

“It feels great working at Berardi’s,” Laferty said. “They are good people to work for.”

The Ernie Strow award is a dream come true for Laferty. She is quoted in the people at work column of latest issue of the Christie Lane newsletter — “I hope someday to earn the Ernie Strow Award.”

John Schwartz, general manager of CLI, said the Mary Hornsby award goes to the worker who shows the qualities of a good employee in any business, but who happens to work at Christie Lane.

“He’s a great worker,” Schwartz said. “It you’ve got a job for Albert, he’s on board. He does everything he’s asked.”

Greenlief said he loves working at the workshop. “I work hard,” he said, adding that shredding paper was one of his favorite jobs. Greenlief also works part time at Premier Theaters.

When Santa entered, the workers helped him sing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” He visited with many of the workers and then handed out stocking hats to everyone as a Christmas gift.

Mike Meinke, Pricilla Tremmel and Jamie Ebert are all retiring from the Christie Lane Industries board and were honored at a Christmas luncheon before the awards were presented.


This article was published with permission from The Norwalk Reflector
http://www.norwalkreflector.com/article/36292