Eastern National Announces 2017 Award Winners
Left to right: Kevin Kissling, Eastern National president and CEO; Helena Adcock, EN Southern regional manager and recipient of Special Achievement Award; Emily Rapp, EN site manager at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield and recipient of Special Achievement Award; and Mark Engler, superintendent of Homestead National Monument of America, who accepted the Charles S. Marshall Unit Award on behalf of the park.
Eastern National’s annual awards highlight excellence in performance and partnership. The awards program was designed to acknowledge outstanding individual achievements and contributions that have had a positive impact on an Eastern National operation or an individual park, thus furthering and promoting EN’s unique relationship with its partners. Here are the winners for 2017:
The Charles S. Marshall Unit Award was presented to Homestead National Monument of America for exceptional teamwork in preparation for the park’s event to celebrate the total solar eclipse. Nearly two years of collaboration with programming and custom product development resulted in a spectacular visitor experience and over $75,000 in sales for the three-day event—traditionally the yearly sales figure for the site.
Left to right: Kevin Kissling, Eastern National president and CEO; Stacy Madalena, EN director of retail South; Nate Johnson, supervisory park ranger at Frederick Douglass National Historic Site and Carter G. Woodson National Historic Site and recipient of Superior Performance Award; Nick Miano, EN National Capital regional manager; and Lee Pettey, EN National Capital assistant regional manager.
Superior Performance Awards recognize outstanding partner management of an EN agency, regardless of agency size. This award recognized the top four outstanding partner personnel. Superior Performance Awards were presented to:
Nathan “Nate” Johnson, supervisory park ranger at Frederick Douglass National Historic Site and Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site, for his unwavering support and assistance during the planning process for the new store at Carter G. Woodson Home NHS and with store operations at Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, which had a 57 percent sales increase over the previous centennial year.
Kevin Kissling, Eastern National president and CEO (left) and Jim Roberts, supervisory park ranger at John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site and recipient of Superior Performance Award (right).
Jim Roberts, supervisory park ranger at John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site, for partnering with Eastern National to develop new sales items to commemorate the centennial anniversary of JFK’s birth. Jim offered innovative ideas and assisted with merchandising to ensure the store is both fun and educational, resulting in a sales increase of over 79 percent over the prior fiscal year.
Left to right: Lisa Barrett, Eastern National site manager at Stones River National Battlefield and recipient of Special Achievement Award; Brenda Waters, superintendent of Stones River National Battlefield and Superior Performance Award recipient; and Aimee Meadows, EN Appalachia regional manager.
J.Tracy Stakely, superintendent of Congaree National Park, for his leadership and support in setting goals for increasing sales at the park. After attending the “Cooperating Association Partnerships for a New Century” NPS training, Superintendent Stakely created a forum for innovation and collaboration on a new line of educational and relevant products, resulting in far exceeding the FY17 sales goal.
Brenda Waters, superintendent of Stones River National Battlefield, for her commitment to partnership, including bringing a fresh perspective to the new items approval process, which contributed to numerous successful sales items, as well as utilizing donations funding for additional staffing at the store—all resulting in increased sales and setting this site up for future growth.
George Minnucci, Eastern National board chair (left) and Dr. G. Jay Gogue, EN board member and recipient of Distinguished Service Award (right).
The Herbert E. Kahler Award recognizes the EN partner judged to have cooperatively managed the most efficient and innovative agency. The winner of this award is selected from among the Superior Performance Award winners. The Kahler Award was presented to J. Tracy Stakely, superintendent of Congaree National Park.
Distinguished Service Awards recognize significant active service at a high level of excellence that has resulted in substantial contributions to EN. Distinguished Service Awards were presented to the following EN board members whose board terms have ended: Dr. G. Jay Gogue and Michael A. Walker; to John F. “Jack” Ryan, chief administration officer and secretary/treasurer, and Mark Woods, NPS advisory group chair and Southeast representative, who have both recently retired; and to Hank Schmoyer, information technology advisor.
Left to right: Kevin Kissling, Eastern National president and CEO; Zoraida Rosa, EN Caribbean regional manager, who accepted the Customer Service Award on behalf of El Yunque National Forest; and Megan Shelley Cartwright, EN chief operating officer.
The Customer Service Award was presented to El Yunque National Forest. This award recognizes the EN store staff with the highest average score in EN’s secret shopper program. The program evaluates the overall store appearance, product presentation, and staff professionalism.
James Gilligan, Eastern National unit manager for Salem Maritime National Historic Site – Waite & Peirce and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site and recipient of Special Achievement Award.
Special Achievement Awards recognize exceptional performance in the area of store operations and partner relations. Awards were presented to the following EN employees:
Helena Adcock, EN Southern regional manager, for volunteering to oversee additional sites in FY17—ending up with the largest region and successfully supporting 31 stores—and providing instrumental support for the highly successful total solar eclipse event at Homestead National Monument of America.
Lisa Barrett, site manager at Stones River National Battlefield, for her conceptualization and development of a statewide project for a new apparel item specific to national parks in Tennessee, resulting in a successful product that is now serving as a model and under consideration for other states.
Rose Fetty, site manager at Homestead National Monument of America, for her dedication and hard work helping to ensure that the total solar eclipse event at the park was a success.
James Gilligan, unit manager for Salem Maritime National Historic Site – Waite & Peirce and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for his merchandising talent, extensive retail knowledge, and dedication in his management of three different locations—resulting in a very successful sales year.
Brenda Cummins, Eastern National Coastal Mid-Atlantic regional manager (left) and Melissa Hawkins, EN unit manager at Colonial National Historical Park – Yorktown Battlefield and recipient of Special Achievement Award (right).
Melissa Hawkins, unit manager at Colonial National Historical Park – Yorktown Battlefield, for her consistent, exceptional performance in store operations and customer service training, resulting in outstanding customer service and increased sales that exceeded budget.
Mark Hudson, unit manager at Independence National Historical Park – Benjamin Franklin Museum, for his talents creating inviting and eye-catching store displays and merchandise and making the park’s museum store locations look their best, resulting in increased sales.
Wanda Kindrick, site manager at Fort Pulaski National Monument, for her professionalism and commitment in going above and beyond to successfully guide operations through a challenging year when the park was impacted by three natural disasters during FY17.
Erin Nolan, unit manager at Lincoln Memorial, for her dependability in working every one of the year’s special events in EN’s National Capital Region, willingness to help with inventory and store operations outside of
Left to right: Scott Weisbrod, Eastern National POS technician and recipient of Special Achievement award; Hank Schmoyer, EN IT advisor and recipient of Distinguished Service Award; and Scott Grabus, EN director of IT.
her own store, and leading her team to an increase in sales.
Emily Rapp, site manager at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, for her support during the total solar eclipse event at Homestead National Monument of America and to the staff and partners in the Southern Region in her role as acting assistant regional manager for the second half of 2017.
Scott Weisbrod, POS technician at Eastern National Headquarters, for his significant positive impact upon the information technology support provided for EN’s headquarters and field locations.