County Employees Recognized for Outstanding Service in Second Quarter

Posted August 19, 2026
Posted by Board of Supervisors and Public Relations

Pottawattamie County recognized six employees during the August 18 Board of Supervisors meeting as recipients of the county’s Employee Recognition Awards for the second quarter of 2026. 

The six recipients were selected from a strong pool of 16 nominations representing employees across 12 county departments. Nominations came from fellow county employees, department heads, and citizens who wanted to recognize county employees for exceptional service and contributions. 

The county’s Employee Recognition Program is built around five pillars that reflect how employees engage with citizens and one another: 

• Service and Accountability 

• Ethics and Integrity 

• Job Knowledge and Skill 

• Professionalism 

• Self-Management 

Members of the employee recognition committee highlighted the breadth of nominations received during the quarter and thanked the county’s 2025 annual award winners, who are helping select the 2026 quarterly recipients. 

Committee members also encouraged employees and citizens to continue recognizing good work when they see it, noting that the success of the program depends on nominations from those who experience the work of county employees firsthand. 

All quarterly recipients are eligible for the county’s annual Employee Recognition Awards, which will be announced in early 2027. 

Service and Accountability: Summer Murdock, Western Iowa Services Collaborative Disability Access Point 

Summer Murdock, a Disability Services Navigator with the Western Iowa Services Collaborative Disability Access Point, was nominated by a client for the exceptional level of care and support she provided while helping them navigate mental health challenges. 

According to the nomination, Summer stepped in to make calls the client was unable to make on their own and provided support throughout the process to help alleviate their nerves. The client shared that they would not be where they are today without Summer going above and beyond to help and demonstrate how much she cares. 

Summer’s follow-through, compassion, and commitment to helping those she serves exemplify the county’s Service and Accountability pillar. 

Ethics and Integrity: Thea Harrison, Auditor’s Office 

Thea Harrison, who works in Accounts Payable in the Auditor’s Office, was recognized by a county department head for taking action when she noticed a delivery driver attempting to leave packages at an unused courthouse entrance after the building had closed. 

Thea stopped the driver from leaving the packages several times before ultimately walking the driver to the courthouse’s main entrance and bringing the packages inside. Although none of the deliveries were for her department and the incident occurred outside of work hours, Thea took the extra steps to ensure the packages were secured. 

She also reported the situation so the appropriate department could work with the business involved to help prevent similar delivery issues in the future. 

Her willingness to take responsibility for something outside of her normal duties demonstrated the Ethics and Integrity recognized by the program. 

Job Knowledge and Skill: Todd Butterbaugh, Information Technology 

Todd Butterbaugh, a Software Systems Administrator in the Information Technology Department, was nominated by an employee from another county department for his collaboration, knowledge, and willingness to help others learn. 

Todd has served as a valuable resource for locating training information within Tyler University and has shared resources that help employees use the county’s systems more effectively while minimizing manual effort. 

His willingness to share his expertise and cross-train employees outside of his own department reflects the county’s Job Knowledge and Skill pillar. 

Professionalism: Pam Kalstrup and Paula Good, Planning and Development 

Pam Kalstrup and Paula Good of the Planning and Development Department were both recognized by citizens who regularly work with the department. 

Their nominations highlighted their wealth of knowledge, kindness, and value as resources for those working with the county. The citizens who submitted the recognition expressed their appreciation for the positive experiences they have had working with Pam and Paula and described both employees as strong assets to Pottawattamie County. 

Their knowledge, helpfulness, and interactions with outside organizations make Pam and Paula strong examples of the county’s Professionalism pillar. 

Self-Management: Owen Catlett, Auditor’s Office 

Owen Catlett, a Real Estate Specialist in the Auditor’s Office, was nominated by a citizen for the patience and assistance he provided when they needed to determine exactly how long they had lived at their current address for a travel document. 

The citizen knew they had lived at the address for approximately 40 years but was unsure how to locate the exact information they needed. After attempting to find the information online, they contacted the Auditor’s Office and spoke with Owen. 

Owen patiently walked the citizen through the process of finding the information and made sure they were able to get what they needed. 

His diligence, patience, and willingness to take the time necessary to help a citizen reflect the county’s Self-Management pillar. 

Pottawattamie County encourages employees and residents to recognize outstanding county employees through the Employee Recognition Program. Nominations are accepted year-round, with award recipients selected quarterly. 

To learn more about the program or submit a nomination, visit the Pottawattamie County Employee Recognition Program webpage.