Eastern Region Conference

Every year at the Eastern Region Conference outstanding chapters and individuals are formally recognized.  The Connecticut Chapter is proud to report that Connecticut Chapter nominations were awarded three of this year’s awards.  These were:  

Densler Award to Gary Siegel
Supervisor/Program Manager of the Year to Ellen Blaschinski
Human Resources Specialist of the Year to Anne Fairbanks

The Densler Award recognizes outstanding contribution to the Eastern Region.  Retiree Gary Siegel has been a member of the CT Chapter and for over 20 years, holding a variety of offices at the Chapter and Regional levels, including Eastern Region President.  His nearly 30 years in public sector human resources included work at the Department of Administrative Services and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS).  Gary consistently volunteered his time to IPMA programs and encouraged his staff to participate in IPMA.  He ensured IPMA’s involvement in the community, spearheading several community service and charitable giving initiatives.  

The Supervisor/Program Manager of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding manager who is not in the field of human resources, but who exemplifies important HR principles.  Ellen Blaschinski, Director of the Environmental and Occupational Health Section of the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) successfully transitioned three major programs from other areas of DPH into her Section without major dispute.  This required an in-depth understanding and application of a myriad of human resources and labor relations issues.

The Human Resources Specialist of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding professional accomplishments of an HR Professional.  Principal Human Resources Specialist Anne Fairbanks began her career in Human Resources at the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles as a secretary to the Human Resources Administrator in 1990.  She has worked her way into the professional ranks and now manages a satellite office of 400 employees.  She has developed electronic tracking systems for workplace violence, labor relations issues, and the status of hiring and promotion requests.  She serves as the agency-wide benefits manager and conducts employee orientation and retirement counseling workshops.  At the satellite office, she handles a high volume of recruitment and labor relations activities.

Ellen Blaschinski accepts her award for Supervisor/Program Manager of the Year; Eastern Region Past President Barbara Wimer looks on.		Anne Fairbanks accepts her award for HR Specialist of the Year; Eastern Region Past President Barbara Wimer looks on.
Gary Siegel accepts the Densler Award.
Eastern Region awards recipients, left to right:  HR Specialist of the Year Anne Fairbanks of Connecticut; Supervisor Program Manager of the Year Ellen Blaschinski of Connecticut; HR Supervisor/Program Manager of the Year Debbie Stubljar of Pennsylvania; Densler Award recipient Gary Siegel of Connecticut; and Gwen Platt, Past President of the Montgomery Chapter for Outstanding Chapter of the Year.		Award Recipients from Connecticut: left to right:  HR Specialist of the Year Anne Fairbanks; Supervisor Program Manager of the Year Ellen Blaschinski; Densler Award recipient Gary Siegel.
left to right: Eastern Region President Mark Van Bruggen; Montgomery Chapter Past President Gwen Platt; Eastern Region Past President Barbara Wimer; IMPA-HR President Oscar Jackson.		The HR Staff of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles with award recipient Anne Fairbanks: Left to right, standing: Principal HR Specialist Cindy George; HR Specialist Lucy Manente, HR Associate Rebecca Martinez, HR Specialist Phillippia Fletcher-Denovellis, HR Associate Anthony Webb; Seated, Agency Personnel Administrator Steve Shonta; Principal HR Specialist Anne Fairbanks.
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Thanks to Tom Malecky for the Photos