Every year, the governor and the Department of Personnel and Administration ask state agencies to nominate employees who exemplify significant and invaluable contributions to the state.

The awards are given to one person in each agency, except for the Departments of Law, State, and Treasury.

Twenty-three state employees were recognized during an early May luncheon held during Public Service Week.

Those recognized ranged from deputy department directors to information technology and trades staff.

Rano (RON-oh) Fatulova works in the Integrated Document Solutions Mail Security division of the Department of Personnel.

According to a DPA profile, Fatulova discovered a “suspicious piece of mail containing an unidentified white powder that was addressed to the Secretary of State last year.”

She isolated the mail, ensuring it never left the mail screening facility, and notified her manager to start an emergency protocol. Her quick action led to an investigation by state and federal authorities, including the FBI, US Postal Inspector and the Colorado State Patrol.

The mail was one of more than 15 similar incidents nationwide. “While many news outlets reported that the Secretary of State’s office had intercepted a suspicious package, we knew that it really was Rano, by doing her job diligently, who actually saved the day,” the profile said.

The Associated Press reported mail was sent to election officials that week in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New York and Rhode Island.

Colorado Public Radio reported the mail was shipped with a return address that read “U.S. Traitor Elimination Army.” There were no injuries.

The profile noted that Fatulova routinely screens and secures mail and packages for over 130 different state and public service agencies each day, helping keep her fellow Colorado State employees safe from mail-borne threats.

At the Department of Public Health and Environment, Andrés Guerrero, director of the CDPHE Overdose Prevention Unit, is one of the state’s leading experts on overdose prevention and works closely with federal, state, and local partners to reduce overdose deaths in Colorado. That includes efforts to conduct public health surveillance to understand drug overdose trends and make it easier for health care providers to use the state’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.

His profile noted Guerrero has strategically advanced the department’s goal of reducing deaths from all opioids, including fentanyl. “Andrés and his team have saved lives with their work, and the Department of Public Health and Environment is proud of these extraordinary accomplishments.”

One state employee navigated political pressure to do her job. Over two years, Lori Brill, the regional training officer in the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Fire Prevention and Control, managed more than $12 million in state funding “to assign and distribute critical PPE safety equipment to Colorado’s Fire Service.”

Her profile said Brill “shouldered the bulk of the work establishing the program, selecting vendors, developing the application and review process, and making consistent reports to the General Assembly.” That included managing political pressure and pressure from departments and vendors in her goal of standing up for the new program.

“The number of departments that were using old, outdated gear, sharing SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) masks and other PPE was shocking,” the profile said, and her efforts resulted in 205 funded projects.

One unidentified fire department praised Brill’s efforts. The grant of $74,500 allowed the fire department to buy modern SCBA equipment, which the writer said greatly impacted protecting first responders.

“We feel passionately about our mission to protect lives and property, and our volunteers are always willing to drop everything when there is a need. However, we cannot perform that mission without the proper PPE to protect our priceless volunteer first responders. Because we receive no tax funding of any kind, grants like this are appreciated more than words can tell,” the department said.

John “Sage” David started at the Department of Transportation 35 years ago as a snowplow operator and is now a maintenance superintendent. He currently oversees the maintenance and operation of the I-70 corridor from the Utah State Line to Silverthorne and US 50 from Grand Junction to Gunnison.

His profile said David has helped keep roads open through heavy winter storms and unexpected natural disasters, such as the 2021 Glenwood Canyon flood that closed the interstate for weeks and the most recent US 50 Blue Mesa Bridge emergency closure.

The profile said David possesses a “vast knowledge of roadway maintenance and CDOT history, along with a strong yet quiet leadership style that is respected by employees, peers, and management at CDOT. ” David is an unflappable, dedicated public servant who doesn’t expect recognition because he is simply doing his job.

In addition to the employees listed above, the state also recognized:

• Colorado Energy Office, Natalie Doerre

• Department of Agriculture, Nikki Brinson

• Department of Corrections, Lt. Jess Orin

• Department of Early Childhood, Sena Harjo

• Department of Education, Alyssa Pearson

• Department of Health Care Policy & Financing, Chris Underwood

• Department of Higher Education, Twyla Esquibel

• Department of Human Services, Nicole Drake

• Department of Labor & Employment, Alex Reynolds

• Department of Local Affairs, KC McFerson

• Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, David Hinton

• Department of Natural Resources, Tim Mauck

• Department of Regulatory Agencies, Tracy Green

• Department of Revenue, Ashlee Dutton

• Governor’s Office, Saul Tapia Vega

• Office of State Planning & Budget, Soumanetra Ghosh

• Office of Economic Development & International Trade, Niki Holland

• Governor’s Office of Information Technology, Nyasha Levy

• Behavioral Health Administration, Kayla Martin