Florida TaxWatch Honors Tallahassee-Area State Employees at 28th Annual Prudential Productivity Awards

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida state employees received well-deserved recognition at a luncheon honoring winners of Florida TaxWatch’s 2016 Prudential Productivity Awards at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center on Wednesday. The 28th annual awards ceremony highlights state employees who innovatively reduce costs and improve services for Florida taxpayers. The Prudential Productivity Awards is the only program in the state that celebrates these dedicated state employees who work tirelessly to ensure a more efficient state government for Floridians.

Fifty-eight Tallahassee-area state employees were honored with awards during the luncheon ceremony, sponsored by Prudential, the Florida Lottery and AvMed Health Plans. Sixteen individual and teams took home the highest honors at the ceremony, including cash awards.

“As the home of Florida TaxWatch, we here in Tallahassee get to experience first-hand the hard work of dedicated state employees that ensure that state government works for Tallahassee taxpayers. Their efforts have improved state services tremendously and for that we thank them,” said Dominic M. Calabro, President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch.

The program also strives to encourage state agencies to work together to replicate the savings throughout the Sunshine State. After employees receive their award, they are encouraged to work with other state agencies to implement their cost savings ideas across state government. Since 1989, thousands of individuals, teams and partnerships have produced more than $9.2 billion worth of added value as a direct result of award winners’ achievements and the replication of those achievements.

“The commitment of these incredible public servants to work together to build a better Florida means that state government can direct taxpayers' hard-earned money to the vital services that make the Sunshine State a great place to live and raise a family,” said Prudential Vice President of Government Affairs and TaxWatch Executive Committee Member Mike Jennings.

The program received nominations from every corner of the state with 605 total individuals and teams being honored with a 2016 Prudential Productivity Award for their achievements. Since 1988, more than 16,000 nominations have been received.

"The Florida Lottery thanks each of the award winners for their commitment to reducing costs for Florida's hard-working taxpayers while dramatically improving the services that each Floridian depends on,” said Florida Lottery Secretary Tom Delacenserie.

“As Chairman of the judging panel, I have personally reviewed the efforts of more than 605 individuals and teams of state employees to innovatively improve government processes and I commend each of the 2016 award winners for their exceptional achievement,” said Prudential Productivity Awards Judges Panel Chairman and North Highland Vice President Barbara Ray.

The program is a major government improvement initiative chaired by Florida's Lieutenant Governor and co-sponsored by Florida TaxWatch, The Florida Council of 100, and the state of Florida. In addition to Prudential's generous support as the title sponsor, numerous corporate, individual and philanthropic contributors supplement the awards program. Without their tremendous support, this program would not be possible.