Employee Recognition

One of Kent County's Core Values is to provide high-quality service to internal and external customers. If you know a County employee who deserves to be recognized for providing high-quality service, please take a moment to share your story by completing a nomination form.

2022

Quarter 4

"Kory has been consistent in going above and beyond for our communities, families and especially our youth who she works with directly while working as a Surveillance Officer. Every Christmas (pre-COVID) and this past Christmas, Kory buys gifts out of her own pocket along with some donations and opens a Santa Shop here at 1565 Cedar Juvenile Services. This gives our youth who have no funds an opportunity to buy Christmas presents for loved ones free of charge. The youth who are selected have demonstrated good behavior and compliance with Surveillance and the rules of their probation. This opportunity has been a HUGE success for our youth as I have seen it firsthand when our kids get gifts for loved ones and sometimes themselves. The aftermath of hearing how grateful the kids and families are for the gifts is truly remarkable. In addition, Kory also provides Christmas baskets to families who may need essential items such as food, clothing, gift cards, laundry detergent and diapers. Again, she does this out of her own pocket. Kory does an outstanding job in working with our families and always demonstrates professionalism. Kory does a lot of work in ensuring she can provide happiness to the best of her ability especially during the Holidays."

• About Kory

  Number of years employed by Kent County

  "17 years."

  Hardest thing I've ever done

  "Attend funeral services for one of my youth on surveillance."

  Three people (alive or dead) I'd invite to dinner

  "My mother, Beverly A. Drake (may God bless her soul); Maya Angelou; and former president Barack Obama."

  You'd be surprised to know that

  "I enjoy party planning."

  What I like most about working for Kent County is

  "The support you receive when you want to do non-traditional things for or with our youth. As well as open door communication. Every supervisor I have had would always take the time to sit down and listen."

"I'd like to say how much I appreciated the unique help Kate has offered me in a genealogical search. My project has been years long and stemmed from the murder of my great-grandmother, who was shot to death in 1902 in Grand Rapids. Because of my contact with Kate this story has become more of a family story than a murder story. In 1992 after my father's death, a cousin gave me the Dutch names and birth/death dates of the three brothers in my family who had emigrated to America. My great-grandmother became the wife of one of these brothers and the murder victim of a second. The identification of these brothers, their wives and children, I believe came from her bible. I have the bible, but someone removed that page. Kate worked in collaboration with me, accounting for the information I have accumulated over these years and being thoughtful about county document inconsistencies, until substantiated details emerged. This inclusive approach went above any expectations I had for sorting and verifying individual lives via these documents. She offered referral to other Michigan county clerk offices, one of which led me to an archive at Western Michigan University, revealing a divorce decree drastic in its personal nature. Another murky area for me, not having grown up in a church of Dutch origins, was what appeared to be doctrinal divisions between these earlier generations. Kate offered a contact person in the Christian Reformed Church, who gave much clarification to my questions. This topic may have played a part in her death. Thank You again for the opportunity to relate my experience with Kate. I look forward to future contacts with her, and the clerk's office, as I continue to write about this small but significant time in my history."

• About Kory

  Number of years employed by Kent County

  "14 years."

  Hardest thing I've ever done

  "Starting over in 2020 in so many aspects, but I have proven to myself time and time again, I am more than capable of anything!"

  Three people (alive or dead) I'd invite to dinner

  "My deceased grandpa, Anthony Bourdain and my boyfriend so he could meet both those people too!"

  You'd be surprised to know that

  "I love to bake - I am always trying new recipes and projects to bring in and share with my department and others."

  What I like most about working for Kent County is

  "The people - I have made so many friends out of co-workers and colleagues, plus a pension doesn't hurt!"