Employee recognition ceremony celebrates long-time honorees, award recipients

February 27, 2018

More than 528 employees and staff with a total 10,150 combined years of Texas Children’s service were honored last week at our 30th Annual Employee Recognition Celebration.

On February 20, veteran employees poured into the Bayou City Event Center just before noon, to celebrate the core of Texas Children’s past, present and future. The event recognized our long-time honorees and award recipients for their continued commitment to the mission of Texas Children’s.

“This is one of my favorite events,” said Human Resources Senior Vice President Linda Aldred. ”I love being here with you, I love chatting it up with you, and I particularly love celebrating you.”

Lavish decorations filled the large ballroom, and a delectable three-course meal was served. Entertainment included music from the past 40 years, but the crowd favorite was a photo booth that broke the ice as everyone took pictures, mixed and mingled.

Our very own ukulele choir kicked off the program, grabbing the crowd’s attention as they sang their original song, The Texas Children’s Way. Texas Children’s Board of Trustees member Willie Alexander, and Radiologist-in-Chief Dr. George Bisset delivered inspiring speeches and congratulated each employee as he or she crossed the stage to receive recognition for15 to 45 years of service.

In addition to long-time honorees, the ceremony recognized recipients of the Best of the West, Mark A. Wallace Catalyst Leadership, Smiles and Super Star awards.

“You’ve turned our values into actions,” Aldred said, driving home how much employees contribute to Texas Children’s success of being the top children’s hospital in Texas and one of the best in the country. “A lot of organizations have values, but they don’t make them the core of who they are. All of you have done this for us.”

When asked, employees’ collective perception of Texas Children’s culture is simply unity. Many agree with Texas Children’s current longest working employee of 45 years, Dorothy Botley, who said her job is her “home away from home.”

“I’ve worked in many departments, and it’s all the same,” Botley said. “It’s like being in a family, because everybody looks out for everybody.”

The annual event was a day to celebrate accomplishments and honor those who have carried out the values and the mission of Texas Children’s to ensure we meet the health care needs of our patients and their families.

“Your infinite passion will always have our infinite gratitude,” Aldred said as she brought the program to a close. “We will never take that for granted and will always take the time to recognize and celebrate it. So with that said, I plan on seeing you all back in 5 years!”

Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees!