Sunstates is pleased to announce the 2024 Supervisor of the Year award winners. 22 remarkable nominations from across the country were submitted for their efforts in 2023, and picking the winner wasn’t simple. The nominees for Supervisor of the Year represent the very best of Sunstates Security. All are knowledgeable, dependable leaders who consistently go above and beyond. However, only one can claim the top honor as the 2024 Supervisor of the Year.
2024 Supervisor of the Year
Name: Captain Penelope Nowotarski
Region: Charlotte
Nominated By: Operations Manager Wesley Putnam
The Charlotte region could not be more excited for Penelope. She was hired by Sunstates on 2-25-2019 and had to leave due to some personnel issues but worked a notice. She came back home to Sunstates on 11-22-2021. She is a hard-working, people-pleasing individual who is dedicated to doing the job to the best of her abilities.
This was put to the test on May 18, 2023, when a client building in Charlotte, N.C., experienced a fatal five-alarm fire. Before 90 firefighters and 22 emergency vehicles could arrive, Captain Nowotarski and fellow officer Shameaka Walters jumped into action. Both officers evacuated construction workers and personnel, and they helped the building engineer retrieve and use fire extinguishers to extinguish a secondary brush fire. The team also removed a vehicle from the parking garage. Unfortunately, there was life lost, but it could have been a lot worse without the fast reaction of Nowotarski and the team.
When you ask the team at CBRE property, you get nothing but praise about the outstanding job Nowotarski and her team perform regularly. Nowotarski has earned the trust and respect of her staff, clients, and anyone else she interacts with. She stands for Sunstates’ core values of Trust, Integrity, and Honesty.
Second Place
Name: Rahman Grimes
Region: Savannah
Nominated By: Account Manager Daniel Florin
Supervisor Grimes shows the Sunstates commitment to our clients by leading by example every day. It is reflected in how he communicates effectively with his team as well as with our clients, customers, and guests.
Officer Grimes has also risen to the call of duty in emergencies, while conducting routine post-checks of officers, Supervisor Grimes noticed one of his officers who did not look or act normal. Supervisor Grimes relayed his concern to the Assistant Account Manager who, based on Supervisor Grimes’ concern for the officer, advised Supervisor Grimes to relieve the officer and send them to seek medical attention. The officer was immediately admitted to the emergency room and subsequently required to go through a quadruple bypass procedure. According to medical personnel, if it was not for Supervisor Grimes’ keen eye and knowing his employees, this officer would have died within hours if not treated. This action highlights the importance of embracing Sunstates core Values and Mission by interacting with and knowing his employees.
It is evident Supervisor Grimes understands his officers and was not just making sure officers were posted and moving to the next site, his quick thinking and fast actions helped mitigate a potentially life-threatening situation for an officer. Supervisor Grimes epitomizes the Sunstates core values of Honesty, Integrity, and Trust every day through consistently excellent service.
Third Place
Name: Kevin Waddy
Region: Atlanta
Nominated By: Aaron Belt
Supervisor Waddy shows Sunstates commitment to our clients by leading by example every day. Kevin has led his team for 11 years now.
In that time, he cultivated a culture for minimum turnover and overtime. Not including himself, Kevin’s team includes four employees that have been with the company for five years or longer, two of which have been with the company for 11 years. This retention is a reflection of Kevin’s leadership and how he communicates effectively with his team as well as his client to foster a winning culture.
Supervisor Waddy epitomizes the Sunstates core values of Honesty, Integrity, and Trust everyday through consistently excellent service.
Congratulations again to everyone on this well-deserved recognition. Thank you for your loyalty, hard work and positive approach. We’re glad you could join us in person to accept your award and be acknowledged by company leaders.
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