NASWA Presents E. Janie Small, Youth Program Administrator for Washington County, Maine with National Award

(Washington D.C.) –Recently, the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) presented E. “Janie” Small with the prestigious James F. Walls Workforce Agency Employee award at their 80th Annual National Conference in Oklahoma City. The James F. Walls Workforce Agency Employee award was established to honor an associate within a workforce development agency who has demonstrated extraordinary innovation and exemplary service to their community, state, or country as a whole.

Ms. Small is the Youth Program Administrator for Washington County, Maine and her personal and professional goal has been to diligently work to eradicate generational poverty in Maine’s poorest county. Ms. Small began her career in the public workforce system over 35 years ago through the Department of Labor’s Summer Youth Employment Program. Among the numerous dynamic initiatives she has participated in, just last summer she was chosen to represent Maine by the Manhattan Strategy Project and the United States Department of Education in the making of a film on how states address truancy, dropout, and alternative school issues.

“Ms. Small exemplifies every facet the James F. Walls Workforce Agency Employee award was established to recognize,” said Scott Sanders, Executive Director of NASWA. “Through years of diligence and innovative efforts, countless lives in Maine and possibly throughout the country have been touched and improved by her wonderful spirit of servant leadership.”

“Janie’s personal and professional goal is to eradicate generational poverty in Maine’s poorest county,” stated Commissioner Paquette. “She is the first person from Maine and only the second from New England to earn this honor. Her office is covered with photos and thank you notes from those whom she helped secure scholarships, meet education and training needs, and find stable employment. She is an asset to our department and the people we serve in Washington County and Maine as a whole.”

An exclusive weekly article about Ms. Small’s past efforts can be found at http://quoddytides.com/janie_small2-22- 13.html. “It humbles me to be recognized for doing my job,” Small stated. “To have a job where I can enhance and change lives every day is incredible. I have the best job in the world.”

NASWA also recognized several other individuals and entities who have provided vital community workforce and economic development opportunities as a part of their Salute to Leadership awards ceremony at their 80th Annual National Conference. More information about award recipients and categories can be found at Salute to Leadership Awards.