Major Dave Champlin, Divisional Commander, and Captain Sam Gonzalez, Divisional Secretary, kept attendees in suspense until the end of the event before making their announcement. They then joyfully let everyone know Dawn Fleming, Donor Relations Director, had been nominated and chosen! The room burst into rounds of applause and congratulations! Dawn then opened her recognition gift to reveal a beautiful, engraved bell, commemorating her devotion to the Southern New England Division.

Encapsulating how everyone felt about this choice, Lisa Cretella, Director of Development, put it well by saying, "Dawn has certainly proven to be worthy. She has brought a competitive spirit and passion for excellence to our organization since being hired nearly two years ago. Those attributes, and her desire to fulfill the Army's mission, make her not only a great colleague, but an asset to the Army."

How did Dawn feel? Well, she commented, "I was really stunned to have received the Employee of the Year award, as there are so many hard working and dedicated people on our team who work with purpose and passion every day to restore hope and change lives. It is an honor to be recognized." For Southern New England Divisional Headquarters, the honor is also ours, for we could not be more thankful to have her!