Franklin County Recognizes IT Professional for Exceptional Service

Franklin County Commissioners have honored Zachary West as their May Employee of the Month for his remarkable contributions to the county’s IT services. West, a network and telecommunications administrator, received the award on May 27, marking his second recognition as Employee of the Month since joining Franklin County in January 2021. The award highlights his critical role in resolving a significant technical issue that impacted the Department of Emergency Services.

The Special Thanks and Recognition (STAR) Committee selected West for this honor based on nominations from his colleagues. The committee received 25 nominations for the April award period, with West being nominated three times. These nominations detailed his swift and effective response to a situation where the Department of Emergency Services experienced a complete loss of connection to their administrative phone server, rendering them unable to make or receive calls. This outage posed a critical risk, as these phones are essential for rerouting 911 calls if the primary lines fail, underscoring their vital importance to community safety.

West’s actions during this emergency were described as immediate and persistent. He worked diligently to troubleshoot the problem, initially attempting to restore the lost functionality. When it became clear that the original phones could not be recovered, West developed and implemented a temporary solution, enabling the department to resume taking calls. His efforts involved navigating numerous complications and collaborating with vendors to eventually restore the phone system. Colleagues noted that what initially seemed like an unfixable problem was overcome through West’s technical expertise, unwavering commitment, and ability to adapt to unforeseen obstacles.

Further commendations highlighted West’s calm demeanor under pressure and his clear communication throughout the crisis. He spent considerable time troubleshooting, analyzing, and rebuilding the system, demonstrating a solutions-focused mindset that helped keep the team grounded during a stressful period. His ability to remain composed and his relentless effort ensured that the phone system was not only restored but also stabilized, preventing prolonged disruption to essential county services. In addition to his technical prowess, West has also provided crucial training to the Department of Emergency Services on the temporary phone system, even adjusting his own schedule to train night shift staff. His consistent helpfulness, kindness, patience, and friendliness were noted as embodying the county’s values of teamwork, accountability, and service excellence, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of county operations.

The Franklin County Commissioners extended their congratulations to West, expressing gratitude for his outstanding work. They recognized his demonstration of a high standard of knowledge, leadership, and excellence, which benefits both county employees and residents.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Franklin County Commissioners

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