Six Branson Employees are Employee of the Year

Six people were recognized as Employees of the Year during Tuesday night's Branson Board of Aldermen meeting.

Branson Park and Recreation Department employees Jim Cartright, Richard Wenk and Max Whitworth were highlighted as the Employees of the Year. City Administrator Cathy Stepp presented the award. These three were chosen for their exceptional construction work renovating and updating several office areas within City Hall that were inadequate and outdated and affectionately referred to by me as 'it's like a 1970s bowling alley in here,'" Stepp said.

She said their work "dramatically" took the old office areas from the past to the present, adding that they exceeded expectations. Stepp also presented the award to another group of employees. Some city police officers were honored with it.

"On behalf of the Mayor, Board of Aldermen, and City staff, it is my honor to announce Police Department employees Alex Kaster, Austyn Mendoza, and Amber Edie as the City of Branson’s 2023 Employees of the Year in the Special Commendation category. This category recognizes employees who have encountered life-saving or particularly dangerous situations," she said.

They saved someone who was impacted by a car crash. According to the staff report, "When they got to the scene, the driver was not breathing and had no pulse."

Stepp said they saved his life and "prevented further injuries by thwarting a potential explosion" that would have resulted from spilled gasoline and a lit cigarette.

Fellow Branson government employees picked these six individuals for the recognition.