FEMA Region V received the Federal Agency of the Year award, June 20 during the 2012 Federal Employee of the Year award ceremony held by the Chicago Federal Executive Board.

This recognition is bestowed upon federal agencies that demonstrate successful, local implementation of a Federal initiative, program or action that transforms, improves, creates or otherwise influences positive action. This is only the third year that an agency award has been given, so it is a notable tribute to Region V to be the third agency recognized out of the many federal agencies in the Chicago area.

Regional Administrator, Andrew Velasquez III, was grateful for the honorable award and credited the recognition to the hard work, passion and dedication of Region V staff to FEMA’s mission.

In addition to the Agency of the Year award, Mary Beth Caruso, Mission Support Branch Chief, was nominated for Outstanding Supervisory Employee and both the Grants staff and the REP staff were nominated for the Outstanding Team award.