City of Watertown Honors Top Staff at Annual Employee Recognition Banquet
- Steve Jurrens
- Feb 9
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The City of Watertown celebrated the heartbeat of its operations this past weekend, hosting the annual Employee Recognition Banquet to honor those whose dedication keeps the community running smoothly. The evening was dedicated to celebrating the people who serve our community and the profound impact they make across Watertown.
Special Award Recipients
The highlight of the event was the presentation of the 2025 special awards, recognizing exceptional achievements and contributions by city employees across various departments.
· Employee of the Year: Kristen Bobzien, Finance. Bobzien, who serves as the City’s Chief Financial Officer, was honored for her outstanding dedication.
· Rookie of the Year: Jamie Jordan, Parks, Recreation & Forestry. This award recognizes significant contributions made within the first three years of service.
· Mentor Award: Tim Toomey, Watertown Police Department. Police Chief Tim Toomey was celebrated for providing guidance and support to help his colleagues reach their potential.
· Creativity Award: Trenton Wallert, Information Technology. Wallert was recognized for developing innovative solutions and thinking “outside the box”.
· Caregiver Award: Alex Defea, Watertown Fire Rescue. This honor is given for acts of kindness, compassion, and going above and beyond to support others.
· One-in-a-Million Award: Ryan Heiser, Watertown Park and Rec. Heiser was recognized as an employee whose excellence has improved productivity and significantly benefited the workplace.
Celebrating Longevity and New Beginnings
Beyond the special awards, the banquet served as a platform to recognize the commitment of long-term staff. Numerous employees were honored for reaching milestone years of service with the city.
The event also took a moment to honor recent retirees, thanking them for their years of dedicated service to Watertown residents.
City officials noted that it takes a truly dedicated team to keep a city running, and the annual banquet remains a vital tradition that ensures hard work does not go unnoticed.
