Each quarter of the year, all personnel are encouraged to nominate their fellow employees to be recognized as an All-Star.
This award program began in 2019, resulting in the submission of many amazing stories about our Clerk of Court and Comptroller’s Office employees. The chosen recipients exemplify our organization’s Mission, Vision & Core Values. While there can only be one winner each quarter, every nomination period reveals numerous eligible nominees. We are proud of them all and look forward to selecting and recognizing many more future All-Star Award winners.
Please join us in congratulating our current All-Star Award recipient and other recently-recognized all-star employees below.
Amber Leininger
Congratulations to Amber Leininger, an employee who consistently impacts our office in positive ways. Colleagues describe her as efficient and trustworthy. The very definition of an “accountable custodian of all county funds and financial reports”, Amber also helped resolve recent Finance Department personnel shortages. She not only handled her own assigned tasks but also finished several additional year-end duties such as payroll and HSA funds distribution. She was a tremendous help during the Civil Department’s recent cashiering transition. Patient and helpful, she was appreciated by all involved including Real Auction and Benchmark staff. Her dedication is recognized at the executive level due to her commitment in the office and from home when issues arise. Her calm demeanor and intelligence make her an asset to her department and to our entire operation. Congratulations, Senior Staff Accountant Amber Leininger, this quarter’s All-Star employee.
Denise Haselwood
This Clerk embodies our mission as guardians of Clay County records as well as our vision to be the most trustworthy and helpful Clerk’s Office. She works wonderfully with others including judicial staff and outside agencies, taking pride in her work as a Dependency Clerk. She sees and hears delicate details of children’s lives and safeguards the confidentiality of these cases, even within her own department. Her work product is precise and organized, so much so that judges and attorneys often rely on her case notes for comparison. Her reputation is one of trust and competence.
Denise spends a large amount of time in court where she is always prepared. Dedicated to producing timely and accurate work, her positive attitude results in colleagues feeling blessed to have her on their team.
Congratulations, Clerk Denise Haselwood, this quarter’s All-Star employee.
Holly Casterline
When a department suffers a devastating blow due to illness, personnel who rise to the occasion to keep services open and available to the public immediately prove their value and grit. While many employees helped cover duties in the Clerk’s Office Criminal Department when they found themselves half-staffed due to COVID 19, this quarter’s All-Star Employee Holly Casterline went above and beyond. Not only did she cover her regular court duties for Judge Lester, but she also performed the duties of court clerk for Judge Sharrit and Judge Collins. For days, she came in early and stayed late to keep her department running, proactively carrying the department on her shoulders during this staffing crisis. Beyond recent circumstances, she is continuously efficient in her tasks while also assisting her coworkers and the public. Her decades-long dedication to her job and to the Clerk’s Office is something others strive to emulate. Casterline is described as reliable, accurate, calm, cool, and collected. Her leadership skills and genuine helpfulness shone through when it was needed most. Congratulations on being selected this quarter’s All-Star, Supervisor Holly Casterline.
Law Berdecia-Ledesma
As part of our Criminal Department team that works together to make a daunting court process possible, Jury Duty Clerk Law Berdecia-Ledesma was nominated by her managers and peers who hailed her dedication, resilience and initiative during times of change. This clerk exemplifies our organizational mission by supporting our judiciary and providing valuable services to our community. In addition to assisting with the configuration and testing of the new JuryMark system for Clay County, she managed COVID-required online jury duty qualification, followed by successful in-person jury selections and the start of our first post-COVID in-person jury trial. This clerk also conducted a “summit” regarding Jury Management Reporting and overcame her fear of public speaking during our Learning with the Clerk of Court online educational program. Her peers say “she wears many hats and completes tasks thrown her way with a positive attitude, contagious smile and a real willingness to help others.” But, her passion for assisting the public outweighs even these qualities. Congratulations!