Blue Mountain Health System honored employees that demonstrate their dedication and work ethics.

Joe Guardiani, vice president of fund development and government affairs, gave the invocation and he said that, "Our staff and employees are always busy giving the best they can to the people they care for that it's nice to take a breath, to take time to thank our staff for all they do."Employees of both the Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital and the Palmerton Hospital locations, 124 people, received that recognition.Charla Mendes of Palmerton was named as the Blue Ribbon Service Excellence Award recipient. Caring Employee Committee Chairwoman Nancy Matyas and BMHS President and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Harris presented the award.Mendes has been with BMHS for eight years.Mendes, a certified nurse assistant at the Adult Day Services Center, drove medication to a client's home after she forgot it at the center."Although Charla demonstrates exemplary behavior each and every day, this particular performance demonstrates just one way Charla goes 'above and beyond,'" reads her certificate.She and husband Jose have two children and she enjoys baking in her spare time.Sylvia Goral, director of human resources, and Harris presented an award for 50 years of service to Marie Krepicz of Palmerton.Krepicz recalls that while a student at Allentown Catholic High School, she got off the bus and went right to work in the Palmerton Hospital cafeteria. She asked if there would be a job for her after she graduated and was told to come back when she was finished. She did and there was an opening in medical transcription. Lena Kistler, a 40-year employee, was her boss and trained her. Krepicz earned a registered health information technician certificate and has worked in medical records for 50 years, all at the Palmerton location."I loved it here," she says. Krepicz says she saw a lot of changes in her job over the years from working with carbon paper to computers to records becoming more detailed."I liked everything about my job. Every patient had a different history. It was never monotonous," she says.Now retired, she and her husband of 49 years, Paul, own a church candle business and raise beagles for competition in field trials.Other recipientsAwards included:Five years: Lisa Acerra-Rutman, Cecelia Ahner, Mary Carol Barrila, Dawn Benner, Jennifer Blasko, Thomas Brady, Hayde Colaviti, Joyce Cressman, Leah Defrancisco, Kelly Delaiglesia, Bryan Dion, Brenda Dorward, Rebecca Edwards, Michael Engle, Gayle Gersbach, Dale Green, Rhonda Hensley, Nancy Hersch, Jason Howay, Barbara Hyland, Linda Keiper, Denise Kennedy, Jean Kirk, Kenneth Klotz, Mary Krynock, Alissa Mathisen, Amanda Miller, Catherine Miller, Bonnie Moulin, Heidi Mriss, Alicia Niehoff, Susan O'Donnell, Mirian Pelczynski, William Polakovich, William Ravert, Serena Rex, Robin Rohlfing, Melissa Salovay, Doreen Schaffer, Jessica Simmons, Tammy Smith, Ryan Strohl, Catherine Troyano, Krystle Williamson, Carrie Wolf and Kailey Yurkunas.10 years: Teresa Amorim, Barbara Beltz, Julie Cesare, Amy Collevechio, Mary Durishin, Amy Friendy, Karla Gildner, Cynthia Hunt, Tracy Kattner, Kathleen Luther, Catherine Mundy, Danielle Popek, Dawn Sanchez, Sharon Schoch, Blythe Sherry, Sheryl Slaw, Donna Smith, Melissa Strohl and Nina Zanders.15 years: Roseann Cser, Jessica Frantz, Sandra Searfoss, Darlene Smith, Maria Snyder, Amy Svetik and Bernadette Walck.20 years: Denise Delforey and Juliann Muffley.25 years: Sherry Everett, DebraAnn Golas, Gerri Hawk, Cheryl Jordan, Clifford Klotz II, Catherine Nalesnik, Margaret Porambo, Sharon Schlappe, Lisa Ann Solt, Edith Vanfossen and Randy Wert.30 years: Kevin Duke35 years: Antonette Gibson, Chrystal Gilbert, Karen Highland, Margaret McAndrew and Lynn Warkala.40 years: Anita Hausman and Cheryl Schoch.Nursing Excellence AwardsRegistered nurses: Suzanne Bernard, Sandy Frantz, Carol Howard, Kimberly Lilly, Susan Stidham and Jaime Tessitore.LPNs: Kathleen VenarchickSocial Worker: Alyssa RexUnit Clerk/CNA/MHT/Tech: Claude Ahner, CNA; Roberto Carmona, CNA; Marian Pelczynski, MHT; Valerie Schoenberger, CNARising Stars: Logan Groff, RN; Deborah Semenas, RN; Jessica Sparacio, RN; Petra Stuckey.The Ancillary, Business and Support Staff awards:Meghan Blazoksy, finance; Keri Brown, pharmacy; Janelle Degiglio, cardiology; Leon Frable, maintenance; Rachel Green, dietary; Terri Krome, medical records; Doreen Larizzio, environmental services; Danielle Popek, radiology; Margaret Porambo, respiratory; Jeanne Samok, lab; Gloria Santos, environmental services; Kelly Zeigler, patient accounts.