Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry PennDOT Warren County welder David Schwartz (center), flanked by Warren County Manager Adam Elms and District Executive Brian McNulty, was recognized by the department this month with a John L. “Jack” Baker Award for enterprise.

A Warren County PennDOT employee has been awarded high honors from District 1.

David Schwartz, a welder with PennDOT’s Warren County maintenance facility, was given the John L. “Jack” Baker Award during State Employee Recognition Week in early May.

“David was recognized for his service to his fellow employees and his community,” according to PennDOT District Press Officer Jill Harry. “This winter he fabricated a chute for dump trucks to use with the winter spreader. It has made shoulder repairs easier and safer because the modification allows the truck to stay on the road and doesn’t require another piece of equipment to spread the material. The idea was spurred from field operators and David made it a reality.”

Jack Baker was a longtime District 1 executive.

The Baker Award is the top honor in PennDOT’s Competitive Enterprise Recognition Program.

The program was started in District 1 in 2015 to “acknowledge employees who embrace the ideals of innovations, quality, safety, and customer service excellence,” Harry said.

“Employees can be nominated as individuals or as a member of a crew, unit, team or committee. Nominations can be made by managers, supervisors, and subordinates, and other employees,” she said, “Over the years, dozens of employees have been nominated for a variety of efforts that improved internal and external processes, efficiency and safety.”

Competitive Enterprise nominees are eligible for the Baker Award, which is given based on district-wide employee voting.

District 1 includes Warren, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, and Venango counties. The district office is located in Oil City.