By SPD Communications
In a year of critical positive development for the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, one employee has gone above and beyond in service to the State of Alabama. AEMA Inventory Control Officer Kelley Tidwell has earned the title of Runner-up State Employee of the Year through her dedicated service during an intensive Headquarters nrenovation.
“Ms. Tidwell has been with AEMA since 2016 and has consistently exemplified a servant’s heart in every position she has held,” said AEMA Director Jeff Smitherman. “In addition, Ms. Tidwell has an extremely strong work ethic and a can-do attitude in every aspect of her job duties.” For some background, AEMA’s Headquarters underwent a $2.9 million upgrade to the building – the first major renovation since 1990 – making updates to the agency and the State Emergency Operations Center, which houses several other state agency representatives during times of activation for impending weather and disasters, training, and exercises.
Kelley Tidwell was there for it all. As Inventory Control Officer, her job is to keep up with everything belonging to AEMA, and she had to track inventory across five different facility locations. Included in the manifest: $4 million in audio/visual property critical for life-saving efforts. She also had to work with contractors and employees daily to ensure they had needed equipment and everything was on schedule.
“It was my honor to be part of the process of the AEMA Headquarters building renovation,” said Tidwell. “It was such a major change in the agency, and I learned a lot. I’m proud to see the before, during, and after of the renovations, and feel we’ve made a lot of progress.”