Division of Personnel honors outstanding government employees during annual recognition ceremony at Government House on St. Croix
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — Acting Governor Tregenza A. Roach joined the Division of Personnel and government employees from across the territory on Wednesday for the 36th Annual Employee of the Year Recognition Ceremony at Government House on St. Croix, celebrating the dedication, professionalism and service of public employees throughout the Government of the Virgin Islands.
The annual ceremony recognizes employees from departments, agencies and offices whose work reflects the best of public service. The 2026 honorees were celebrated for their commitment to excellence, reliability, leadership, teamwork and their daily contributions to the people of the Virgin Islands.
Acting Governor Roach congratulated this year’s honorees and thanked all government employees for the work they do each day to serve residents and keep the territory moving forward.
“Public service requires patience, discipline and a deep sense of responsibility,” Acting Governor Roach said. “The employees recognized today represent the very best of those values. They are examples of what it means to serve with dignity, consistency and pride.”
Acting Governor Roach said the Employee of the Year ceremony is an important reminder that the progress being made across the Virgin Islands is driven not only by policy, funding or projects, but by the men and women who carry out the daily work of government.
“So much of what government employees do happens quietly, without fanfare and often without enough public recognition,” Acting Governor Roach said. “But their work matters. It matters to the family applying for assistance, the senior waiting for service, the student walking into a new school, the driver using a safer road and the resident who needs government to respond with professionalism and care. Today, we say thank you.”
Among those recognized were the Office of the Governor’s 2026 Employees of the Year, Naydyeyah Acoy-Thomas, Administrative Coordinator on St. Croix, and Leonard Rabsatt, Dignitary Security Officer with the Executive Security Unit on St. Thomas.
Acoy-Thomas and Rabsatt were honored for their professionalism, dedication and service to the Office of the Governor and the people of the Virgin Islands.
The ceremony brought together employees, agency leaders, family members, and colleagues to celebrate honorees from across the executive branch. The event also served as a broader tribute to the thousands of public servants who support essential government operations in every district and at every level of service.
The Division of Personnel coordinates the annual Employee of the Year recognition program as part of the Government of the Virgin Islands’ ongoing effort to acknowledge outstanding performance and encourage a culture of excellence throughout the public workforce.
Personnel Director Cindy Richardson said the honorees represent the strength, talent and commitment found across the government.
“These employees were selected because they go beyond what is required,” Director Richardson said. “They lift their teams, serve the public with professionalism and help set the standard for what government service should look like. We are proud to celebrate them and grateful for all they continue to contribute.”
Acting Governor Roach said recognizing public employees remains central to strengthening the government workforce, improving service delivery and building a culture that values accountability, professionalism and pride in public service.
“Every successful government depends on capable and committed public servants,” Acting Governor Roach said. “The employees we honor today are proof that the Government of the Virgin Islands is filled with people who care deeply about this territory and who are doing their part to build a stronger Virgin Islands.”
The Government of the Virgin Islands congratulates all 2026 Employees of the Year and extends its appreciation to every government employee across the territory for their continued service to the people of the Virgin Islands.
2026 Employees of the Year
The Government of the Virgin Islands congratulates the following 2026 Employees of the Year:
Office of the Governor
• Naydyeyah A. Acoy Thomas, St. Croix District
• Leonard Rabsatt, St. Thomas/St. John District
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
• Anita N. Bright, St. Croix District
• Diana P. Brown, St. Thomas/St. John District
Office of the Public Defender
• Sonsirez E. Robles, St. Croix District
• Christine Danet, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Lottery
• Hector Romero, St. Croix District
• Wendy Pinney, St. Thomas/St. John District
Bureau of Corrections
• Sonia Joseph-Ganzy, St. Croix District
• Joan Thomas, St. Thomas/St. John District
Bureau of Internal Revenue
• Kristal E. Carr, St. Croix District
• Andy A. Breton, St. Thomas/St. John District
Bureau of Information Technology
• Josephie E. Martinez, St. Croix District
• Julian Al. Jackson, St. Thomas/St. John District
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
• Kerl Joseph, St. Croix District
• Jannel Edward, St. Thomas/St. John District
Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance
• Dennis S. Hendrickson, St. Croix District
• Charles R. Azille, St. Thomas/St. John District
Department of Agriculture
• Anthony Brown, St. Croix District
• Raymond Thomas, St. Thomas/St. John District
Department of Finance
• Keturah Nurse, St. Croix District
• Latisha Venzen, St. Thomas/St. John District
Department of Health
• Renise R. James, St. Croix District
• Kim L. Christopher, St. Thomas/St. John District
Department of Human Services
• Maria Colon Clarke, St. Croix District
• Yvette Charmian Henry, St. Thomas/St. John District
Department of Labor
• Elvis Lewis, St. Croix District
• Faye Reed, St. Thomas/St. John District
Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs
• Kimery Franklin, Licensing Officer, St. Croix District
• John Richardson, St. Thomas/St. John District
Department of Planning and Natural Resources
• Jeneva Lawrence, St. Croix District
• Shyra Raymond-Henley, St. Thomas/St. John District
Department of Property and Procurement
• Trevor Charles, St. Croix District
• Sharin Jennings, St. Thomas/St. John District
Department of Public Works
• Yaneria Knight, St. Croix District
• Jermaine Tyson, St. Thomas/St. John District
Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation
• Keimoy Felix, St. Croix District
• Neal Thomas, St. Thomas/St. John District
Election System of the Virgin Islands
• Marianna Aaron-Romero, St. Croix District
• Milagritos Venzen, St. Thomas/St. John District
Government Employees’ Retirement System
• Franz Christian, St. Croix District
• Tewanna Eddy, St. Thomas/St. John District
Juan F. Luis Hospital & Medical Center
• Delarie Lewis-Thomas, St. Croix District
Judiciary of the Virgin Islands
• Deja Charles-Cole, St. Croix District
• Derek Peets, St. Thomas/St. John District
Legislature of the Virgin Islands
• Pedro J. Estein, Jr., St. Croix District
• Amerika Williams Leonard, St. Thomas/St. John District
Magens Bay Authority
• Augustin St. Rose, St. Thomas/St. John District
Office of the Adjutant General
• Geary Sinanan, St. Croix District
• Addison George, St. Thomas/St. John District
Office of Collective Bargaining
• Nikima Richards, St. Croix District
• Roshanna Malone, St. Thomas/St. John District
Office of Management and Budget
• Shakyra King, St. Croix District
• Arthur Williams, Jr., St. Thomas/St. John District
Office of Veterans Affairs
• Lashern Hunter-Gordon, St. Croix District
• Keishell Daniel, St. Thomas/St. John District
Schneider Regional Medical Center
• Grace Bailey, St. Thomas/St. John District
University of the Virgin Islands
• Robert Phipps, St. Croix District
• Mylon Frett, St. Thomas/St. John District
U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism
• Iyahnna Hiss, St. Croix District
• Nicole George-Petersen, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Board of Education
• Patricia Alexander, St. Croix District
Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission
• Odingo Davila, St. Croix District
Virgin Islands Department of Education
• Jeselle Cruse-Peter, St. Croix District
• Renee Nisbett, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Department of Justice
• Gisselle Quinones, St. Croix District
• Staniqua Mason, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority
• LaShanna McBean de Chabert, St. Croix District
• Jessica Taylor, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Energy Office
• Megan A. Grant, St. Croix District
• Bliss D. Bully III, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Fire & Emergency Services
• John D. Bermudez, Firefighter, St. Croix District
• Donny Daniel, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority
• Nelson Sweeney, St. Croix District
• Hakim Alexander, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Police Department
• Florence Clercent, St. Croix District
• Candy L. Wattley, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Port Authority
• Elvis Wattley, St. Croix District
• Mario Pinder, Information Technology, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System (WTJX)
• Marisol Garcia, St. Croix District
• Isabelle L. Teare, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority
• Julysah Willock, St. Croix District
• Kiesha Schulterbrandt, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency
• Dari-Lee Jacobs, St. Croix District
• Noreen Taylor, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority
• Thyrone O. Decosta, St. Croix District
• Micah J. Smith, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority
• Kira Francis, St. Croix District
• Jennifer Tavernier, St. Thomas/St. John District
Division of Personnel
• Kristal Francis, St. Croix District
• Anita Brooks, St. Thomas/St. John District
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