For Immediate Release:
January 31, 2021

Media Contacts
Amy Webb, Chief of Communications & Community Engagement
amy.webb@dhs.arkansas.gov

Gavin Lesnick, Deputy Chief of Communications
gavin.lesnick.dhs@dhs.arkansas.gov

(LITTLE ROCK, Ark.) — The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) announced today that the Arkansas Human Services Employee Association has named Ricki Martin the 2021 Employee of the Year. Martin accepted his award Monday during a small ceremony at the DHS central office complex in Little Rock. 

Martin, 33, works as a quality assurance manager for the DHS Division of Youth Services (DYS) and is charged with ensuring youth at the State’s youth treatment centers are treated fairly and in compliance with contracts with the private company that manages the facilities day-to-day. He has been with DHS for 5 years. 

“Ricki’s commitment and dedication to the youth, his team and co-workers, and to the mission of DHS is evident through his actions and attitude,” said DHS Secretary Cindy Gillespie. “He truly cares about the Department and the success of the youth and the people he works with.”

Martin was described in his nomination form as, “a true leader in the division who cultivates other’s skills and attitudes. He is usually the first to volunteer to take on new assignments and roles and with each new endeavor, he makes a point to share information and experiences with his co-workers. He is often teaching others new skills and helping members of his team excel in knowing where and how to find information”

During the ongoing pandemic, Martin has taken on additional tasks outside his normal job duties, volunteering to go into facilities to assist the treatment team and internal affairs investigators and taking on additional work when a co-worker was out on extended leave. 

Today, the conference room in the office of the Secretary also was renamed for the year in Martin’s honor.  

Other employees honored Monday included:

•    Carmella Phillips was named the overall Shared Services Employee of the Year for 2021. Phillips has worked for DHS in the Office of Procurement for nearly eight years. She took on many additional roles during the pandemic, including tracking down personal protective equipment when it was hard to find, developing plans for the DHS mailroom when there was a shortage of on-site staff, and more. 
•    Employees at the Arkansas State Hospital and Arkansas Health Center, Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services were all honored for their work caring for patients during the pandemic. 
•    Mary Oliver, Division of Child Care & Early Childhood Education 
•    Shatina Hawkins, Division of Children & Family Services
•    Jolayne Coffman, Division of County Operations 
•    Tammy Benbrook, Division of Developmental Disabilities Services 
•    Anita Castleberry, Division of Medical Services
•    Donna Hagler, Division of Provider Services & Quality Assurance 
•    Nancy Stevens, Office of Appeals and Hearings
•    Jennifer Horton, Office of Chief Counsel 
•    Keith Metz, Office of Communications & Community Engagement 
•    Thomas Herndon, Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs
•    Jason Cameron, Office of Security and Compliance

DHS is always looking to hire outstanding individuals like these. For more information on job openings at DHS or how you can start here and grow here, visit ar.gov/dhsjobs.