The Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation is pleased to announce its Employee of the Year Award to Carrie Ingram, Mental Health Worker I, at the Partlow Developmental Center in Tuscaloosa. Ms. Ingram received the award, bestowed by Governor Bob Riley, from Mental Health Commissioner Kathy Sawyer at a luncheon held October 21, 2004 at the Capitol City Club in Montgomery. Ms. Ingram received the Department’s top honor out of an employment pool of over 2600 employees across the state.

The award cited her compassionate service to persons with mental retardation at Partlow, her initiative, creativity, leadership, and teamwork. Hurricane Ivan deposited a large tree onto Ms. Ingram’s house. In spite of this tragedy, she reported to work on time to ensure the safety and wellbeing of her clients at Partlow. Commissioner Kathy Sawyer said, “Ms. Ingram is loved by her clients, appreciated by families, and respected by her peers. She is the personification of dedication and a shining example of the compassionate professionalism of hundreds of direct care workers across the state.”