Two Nebraska Board of Parole/Division of Parole Supervision staff received recognition for a 2023 Excellence in Leadership award during a ceremony on October 24, 2023. The ceremony was held in the State Capitol Rotunda and the awards were presented by the Honorable Jim Pillen. Those recognized were Administrative Release Specialized Parole Officer Deanna R. Schmidt and the late Sue Olson, who served as the Agency’s Statewide Operations Manager. Nebraska Board of Parole Chair Rosalyn Cotton attended the ceremony in support of both honorees.
Deanna Schmidt was recognized for her dedication to her work and the state of Nebraska, having been with the state for 19 years. Specifically, in her nomination she was described as conscientious in her work product and communications with her teammates. She routinely will take the time needed to complete projects until she is 100 percent satisfied with the results. As the Administrative Release Officer for the Agency, she coordinates the release of incarcerated individuals onto parole from correctional institutions, manages a large docket of cases for the Nebraska Board of Parole, and keeps the parole hearings running smoothly with focus toward a positive interaction for the customer. She was also described in her nomination as being warm, genuine, personable, and makes her environment an enjoyable place to work.
Sue Olson was recognized posthumously for her contributions to the state of Nebraska. Her nomination reflected upon her 7 years of service with the Nebraska Board of Parole Agency. During her time with Parole, she diligently worked to ensure that projects met the highest standard and she never missed a detail when it came to operations and the design of spaces and projects. She was described as someone who brought her passion and love of design to every project and would shine when she saw the pieces come together. Her no-nonsense approach to her job was appreciated when deadlines arrived and everything was completed according to plan. She was further described as a loyal colleague who stepped in at a moment’s notice and was available when a teammate needed her. She had a strong personal code of ethics and always did the right thing. The Nebraska Board of Parole/Division of Parole Supervision was honored to nominate her for Excellence in Leadership and remains thankful for her gifts, talents, and accomplishments that she shared with the Agency. Regrettably, Sue passed away on August 30, 2023, and is greatly missed by her teammates.
It is through the service of teammates such as those recognized for Excellence in Leadership that the Agency has accomplished and continues to accomplish all that it does.