TRPA Planner Earns Chamber’s Blue Ribbon Award

By Kristi Boosman
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency employee Gary Weigel was honored as the recipient of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce’s Blue Ribbon Award in the Public Agency Service category for his exemplary customer service as a Senior Planner at TRPA.

“I was shocked and pleasantly surprised when I found out I had been selected for a Blue Ribbon Award by the community,” Weigel said, “but also very excited. It’s a tremendous honor.”

TRPA’s Executive Director, Joanne Marchetta, agreed.

“We are committed to providing excellent, public service and improving community engagement as part of our strategic plan,” Marchetta said. “We are very proud that the chamber community chose to honor Gary with a Blue Ribbon Award.”

The award ceremony took place on November 18 at a sold-out dinner event at Embassy Suites where Weigel and seven other winners received awards from the selection committee, as well as a Certificate of Recognition from California Senator Ted Gaines.

The Blue Ribbon Awards were initiated four years ago by the South Shore Tahoe Chamber to honor people, businesses, and organizations that have made significant contributions to the South Shore community. Weigel had been nominated three out of the last four years, and this year took top honors.

Bridget Cornell, a Transportation Planner for TRPA who works at the front counter with Weigel, describes him as setting a tone of customer service excellence for all the front counter staff at the agency.

“Gary goes the extra mile to make our front counter at TRPA welcoming to our customers,” Cornell said. “He brings in flowers, provides cookies and brownies, decorates the front lobby for the holidays, in addition to being a genuinely kind, funny, knowledgeable man, and a true pleasure to work with.”

Gary himself describes his role at TRPA in humble terms.

“One of my greatest joys is helping people and the front counter is a perfect venue for me to satisfy this inner passion. It also is a venue that provides tremendous opportunity to bring knowledge, expertise, empathy, compassion, and understanding to people who need to work with TRPA for their projects or are just seeking information and assistance,” he said. “I am just one of many dedicated people at this agency who strive to provide excellent service to the public.”

Given the enthusiastic applause Weigel received as his name was announced at Thursday’s award ceremony, it was clear he had positively touched the lives of many in the audience with his good humor, pleasant, helpful manner, and tremendous knowledge. TRPA’s Executive Director, Joanne Marchetta, was also nominated for a Blue Ribbon Award in the Public Agency Service category.

“Gary’s work as Senior Planner at the front counter exemplifies the level of customer service we are striving for here at the agency. Marchetta said. “We are so pleased to have him as a member of our staff. ”

— Writer Kristi Boosman is the public information officer for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. She can be reached at kboosman@trpa.org.