This year will mark our 29th Team Member of the Year. Each year, this decision is one of the most difficult decisions we make and this year it was no exception. We have many very deserving team members.
The criteria used to select our Team Member of the Year are the following:
Previous Winners
| 1995 | Peggy Seger |
| 1996 | Brenda Goolsby |
| 1997 | Concepcion Guerrero |
| 1998 | “Big Al’ Easterling |
| 1999 | James Alston |
| 2000 | Tina Castrellon |
| 2001 | Marlene Lash |
| 2002 | Minerva Mendoza |
| 2003 | Leroy “Rookie” Haywood |
| 2004 | Paul Cathcart |
| 2005 | Hazalene Smith |
| 2006 | Martin Acosta |
| 2007 | Abelardo Sanchez |
| 2008 | David Duernberger |
| 2009 | Marisela Castillo |
| 2010 | Eudoxia “Silvia” Lara |
| 2011 | Yaneth Sanchez |
| 2012 | Connie Galvez |
| 2013 | Maria Ramírez |
| 2014 | Secia Canales |
| 2015 | Mary Porter |
| 2016 | Maria Zermeno |
| 2017 | Zenaido Diaz |
| 2018 | Melinda McKenzie |
| 2019 | Pedros Rios Leon |
| 2020 | Etta Tweedy |
| 2021 | Wilson Carrillo |
| 2022 | Goldline Shelton |
2023 J.D. Murphy Team Member of the Year
Our J.D. Murphy Team Member of the Year receives an acrylic plaque and $1,000 Cash. The 2024 J. D. Murphy Team Member of the Year Award winner is Ofelina Cortez!
Ofelina's account manager, Carlos Cantu, had this to say about Ofelina:
“What can I say about Ofelina? She's been working with us and directly reporting to me since January 19, 2007. Ofelina is always willing to help us in any way we ask; she helped us at the UPS building for over 5 years as a site supervisor and did a great job. The customers loved her so much that they gave her a farewell card when we left UPS. They offered her a position to stay with the new company, and she refused, wanting to stay loyal to the SMO family.
Ofelina also helped us at CUABS for 4 years. She did a fantastic job at the building, so much so that when we left CUABS, the customer bought her a cake and a farewell card on her last day there.
Ofelina most recently started helping me to clean PACU at that building we were struggling to keep employees working at that building. Ofelina went to help me for a couple of days and she did such a great job in just a few days that the branch manager at PACU April Young had asked to keep her there since Ofelina was already working 1st shift at Westrock she was not able to clean that branch but the branch manager allowed Ofelina to clean the branch early in the morning before her Westrock shift. For 3 years now she's been cleaning that building at 6 am in the morning every day. I'm very honored that one of her daughters was looking for a part-time job, so Ofelina trusted SMO so much that she brought her daughter to come work for us. (Her daughter will be here a year in August)
Just recently, WestRock put her photo on all their breakroom TVs and monitors under the comment "Friendly Faces from our WestRock Teammates. Thank you for making WestRock a great place to work!" Those are some of my reasons why Ofelina should be our 2023 employee of the year."
Ofelina was a 2022 Team Member of the Year Nomination, 2014 Team Member of the Year Nomination, 2023 Team Member of the Month in November, 2014 Team Member of the Month in September, 2011 Team Member of the Month in June, and 2008 Team Member of the Month in November.
Ofelina, the 2024 J. D. Murphy Team Member of the Year, has demonstrated exceptional dedication and performance since 2007, earning admiration from customers and colleagues across multiple assignments. Her loyalty, her impactful work at challenging sites, and the recognition she received at Westrock highlight her outstanding contributions to SMO. I have personally worked with Ofelina. When you work with her, you are motivated to work hard, do a great job, and my favorite part, SMILE! We are truly blessed to have Ofelina at SMO.
Congratulations to Ofelina Cortez, the 2023 JD Murphy Team Member of the year!