Six outstanding village employees were recognized by the board of trustees last week, with the presentation of the semi-annual CREW Awards.

“CREW is an acronym that defines an employee who provides exemplary work,” Mayor Therese Bogs said. “CREW represents Credibility, Respect, Equality/Fellowship/Identity, and Work Commitment/Personal Performance.

“The semi-annual CREW employees have shown in many ways that they go the extra mile to serve the village, both in their attitude and performance. The semi-annual CREW employees are an integral part of the crew in how they approach the people they encounter and the work they perform.

“Now it is time to recognize our CREW Award Winners for the first half of 2025.

“Our CREW Recipients are: Economic Development – Rachel Beckman; Parks and Recreation – Alison Chin; Public Works – Terrell Hester-Mason, Kevin Marrero, and Megan Schneider; and Police – Michael Shreffler.

Officer Michael Shreffler joined the Monee Police Department in January 2021. He was a 10-year veteran of the Kankakee Police Department and a former correctional officer.

His nomination narrative notes that “he brought a wealth of knowledge and experience with him.

“He has been a strong addition since day one. He is quick to volunteer and needs no supervision in handling any incident that arises. He is often sought out by other officers for  guidance and expertise. Mike is also a volunteer member of the state’s emergency response team and was recently deployed to the Republican National Convention. Mike is a quiet leader. He treats the public in a professional manner that brings great credit to the department and the village.

“Late last year, Mike volunteered to attend an advanced truck enforcement school. He has wasted no time in utilizing his training, and he gives MPD a new tool to control the massive increase in big truck traffic. In the past six months, he has cited almost 50 semi trucks for operating on restricted village streets. That adds up to almost $13,000 in weight restriction violations. Officer Shreffler also volunteers to handle almost all of the big truck traffic crashes that occur during dayshift. His knowledge base has given him the ability to identify unsafe vehicle conditions and improper paperwork, resulting in more enforcement actions.

“As MPD continues to grow and transform over the next several years, it is the commitment and integrity instilled in our younger officers that will carry our professional reputation and mission into the community. Officer Michael Shreffler will be at the forefront of this evolution.”

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – Rachel Beckmann

According to her nomination narrative, “Rachel has been an incredible asset, jumping in to support various departments with the website, social media, and her impressive photography skills. She’s always readily available to capture important moments – whether they’re planned or spontaneous. Her creativity has brought fresh energy to our website and marketing materials, elevating the quality and appeal of everything we produce. Rachel consistently brings new ideas and a clear vision to her work, completing tasks quickly and efficiently. Her promptness, reliability, and friendly demeanor do not go unnoticed. We truly appreciate all she does and the positive impact she continues to make across the board.”

PARKS – Alison Chin (Two nominations)

Alison’s nomination narrative notes she “consistently goes above and beyond to get things done and support those around her. She has a sharp eye for detail and is always quick to jump in and correct anything that may have been missed. Her willingness to lend a hand at events and her positive attitude have made her a familiar and welcome face to our residents – many of whom are always happy to see her. Alison never hesitates to pause her own work to help someone else. Her background in graphic design has led to the creation of some of our most creative and eye-catching advertisements, giving our marketing a fresh and engaging look. In addition to her design skills, Alison is always on the move – whether it’s opening buildings for programs or assisting those who need access. She is also incredibly attentive and protective of the village building, quickly noticing anything out of place. We are very fortunate to have Alison as a part of the Village of Monee staff. Her dedication, creativity, and reliability make a lasting impact every day.

“Alison has never put up a fight to do a task for the Village of Monee Parks department. Over the years, you can always count on Alison to know what’s going and step up to make sure programs/events have run smoothly and step up to help other departments, from the village hall to the police station, when needed. She always has a smile and gives ultimate respect to all her coworkers and the residents of Monee.”

PUBLIC WORKS Terrell Hester-Mason, Kevin Marrero, and Megan Schneider

“Terrell is always on time and ready to work. We never have a problem with him complaining about getting a job done. His work performance is outstanding. If there is something new to learn, you will find Terrell trying it or studying to complete the tests/tasks at hand. He will stay late to get the projects done correctly. He is a very respectful employee to managers and fellow coworkers, even if he does not agree, he will speak his voice but in a very calm manner. You will never find Terrell shouting or being pushy or even being lazy to get a job/task done. You will always hear him say “Thank you, I appreciate you.”

“Terrell is very committed to public works through working very hard at whatever the day brings. I have never had one complaint about working with him, if anything they all would like him to work on their tasks for the day. I see a big future with Terell’s hard work in the Monee public works department.”

Kevin Marrero is said to be “a superstar employee of our water department. He’s always on time and hits the paving, going on his tasks for the day. Kevin is usually the last to leave for the day. Kevin always gives the ultimate respect to residents and fellow employees. His tasks throughout the day change, and you can always call him and hear ‘no problem’. Never has he been heard to say ‘no’. Kevin is always very busy learning new water tasks. We are proud to say he will be going to try to pass the water test again and has not given up. We see a huge future for Kevin in our water department.

Megan Schneider “has been taking public works by the horns. She is always on time and, if needed, she offers to stay late. She has taken on the tasks at hand with no problem. She is always there to learn new things and always there to help. There was never a time she was not willing to pitch in all the tasks at hand. 

“You can find Megan working hard in a prairie to pull weeds, if needed. Her coworkers have the most respect for her because she also has the most respect for the hard work Public Works does every day. We are very excited for the future with Megan with the Village of Monee.”