Employee of the Quarter

Third Quarter of 2024

The Employee of the Quarter for the third quarter of 2024 is
AJ Rugen in the Information Technology Department.

We are delighted to recognize AJ Rugen for his outstanding commitment and exemplary service to Boone County. As a Programmer Analyst in our IT department, AJ's work to create internal applications and processes has been transformative for the Boone County Senior Real Estate Tax Relief Program. His ability to blend technical expertise with a user-centric approach made the application not only functional but also intuitive for the Collector's office. This ensured that even those without a technical background could navigate the system with ease.

Throughout the project, AJ exhibited exceptional collaboration skills, making him a joy to work with. His patience and responsiveness fostered a productive working environment, where questions were welcomed and addressed promptly. The fact that he consistently delivered solutions quickly—often having features ready for testing by midday—demonstrates his commitment to the project's success and to alleviating pressure on the Collector's office during an extremely busy time. AJ's work on the application was particularly impressive given the unique challenges presented by this new program. He successfully digitized and streamlined the processing of over 8,000 paper applications, linking them seamlessly to the Assessor's files for immediate access to essential information. His foresight in creating a flexible and adaptable system allowed the team to continuously refine the application to meet evolving needs.

The impact of AJ's efforts is clear: without his collaboration and skills to create a dynamic application, the Collector's office would have struggled significantly to implement the program efficiently. His innovative solutions not only improved workflow but also ensured that applicants could quickly receive the benefits they were entitled to.

Please join us in celebrating AJ Rugen's exceptional service and contributions. His dedication, patience, and responsiveness are truly inspiring, and we are grateful to have him as part of our team.

Additional Recognition

The Employee Recognition and Suggestion Committee would also like to recognize the following nominees:

Alicia Koetting – Detention Sergeant – Sheriff's Office

Audrey Kerstead – Senior Administrative Assistant – County Clerk's Office

Belinda Davis – Deputy Collector – Collector's Office

Jodi Vanskike – Deputy County Clerk III – County Clerk's Office

Matt Vessar – Investigator – Sheriff's Office

Rand Williams – Acting Custodial Supervisor – Facilities Management