Tomball's 2018 Employee Of The Year: Vincent Mendez

TOMBALL, TX — City leaders in Tomball has started a new tradition of recognizing their employees for their service to the community.

On Monday, Vincent Mendez, the lead mechanic for the City's public works department, became the first employee to be named the employee of the year.

Monday night was a big deal for Mendez and his family. The family man stood in the back of the Tomball City Council chambers with his wife and four children as he waited to be honored as the City of Tomball 2018 Employee of the Year.

Mendez, who has been with the City of Tomball’s public works department for nearly 10 years, is satisfied with going to work every day and doing his best for the family at home, the extended Tomball family in his shop, and the residents in Tomball, so the honor was a surprise.

“I didn’t know nothing about this,” Vincent said with a grin. “I don’t know what to do. I have never been to one of these before.”

His family beamed as they waited with him. Youngest daughter Venus tended and fussed over her newborn baby brother Vincent Mendez IV, while sister Vivikka, 16, and Varbie, 12, visited with their mom, Veronica.

“To me, this is an accomplishment that their dad can show them,” Veronica said. “If you do your best, you get recognized.”

While Mendez may have been surprised by such a nomination

But the people Mendez works side-by-side with knew about it, and the shared their comments in Medina’s nomination.

Although the city has a long list of amazing employees and officials, Mendez is the first to be officially recognized by the City as its Employee of the Year.

“...this is our highest honor for our City employees,” said City Manager Rob Hauck.

The nominations were submitted to the City’s Human Resources Department by each department and reviewed by HR and City Management.

Tomball Public Works Director Beth Jones said Mendez was recommended by many of his peers, but there were a few of those recommendations that really shined.

“Since Vincent has taken over the garage, it’s like a whole new department,” one of the recommendations read. “Vehicles and equipment are getting in and out in record time, preventive maintenance is getting done like never before, and service requests are being completed in record time...”

Another recommendation credited Mendez with turning the mechanics shop into a productive environment where the work is efficiently and effectively.

“Those recommendations are just a snippet of what he has truly done,” Jones said. “We talk a lot about getting people in the right seat on the bus, and since moving Vincent up to lead mechanic, he has really shown that he has a phenomenal skill-set…”

Vincent Mendez, thanked City leaders as he was awarded a plaque at the first ever Council presentation, gave all the credit to the people in his shop that helped him succeed.

“This isn’t just about one person, it’s about a whole group…,” Mendez said.

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Image: Bryan Kirk, Patch Staff

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