News Detail
Franklin County Recognizes Employees For Dedication, Outstanding Service
Commissioners
March 16, 2026
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – The Franklin County Commissioners recently announced the county’s highest employee honors when naming its 2025 SERVICE Value Award winners, Employee of the Year and Community Hero.
“Franklin County is fortunate to have outstanding staff serving in every department. Many employees were deserving of these awards, making it a challenge to choose just one recipient for each honor,” said Franklin County Commissioner Chairman Dean Horst. “While the awards highlight individual achievements, we know each honoree understands that delivering excellent service to our community is truly a team effort. We appreciate everything our employees do every day for the residents of Franklin County.”
SERVICE Value Awards
Franklin County’s SERVICE Value Awards recognize those employees whose performance exemplifies and represents one of the county’s seven established values, which, as an acronym, spell S-E-R-V-I-C-E. Employees are nominated by coworkers and recipients are selected by division leaders. Those values and descriptions are:
- Stewardship: Balancing efficiency and flexibility with fiscal discipline, we will seek sustainable resources, practice long-term planning, and be prudent when using resources.
- 2025 Recipient: Daphne Blair, accounting information systems manager, fiscal department
- Engagement: We will work together to incorporate the needs, assets and perspectives of all aspects of the community into the design, implementation and delivery of programs.
- 2025 Recipient: Melodie Hoff, director, grants management/Criminal Justice Advisory Board
- Responsiveness: We will deliver on our commitments in a timely manner.
- 2025 Recipient: Ashley McCullough, aging care manager supervisor II, Franklin County Area Agency on Aging
- Visibility: We will honestly exchange ideas and information, with the public and coworkers, transparently and respectfully at all times.
- 2025 Recipient: Victoria Ballantine, senior center director, Franklin County Area Agency on Aging
- Integrity: We will strictly adhere to the moral, legal and ethical principles underlying our operations and service delivery.
- 2025 Recipient: Jim Gilbert, mental health program specialist, Franklin/Fulton Mental Health/Intellectual Developmental Disabilities/Early Intervention
- Continuous Improvement: We will hone our processes, our services and ourselves, knowing that big results come from small changes over time.
- 2025 Recipient: Makenzie Nehf, E911 training and QA coordinator, Franklin County Department of Emergency Services
- Employees: We will value individuals’ contributions to the organization and provide encouragement, opportunities and resources to support them in reaching their maximum potential.
- 2025 Recipient: Giana Johnson, Caseworker I – Ongoing, children and youth services
Community Hero Award
Mason DeShong was named the 2025 Community Hero award recipient. This honor is presented to an employee who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to improve or save the lives of Franklin County residents. DeShong has been with the county since July 2025 and currently serves as a correctional officer at the Franklin County Jail.
DeShong was recognized for eliminating a potentially serious security risk inside the Franklin County Jail. His decisive actions and keen attention to detail reflect the highest standards of safety, vigilance and responsibility and protected his fellow officers as well as inmates in the facility.
“Being recognized as a community hero is an honor that reflects the people around me as much as my own efforts,” said DeShong. “It inspires me to keep contributing, supporting others and helping the jail thrive.”
Employee of the Year
Giana Johnson received the 2025 Employee of the Year Award. Johnson has been employed with Franklin County since January 2024 and currently serves as a caseworker I – ongoing with the county’s children and youth services department.
Franklin County’s Employee of the Year is chosen annually from among the county’s 12 Employee of the Month recipients. Johnson was honored as the August 2025 Employee of the Month when she was recognized for her adept handling of an emergency situation involving one of her clients and how her quick thinking and attention to detail maintained the safety of everyone who could be impacted.
“To be recognized as Employee of the Year lets me know that I am seen whether I know it or not,” said Johnson. “Many times, employees work hard and are never really acknowledged. While acknowledgement is not why we do this job, it is still a good feeling that helps lift one up when the rough days seem to outweigh the good ones.”
Employees of the Month
Those individuals who were recognized as Franklin County Employees of the Month in 2025 were:
- January: Heather Franzoni, warden, Franklin County Jail
- February: Michael Deckert, director of infrastructure, information technology services
- March: Theresa Anthony, director, domestic relations
- April: Amelia Miller, custodial worker, property management
- May: Veronica Brestensky, chief deputy district attorney, Franklin County District Attorney’s Office
- June: Gayle Schreiber, casework supervisor II, children and youth services
- July: Tammy Zook, business manager, Franklin County Jail
- August: Giana Johnson, caseworker I – ongoing, children and youth services
- September: Bryan Chappell, investigator, public defender’s office
- October: Haleigh Dunkle, caseworker, children and youth services
- November: Janelle Friese, director, fiscal department
- December: Stacey Parson, probation officer, adult probation
The commissioners extended their heartfelt thanks and gratitude to each of these individuals for their hard work and dedication on behalf of Franklin County residents.
