The City of Palm Coast celebrated its employees under warm, sunny skies on Friday, December 5, 2025, during the annual Employee Honors Ceremony held at The Stage in Town Center. The event, organized by the City’s Wellness, Health, and Morale Team, known as WHAM, brought employees together for an afternoon of recognition and appreciation.
The highlight of the ceremony was the announcement of the 2025 Employee of the Year award, which went to Melissa Hill, Stormwater Citizen Resource and Outreach Coordinator. Hill was recognized for her consistent commitment to exceptional customer service, teamwork, and community engagement. City leaders particularly noted her leadership in expanding autism awareness efforts within the Stormwater Department and across the organization, calling her impact meaningful and lasting. City leaders, colleagues, and friends applauded her contributions during the ceremony.
The event also honored the 2025 Employees of the Month, each recognized for going above and beyond in their roles. The monthly honorees were Jim Melley in December, Haleigh Hand in January, Matthew Scammell in February, Jeff Gearst in March, Melissa Hill in April, Jesse Guymon in May, Mirnali Crimi in June, Ray Hackenburg in July, Shannon Martin in August, Adam Doroski in September, Brandon Boyd in October, and Daniel Driscoll in November.
The Employee of the Month program launched in 2023 and has become a tradition within the organization, honoring individuals who exemplify the city’s mission of delivering exceptional service by making citizens a priority.
The ceremony also celebrated employees reaching significant service milestones, recognizing team members at their one, five, ten, fifteen, and twenty-year marks and beyond.
Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston received special recognition during the ceremony for her service in that role over the past twenty months. Newly hired City Manager Michael McGlothlin will begin his role on December 17, at which time Johnston will return to her position as Assistant City Manager.
Johnston reflected on her time leading the organization. “Growing up in this community and having the privilege to serve the city I love has been one of the greatest honors of my career,” Johnston said. “To be recognized by this incredible team means more than I can express. Congratulations to Melissa, our Employee of the Month, and everyone celebrating service milestones. Your dedication and heart are what make Palm Coast an incredible place to live, learn, work, and play.”
The city extended gratitude to all employees for their service, noting that the celebration highlights both individual achievements and the collective spirit that contributes to Palm Coast’s success.
