Members of the Month
COBANC January 2012 Member of the Month - Lorraine Jannello
Lorraine Jannello has been selected as the Member of the Month for January 2012. Lorraine is the Administrative Services Clerk in the Chief Clerks Office of District Court. There is no job too tough for Lorraine to tackle. It is her dedication to her job that makes her a special employee. Whether she is helping fellow COBANC members find answers to their questions or making sure the right parties are contacted to address the many needs and challenges that require attention in the court buildings, Lorraine is the one that gets the job done with a smile. It is our pleasure to award Lorraine with this honor.
COBANC October Member of the Month James Sullivan
Jim Sullivan started as a court officer and has continued up through the ranks until reaching his current title as the Supervisor in Criminal South. Jim is affectionately known as “Father Jim.” He is always concerned with all the employees’ needs and issues. He has a unique management style, that is friendly, yet effective. Jim is a staunch supporter of the union and its members, and is always willing to listen and consider with an open mind any issues the union may have. Jim is a deserving recipient of this special recognition.
COBANC September Member of the Month Catherine Doyle
Captain Catherine Doyle started her career as a court officer in the Nassau County Family Court and soon ascended through the ranks to reach the rank of captain in 2004. Captain Doyle always puts the needs of the officers and clerks she trains above everything else. Throughout her career in Nassau County, she has always gone above and beyond in all she does. She is a past recipient of COBANC’s Award of Merit and is always helpful to COBANC members. She is a role model and someone worthy of recognition.
COBANC August Member of the Month Kevin Brosnan
Kevin Brosnan started his career as a court officer in April, 1990, in Manhattan Criminal Court. He soon became a senior court clerk. In 2001, he was promoted to associate court clerk and assigned to the Nassau County Matrimonial Center. Kevin is always eager to assist pro-se litigants drawing on his
knowledge and experience to answer all their questions. He is also very quick to lend a helping hand to his coworkers. Kevin truly is a worthy recipient of this recognition.
COBANC July Member of the Month Maryann Camilleri
Maryann Camilleri works in the Adoption/Guardianship Section of the Nassau Family Court. Maryann is a ready source of information and always makes herself available to the public to answer any questions and to assist with completing paperwork. Maryann’s helpful personality, warm smile and ability to share her knowledge of the Guardianship/Adoption process has made her stand out both with the public and her peers. Maryann is well deserving of this award.
COBANC June Member of the Month Kathleen Holland
Congratulations to Kathleen Holland, Court Assistant. Kathleen has been named COBANC Member of the Month for June because of her outstanding contributions and her dedication in both her business and private life. Kathy is very active in AMC-Children of Hope, as well as with the collection of food for the Faith Mission Soup Kitchen. She also serves as a Trustee on the COBANC Health and Welfare Board. “Nominating Kathy was easy because she does so much and always has a smile and something nice to say,” stated Karen Holmgaard. Kathleen has been selected as COBANC Member of the Month of June in recognition of all her efforts.
COBANC May Member of the Month Johnnie Greene
Congratulations to Johnnie Greene, Court Office Assistant in Nassau County District Court. Johnnie has been named COBANC Member of the Month for May. Johnnie is not only kind and courteous to the public she serves at the vacate window in the criminal north side of the Nassau County District Court, but to all she encounters in her building. Ms. Greene always has a warm smile and a kind word for everyone that comes across her path. Pete Picuilo nominated Johnnie because of her great qualities as well as her eagerness to lend a helping hand with various union and district court events. Pete says Johnnie is his go-to-person whenever a task needs to be done or a file needs to be found. In Johnnie’s ten years in the court system, she has been the ideal court employee as well as an outstanding member of this Association, and that is why Johnnie Greene is COBANC Member of the Month for May.
COBANC April Member of the Month Donald Vetter
Donald Vetter was born and raised in Glendale, Queens. He is the youngest of seven children. Donald attended Sacred Heart Catholic grade school, Brooklyn Technical High School, John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Touro Law School.
Donald has been a member of the New York State Unified Court System since October 16, 1989. He was first appointed to Bronx Criminal Court as a Uniformed Court Officer. In 1993, Officer Vetter was promoted to the position of Senior Court Office in New York County Supreme Court – Criminal Term.
In 1996, Don left the uniform ranks to take a position as Senior Court Clerk. He was assigned to the first District Court, Nassau County. In 2000, Donald was promoted to the position of Associate Court Clerk in the Nassau County Supreme Court. In 2004, Donald was on the move again, promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief Clerk of Nassau County Court. In 2007, Donald took on his current assignment, Court Clerk Specialist. He is currently assigned to the Nassau County Court in Mineola.
Donald Vetter is a former First and Second Vice-President, as well as a delegate of the Court Officers Benevolent Association of Nassau County. He has also served on a variety of committees for the Office of Court Administration.
In his spare time, Don coaches Little League baseball and deck hockey. Donald enjoys music (The Grateful Dead), professional sports (Mets, Jets, Rangers) and traveling to Walt Disney World with his family.
Donald resides in Massapequa with his wife of over 20 years, MaryBeth. They have two children; Max, age 13, and Hannah, age 10.
COBANC March Member of the Month Sharon Levy
Congratulations to Sharon Levy, Senior Court Officer in Supreme Court. Sharon has been named COBANC Employee of the month for March and is the Nassau County Bar Association’s Nominee for the 2010 Pete T. Affatato Court Employee of the Year Award. As a recipient of this award, Officer Levy was honored at the Bar Association on April 29th.
Officer Levy began her court career as a uniformed court officer in 1986 assigned to the Nassau County District Court. In 1990, Sharon was promoted to Senior Court Officer and assigned to the Nassau County Supreme Court.
Sharon graduated summa cum laude from C.W. Post College with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice; she earned a Paralegal Certificate from Adelphi University; served as a Special Police Officer and Spanish interpreter for the Freeport Police Department from 1980 to 1985; is an active member of Congregation B’nai Israel in Freeport; and participates in charitable organizations including Ronald McDonald House, The Association for the Help of Retarded Children, and ANCHOR programs, and volunteers for animal rescues and adoptions with Animal Lifeline, Inc.
Officer Levy is currently assigned to the Secure Pass/Security Desk located in the lower level of the Supreme Court, Nassau County, where she processes attorneys’ and non-attorneys’ secure pass applications and is responsible for security of attorneys, court personnel and the general public.
Sharon is professional, courteous, and helpful to all court users She always has a smile on her face and wears her uniform proudly! Congratulations to Officer Sharon Levy!
COBANC February Member of the Month Patricia Bannon
The Association would like to congratulate and recognize February 2010 Member of the Month Patricia Bannon, Support Magistrate Family Court. Those who know and work with Patricia Bannon agree she is more than deserving of this prestigious recognition. Time and time again, she has demonstrated her willingness to go above and beyond to help her colleagues and those less fortunate.
Ms. Bannon began the International Family Court Holiday Celebration and Food Drive four years ago. In order to participate in these festivities, one must bring nonperishable canned or dried goods to the event. In addition, attendees are encouraged to bring an ethnic food dish of their heritage, paper goods, beverages and a monetary donation. These events have been very successful, ensuring families in need will have food for the holidays. In 2009, the recipient of her humanitarian efforts was Peace Valley Haven, a not-for-profit community-based organization dedicated to providing transitional housing and assistance to homeless men, women and children. Their food program distributes free groceries to low income, homeless and senior populations. Each month, Peace Valley Haven serves food baskets to 87 families in Nassau County.
She consistently puts the needs of her colleagues before her own, often taking the time to improve resumes and to provide letters of recommendation. This is all accomplished on her own time. Ms. Bannon is also known for making frequent weekend trips to COSTCO in order to keep the Courthouse staff well supplied with chocolate.
Ms. Bannon is an individual who truly possesses the qualities and characteristics of someone worthy of recognition as COBANC Member of the Month.
COBANC January Member of the Month Kristine Kehn
The Association would like to congratulate and recognize January 2010 Member of the Month Kristine Kehn, Court Assistant in the Matrimonial Center. Kristine has been a COBANC member for just over two (2) years and she performs her job daily with a smile. She always seems to be in a good mood. One of her major tasks is the “window” of the Mat Centers Clerk’s Office. Here she deals with customers bringing various papers, orders, motions, but most of all, questions. These “customers” include lawyers, paralegals, process servers, and more often than not members of the public who are Pro-se (representing themselves). Kristine answers these questions with sincerity and her cheerfulness means most leave happier and more informed than when they got there; some refer to her as “the font of information”. If she is not sure, she will confirm with one of the clerks in the office, and then she’s sure for the next time. She is an asset to the clerk’s office, the courts of Nassau County, and to COBANC, and is an example of the many hardworking members we represent.