On Wednesday evening, we held our annual DCo Honors event – a celebration of our employees who have reached significant public service milestones, as well as our retirees for 2025.

It was a festive time with plenty of smiles, cheers, tears, and laughter inside of our Human Services Building! As the holiday season continued, it allowed all of us to come together in fellowship and remember that we’re all in this together!

In all, 56 retirees who finished their careers with Durham County were honored. The group totaled 1,049 years of public service. On the side of current employees, 79 reached their 5-year milestone, 51 are 10-year veterans, 38 have 15 years of service, 24 have achieved 20 years, 25 are got to their silver anniversaries, 5 are 30-year employees, 2 have made it 35 year, and 1 employee – our own Chief of Communications Deborah Craig-Ray achieved her 40^th year leading the County’s communications efforts! In total they have worked 2,840 years for the residents of #DCo!

And for that I humbly thank them all!

Because of your success over the years, Durham County Government continues to maintain its reputation as an outstanding, award-winning local government. Please know how valuable and important you are to Durham County Government’s mission and vision.

Thank you to our Board of County Commissioners, who all gave heartfelt remarks to employees and thanked them all as they received their certificates of merit.

Board Chair Dr. Mike Lee let the employees know he holds them in high regard.

"When we Commissioners get elected, we say, 'I'm going to do this. Durham is going to be that.' But it's not us who actually make it happen—it's you. Over the years, you are the reason Durham has become a place that people and companies want to come to. It's because of your service and your steady, consistent progress. Regardless of what happens here or nationally, you've kept your heads down and pushed forward because you want what's best for our residents. You do that every day, day in and day out. And I cannot be more grateful."

Special thanks go out to the Human Resources Department staff for all their hard work organizing and putting on the event.

Another way we as an organization help lift up our employees is with our DCo Life Magazine. This online publication is a labor of love for our Public Information Office staff that allows everyone to get to know the people who make Durham County Government run every day.

And that is a vital component of a connected and

The latest issue focused on community – a brief look at some of the article topics include:

• Staff helping after weather-related disasters,
• Favorite recipes of employees,
• Durham County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officers helping our youth, and
• A series on native Durhamites who chose to work in public service for their community.

I invite you to check it out (and the previous two issues) and get to know some of Durham County’s public servants who I express deepest appreciation for their diligence and commitment to our community. And if you’re in one of our buildings or working with a DCo employee, I hope you’ll say “Thank you!”

They are the ingredients that make our county government great – with commitment, devotion, creativity, and high standards and make it possible for the residents of Durham County to live, grow, and thrive!

Until next week,

Claudia Hager | County Manager