Darwin Cheng, Acting Director Environmental Health
“This is an incredible honor for our Environmental
Health Division. We want to thank the selection
committee for recognizing our dedication and hard
work in protecting the health and safety of all Orange
County residents. Our commitment to serving the
community continues, and I am so grateful to know that
we have the best of the best protecting public health.”
Miloni Devani, SEHS
“Receiving this award means a lot to me personally
because it is a validation of the countless hours
of hard work and dedication I have put into the
Sidewalk Vending Team. It’s a wonderful feeling to be
recognized for my contributions and it motivates me
to continue striving for excellence in my professional
endeavors. Professionally, this award means a lot to
our team as it highlights our collaborative efforts and
serves as a reminder that working together can make
a positive impact on the community that we serve as
we protect public health.”
Sean Beachler, EHS III
“Receiving this award is a source of great personal and
professional pride for our team. Personally, it reinforces
our dedication to safeguarding public health, despite the
sometimes-diverse feedback we encounter. Professionally,
it validates the importance of our work and motivates
us to continue providing this essential service to our
community.”
Denise Sanchez, Environmental Health Specialist (EHS) II
“It feels great to have our work recognized.
Oftentimes we face a lot of criticism from the public.
We start with educating and informing before taking
enforcement actions. The work we do can sometimes
be difficult and draining, so knowing that it does not
go unnoticed is really uplifting.”
Dennis Ho, EHS II
“Being appreciated and acknowledged for our hard work
is a great feeling. It's an honor to be recognized for our
dedication and teamwork, and it makes everything we do
feel even more meaningful.”
Britney Torrico, EHS III
“Personally, receiving this award makes me feel seen, that
all of our hard work does not go unnoticed. We as a team
are doing our best to protect the public as we address each
vendor. Professionally, it encourages me to continue doing
the work in the name of public health.”
Bao Huynh, Program Manager
“This amazing team has been giving up their nights and
weekends for many years now. Much of their work has gone
unnoticed. They work their normal hours during the day and
then address sidewalk vendors at night. This typically results
in burnout, yet they persevere and are resilient. Personally,
for me I am pleased to see that they are being recognized for
the work that they have been doing for so long. Professionally
this recognition highlights the importance of what the team
has been doing, protecting the public from unsafe food. It
demonstrates the support for the team and work.”
Sha Rashi-Fard, Supervising Environmental Health
Specialist (SEHS)
“It is a great accomplishment to be part of a team that
works to protect public health by ensuring that food
is delivered safely to the general public. It is amazing
to work with a team made up of not only regulatory
partners but the members of the public.”
Noah Le, EHS III
“To me, winning such an award is a source of immense
personal pride. It provides a sense of achievement and
recognition for the team's collective and individual
contributions. It affirms that our hard work, dedication, and
efforts have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. This
also boosts our morale and motivation in working with the
Environmental Health. For the street vending team, I think
receiving the Steve Ambriz Award enhances the team's
professional reputation and credibility within the Health
Care Agency. Team members may be seen as experts in the
education and enforcement of unpermitted sidewalk vendors.”
Yasmin Barrera, EHS II
“Personally, it feels great to be recognized for
something that my team and I take very seriously as
we do our best to protect the public. Professionally,
we are trying to make food vendors comply with the
rules and regulations by educating them and steering
them the right way. The thanks we receive from the
cities and the public keep us motivated to continue
doing this work.”
5
DECEMBER 2023