Career Agent Lindsey Ternes Earns Transforming Lives Award
ByJanelle Cheney
Career Agent Lindsey Ternes is ONE IN A MILLION ~ and has received the Employee Recognition Award for Transforming Lives! I will do my best to try sum up (briefly), the impact Agent Ternes has had during her career with the MN Department of Corrections.
Lindsey has spearheaded the Internship process within Moorhead, starting with recruitment to working directly with Central Office and the College in ensuring credit is given to the Student. She facilitates a monthly Law Enforcement meeting that has grown in size and talent sitting at the table. This meeting is specific to School Resource Officers and now includes Social Services, school staff, and more, and focuses on at-risk youth. It aims to be proactive while troubleshooting and working collaboratively towards addressing ongoing concerns with those already actively involved in the juvenile judicial system. She most recently has made herself physically available on-site at the Career Academy to support the school staff. Lindsey conducts job fairs and makes herself available for Career Days, speaking on behalf of the DOC. Lindsey also is a leader as she prioritizes her availability to the court system, often covering detention and arraignment hearings of youth.
Agent Lindsey Ternes is a member of the Local Collaborative Time Study (LCTS) Team, the Clay County Safe Harbor Response Team, the Children's Mental Health Team, and the Pre-placement Screening Team within Clay County. She not only attends these meetings but she engages in the dialog and does an amazing job representing the DOC at the table of such meetings.
Co-workers had this to say about Agent Ternes:
Lindsey not only works hard to transform the lives of our clients but she is also a professor at the local college, transforming the lives of her criminal justice students. She is sharing her knowledge with the future of the DOC.
Lindsey from day one has been someone to aspire to model your life after. She is easy going, smart, articulate, full of prosocial activities, she would not score high on an LSCMI! I couldn't count how many times I sat, stood, rode next to her while she was working with clients and got a bird eye's view on how an effective probation officer transforms people, not just her clients. Lindsey's ability to connect with a client is uncanny; however, I believe her ability to brighten any room with her positive attitude is her greatest strength. I have no doubt in my mind that she has single handedly transformed thousands of lives for the better, I know firsthand. She is truly a great human and I am honored to work alongside her and call her a friend.
Lindsey is the gorilla glue who holds it all together. Lindsey is our office's mother hen, keeping track of details involving her and others' workload. She's a mentor and a guide for new employees and interns, helping them to have a positive work or learning experience. Her attention to detail keeps everything and everyone in line, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. Her wings envelope others outside of our office, including buying gifts for juveniles who are detained over Christmas, working with schools and law enforcement, and instructing at a local college. Within our office, Lindsey ensures all are remembered and recognized, from planning retirement parties, going away parties, and other areas of employee recognition, leaving everyone feeling remembered and cared about. There has never been a time Lindsey has expressed exasperation or frustration with her responsibilities. Regardless of changes encountered or obstacles she comes up against, Lindsey meets it with a positive attitude and respect. Lindsey is an exemplary employee, comrade and mentor, the superglue who holds the office together and running smoothly!
Lindsey Ternes is the hardest working agent in this office. Her work ethic is beyond reproach. Her positive can-do attitude is a constant. She chairs and is active on several committees serving our youth who are often disadvantaged on many levels. She is involved in volunteerism with this population as well. She teaches at a local college inspiring and educating future corrections and law enforcement candidates.
Lindsey's sincerity and compassion for her clients is always apparent. Aside from being a tremendous agent, Lindsey goes the extra mile in many ways. She has been a long time volunteer with the Moorhead Police Summer Youth Program, she started a Girl's Group for her female clients, teaches at the local college, and represents the DOC on a number of committees. Her thoughtfulness and expertise are invaluable to Clay County.
Lindsey works tirelessly to not only help clients make meaningful changes but colleagues, community members, students, and so many more as well. I first met Lindsey as a junior in college. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my degree but thought probation could be a good fit. Lindsey was an instrumental part in the internship program of Clay County and helped me throughout the entire process. I was able to learn so much from her and she was always willing to help. Lindsey is never afraid to go the extra mile and expects nothing in return. She is so deserving of this award as she exemplifies what it means to be a probation Agent and to transform others lives.
Lindsey is a team player who always has a positive attitude. Lindsey goes above and beyond what is expected of her at work and is one of the nicest people I have ever gotten the opportunity to work with.
Lindsey is the only reason I believe I have done so well! She is my guru, literally! She is always there to help me, to help cover anything that I need and support me! I am so happy and proud that she is winning this award, she truly deserves it. She knows so many people and does so much for not only probation, this county, and the criminal justice field! Congrats to her!!!
