Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg presents Randy McCullough with the STARS award Oct. 18, 2012, at city hall in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Photo submitted).

Randy McCullough has been awarded the second Succeeding Through Attitudes Reflecting Service Excellence award for the month of October.

McCullough, a Murfreesboro Water and Sewer Department employee, was recognized with the STARS award by Mayor Tommy Bragg, joined by everyone in the room, at the outset of the Oct. 18 meeting of the Murfreesboro City Council. He did so with his family, wife, Rachel, and daughters Taylor and Hailey Burnett, by his side.

He is the second recipient of the STARS award, enacted to recognize for excellent service the city’s greatest assets – its employees.

The STARS award is a monthly award given to a city of Murfreesboro employee who exemplifies outstanding service excellence to the public, fellow employees and local government.

Employees may nominate a fellow employee, or, nominations can be made by a member of the general public who has had a particularly positive experience with a city employee.

“McCullough epitomizes the STARS program,” said Shannon Logan, coordinator for the Murfreesboro Service Excellence program. “It may have been his actions on one day that served as the nomination, but it is how he serves as an example in his work every day as to why he is a STAR.”

Director Darren Gore also praised McCullough’s work, saying he is always willing to lend a hand to whatever needs to be done.

Because customer service is a top priority for the city, it recognizes employees who go above and beyond what is expected to provide a top quality service for both internal and external employees.

To be selected, an employee must deliver superior service on a consistent basis, which can be demonstrated in a number of ways. The manner in which an employee interacts with a customer, the delivery of accurate and complete information and exceeding customer expectations are examples.

The award can also be given to an employee based, in part, on a one-time event that is very unique, complicated or significant.

As part of the award, McCullough will receive $25 (or gift equivalent) and one day of annual leave, according to the city’s annual leave policies.