Department of Financial Institutions Winner of Sacramento Workplace Excellence Leader Awards -- Not for Profit Small-Organization Category.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Sacramento Regional Office recently received recognition by its own employee and the Sacramento Area Human Resource Association (SAHRA) as a "SWEL" winner. The Sacramento Workplace Excellence Leaders (SWEL) awards are given annually to Sacramento area organizations that exhibit exceptional and unique human resource practices. A total of 18 awards were presented to Sacramento employers.

"We believe that our people are most important. It is our positive can-do attitude and belief that all employees contribute to our mission, that makes us a great place to work," said Carol Chesbrough, Chief Deputy Commissioner when accepting the award this week.

The Sacramento Office of DFI was nominated by an employee, Mr. Don Lake, Senior Financial Institutions Examiner. The following programs, which support employees, were highlighted:

--On the job training programs, including scholarships to attend and graduate from banking schools;

--Cross-training programs;

--DFI Leadership development program;

--Annual all staff training conference;

--Flexible work hours, alternate work schedules, and teleworking;

--Regular communications including the employee newsletter and intranet site; and

--DREAM Team that sponsors regular social events.

"It is such an honor to have the Department's Sacramento Regional Office recognized. It is our people that have won the award and our goal is to be excellent in all we do," said Howard Gould, Commissioner.

The Sacramento Area Human Resource Association (SAHRA) is an organization of human resource professionals representing private and public sector employers in the Greater Sacramento area. Their Web site is located at www.sahra.org.

SWEL Awards appeared in the Sacramento Bee on April 7, 2005.

DFI supervises over 650 financial institutions, including 204 banks and 216 credit unions and reports to Sunne Wright McPeak, Secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.