A Corrections Officer and a Nursing Supervisor received special recognition during Wednesday’s meeting of the Corrections Commission of Northwest Ohio.

     Corrections Officer Brian Benarth was named the CCNO Employee of the Year while Chris Niese RN, Director of Nursing, was named CCNO Contract Employee of the Year.

     Benarth of Wauseon received the top honor as CCNO Employee of the Year for confiscating contraband from an offender during a routine search that later provided information about an ongoing murder investigation in Lucas County.  Detectives who were investigating the homicide were contacted and the information obtained proved to be useful.  Benarth received special recognition for following CCNO policy with a pat down search that was done correctly and then following up with what was found.

     Jim Dennis, CCNO Executive Director, said, “While we cannot talk about the investigation, we can talk about Brian Benarth being a special employee.  He always does quality work and he works hard.  He works in our booking department frequently, which is a difficult post.  Brian is very knowledgeable about security threat groups and how to handle some of our more dangerous citizens.  He is well respected by his peers and supervisors.  He’s an asset to CCNO.”

    Benarth was originally employed at CCNO in 1994 and promoted to Corrections Supervisor in 1999 before relocating to another state in 2001.  He and his wife, Angie, along with two sons returned to Ohio and he was rehired at CCNO Nov. 3, 2003.

     Chris Niese RN of Defiance was named Top Contract Employee of the Year at CCNO.  Niese serves as the Director of Nursing and has been working at CCNO since June 18, 2004.  She started as a registered nurse and was named Director of Nursing in 2008 when employed by Corrections Medical Services, a contractor.  She continues that role under Health Professionals Limited, a new medical contractor.  She has three children and two grandchildren.