New York, Dec. 18, 2008 – New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Robert W. Walsh this week joined Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor Robert C. Lieber, Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Martha K. Hirst and others in congratulating the winners of this year’s Hundred Year Association Isaac Liberman Public Service Awards and E. Virgil Conway College Scholar Awards held at One Police Plaza on Tuesday, December 16, 2008.

For the seventh consecutive year, SBS is proud that one of its employees has been recognized for exemplary devotion to public service. This year’s recipient Narda Amarilla-Fernandez, a Senior Budget Analyst at SBS, joins 18 City employees and 23 sons and daughters of City employees, who received cash prizes and scholarships totaling nearly $70,000.  Narda received a $1,000 award sponsored by The Bank of New York Mellon.

“I applaud Narda for her commitment to public service. During her 14 years with SBS, she has always shown an unfailing willingness to take on new responsibilities, tackle new challenges and perform them skillfully,” said SBS Commissioner Walsh. “She truly deserves this award for all her hard work and contributions to this Agency and the City. The dedication demonstrated by Narda and the previous award recipients have improved the way SBS serves New Yorkers.”

SBS is proud of a running track record of Isaac Liberman Public Service Award Recipients for the past six years. The previous winners are Brenda Snider (2007), Eddy Eng (2006), Haleena Nalevanko (2005), Charles Houston (2004), Lynn Roberts (2003) and Bernadette Nation (2002).  All the recipients are currently employed at SBS.

The Department of Small Business Services’ (SBS) primary mission is to make it easier for businesses in New York City to form, do business, and grow by providing direct assistance to business owners, fostering neighborhood development in commercial districts, and linking employers to a skilled and qualified workforce. Many of the services provided to businesses, neighborhood organizations, and jobseekers are delivered through organizations that contract with SBS.

Since joining SBS in 1994 as an unpaid intern, Narda has continued to demonstrate competence across multiple areas at SBS. She has continually exemplified what it means to go the extra mile to get the job done.

In her current position as the Senior Budget Analyst, Narda executes a variety of functions critical to Agency operations.  On a daily basis, many of the transactions that occur at SBS are successful because she has skillfully liaised with the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Comptroller to agree to the funding or registration of contracts.  Her role in this process is the critical element that allows SBS to move forward with the registration of the contracts that support Agency programs.  She is also tasked with tracking the Agency’s $48 million budget of federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) grant funding.  She has a vast knowledge of the various units she interacts with and often works across multiple units to get the job done. Her ability to work across agency units helps SBS maximize the use of funds to support our mission. 

Ms. Amarilla-Fernandez is a resident of Woodside, Queens.

The Hundred Year Association – founded in 1927 and composed of businesses, professional,  educational and charitable organizations that have been in continuous operation in New York Cityfor over a century – has honored career civil service employees since 1958. In addition, since 1971,the Association has awarded college scholarships to the children of city employees for outstandingacademic achievement and community service.

Each year, the Hundred Year Association reviews the achievements of City employees to identify those who, through dedication beyond their job descriptions, have provided outstanding service to the people of New York City. Winners are chosen by a committee composed of representatives of the Association and Commissioners Hirst, Commissioner Martha E. Stark and Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty as representatives of the City. The Association also awards scholarships for the children of career civil servants. Recipients of the awards receive between $1,000 and $6,000.

The Association’s awards are augmented by member-sponsored awards funded by: The Bank ofNew York Mellon; Bowne & Co.; Brooklyn Bar Association; Caleb Haley & Company; The Chief-Civil Service Leader; Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.; Cushman & WakefieldGlobal Real Estate; Dancker, Sellew & Douglas; The Delta Kappa Epsilon Club of New York; E-JElectric Installation Co.; Elaine Wingate Conway; Emmet, Marvin & Martin LLP; The ForwardFoundation; Geneva Worldwide; Hagedorn & Company; Henry W.T. Mali and Company; TheHotel Wales; James Thompson & Co., Inc.; John Gallin & Son, Inc.; Leys, Christie & Co., Inc.;Modell’s Sporting Goods, Inc.; National Grid; The New York Post; New York University; The Okin Family; Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker; Ralph K. Smith; Richmond County Savings Bank; Roman Stone Construction Co.; Rosenwach Tank Co.; Finance Commissioner Martha E. Stark and the Stark Family; The Steere Family Foundation; and Tiger Baron Foundation.