Kitsap Mental Health Services (KMHS) recently honored its own — including employees, volunteers, board members, elected officials and community members at its Annual Dinner at Kiana Lodge. Attended by close to 300 people, the dinner marked the beginning of the agency’s 25th year of service to the Kitsap community and Peninsula Regional Support Network.

Corporate Board President James Tracy, emcee for the evening, helped to honor Carolyn Powers and Wes Tallman, both past presidents of the corporate board and founding members of the KMHS Foundation, as the board’s first emeritus members. Dr. Marti Lewis and Paul Dour, past presidents and ongoing members of the corporate board, were also recognized for 15 years of service.

Two KMHS staff members were honored with special memorial awards: Gary Carter received the Diane Decker Memorial Award, and Michele Knecht the Jane Browitt Memorial Award.

Employee of the Year Awards were presented to the following: Child & Family Services, Janine Nave; Adult Outpatient Services, Michele Dunn-Clarke; Specialized Community Response Services, Kathey Douglas; On-Call Services, Patricia Gifford; Leadership Award, Laura Holloway; Program Volunteer of the Year, Catherine MacDonald; Crisis Clinic Volunteer of the Year, Violet Mays; and Foster Parents of the Year, George & Gaye Barthold.

County Commissioner Tim Botkin, chair of the Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority Board of Directors, KCCHA Housing Development Manager Julie Graves-Winslow, representing KCCHA Executive Director Norm McLoughlin, and Janet Mayberry, KMHS Development and Community Relations Director, were all recognized for their partnership in developing safe and affordable housing for individuals with mental illness.