Chapel Hill Employee wins service award, highlights community connection

​​When the Town of Chapel Hill held a small event to celebrate Administrative Coordinator in the Technology Solutions department Carla Burnette’s 30 year anniversary with the Town, they expected only a few friends to attend. 

Instead, over 100 Town employees stopped by to congratulate her. 

Alisha Cordell, a co-worker of Burnette’s, said that because of Burnette’s 31 years of service and her compassion, almost all Town employees know her by face and name. 

“She is always friendly, always professional, always about teamwork and respectfulness. There is no one that you'll see that she won't run over and help them.” Cordell said. 

Burnette, after being nominated by Cordell, won the Cal Horton Service Award. 

The Cal Horton Service Award is named for the Town Manager from 1990-2006.  

“The fact that local community members would [fund the award] to commemorate the manager speaks to his impact on the community and the high regard in which he was viewed in this community,” Town Manager Chris Blue said. 

Town Employees who embody the spirit of Horton are nominated by other employees. 

“She is so deserving of this most distinguishing honor,” Cordell said.

In order to be nominated for the award, the recipient must have worked for the Town for at least 10 years and be an outstanding employee who is exemplary of the Town’s values of responsibility, equity and teamwork. 

A committee of former winners selects the new winner. The winner receives a cash prize and an engraved plaque. 

For Burnette, the award also serves as a reminder that her decades of hard work have touched the lives of others.

“It just makes me feel amazing.” Burnette said. “What I’m doing, I’m doing something right.

Over the years, Burnette has worn many hats as a Town employee. Her deep connections to the community made her the ideal candidate for her current position.

Burnette said she enjoys working with the Town because of the close communication between various departments.

“The best part [of working for the Town] is they will train you if you're willing to learn, they will teach you,” Burnette said. “It gives you the opportunity to move up and grow.”

Cordell said that because of Burnette’s extensive institutional knowledge and her willingness to go above and beyond, the Town heavily relies on her, both within and outside of her department. 

“When you have someone who's in an admin role and they're so capable of taking on so many other roles in the department, then you really have to acknowledge that person and their service," Cordell said. 

Burnette said she was astonished when she won. 

“It’s all amazing,” Burnette said. "To just be nominated, wow, it blew me away.”

Burnette is a Chapel Hill native, and this is a point of pride for her because it helps her know the needs of the community. Burnette said while she began her work in the public housing department because of her love of public service, her loyalty to the Town is because of her love of her coworkers.

“It is truly motivating to work along with people settled in their roles and who genuinely care about each other's successes and wellbeing,” Burnette said. “That support makes all the difference in the world. I couldn't pick a better place to work.”

Burnette’s dedication to her coworkers and community members, as well as her positive attitude, don’t go unnoticed by those around her. 

“In an organization of 700 and some people, being able to have that kind of impact on folks and leave people with a sense of such positivity is a remarkable legacy to have.” Blue said.

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