MASSENA -- Members of the U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) workforce in Massena were recognized Tuesday, May 14 by SLSDC Deputy Administrator Craig H. Middlebrook.

Corporation employees who have exemplified the organization’s core values of service, leadership, stewardship, dependability and commitment were honored during an awards ceremony at the Eisenhower Lock Visitors’ Center.

The employees recognized for their accomplishments are:

• Stephen McCargar and Jeffrey Robert, Administrator’s Award for Notable Achievement

• Randy Gilmer and James MacDonald, SLSDC Leadership Award

• Carl Eldridge, Nate Jarvis, and Thomas Ritchie, Commitment to Excellence Award

• Keith Benham, Jeremy Buffham, Matthew Cole, Nicholas Hallada, and Kevin Smith, Excellence in Teamwork Award

• Robert Barkley, Jonathan Chapman, Ryan Chatland, Anthony Curley, Shaun DaFoe, Eric Hebert, Michael Howard, John McCarthy, Ronald McGregor, and David Sanford, Safety First Team Award

Also recognized at the event was Jonathan Chapman who received a Meritorious Award, the third highest award bestowed by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao in recognition of “exceptionally meritorious service to the Department of Transportation or Federal Government.”

Josef Walker and Amanda Helmer were honored for heading up a Christmas gift drive at the SLSDC to provide gifts for children in the Massena area.

In addition, three employees were acknowledged for their retirement from the SLSDC, John Matthews, Jeffrey Root, and Larry Mattison.

The SLSDC is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation and is a major employer in the North Country. The SLSDC says its mission is to serve the marine transportation industry by providing a safe, secure, reliable, efficient, and competitive deep draft international waterway.

“The work performed by SLSDC employees keeps tens of millions of tons of cargo moving throughout the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System,” the announcement from the DOT said.