Employee Service Awards
January 8, 2008
Board of County
Commissioner’s
Employee Service
Awards
• Today’s honorees are
recognized for outstanding
service and dedication.
Fire Rescue
Operations
David M. Cohen - 30 Years
• David was born in West
Palm Beach. He lived in
Citrus County, graduated
from Fire Standards in
Ocala and holds a degree
in Fire Science.
• David moved to Orange County to follow in his
brother’s footsteps, a firefighter with Taft Fire District.
• David was hired under the CETA Program to work at
the Goldenrod-Dommerich Fire Department.
• He was promoted to Engineer and Lieutenant in
1988.
David Cohen – 30 Years
• David was one of the first Critical Incident Stress Debriefers
in Orange County.
• He has provided technical support for firefighter funerals and
memorial services.
• David also serves as a Technical Information Specialist with
Urban Search and Rescue and was part of the Task Force
sent to Jackson County, MS after Hurricane Katrina.
• He has assisted with several disaster drills and
comprehensive exercises.
• David is married to Dr. Gloria Bullman. They have two grown
children: Joyce and Douglas and five grandchildren.
• David and Gloria love to travel and have visited 20 countries,
on 4 continents including most of the U.S. *
Thomas C. Rullo - 25 Years
• Tom was born in Attleboro,
MA and moved to Central
Florida in 1980.
• He attended Proctor
Academy and the University
of Massachusetts.
• He was initially hired as a Reserve Firefighter with
the Taft Fire Department.
• Tom was promoted to Engineer in 1991, Lieutenant
in 2001 and Battalion Chief in 2006.
• During the hurricanes of 2004, he ran the Fire
Rescue Department’s Field Operations Center.
Tom Rullo – 25 Years
• Tom is a nationally certified Type 3 Safety Officer
for the Regional Domestic Security Task Force
Incident Management Team.
• He has been awarded five citations:





Team rescue of elderly female in a house fire
First team on initial attack on Goldenrod Dollar General fire
Combat Challenge Team 2005
A rescue team that rescued a horse, Rex, from a ditch
A rescue operation involving an overturned vehicle off of SR419
• Tom has taken 13 classes with the National Wildfire
Coordination Group (over 260 training hours).
• He has been married to Amy for 10 years and they
have one daughter, Jessica, 4.
• In his spare time, Tom enjoys hiking, woodworking,
and helping at his daughter’s school. *
Debra J. Zielonka - 25 Years
• Debra was born in Baltimore,
MD and moved to Central
Florida in 1960 (as an infant –
she says).
• She graduated from Evans
High School and Valencia
Community College and is
currently attending Columbia
Southern University.
• Debra was hired in 1983 and was promoted to Engineer in
1989, Lieutenant in 2000 and Captain in 2005.
• Debra was named Officer of the Year in 2003.
• She is the co-inventor of the Pedi Immobilizer, a device
used for infants who have sustained traumatic injuries.
Debra Zielonka – 25 Years
• Debra’s brother has been a Reserve Firefighter for 25
years. She has two nephews employed by Orange County
Fire Rescue and her brother-in-law is retired with 30 years
of service.
• She is the Program Coordinator of the Fire Rescue’s
Explorer Program that provides young adults an opportunity
to experience fire service prior the high school graduation.
• Debra’s outside interest include: Photography, yard work,
spending time with her family, friends, three dogs and a
cockatiel.
• But, Debra’s biggest accomplishment is being a two time
survivor of breast cancer and she recently reached her five
year mark. (Awareness is the key to surviving). *
Growth
Management
Department Office
James Edward Harrison - 20 Years
• Jim was born in Melbourne,
FL and moved here in 1980.
• He earned a B.S. in
Engineering from UCF in
1985.
• Jim also got his Master’s, Cum Laude, in Applied
Economics at UCF. He later earned his Juris
Doctor, Magna Cum Laude, at Barry University
Law School.
• He joined Orange County in 1988 as a Systems
Analyst at ISS.
Jim Harrison – 20 Years
• At ISS, Jim was responsible for coordinating with local
government agencies and providing guidance during the
implementation of the County’s GIS and engineering
software.
• Jim is a 1994 graduate of Leadership Orlando and the
Rollins College Public Works Leadership Program.
• He also graduated from the Harvard School of
Government Executive Seminar.
• Jim is Chairman for Transportation Issues with the Florida
Engineering Society.
• He is also an Adjunct Professor for Technical and
Engineering related programs at Valencia Community
College.
Jim Harrison – 20 Years
• Jim is presently the Director of Orange County’s
Growth Management Department.
• He oversees more than 300 professional and technical staff
supporting smart growth, planning, zoning, building safety
affordable housing and transportation solutions.
• Jim was intimately involved with the County’s Mobility 20/20
and Commuter Rail efforts.
• In his spare time, Jim likes to travel, go
boating and play tennis. But his favorite
vacation spot is Springfield, where he gets to
hang with Bart Simpson. *
Health & Family
Services
Youth & Family Services
Jimmy H. Mitchell - 40 Years
• Jimmy was born in Baltimore,
MD and moved to Orlando in
1968 by way of a Greyhound
bus.
• He is currently working on
obtaining his GED at Boone
High School.
• Jimmy came to work for the
County in 1968 as a Kitchen
Helper at Great Oaks Village.
He has now worked for 14
different Kitchen Managers.
Jimmy Mitchell – 40 Years
• Jimmy is known by his co-workers as
friendly, hard working, and willing to
help everyone.
• In his spare time, Jimmy enjoys
building model airplanes and watching
old TV shows – such as Gunsmoke,
Bonanza and The Andy Griffith Show. *
Public Works
Traffic Engineering
Robert E. Zacconi - 20 Years
• Robert was born in White
Plains, NY and moved to
central Florida in 1982.
• He is a graduate of the
University of Delaware.
• He was hired in 1987 to
work at Waste Water
Collections.
• Bob has a Fiber Optic Technician certification and is
an International Municipal Signal Association Level I
& II Technician.
• He has received a Certificate of Recognition for
Outstanding Service during Hurricane Andrew.
Robert Zacconi – 20 Years
• Bob spent 8 years in Waste Water and 12 years in
Traffic Engineering.
• He was promoted from Signal Technician I and II
and is currently a Signal Technician III.
• Bob is responsible for one of the three maintenance
districts in Orange County.
• He is an Employee Academy graduate.
• Bob has one child.
• In his spare time, Bob is a member of a local
musical group in town and is proficient at playing
keyboards. *
Public Works
Roads & Drainage
David A. McMullen - 30 Years
• Dave has lived in Washington
State, Michigan and Ohio, but he
was raised in Florida.
• He graduated from Colonial High
School and is currently attending
Seminole Community College.
• Dave joined the Navy in 1972 where he served as an
Aviation Ordinance man. He joined the Reserves
and served in Desert Storm.
• He was hired by Water Control in 1978, which later
became Water Management.
Dave McMullen – 30 Years
• Dave has worked at Stormwater Management and Roads
and Drainage.
• He has received several promotions: Motor Vehicle
Operator I, II, III, and IV; Foreman I, II, III. He is now a
Senior Foreman.
• Dave is married to Kathy. They have two daughters and four
grandchildren: Armani, Dylan, Maia and Tia.
• Dave is a State Certified Bowling Coach/Instructor.
• His favorite pastimes are helping with the Girl Scouts & Boy
Scouts, volunteering at Cheney Elementary School, fishing
& hunting, Daytona NASCAR races, racing go-carts with his
grandson and Civil War Re-enactments. *
Utilities
Water Reclamation
Dennis Ray Daughtry - 20 Years
• Dennis was born and raised in
Orlando. He graduated from Mid
Florida Technical School.
• He spent 4 years in the Air Force.
• Dennis owned and operated his own
pet shop for 3 years and for 5 years
he raised and sold tropical fish.
• He won several awards for his tropical
fish and aquarium displays.
• Dennis joined the County in 1988 to
work at Wastewater Pumping.
• He has worked as an Environmental Compliance Field
Technician for 15 years.
Dennis Daughtry – 20 Years
• Dennis says the best part of his job is meeting
and helping people throughout the county.
• Dennis has been married for 38 years to Sandy.
They have 4 children and 8 grandchildren.
• Dennis admits he’s a nature nut. He loves taking
photos of wildlife and plant s, especially orchids.
• He also collects Coca-Cola memorabilia and his
wife thinks one day he will turn into a Coca-Cola
bear holding a bottle of Coke. *
Awards Presentation
Fire Rescue
Operations:
• David M. Cohen
• Thomas C. Rullo
• Debra Zielonka
30 Years
25 Years
25 Years
Growth Management
Department Office:
• Jim Harrison
20 Years
Awards Presentation
Health & Family Services
Youth & Family Services:
• Jimmy Mitchell
40 Years
Public Works
Traffic Engineering:
• Robert Zacconi
20 Years
Awards Presentation
Public Works
Roads & Drainage:
• David McMullen
30 Years
Utilities
Water Reclamation:
• Dennis Daughtry
20 Years
Employee Service Awards
January 8, 2008