Shawn Dutton is the ideal community member, with exceptional service at the forefront of his everyday operations in Fredonia, New York, and each of his 20 years in the industry. He is known for taking the time to help elderly community members, retrieving totes that are not accessible, and initiating conversations with customers who just need to talk. Dutton’s passion for helping others, and doing so safely, is what motivates his peers to do the same daily.
“Shawn understands the importance of building relationships both professionally and personally. He always takes the time to go the extra mile,” said Division Manager Bill Devlin. “He is well-liked by his colleagues and always willing to lend a hand. He proves his dedication with an impeccable work ethic, safety at the forefront, and perfect attendance. His work ethic and attention to safety motivates his team, his customers, and generations of future drivers to come.”
Dutton continuously exemplifies Casella’s core values and works to instill them in others by leading by example. Management has credited his mentorship as the driving force behind the division’s success, training multiple employees to adhere to his deeply rooted values of service and safety.
“Customers know Shawn by name. He has a passion for serving his customers. In fact, most of his customers even know when he is on vacation,” said Devlin.
Dutton is involved in his community, consistently volunteering to assist youth sports programs, and is always eager to participate in community outreach opportunities. He is often the first to sign up for community outreach initiatives and returns, beaming with pride after a job well done.
“I have had the pleasure of getting to know Shawn on a more personal level over the years,” said President of the Federal Probation and Pretrial Officers Association, Jamie Jaynes. “I hope Shawn continues to be our garbage guy for many years to come. He continues to go above and beyond our expectations. He is not only extremely polite and courteous but goes the extra mile for us week in and week out.”
When accepting his 2024 NWRA Driver of the Year Award, Dutton credited his division and the people he works alongside every day for their support.
Casella Waste Systems, Inc., headquartered in Rutland, Vermont, is one of the largest recyclers and most experienced fully integrated resource management companies in the Eastern United States. Founded in 1975 as a single truck collection service, Casella has grown its operations to provide solid waste collection and disposal, transfer, recycling, and organics services to more than one million residential, commercial, municipal, institutional, and industrial customers and provides professional resource management services to over 10,000 customer locations in more than 40 states.
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