Six workers whose careers span community services, education, public safety and banking have received the Rotary Club of Utica’s 2026 Pride of Workmanship Awards, recognizing the Utica Rotary Pride of Workmanship.
The club recognized the honorees at Five Points Public House and Events Center in Utica on Thursday, Oct. 15. Together, the six have more than 122 years of service to their organizations, according to a Rotary-supplied ceremony recap published by the Daily Sentinel on Oct. 20. This event celebrated the dedication and achievements of the recipients of the Utica Rotary Pride of Workmanship Awards.
The six honorees
The recipients, listed in the club’s Sept. 30 announcement through the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce, are:
- Zenobia Cole, Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency Inc.
- Patrick Garrett, Utica City School District.
- Dan Ianno, Mohawk Valley Community College.
- Lt. Brendan Kain, Utica Fire Department.
- Christopher Lenahan, Oneida County Sheriff’s Office.
- Karen Nole, Bank of Utica.
The list brings together people serving local residents through six different organizations. Their collective experience represents more than a century of work across those institutions.
A tradition of recognizing dedication
Utica Rotary has presented the Pride of Workmanship honors since 1990. The club describes the awards as recognition for employees who bring dedication, professional standards, initiative, enthusiasm and creative thinking to their jobs.
The emphasis is on the way people approach their work. This year’s recipients come from different fields, but share the club’s recognition for their contributions in the workplace.
The Phoenix reported the call for nominations in August. The Oct. 15 ceremony completes that year’s recognition process by putting names and workplaces to the qualities the club sought to honor.
