KANNAPOLIS — Kannapolis recently honored its employees with an Employee Service Award Event.

All full-time and part-time employees were invited to attend a breakfast, held in the Laureate Center at city hall, followed by a presentation at the Swanee Theatre on West Avenue. City Manager Mike Legg and Mayor Darrell Hinnant gave remarks and spoke to employees about their importance and direct influence on the lives of Kannapolis residents.

“I want to say a heartfelt thank you. Your contributions have made a difference not just to the city but to the lives of everyone you work with. You inspire us with your passion and commitment, and we are incredibly fortunate to have each of you as part of our team,” Legg commented during the event.

Employees who have worked for the city for 20 to 29 years were recognized:

 Gary Mills — Parks and recreation​

Glenn Troutman — Stormwater​

Steven Cockrell — Transportation and env.​

Brian Smith — Fire​

Laura Smith — Police​

Kevin Ritchie — Transportation and env.​

Mike Legg — City manager​

Toni Driver — Parks and recreation​

Bo Hunsucker — Parks and recreation​

Michael Rattler — Transportation & env.​

Jerry Morgan — Fire​

Becky Tolle — Parks and recreation​

Ed Sowell — Water resources​

Susan Martin — Police​

James Irvin — Water resources​

Wendy Hartsell — Human resources​

Brad Jordan — Fire​

George Hall — Parks and recreation​

Gerald Faulkner — Water resources​

Brandon Daniel — Fire​

Tim Smith — Fire​

Jonathan Jenkins — Fire​

Wilmer Melton — Assistant city manager​

Jason Hinson — Police​

Jonathan Corriher — Fire​

Brent Rowland — Police​

Jason Smith — Fire​

Corey Flowe — Water resources​

Jody Kerr — Police​

Jeremy Brown — Fire​

Christopher Hamilton — Police​

Joseph Simmons — Fire ​

Mark Kyles — Fire​

Nakia Walker — Stormwater​

Todd Boan — Transportation​

William Tilley — Water resources​

Joshua Clay — Fire​

Todd Morris — Fire​

Craig Miller — Fire​

Daniel Anderson — Fire

Candy Waller — Police​

Travis Furr — Police​

Allen Tomlin — Police​

Kirk Beard — Fire​

Renee Butler — Finance​

James Livengood — Police​

Tracy Winecoff — Fire​

Timothy Cook — Fire​

Tina Cline — Assistant city manager​

Two employees who have been with the city for 30 or more years: Police Chief Terry Spry and Oscar Hopkins, operations manager for transportation and environmental services, were specially recognized by Legg for their many years of dedicated service.

Chief Terry Spry is a native of Rowan County and joined the Kannapolis Police Department in 1994 as a patrol officer. He is a graduate of Pfeiffer University. He has been promoted up through the ranks of the department from sergeant to lieutenant to captain and has served as chief since 2022.

Over the last three decades, Terry has received many honors and commendations including South Rowan Optimist Club Officer of the Year, Co-Recipient of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Officer of the Year, the Roger Dale Carter Memorial Award, Royal Oaks Optimist Club Officer of the Year and a Felony Investigations Unit Commendation.

Hopkins is a Kannapolis native who came to work for the city as a temporary employee doing leaf collection when he graduated from high school. He was hired as a full-time employee a year later in 1993.

He has been promoted over the years to construction maintenance worker I, II, crew chief, crew supervisor and now works as an operations manager.

Hopkins has received numerous commendations specifically about his hard work on drainage jobs throughout the city, clearing storm debris and strategic problem solving when equipment or computers go down in the department.