Awards and Appreciation, Beyond the Badge

SCC staff celebrate 60 years of public safety

December 11, 2025

Sierra Conservation Center (SCC) recently celebrated 60 years of public safety while also saluting staff during their annual appreciation day.

The celebration was sponsored by the administration, Employee and Community Benefit Association (ECBA), and various employee organizations including:

California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA)
California Correctional Supervisors Organization (CCSO)
and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1000.

This year’s theme was “Diamond Edition” commemorating 60 years SCC has been in operational service.

SCC 60 years anniversary decorations. — *Warden Joshua Prudhel admires the hard work that went into showcasing SCC and its staff, specifically decorations created and sponsored by the Employee Appreciation Day decorating committee.*

All SCC staff, including contracted employees, retired staff and other stakeholders, were served pulled-pork sandwiches, boneless and skinless chicken thighs, chili beans, pasta salad, green salad and various desserts and beverages.

Assistant Correctional Food Manager Dexter Ridley concocted desserts for staff. His desserts have been a staple item in the menu in previous Employee Appreciation Day celebrations.

Barbecue at SCC for the staff appreciation day held in mid-October.

SCC staff and a CALFIRE employee work the barbecue.

Plant Operations staff were all smiles cooking for staff. Food was cooked on and off-site by members of the ECBA, Plant Operations staff and Cal-FIRE, SCC’s partner in the Incarcerated Person Fire Fighting training program. Food was provided to staff on all three watches.

SCC celebrates 60 years

Three employees sport staff appreciation t-shirts at SCC. — Institutional Personnel Officer (IPO) Jessica Ambrose, Health Program Manager III Yvonne Rhodes, and Capt. (A) Kelly Carter focused on this year’s theme, sporting the annual SCC employee appreciation t-shirt.

SCC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joseph Garland, pictured above, serving staff and thanking them for their service.

Management hosted several activities, which included live music, a car/bike show, corn hole tournament, SCC History trivia game, bake-off and salsa-off contests.

Correctional Officer G. Dinneen won both Warden’s Choice and People’s Choice for his 1966 Volkswagen Bus

C. Carlson, Supervising Registered Nurse (SRN) II, won Best Presentation for her Facility C 270-design cake.

Executives and retired wardens, and one retired captain, at the SCC staff event marking 60 years of public safety. — From left are Patrick Eaton, Deputy Director (A) – Facility Support, retired Warden Ivan Clay, retired Warden Heidi Lackner, AGPA Jennifer Bell, retired Warden Frank Chavez, Division of Adult Institutions Director Gena Jones, retired Deuel Vocational Institution Warden Jerome Price (who was a captain at SCC), and Jennifer Benavidez, Deputy Director – Facility Operations.

Jennifer Bell, Associate Governmental Program Analyst (AGPA), assigned to the camps division, was able to coordinate the reunion of many retired staff to attend this event.

Those attending included former/retired wardens:

Ivan Clay (2007 – 2009)
Frank Chavez (2010 – 2012)
Heidi Lackner (2013 – 2015)
Patrick Eaton (warden 2021 – 2024, now deputy director)

This was the first time in SCC history where this many retired wardens were together in the same place. The Director’s office also came out in full force to show support and celebrate SCC’s 60th anniversary.