[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 127 (Wednesday, September 26, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


         RECOGNIZING THE OUTSTANDING CAREER OF LAUREL GROSHONG

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 26, 2001

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the tremendous contributions of a good friend, Laurel Groshong. After 
serving the citizens of California for thirty-two years, Laurel is 
retiring from the California Employment Development Department (EDD) on 
Friday, September 28th, 2001.
  Shortly after graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree from UCLA 
in 1968, Laurel began her career in public service as an Employment 
Trainee in the Van Nuys, California office of EDD. Moving up the ladder 
at EDD, in 1972 she transferred to the Canoga Park EDD office as an ES 
Officer 11. In 1982, she moved her family to Northern California to 
take over the Lakeport EDD office as the Assistant Field Office 
Manager. Then, in 1992, former Governor Pete Wilson appointed Laurel to 
represent California on special assignment in Washington DC for six 
months covering labor and employment legislation. Upon her return to 
Lakeport, she was promoted to Field Office Manager where she has served 
with distinction until her official retirement.
  Along with two close friends, Laurel decided in 1995 to return to 
graduate school all the while managing an office and taking care of her 
family. In 1998, she proudly received her Masters Degree in Behavioral 
Sciences with an emphasis on negotiation and conflict management that 
has assisted her greatly in the past three years.
  Laurel's peers have recognized her with numerous awards for 
outstanding teamwork, including Outstanding Employer Advisory Committee 
Coordinator, positive impact quality management, job training 
partnership training, and EDD division teamwork. The awards she has 
received reflect upon her dedication to her hometown of Lakeport. She 
has always shown a strong sense of public service in the tremendous 
amount of time and resources that she donates to a variety of community 
organizations and causes.
  I have had the pleasure of knowing Laurel both professionally and 
personally for more than a decade. Throughout my tenure in public 
office, both as a California State Senator and now as Congressman, she 
has been a friend that I could turn to for sound advice and counsel on 
employment issues.
  Mr. Speaker, as we honor Laurel Groshong for her outstanding career 
in public service, please join me in extending the best wishes from the 
members of the 107th Congress to her upon retirement.

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