Apalachin Community Press, January 2001
Townsend Chosen Employee of the Year
Nancy Townsend of Dunkin' Donuts in Owego was honored as Employee of the Year at the New York State Restaurant Association's Heart of the Industry awards banquet in October at the Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid.

The Heart of the Industry Awards were created to honor exceptional employees of the members of the New York State Restaurant Association who have served the industry with great distinction.

Nancy Townsend was nominated for the award by her employer, Bill Nolis, owner of Dunkin' Donuts in Owego.
 
Fourteen years ago, Nancy was 17-years-old, single, and expecting a baby. Lacking support from the baby's father, Nancy applied for a job at Mister Donuts in Owego. "Nancy knew the challenge," said Mr. Nolis in his letter of nomination to the selection committee. "She had definitive choices and could have taken the easy way out. Nancy chose to fight on."
For years, Nancy worked as a counter person and donut finisher at Mr. Donuts on Park Street. At this time, she met a great guy named Michael. Together, with the help of family and friends, they would build a life with their only child, Shirley.

Six years ago, Mr. Nolis became owner of the donut shop, which is now Dunkin' Donuts. "In the six years I have worked with her, she has shown competency in her work and demonstrated an orderly fashion in completing the task of repetition at hand. She has shown courage under intense growing pains as our business grew," said Mr. Nolis. "In six years of being her employer, she has never called in sick without having someone in her place to complete her task. She goes about her job with quiet enthusiasm and does high quality work."

In 1988, Mr. Nolis asked Nancy if she'd like to try baking. "Today she is my lead baker following up on production reports and maintaining control of a kitchen that this year alone will produce 1.4 million donuts. In her lifetime she has produced or finished over 18 million donuts."

"It is however the human face of Nancy that we must all take notice of and learn from," added Mr. Nolis. "Through most of her career she has earned just above minimum wage but she saved. She lives within her means and today has a wonderful home and a "no payment" auto. Nancy is the epitome of the American dream, worker and laborer. I can think of no one in my career with the resources given that can match the success of Mrs. Nancy Townsend. I am very proud of her. I am blessed to have her and I have tried to be a good employer."

Nancy also devotes time to her community. She has served on various children's committees in her village of Candor and has been coach for various youth association teams. She has walked in many events for Hospice and the American Cancer Society.