Awarded to: Marla Fischer, Deputy Director of the Office of the Public Guardian – Lancaster County

Amid significant challenges at the Public Guardian's Office (OPG), Marla offered steadfast stability, motivation, and empathetic leadership over the past year. Effectively steering through staff transitions, she conducts bi-monthly case reviews, providing personalized support to Associate Public Guardians. Marla empathizes with the stress APGs face, offering a supportive sounding board and brainstorming thoughtful solutions to ensure kindness and respect for OPG wards. Acting as a stand-in for the director, she maintains quality and efficiency, often offering on-call backup for after-hours issues. Marla ensures legal compliance, gives final approval for counsel reviews, and upholds OPG's mission.

Commendable performance by an administrative employee in the Nebraska Judicial System is recognized through the Outstanding Administrative Employee Award. Recipients exhibit exemplary leadership, effective guidance of change, achievement of sustainable results, or strength in coaching and mentoring.