San Juan County Manager Mike Stark received an unexpected honor Tuesday when San Juan United Way presented him with its Excellence in Government Service Award, recognizing his long‑standing commitment to behavioral health, housing and safety‑net services across the county.
United Way Executive Director Cathryn Abeyta surprised Stark during her presentation to the San Juan County Commission.
“He’s practical, collaborative, accessible and deeply committed to San Juan County,” she said. “His leadership helps move important work forward, and we’re so grateful in the way that he continues to show up for our community.”
The award could have been presented at the organization’s Aug. 12 luncheon, but was presented as a surprise to Stark.
After the lengthy commission meeting – which ran over 90 minutes – Stark told Tri-City Record that he was “very surprised and very honored to have that award bestowed upon me, and I’ll say that I appreciate the recognition.”
Stark said it’s the great team we have that helps make this happen each and every day.
“Of course, we helped put the agenda together, and I had no idea this was on the agenda,” Stark said. “Job well done. I pulled one over on the cabinet manager.”
Abeyta said for many years, month over month, Stark has made space for community leaders “like myself and others, especially in housing,” to come together and inform him of what’s going on in the community.
Commissioner Terri Fortner nominated Stark for the award to highlight Stark’s role in advancing behavioral health initiatives, including a countywide gap analysis.
“She helped to to bring forward a behavioral health gap analysis and the funding at the time to help make that project a reality and to identify where the gaps were,” Stark said, adding there are “a lot of folks” interested and engaged “in improving behavioral health services here.”
As Stark and the commissioners made their way off the commissioners stand, Abeyta said that Stark “has been a committed partner to safety net services in San Juan County for many years, and what stands out the most is his commitment to behavioral health and access to services.”
Stark said serving the community, making a difference in the lives of the citizens each and every day, and making San Juan County a better place to work, play and raise a family is what motivates him.
Abeyta also spoke about the annual San Juan United Way community giving campaign, which gives her a chance to get out in the community.
“We visit workplaces, employers, civic groups, and anyone who will have us, and that’s so that we can talk about what’s going on in San Juan County and how we can help,” Abeyta said.
The organization shares the needs, the gaps and the ways that nonprofits, partners, businesses, government and community members are working together to fill these gaps, she said.
“One of the things that I love most about this campaign is that every gift matters. Small donations, payroll giving, business support, and larger gifts all add up to something so much bigger,” Abeyta said. “San Juan United Way helps more than 100 local nonprofits every year in one way or another.”
Abeyta said the message is simple – “what’s raised here, stays here.”
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