Osceola County employee of the year

When the pandemic forced the Osceola County to end public meetings overnight and go virtual, but still having to keep government and the public connected, one employee had to figure that out and quick.

That county employee was Information Security Analyst Brandon Pritchett.

For his innovative efforts, as he was never tasked with such a challenge, Pritchett was named Osceola County employee of the year.

He was honored at a recent Osceola County Commission meeting, but he had no idea. He was to sent to the Commission Chambers under the premise that there was a technical issue.

“I was there to troubleshoot it and when my name was called I was completely surprised,” Pritchett said.

Pritchett has been employed with Osceola County since Oct. 26, 2015, and currently works in the Information Technology Department where he protects the county through cyber security.

But when COVID-19 hit hard, he suddenly had an added role.

“This was new to me,” Pritchett said.

He had to devise custom solutions to merge multiple digital platforms to accommodate different types of virtual meetings. Sometimes one certain platform didn’t give him what he needed so he would have to come up with other options to allow the county and the public to join in together digitally.

“Coming up with a new solution for every meeting was the hardest,” Pritchett said.

Pritchett was first selected as the Employee of the Month for July 2020. The Employee Appreciation Committee determined he deserved the Employee of the Year nod.

“Brandon has been the county’s goto guy for trouble-shooting Microsoft Teams meetings,” said Human Resources Director Maria Colon. “Brandon ensures that virtual Board of County Commissioner meetings go off without a hitch. Brandon has to utilize two sets of earbuds, a few buzzing cell phones, as well as a roomful of computer screens to ensure that the public is able to call into the meetings and ask questions.”

Colon mentioned one incident when the Transportation & Transit department inquired about informational technology support to host a new multi-platform public meeting to advance the Kissimmee St. Cloud Connector trail. Brandon didn’t flinch – even with a two-weeks notice to integrate real-time public participation, video, and telephonic access into the Teams application. In addition to developing this newworld platform, Pritchett provided training to the Transportation & Transit team members. He responded to innumerable questions, walked the team through multiple dry runs, and resolved technical glitches.

“Brandon was always available, unflappable, and a technological rock throughout the process,” Colon said.

Colon said thanks to Brandon, the county’s first public meeting for a project went off without a technological hitch; that is of course, until one of the moderator’s began speaking without hitting the unmute button. With arms waving to get the moderator’s attention, Pritchett was able to fix that lapse within seconds.

“Absent Brandon’s ingenuity, flexibility and dedication, the Transportation and Transit Department would not have been able to advance this project and others that are subsequently scheduled into design and construction,” Colon said. “These infrastructure projects are critical to helping shore up the county’s economy in these uncertain times, and would not otherwise have progressed had Brandon not gone above and beyond to develop and support these required public meetings.”

Colon gave Pritchett a plaque at the commission meeting. Some of the writing on the plaque stated, “You inspire us with willingness and ability to help others. You take on the world one day at a time, continuously searching for a way to make things better, seizing the opportunity to improve everyday life.”

Pritchett said he was just doing his job.

“I appreciate the recognition. I’m not one that likes to seek that out,” he added. “I like to stay in the background. All I was doing was what was needed of me.”