WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo has presented 524 HUD employees with outstanding achievement awards for their work to help millions of families and thousands of communities across the nation.

Individual awards went to 64 employees and group awards were given to another 460 employees in 29 offices within HUD.

"HUD employees are doing an outstanding job implementing the HUD 2020 Management Reform Plan to better serve the American people," Cuomo said. "They are setting a new standard for public service and working better, faster, and more efficiently than ever before. By their actions, they reaffirm HUD's commitment to excellence and to meeting the needs of those we serve."

Cuomo distributed awards in 14 categories. The highest award is the Secretary's Award for Excellence, in recognition of extraordinary commitment and service to HUD's reform efforts.

Secretary's Awards for Excellence to an Individual were awarded to:

• Barbara J. Edwards, Office of Administration, Washington, for helping the Department implement management reforms as a labor-management partnership.

• Catherine Proctor, Office of Administration, Washington, for her work to ensure the success of HUD's Community Builders Fellowship Program.

• Algird A. Taoras, Office of Administration, Washington, for applying new technologies to create the FHA Connection and for bringing this new tool onto desktops in HUD and the lending industry.

• Barbara S. Dorf, Office of the Secretary, Washington, for commitment, service and contributions to HUD and to helping people and communities.

• Brenda R. Mull, Office of Housing, Atlanta, GA, for helping to improve HUD operations to better provide safe and affordable housing.

The Secretary's Award for Excellence to a Group included:

• Financial Systems Integration Team, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Washington, for the successful implementation of an integrated financial management system.

• Community Builder Fellows Task Force, Office of Field Policy and Management, Headquarters/Field, for making possible the timely selection of HUD's new cadre of external Community Builders.

• Physical Inspection System Lab Team, Real Estate Assessment Center, Washington, for excellent performance towards the Real Estate Assessment Center's mission.

• Office of Executive Secretariat, Office of Administration, Washington, for making HUD more accessible through cost-effective techniques and innovative technology.