Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recognized Teresa Salas and Charles Whitehead for their commitment to Texas children. Salas, an automation project director, was named “Manager of the Year” for the Child Support Division’s main office, based in Austin. Whitehead, a team supervisor in the division’s training section, was named the state office’s “Supervisor of the Year.” Both Salas and Whitehead received the honor on Friday at the Statewide Child Support Managers’ Conference in Dallas.
“I commend Teresa and Charles for their hard work and dedication to improving the lives of Texas children,” Attorney General Paxton said. “Charles and Teresa represent the best, and it is employees like them that make this agency great. I am thankful to both of them for answering the call to serve the people of Texas.”
Salas, who began her child support career in 2005, was named the state office’s “Manager of the Year” because of her capable leadership and ability to manage challenging automation projects that produce intended results.
Chief information officer Rudy Montoya said, "Teresa has the unique ability to translate vision into reality, and those talents have helped us implement some of the most challenging and complex projects anywhere in the agency. The division is truly fortunate to have someone with her dedication and leadership."
Whitehead, who began working for the Child Support Division in 2006, was chosen for the state office’s “Supervisor of the Year” because of his ability to connect, motivate and inspire his staff. He optimizes his team’s productivity by allowing staff to excel according to their individual talents and unique skill sets.
According to child support training manager Larry Acevedo, “There is never a task too great for Charles and never a problem he cannot solve.”
The Attorney General’s Child Support Division is the most successful and cost-effective program in the nation. The division handles 1.5 million child support cases, serving 1.7 million children. The division collects $12.26 for every $1 spent to operate the program and collected $3.8 billion in child support in federal fiscal year 2015.
For more information about the Office of the Attorney General and the child support services it offers, call (800) 252-8014 or visit the agency’s website at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov.