Awards

2024 Minnesota Association for Court Management (MACM) Awards

The Minnesota Association for Court Management announced the recipients of its 2024 awards at its annual conference in October.

Congratulations to our 2024 MACM Award Recipients, Deb Mueske (Seventh District) - Champion of Change, Gail Clapp (Fourth District) - Lifetime Achievement, Lori O’Brien (Tenth District) - Distinguished Service, Max Mosser (Second District) - Coach/Mentor, and Tracey Ames (Second District) - Early Career Excellence. Congrats to each of our five award recipients!

Coach/Mentor of the Year – Max Mosser

Accounting Manager, Second Judicial District

Max Mosser, Accounting Manager in the 2nd Judicial District, was awarded the Coach/Mentor of the Year award. This award recognizes an individual who fosters trust while encouraging others to achieve their goals without thought of reciprocation. The recipient of the award shares their skills and knowledge with others and provides excellent coaching in the ongoing development and enrichment of others.

Max is an exceptional mentor who possesses empathy, experience, patience, honesty and inspiration. He provides support, guidance and compassion in his leadership and is a trusted advisor. He is positive and enthusiastic, shares his vast knowledge and advocates for the advancement of his team by encouraging training and development opportunities. He provides the big picture and helps his team understand their role in achieving goals. Max empowers others to be courageous and step outside their comfort zones. He helps others to lead with confidence and embrace change. Max has worked for the Judicial Branch since 2012. Congratulations to Max Mosser as he received the 2024 MACM Coach/Mentor of the Year Award.

Early Career Excellence Award - Tracey Ames

Administrative Manager, Second Judicial District

Tracey Ames, Administrative Manager in the 2nd Judicial District, received the Early Career Excellence Award. This award recognizes a person who demonstrates achievement in the courts through obtaining a high level of knowledge in a short amount of time, is a quick learner, and a valuable resource to others. The recipient is dependable and consistent while working to achieve success in their local court, district, or for the Judicial Branch and demonstrates outstanding leadership by considering stakeholders when making decisions.

Tracey oversees the Leadworker Unit and four Treatment Courts in Ramsey County and serves on the Treatment Court Initiative Workgroup. She has built highly effective and collaborative teams in a short amount of time and has been instrumental in the development and implementation of several projects including district-wide onboarding and training, flexible courtrooms, and electronic workflows. She provided support, encouragement, and accolades to staff during times of rapid change and uncertainty, which resulted in stability during a critical time of shifting goals, expectations, and objectives. In her work with the treatment courts, she pursues community agency partnerships, coordinates outreach opportunities, promotes an annual pro-social event, celebrates milestones and achievements, and positively impacts the quality of service to stakeholders. Tracey has worked for the Judicial Branch since December of 2018. Congratulations to Tracey Ames as she received the 2024 MACM Early Career Excellence Award.

Champion of Change - Deb Mueske

District Administrator, Seventh and Eighth Judicial Districts

Deb Mueske, District Administrator in the 7th and 8th Judicial Districts, was honored as the Champion of Change. The recipient of this award fosters collaboration to promote innovation by embracing opportunities to utilize technology and other resources to increase efficiencies and productivity in the workplace.

Deb is an outstanding leader who isn't afraid to take her own approach and challenge long-standing ways of doing business. She communicates clear vision and has created new cultures of wellness and collaboration amongst her teams. She builds trust by creating space for open conversations and discussion regarding new concepts and initiatives, and by making change happen together. Through strategic planning and using District Guiding Principles, she guides others through stages of change, keeping customer service, efficient process, and district benefit as high priority. She encourages leadership to get involved in state-wide initiatives and involvement in committees and projects based on strengths. Deb has contributed to and been an integral part of many initiatives and implementations, some of which include in-court updating and district-wide centralized processing in many areas of court. Deb has worked for the Judicial Branch since January of 2001. Congratulations to Deb Mueske as she received the 2024 MACM Champion of Change Award.

Distinguished Service Award - Lori O'Brien

Anoka County Court Administrator (retired), Tenth Judicial District

Lori O'Brien, Anoka County Court Administrator (retired) in the 10th Judicial District, received the Distinguished Service Award. This award recognizes individuals who have a record of outstanding service to the community and the courts and demonstrates leadership by improving the administration of justice and delivery of public service through the application of modern management techniques.

Lori has demonstrated all of these qualities and more with her 35 years of public service in the Wisconsin and Minnesota courts. For the past ten years specifically as the Anoka County Court Administrator, she has skillfully led a complex, larger court successfully through challenging times involving high volume caseloads, complex culture, and a global pandemic. Not only has she navigated creating a county that focuses on striving to care about quality and effectiveness, she has also taken on other centralized units in the 10th District throughout her time in Anoka. She has continually been a voice of inclusion and helped her team focus on forward-thinking approaches as the Branch continues to lead in innovative practices and projects. Lori was described in her nomination as a wonderful mentor and effective leader. A hands-on leader who is dependable and cares about her teams. This does not stop at court administration. Lori established strong justice partner relationships with her responsive and timely communication style, and it is clear she makes it a priority to be a good justice partner team member. Her impact on the Anoka Court Administration office and 10th District will be long-lasting and she will be greatly missed as she retired this November 2024. Congratulations to Lori O'Brien as she received the 2024 MACM Distinguished Service Award.

Lifetime Achievement Award - Gail Clapp

Business Practices Unit Manager, Fourth Judicial District

Gail Clapp, Business Practices Unit Manager in the 4th Judicial District, received the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. This award honors a recipient's many contributions to the court management profession and their years of service to the Judicial Branch.

Gail began her career with the Minnesota Judicial Branch in 1985 and during her tenure she has served in numerous roles in Hennepin County, including as a supervisor in the juvenile and criminal divisions, and as Manager of the Business Practice Unit, since 2007. She has a dedicated and long history of employment with the 4th Judicial District, as well as participation on many local and statewide committees, some of which include Civil and Criminal Process Advisory Workgroups, HJIP projects, as well as membership of the National Association for Court Management.

Gail's current and historical knowledge of the courts is immense. She leads by example, supporting her team through challenges and change, and encourages thinking “big picture” when faced with challenging questions. Gail's expertise and innovative efforts have had great impact in the 4th District. Some of her accomplishments to note include contributions to large-scale process re-engineering and improvement projects district-wide, early implementation of eFS and the associated divisional workflow and nodal changes, and ongoing communication, training, and collaboration with divisions in the 4th District of cutting-edge technology and business practice initiatives. Congratulations to Gail Clapp as she received the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Past Awards

TOP