The award is given to one of the 2024 Employee of the Month recipients, as voted on by team members throughout the entire Fort Dodge region.

Ruge was the December 2024 Employee of the Month and was nominated by Alison Hanna, manager of Volunteer & Guest Services, for foreseeing needs and being there in the moment to fulfill needs.

“Joe is alert for opportunities to help — whether it’s hopping in the courtesy shuttle to pick up a patient who is struggling or assisting a patient to their location — he’s ready to help at a moment’s notice and does so with kindness and a smile,” Hanna said.

Ruge puts his best self forward in everything he does. Not only does he work as a guest assistant, but he has volunteered to help at community events, picks up shifts for medication transport for the pharmacy and he volunteers at Trinity on his days off.

The 12 Employee of the Year Nominees were: Laura Lansing, ambulatory informaticist, Katelyn Chanchom, medical technologist lead, Angela Koslowski, radiology technologist, Amy Patrick, social worker, Shelbie Shiflett, registered nurse, Kendall Snyder, referral specialist, Jessica Carr, social worker, Sarah Spellmeyer, social worker, Jeni Hill, marketing communications specialist Adrianne Peters, staff pharmacist, Michael Hanrahan, respiratory care technician, and Ruge.