House Concurrent Resolution 78

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING MS. RENEE BRETT FOR 40 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH.

WHEREAS, as an outstanding pillar of her community, Ms. Renee Brett has diligently served the Mississippi Department of Mental Health for 40 years and has become synonymous with unparalleled service to her community and to the State of Mississippi, after having first begun her prestigious career on August 21, 1978; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Brett is a licensed mental health administrator, Mississippi certified public manager, a certified IDD therapist and a licensed nursing home administrator, and she graduated from the John C. Stennis State Executive Development Institute of Mississippi and the Mississippi Certified Public Managers Program; and

WHEREAS, a stellar employee and a proven invaluable asset to the department's systems of operation and functionality, Ms. Brett's exceptional performance garnered her much admiration and respect, and afforded her the opportunity to serve in numerous positions, such as Recreation Aide, Music Therapist Supervisor, Director of the Interdisciplinary Teams, Director of Ellisville State School, Assistant Director of the Bureau of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Director of the Bureau of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, a position she has held since 2017; and

WHEREAS, always emphasizing people's abilities instead of their disabilities, Ms. Brett believes that the people she serves have a right to make their own decisions to live the life they want to live, and because she is tremendously community oriented, she works tirelessly to educate the public about people with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, throughout her distinguished career, Ms. Brett has served with numerous professional organizations, including the Mississippi Department of Mental Health Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Curricula Steering Committee, the Mississippi Department of Mental Health Electronic Records Committee, the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities/MS Chapter, the Mississippi Society for Certified Public Managers and the ARC of Mississippi, and she served as a board member and vice-president for Right to Succeed, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, dedicated to excellence, Ms. Brett received the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities/MS Chapter's Paul D. Cotten Leadership Award in 2003, and the Gold Star Service Award in 2004, and she has given professional presentations at the Mississippi Chapter of the American Association on Mental Retardation MH/MR Joint Conference and submitted an article for the American Association on Mental Retardation Newsletter; and

WHEREAS, in her community, Ms. Brett is an advisory council member for Ability Works in Laurel, Mississippi, and a member of the Fidelia Club of Ellisville, Mississippi, and she has also served as a Parish Council Member, an Education Committee Member and a member of the Catholic Youth Organization at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, and she is active with the Jones County Relay for Life and Jones County Heart Walk each year; and

WHEREAS, as a champion and fervent advocate for individuals with disabilities, Ms. Brett's consistency in performance has never waivered from the date she began her prestigious career, and her dedication and commitment to her community and to the State of Mississippi inspires all of those around her to strive for excellence each day; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize outstanding Mississippians, especially those such as Ms. Renee Brett, whose legacy of selflessness, hard work, professionalism and overall commitment to improving the lives of others, her community and her state, has made an indelible mark on the Mississippi Department of Mental Health and all those who are privileged to know and work with her:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and commend Ms. Renee Brett for 40 years of outstanding service to the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, and extend best wishes for continued success in all of her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Ms. Renee Brett and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.