Longtime Alexander County employee Trena Riddle was honored at a retirement reception last Thursday (May 18) with a large crowd of family, friends, and coworkers in attendance. Alexander County Commissioner Ronnie Reese presented Ms. Riddle with a “Key to the County” in recognition of her 22 years of service at the county’s Department of Social Services.

Ms. Riddle began working at Alexander County D.S.S. in January of 2001 as a Family & Children Medicaid Caseworker and Work First Caseworker. In June 2010, she was promoted to Family & Children/Work First Supervisor. In July 2014, she was named Economic Services Program Manager, a job in which she oversaw food and nutrition services, adult Medicaid, energy assistance, daycare, family & children Medicaid, Medicaid transportation, and Work First. In July 2016, the areas of child support and program integrity were added to her role. In June 2022, Ms. Riddle was named Economic Services/Adult Services Program Administrator.

During her time at D.S.S., Ms. Riddle served on numerous boards and committees, including the Alexander County Partnership for Children, the Early Head Start Health Advisory Committee, the Homeless Shelter Task Force, the Alexander County Wellness Committee, the Health Care Advisory Team, the Shelter Home of Caldwell & Alexander County, and the Western Piedmont Council of Governments Council on Aging.

Ms. Riddle graduated from Alexander Central High School in 1989, Wilkes Community College in 1991, and Lees-McRae College in 2019 where she earned her bachelor’s degree in human services. She will begin her second career with the Social Security Administration office in Statesville on June 5.

Additional photos from Ms. Riddle’s retirement reception are posted here.