Photo by Deb Gau Ray Henriksen, building services coordinator for the city of Marshall, talked about the renovation work that went into the new City Hall building. Henriksen served as one of the city’s representatives on the City Hall project. Last week, he was named the city’s 2021 Employee of the Year.

MARSHALL — Ray Henriksen said he’s had an interesting year. In addition to his duties as Marshall’s city building official and a Marshall firefighter, he helped represent the city through the construction of the renovated City Hall building on Main Street.

“It was a challenge, but it was interesting,” he said.

Marshall city employees said Henriksen met that challenge, however. On Friday, Henriksen was named Employee of the Year at the city’s annual employee recognition event.

Henriksen said receiving the award was a “shock and awe” moment for him. “It was a total surprise.”

“Ray is someone you can count on, a good and honest person and so deserving of this award,” City Administrator Sharon Hanson said.

Henriksen started working for the city as a building inspector in 1992. It was something of a change in career paths for him, he said.

“I told myself I’d never be a building official,” Henriksen said. He had gone to trade school for construction, and started out working in the industry before being offered a job managing what was then the Best Western hotel in Marshall.

After around 10 years managing the hotel, Henriksen said he wanted to get back into the construction trades. But he had never anticipated being on the inspector’s side of the building codes, like he was when he was hired by the city.

Henriksen started out working under former Marshall building official Dale Howe. In 2018, he became building services coordinator, a job that includes serving as Marshall city building official.

“It’s been interesting. It’s amazing how much things have changed over the years,” Henriksen said. Through his work with the city, he’s seen a lot of development in Marshall, including projects like expansions at SMSU, development at the Archer Daniels Midland plant, and construction of the current Marshall High School.

Through the years, building a rapport with contractors and property owners has been an important part of Henriksen’s job.

“I think a lot of it is the relationship between contractors and homeowners, and then the code officials themselves,” Henriksen said. He said sometimes people can feel defensive about working with building officials, so it’s important to be able to communicate about state building codes and other requirements for a project.

Hanson and other city staff said Henriksen also had an important role in providing leadership and advice on the City Hall project. The renovation of City Hall was one of Marshall’s biggest municipal construction projects in 2021. It also went through some changes, like the unexpected demolition of the vacant Marshall Hotel building next door to City Hall.

“Ray’s constant presence on the project and positive attitude toward taking this on was very important and instrumental in the completion of a successful project,” said Marshall Public Works Director Jason Anderson.

Anderson said Henriksen “Exemplifies professionalism and is always open to any work task that is brought forward to him.”

Throughout his time with the city, Henriksen was also serving as a member of the Marshall Fire Department. Henriksen said he became a firefighter in 1987. For the past 25 years up until his retirement from the fire department in March, Henriksen was assistant fire chief.

Henriksen said he wanted to give credit to the spouses and families of local firefighters.

“They sacrifice a lot” to support firefighters, he said.

Henriksen said he’s enjoyed his work with the city and the fire department, and he has met a lot of friends over the years.

“It’s been fun,” he said.