The snow has melted, the blossoms are blooming, and the green leaves have emerged. Spring has finally arrived! The bears may have been dormant the past several months, but definitely not the Recognition Quality Team (RQT)! Since November 2007, FM, Treasury and Strategy Management have kept the RQT busy by recognizing peers with 581 Recognition Treats, 194 Bravos, 8 Team Spirits, 2 CARE Awards, 2 LINQ Awards and 3 STAR Awards! In addition to Traveling Treats on May 6th, the RQT hosted 2 Person to Person gatherings held on March 6th and April 10th. Great job with the recognition, folks!!

STAR Awards:

A STAR (Successfully Taking Another Route) Award was presented to Belinda Liley, Keli Johnson, Teresa Crisostomo, and Libby Graham on February 8, 2008 for creating a long term improvement of the hand-typed check process that saves time and money for Financial Services. This Hand-Typed Checks Team developed a process improvement that solved the problems concerning the lack of internal controls, customer focus, and duplicate work in processing hand-typed checks. Their collaboration resulted in a reduced the number of these checks by more than 50%, minimized errors and increased efficiency, and an improvement in customer service! Way to go, team!

Michael DeShazo of Grant & Contract Accounting received a STAR Award on February 28, 2008 for his development of the Cost Share Calculator. Michael took the initiative to develop a Cost Share Calculator to help reduce the mistakes that departments were making when entering their cost chare pledges. These mistakes required both time and effort to correct in the department and in GCA. Now, departments are able to enter just a few pieces of information and the calculator produces the % effort and the dollars to enter on the GC1. Great job, Michael!

Debbie Carter, Carolyn Drebert, Suzanne Knoblet, Susan Lowney, Christina Payne, Trudy Still, and DeAnn Wells were all presented the STAR Award on December 11, 2007 for their contribution to the recognition program within Purchasing. This team’s contributions, among many, include raising standards by acknowledging good work, simplifying the nomination/recognition process, encouraging broader participation, providing meaningful events for staff, and adding meaning and value to the work process and an avenue through which staff could celebrate contributions of fellow staff. Outstanding work!

LINQ Awards:

Erick Winger of Financial Accounting was presented a LINQ (Leadership in Quality) Award on February 26, 2008 for being Inspiring and Trusting of Others. Erick is described as a great role model who instills confidence in others. He is great at information sharing, always values others for their varied and unique abilities, and allows individuals to learn by making mistakes. He also shows courtesy when working with others. Great job, Erick!

Jeff Petersen of Student Fiscal Services was recognized with a LINQ (Leadership in Quality) Award on March 11, 2008 for being an Approachable Leader. A few of the behaviors that Jeff demonstrates is being visible and available, listening in a non-threatening and non-judgmental way, and setting a supportive climate where others can do their best. Those who work with Jeff find him friendly, pro-active, responsive and regularly able to facilitate resolutions to problems. He is known as a good communicator that can put people at ease even when dealing with a problem. Way to go!

Recognition Rewards:

The winners of the quarterly Recognition Rewards are Denise Grizzell (Second Quarter) and Kathryn Harrington (Third Quarter), both from Purchasing.

Thank you for saying Thank You, Denise and Kathryn!

Upcoming Event:

The Annual Summer Event is scheduled for Thursday, September 4, 2008 from 1–4 pm.