James Burgdorf is May EOM

James Burgdorf entered the PAC Restaurant with a thud of the door, notebook in hand, most likely suspecting he was no longer headed to a meeting.

Inside the restaurant he was surprised by friends and family who informed him he was the May 2011 UIS Employee of the Month.

“What did I do?” he jokingly asked the crowd. He added, “All of you are off my Christmas list” after they effectively pulled off the surprise.

Burgdorf is an Assistant Director of Customer Service and Cashier Operations for University Student Financial Services and Cashier Operations (USFSCO). He has been a university employee for the past four years.

“You’ve exhibited exemplarily performance and courtesy,” said Debbie Rahn, U of I director of Cashiers and Customer Service. “You’re always polite to the customers, even when you can’t say yes.”

Burgdorf thanked the crowd and expressed his surprise that his fellow employees were able to keep his nomination a secret.

“It’s nice to see everybody here and I appreciate it,” said Burgdorf. “Glad to have everybody here, but you’re all in trouble with the Christmas cards.”

As Employee of the Month, Burgdorf will receive a special parking spot for the month along with some extra spending cash on his i-card.

Raymond Barnett is April EOM

Raymond Barnett jokingly walked out of the room telling the crowd to “enjoy the snacks” after he was named the April 2011 Employee of the Month. He told them he had a meeting to attend, before returning to the room.

Barnett is the newly named Transfer Coordinator in the Office of Admissions, but got his start in July 2001 as an admissions counselor.

“I do appreciate this… and I know (my work) is noticed, it is recognized,” said Barnett. “In the end it isn’t about your happiness, your satisfaction, it’s about how the students have been served and the parents who come to me.”

For him, the real pay off is watching students graduate and seeing them close a chapter in their college career.

“That I helped and had any part in getting that started… that’s the pay off and this is just a little extra,” said Barnett.

As Employee of the Month, Barnett will receive a special parking spot for the month along with some extra spending cash on his i-card.