Carolyn Neitzke is December EOM

It's not easy surprising Carolyn Neitzke. After all, she's the director of conference services and in charge of knowing what events are happening where on the UIS campus. However, when she walked into a conference room last week, she was stopped in her tracks when she saw friends, family, and co-workers waiting to congratulate her for being named the University of Illinois Springfield Employee of the Month for December 2013.

Her nominator says Carolyn "epitomizes everything that an Employee of the Month should be: she's incredibly organized, efficient, and thorough as she plans and executes the many events for which she's responsible." In addition, she's friendly and kind and maintains those qualities regardless of the kind of workday she's experiencing. "It cannot be easy to maintain her welcoming nature and good humor in the midst of the chaos in which she often finds herself and yet Carolyn somehow finds a way to do so," her nominator writes.

Her colleagues are not the only ones to notice Carolyn's friendliness, humor, and dedication to doing a good job. The public have also chimed in by contacting her supervisor after events to express how much they appreciated the attention they received from Carolyn and her staff.

"Carolyn is a GREAT lady with a wonderful work/life outlook and is an invaluable ambassador for UIS," writes her nominator.

Chad Athey is November EOM

Cool, calm, and collected are words that describe Chad Athey, a stationary engineer at UIS and the university's Employee of the Month for November 2013.

His nominator commends Chad for doing such a great job of keeping operational "the creature comforts in campus buildings." He has tended to ceiling leaks, sewer pipe spills, and room temperature issues, all while keeping an upbeat and can-do outlook that inspires others, including his nominator. "In a time where customer service is going the way of the proverbial Dodo bird, it is refreshing to see him in action each and every day," his nominator writes.

Not only does he work hard and demonstrates a good attitude while doing it, he also does it with minimum supervision. "Chad is a person that all supervisors would like to have on their team. He is a team player and can get it done," his supervisor writes. 

Blake Wood is October EOM

Blake Wood, the writer of many Employee of the Month profiles, has been selected as UIS Employee of the Month October 2013.

Blake works as the assistant director of Public Relations and is well known across campus due to the videos he creates that highlight UIS faculty, staff, students, and campus events. He's also known for his hard work. "Blake is always going out of his way in not only helping others, but staying late or coming in early or on weekends to make a project or task better," his nominator writes.

Students and staff go to Blake when looking for advice or information about campus events or activities. His friendliness makes him a great resource for the UIS community, as he strives to help anyone who asks, and will do his best to find answers to questions posed to him. He is considered the "Social Media Guru" in Campus Relations, and stays on top of the UIS social media outlets.

"Blake is not only a very talented person, but a very good person in general. He does a lot of Leadership lived profiles and features, but he is the perfect example of Leadership lived," writes his nominator.

Jim Ermatinger is September EOM

Dean Jim Ermatinger is described by colleagues as a creative leader and a supportive mentor, and it's for these reasons and more he has been selected UIS Employee of the Month for September 2013.    

In addition to being a well-liked colleague, Jim takes on more work in an effort to help the university. He "has served as Dean of not only the largest college in our institution, but for the last two years, he has served as Dean of two colleges, and has done so with excellence and grace, which demonstrates his admirable work ethic and commitment to the institution," writes his nominator. "He does all of this with a smile and a great sense of humor."

In spite of the extra time he may have to spend at the office because of these additional responsibilities, "he still makes time to go to the gym, setting an excellent example of time management skills and communicating the importance of making time for healthy activities," his nominator noted.

"Dean Ermatinger genuinely cares about the success of the faculty, staff, and students with whom he works, and his efforts contribute significantly to the success of UIS as a whole."

Keith McMath is August EOM

Upon learning he'd been selected as UIS Employee of the Month for August 2013, Keith McMath said what his nominator probably expected him to say: "You just do what needs to be done for those that we serve."

Keith, who works as the Assistant Director of Housing, was commended by his nominator for always putting students first and treating them respectfully. "He will patiently and professionally address student concerns, taking time to meet with them individually," his nominator writes. "Keith is the epitome of working well and relating well to residents, their parents, our campus staff and colleagues, vendors and contractors, and other internal and external stakeholders."

When someone is needed to resolve a problem, Keith is the person to turn to. "When I ask him to look at something or take on a new challenge, his standard reply is 'I'm on it,'" writes his nominator. "And I can absolutely trust that he is because, invariably, it gets done sooner than expected. He is the consummate team player."

"He brings his A-game on a daily basis to the Residence Life Team!"

Karen Fagg is July EOM

Karen Fagg's smile is the first thing visitors see when approaching the front desk inside the Chancellor's suite at the University of Illinois Springfield. She assists visitors quickly and with a kind and calm demeanor that helps to set the tone for the entire office. For these reasons and others, Fagg has been selected as the UIS Employee of the Month for July 2013.

Karen's nominator describes her as a perfect example of leadership lived at UIS. "She keeps staff informed and operations running smoothly in the Chancellor's Office," the nominator writes. "Perhaps more importantly, Karen is the face of the Chancellor's Office (and a friendly face at that!) to the many students, staff and visitors who come to the office to attend appointments or to seek information."

Karen is an Office Support Specialist who has been with UIS since 2009. According to her nominator, Karen has assumed more duties in the past two years, and has taken them on with a positive attitude and with a willingness to seek out additional ways to help her colleagues. "She is absolutely dedicated to the success of the Chancellor, her office staff and UIS as a whole."

Evan Stanley is June EOM

Evan Stanley, Student Enrollment Coordinator in Records and Registration, was being hustled by his supervisor Brian Clevenger as if they were late for a meeting. Instead, Stanley was led into a gathering for himself where he learned he had been selected as the UIS Employee of the Month for June 2013.

Stanley, who has worked at the university since 2006, was nominated for his excellent demeanor with students and for maintaining a positive and professional work environment while encouraging his employees to perform their best at all times.

"Evan has made a positive impact at UIS through his professional approach to each challenge, consistently being a team player, and for always putting students first," his nominator writes. "He's always willing to share his knowledge and the options available to students in situations that require a lot of patience and understanding."

Keith Burton is the May EOM

Keith Burton, Associate Professor of Psychology, thought he was pulling an old switcheroo on his boss, James Ermatinger, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. Little did he know the switcheroo was about to turn back on him.

Professor Burton arrived at the PAC restaurant believing the party taking place there was in honor of Dean Ermatinger. Ermatinger arrived knowing it was for Burton, who was caught completely off guard when he learned he had been selected as the UIS Employee of the Month for May 2013.

According to his nominator, Burton is known for his patience, kindness, and humor. He projects a soothing aura when dealing with students, faculty, or staff who are upset or need assistance. "Keith has a great sense of humor, friendly demeanor, pleasant outlook, and is extremely helpful to everyone he comes in contact with," writes his nominator. "He has a wealth of information and the [Dean's Office] staff has come to depend on him to provide a voice of reason in stressful situations."

Tulio Llosa is the April EOM

ITS Associate Provost Farokh Eslahi told Tulio Llosa, Director of IT Operations, there was a problem with the audio in the PAC restaurant. "You tricked me!" Llosa said when the two of them walked into a  surprise party at the restaurant and Llosa learned he had been selected as the UIS Employee of the Month for April 2013.

Llosa gave thanks to several people, including Ray Schroeder, Associate Vice Chancellor for Online Learning, who hired him as a graduate assistant at UIS in 1999. Since then, Llosa has become an integral part of the campus community, particularly in implementing new technologies that support teaching and learning.

His nominator describes Llosa as demonstrating excellent customer service, having a collaborative spirit, a commitment to high standards, and a willingness to go the extra mile to address issues and accomplish objectives.

"He is a voracious learner and stays on the cutting edge of his field," his nominator writes. "His knowledge and expertise make him the "go-to" tech person for many on campus and he is known to be a person who will get the job done quickly and correctly. Tulio gives 100% day in and day out for UIS."

John Stanulis is the March EOM

At 9:30 a.m., UIS Electrician Foreman John Stanulis was supposed to walk into the PAC restaurant and into his surprise party. His colleagues and friends had gathered to celebrate that he had been chosen as the UIS Employee of the Month for March 2013. The seconds ticked past, and his supervisor, Dave Barrows, called him on the radio to find out his location. He was in the “electric shop,” working.

It’s this dedication to work that inspired his nominator to recommend him for Employee of the Month recognition. His nominator writes that Stanulis is dependable and always ready to pitch in. “John leads by example and wears many hats in his job. His energy and productivity is exceptional.”

Stanulis appreciates his colleagues, too, as evidenced during his party when he was quick to deflect attention from himself, and said much of the credit goes to the team that works with him. According to his nominator, “John is easy to work for…he gets along well with everyone and we all appreciate his boundless energy.”

“John is an exceptional individual and employee. He has an uncanny ability to think through and address a multitude of projects, topics, and campus needs, all at one time,” writes his nominator.

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

Sarah Sagmoen is the February EOM

Sarah Sagmoen thought she was going to a meeting with her colleagues when they left Brookens Library and walked to the Public Affairs Center. It seemed odd to her when one of them suggested they stop and see what was happening inside the PAC restaurant. When Sagmoen walked in, she found a surprise party in her honor, and learned she had been selected as the UIS Employee of the Month for February 2013.

Sagmoen is the director of Learning Commons and User Services in Brookens Library. Her nominator described her as a “perfect example of a 21st century librarian” in the way that she combines her “knowledge with passion, uses technology wisely, is enthusiastic about what the library can do for people, and teaches in a way that makes learning fun.” Sagmoen, who has been with UIS since 2009, reaches out to students in a variety of ways; she sponsors student book clubs, and works with the Student Government Association to organize and put on the annual Haunted Library. “She combines seriousness of purpose with an attitude of fun,” her nominator says. “Sarah just exudes positive energy.”

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

Randy Williams named the 2012 UIS Employee of the Year

Food Service Administrator Randy Williams was named the 2012 University of Illinois Springfield Employee of the Year during a celebration in the Sangamon Auditorium Lobby on January 31, 2013.

“Randy’s greatest asset is his energy and enthusiasm,” said one of his nominators. “He consistently brings to work a positive, winning, can-do attitude.”

Williams started working at UIS in August 2009 and has consistently exceeded expectations. He does whatever it takes to make sure UIS Food Service meets the highest standards and does it with a smile.

“Thank you very much. It’s an honor,” said Williams. He told the audience, “I know we have food prepared. That’s usually my line to say lets eat.”

Williams is known for listening to students and was instrumental in expanding the menu at the Capitol Grille and Food Emporium. He has also worked to add an international flare to the campus menu.

“Leadership lived is certainly what is happening on our campus and I’m deeply grateful for all of you that contribute to making this university experience excellent for all of our students and also for making this a great place to work,” said UIS Chancellor Susan J. Koch.

The Employee of the Year gets a check for $500, plus a special parking spot for the entire year.