Tamara Boeker, a business/administrative associate for Information Technology Services (ITS), has been named the University of Illinois Springfield Employee of the Month for May 2018.
Boeker manages the financial aspects of the Information Technology Services Department, including purchasing and negotiating contracts with vendors. She has worked at UIS since 2014.
Her co-workers call her the “backbone of ITS” and “a real team player.” They praise her for being respectful, patient and always professional.
“We often ask her to do the impossible, and somehow she works her magic and makes it happen,” said one of her nominators. “She is one of the kindest people you will have the privilege to work with, but she is no nonsense when it comes to making sure we get the best pricing and excellent customer care.”
Most recently, Boeker started major negotiations to kick off the Canvas pilot. Additionally, she’s worked closely with Dell and with her counterparts at the Urbana campus to pull together combined purchases that allow both campuses to benefit from significant discounts.
“I have never seen Tam lose her patience, even in the midst of frustrating conversations with purchasing, vendors, auditors, etc.,” said a nominator. “She is always calm and professional. Equally as important, she recognizes how all of her work impacts the university and is constantly striving to make improvements in processes and procedures.”
Nominators praise Boeker for her ability to juggle varying deadlines, contract renewals and expiration dates calling her “diligent and conscientious about her work.”
“Much of Tam’s work is behind the scenes, but she has a huge impact on the UIS campus,” said a nominator. “Her tireless effort, attention to detail, and strong communication skills result in seamless transitions for contracts and cost-savings that benefit the entire campus. She is a valued member of the ITS team.”
