Eight staff employees were honored with the Chancellor’s Distinguished Staff Award at a banquet April 16. The award recognizes exceptional performance; each recipient receives $2,000 and a plaque. Recipients’ names also are inscribed on a plaque displayed in the Staff Human Resources Office. Past winners are listed on the office’s Hall of Fame Web site at www.pso.uiuc.edu/cdsa/cdsahall.html. This year, 81 employees were nominated. Permanent staff employees with at least two years of service or retired employees in status appointments during the calendar year can be nominated for the award by faculty or staff members or students. A committee appointed by the chancellor recommends finalists. The chancellor approves final winners.
Theodore J. Burgin III, electrician for Facilities and Services, is responsible for maintaining and installing electronic-card access systems and handicapped door operators on campus. His nominators said he has greatly improved the safety and accessibility of campus since he was hired eight years ago. “Ted takes his job seriously and is always willing and eager to expand his knowledge within and outside his field,” said Robert Fritz, manager of systems and controls in Facilities and Services. “He is a true professional, a man of integrity and a very hard worker.” Susan Hart Orban, electrician foreman, said Burgin examines his own performance in search of a better, quicker or less expensive way to accomplish each task. “I can always count on Ted to let customers know what needs to be done and when,” Orban said. David Hasty, locksmith foreman, said Burgin pays great attention to detail in his work. “He is genuinely concerned with the safety and security of the students, faculty and staff here,” Hasty said. “I am confident that when Ted works with us on a project we will receive the best possible service available and our campus customers will be treated with courtesy and professionalism.” Robert C. Ward, locksmith in Facilities and Services, said Burgin is the only full time, fully trained craftsman working to keep handicapped-accessible equipment running. “Working on his own, Ted has developed techniques and installation and repair methods that have saved the university thousand of dollars,” Ward said. “The lives of handicapped citizens have been improved by the skillful work he has done in this field.”
Anthony J. Carpenter, police officer in the Division of Public Safety, is a strong communicator and role model, according to his nominators. “Everyone remembers Tony Carpenter,” said Joseph McCullough, police officer. “He is truly a people person. Tony goes out of his way to help out anyone who needs a hand and volunteers for projects and details without objection.” Carpenter has developed positive relationships with the campus community, said Angela Clark, assistant program director in the Bruce Nesbitt African American Cultural Center. “Carpenter understood that police officers are not always well received in the African-American community,” Clark said. “He volunteered to talk with students about how to deal with conflicts and to advise them of their rights. He is always willing to do what he can to help.” Kris Fitzpatrick, interim chief of police, said Carpenter has a true desire to make a difference in people’s lives. “He obviously could use his size and strength in order to gain compliance from others,” Fitzpatrick said. “Instead he chooses to use his communication skills and life experiences in order to achieve his objective.” Joan Fiesta, police sergeant, said Carpenter is a leader by example. “People at the department are drawn to him for his wisdom, kindness, humor and willingness to do his job 100 percent,” Fiesta said. Carpenter’s greatest gift is his ability to communicate with people, Fiesta added. “Even if someone is calling him every nasty name under the sun, Carpenter remains under control,” Fiesta said. “He is one of the best.”
Donna L. Cutsinger, administrative assistant II in the College of Engineering, has worked at the UI for 20 years. According to her nominators, she is a “one-woman human resources office.” “Her knowledge of policies, her ability to work with Banner human resources and her incredible accuracy are so widely respected that she is one of only two employees outside the central human resources unit who are designated as service centers for Banner transactions,” said Jeannette Beck, assistant to the department head in electrical and computer engineering. “On the last day of payroll calculations, it is well known that Donna will not leave her office until the last appointment on her desk is entered.” Ilesanmi Adesida, dean and a Willett Professor in the College of Engineering, said he is continually impressed with Cutsinger’s professionalism, work ethic, knowledge and personal commitment. “Her dedication and success is apparent to all in our college and across the campus,” Adesida said. Sharon Bryan, assistant dean in engineering administration, said Cutsinger processes payroll for 900 faculty members and academic professionals. “Her ability to work within the system to process complex payroll appointments is amazing,” Bryan said. Adesida said Cutsinger is one of the most important resources in the college. “She sets the standard for service and gives more than 100 percent effort in anything she endeavors,” Adesida said.
Glenda A. Fisher, staff secretary V in the department of urban and regional planning, has served in various positions throughout the department for the past 17 years. Emily Talen, a professor in the department, said Fisher is great at accomplishing multiple tasks and is an indispensable member of the department. “Glenda describes herself as a ‘farm-wife,’ ” Talen said. “There is no doubt that her life on the farm has bred in her the industriousness and dependability we have come to rely on so much.” Mary Edwards, another professor in the department, said Fisher is a hard-working, skilled and motivated employee. “Glenda is our face to the outside world,” Edwards said. “We could not ask for a better face to represent us and offer a first impression of the department. She is friendly, helpful and confident.” Fisher is a perfectionist and sets extremely high standards for herself, said Zorica Nedovic-Budic, professor and program coordinator. “With her demeanor and attitude, she contributes substantially to the friendly and pleasant atmosphere in our office,” Nedovic-Budic said. Robert Olshansky, professor and interim head of urban and regional planning, said Fisher’s responsibilities have grown over the years. “She gets everything done on time,” Olshansky said. “Sometimes I wonder if we are asking too much of her, but somehow she completes it all, without a word of complaining. I couldn’t think of a better employee.”
Marla K. Frisby has been a laboratory animal care specialist in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in the College of Veterinary Medicine for six years. Her nominators say she is dedicated and cheerful although her job is less than glamorous. Frisby’s job duties include, but are not limited to, feeding, cleaning and transporting animals. “Marla is exceptionally dependable,” said Jeff Keyes, coordinator of hospital facilities. “An example of this is that when the university shut down because of the snow storm, Marla was one of the few who made it to work so that normal operations and animal care would not be compromised.” Keyes said that Frisby leads her staff by example and projects a positive image and work ethic. “Many of her duties are far from glamorous,” Keyes said. “She accomplishes these duties with an outstanding attitude and an infectious enthusiasm that spreads to those around her,” Keyes said. Thomas K. Graves, professor and head of small animal medicine, said he depends on Frisby to do his job. He also said Frisby cares about students and sees herself as an important part of their education. Michael Biehl, director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, said, “Marla is an unsung hero whose job is not front and center, but definitely one of the frontline responsibilities that ensures a healthy and minimally stressful environment for our animal patients.”
Lauri J. Harden, administrative secretary in the department of English, is an organizational genius, according to her nominators. Harden, a UI employee for almost 17 years, manages 240 instructors, 6,500 students and 395 class sections each semester, said Julia A. Walker, associate head of the department. “Harden is a modest super-hero, quietly solving problems and genially answering questions without expecting any fanfare for a job well done,” Walker said. “Somehow she manages to suffuse the atmosphere of the entire department with such congeniality.” Rebecca Moss, business manager in the department, said Harden is irreplaceable. “When problems arise Lauri is often the first line of information and the first face greeting any student,” Moss said. “She is the heart of our operation.” Moss said the English department runs smoothly because of Harden. “She has an uncanny sense of which faculty members and instructors to place in which classes for any given year,” said Moss. “Her knowledge goes beyond the logistics of how many courses are available and how many people are available to teach them. She has knowledge of each of our teaching staff on a personal level.” Peter Mortensen, a professor and Provost Fellow in the department, said Harden has mastered the Banner system. “Harden has continued to explore how features in Banner can be applied to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of class scheduling and registration in rhetoric, which has some 150 sections each semester,” Mortensen said. “I have encountered no other staff person who is so talented, committed and caring as Lauri Harden.”
Richard C. Keever, feed mill plant manager in the department of animal sciences, anticipates tasks and has a superb work ethic, said his nominators. Keever is responsible for supplying all standard feeds to the beef, dairy, horse, poultry and swine farms. Keever’s work requires significant business, technical and personnel management skills, said Robert Easter, dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. “The feed mill provides about 5,000 tons of complete rations to farm animals managed by the college,” Easter said. “Many of these formulations are complex research diets that must be prepared carefully and with absolute precision. I can say with complete honesty that I am not aware there has ever been a major failure during Keever’s tenure.” Carl Parsons, a professor of animal sciences, said Keever’s attention to detail and accuracy ensures that research projects are performed correctly. “Rick mixes all of our farm diets and many of our research diets at the feed mill and does an excellent job,” Parsons said. “Being able to have these diets mixed properly by the feed mill is a luxury most of my colleagues at other universities do not have.” Neal Merchen, professor and head of animal sciences, said Keever has made certain all fiscal aspects of the unit are managed correctly. “The feed mill has always remained fiscally solvent in an era in which escalating costs have made this very difficult,” Merchen said. “This has been accomplished because of Rich.” Chet Utterback, supervising poultry farm foreman, said he is amazed by Keever’s consistency and accuracy. “There are so many instances where Rick has saved the day or made life on the South Farms much, much easier,” Utterback said.
Johnetta K. Wilde, secretary IV in the department of physics, joined the UI staff in 1997, after retiring from a 30-year career teaching high school Spanish and French. Wilde goes beyond the call of duty, serving on committees and helping where needed, according to her nominators. Jim Wolfe, professor of physics, said Wilde is never tired of learning. “Johnetta has been serving on a campuswide committee to convert ICES forms to an electronic format,” Wolfe said. “Her extensive experience in handling the paper forms makes her well qualified to assist in this important advancement for the campus.” Gary Gladding, professor and associate head of the department, said Wilde is a joy to work with. “Johnetta’s job is incredibly demanding,” said Gladding. “She handles pressures with a remarkably calm demeanor.” Gladding said Wilde is not afraid to take on new responsibilities. “As the Web presence became more important to each of our courses, Johnetta learned on her own what was needed to manage these course Web pages,” Gladding said. “Her competence with this new technology has grown to the point where she now creates the Web site for each course before the beginning of each semester. By the time she is done, there is very little left for the faculty members to do.” Paul Kwiat, the Bardeen Professor of Physics, said Wilde will be difficult to replace. “Johnetta’s absence (would be) like the entire New York mass transit system going on strike!”