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UIS Employee of the Month Program

Jim Kasper is 2004 Employee of the Year

Jim Kasper, third from left, is joined by his parents, LaTece and Tom, and his wife, Vaughn, after he was named 2004 Employee of the Year.

Jim Kasper was named 2004 Employee of the Year at the 22nd annual Employee of the Year Recognition Ceremony, held January 11 in the PAC Auditorium Lobby.

Kasper, an electrician, was selected from among 11 UIS staff members who had been employees of the month during the past year. He was employee of the month for March.

Ed Wojcicki, associate chancellor for constituent relations, introduced each employee of the month. Of Kasper he noted that whenever he is called in to fix a problem, whether large or small, by the time he has finished, everyone in the area is smiling. “He just has that way about him,” said Wojcicki, adding that following his employee of the month party in March, Kasper had treated all his colleagues to ice cream.

Materials nominating Kasper for Employee of the Month noted in part, “Jim is upbeat and never seems to have an off day. He is always looking for a way to make things happen smoothly, and he prefers that no one even know he had a hand in making it happen. He’s a wonderful human being and a tremendous employee.” 

Chancellor Ringeisen, making the official announcement and presentation, observed, “Just to know that you have been chosen by your peers for the work you do is in itself amazing. You are all playing an important role in creating UIS.”

Accepting the award, Kasper said, “I’m very honored to be here. This is a terrific place to work. I feel like I’ve been carried here on the shoulders of folks I work with.”

Carol Esarey is EOM for December

Chancellor Ringeisen and Carol Esarey share a laugh during Esarey's Employee of the Month party.

As is almost always the case, the honoree was reluctant to come in and be honored. A mixture of shock and surprise tends to create momentary paralysis. 

Carol Esarey most definitely did not want to come in to the PAC restaurant once she spotted all the friends and colleagues gathered and ready to celebrate her selection as Employee of the Month for December. 

However, once Carol managed that first step, Barbara Ferrara, interim executive director of the Center for State Policy and Leadership, made a presentation that included many quotes from the nominating materials that were lavish in their praise of Carol, both as a colleague and a person.  

Noting that Carol will retire at the end of December after 15 years on campus – a step she agreed to postpone to spend the fall semester serving as interim director of the Center’s Institute for Legal and Policy Studies – Ferrara said, “This EOM award allows the entire UIS community to join the Center in recognizing you.

“You are leaving a significant legacy,” she continued. “A legacy of high quality programs for state government and the judicial system in Illinois, but most of all a legacy of the example you’ve set for the warm and generous way you work with people, showing how we accomplish our goals working as a team.” 

Ferrara then read from materials that hailed Carol as a “gifted manager and leader, a generous mentor, and a beloved colleague” and repeatedly cited her willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty. 

“Carol has a genuine, warm personality,” Ferrara read. “From Carol I have learned much about leadership, tenacity, and always giving my best…Carol gives 100% to her work and pours herself into the effort…She has an infectious laugh and wonderful sense of humor that will be remembered by her colleagues long after she leaves UIS.” 

Carol responded that, though she had had several jobs in her working life, this was absolutely the very best because of the people she’d been “blessed to work with.”

“This is a great way to roll out of here,” she quipped.

November EOM is Barbara Cass

Barbara Cass was very surprised to find herself November Employee of the Month.

There’s just something about unexpectedly walking in to a room full of people, especially when they stop talking and start applauding. Just ask Barbara Cass, Employee of the Month for November. 

“You’re kidding me. You’re kidding me,” she said over and over as she entered the PAC restaurant after realizing she was the woman of the hour. 

Barbara wears two hats on campus. She is the assistant to UIS Ombudsperson Marcellus Leonard as well as the coordinator of the online English program, and so she received not one but two congratulatory speeches – one from Leonard and another from Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Margot Duley. 

“Let me begin by saying what a delightful woman this is to work with,” said Leonard. “She’s effective, efficient, and exemplary.” Noting that Barbara designed all the forms and strategies used in the ombuds office, he added that while “we had a trainer to get us started, she’s the one who did all the hard work.” 

Standing in for Holly McCracken and Nancy Perkins, Duley noted, “Holly and Nancy both wanted me to tell you that they can’t say enough good things about Barbara. She truly cares that the online English program is of the caliber that we want.  In her work with both faculty and students, she’s proof that a caring individual can truly make a program successful.” 

Accepting the honor, Barbara said, “Even if I’d had time to prepare for this, I wouldn’t be able to say how wonderful it is. I’m overwhelmed! However, I couldn’t do my job without the help of just about everybody standing in this room. Thank you all.”

October EOM is Patti Sims

Patti Sims reacts to being named Employee of the Month for October.

Assistant Provost Patti Sims is clearly not used to entering a room to rounds of applause, but she handled it fairly well. 

“Well thank you,” she calmly said to the group assembled in conference room G to congratulate her on being named Employee of the Month for October. But then she betrayed herself: “I’m in shock!” 

Associate Provost Aaron Shures began the presentation by telling the crowd that Patti’s supervisor (Provost Michael Cheney) had submitted an “extensive” endorsement of her, “pages long.” 

“When Patti came up from the Center for Legal Studies, she stepped into a very demanding position,” said Shures. “She was greeted by an avalanche of work. But she recognized there was a job to be done and who had to do it. 

“When it came time to implement Banner, especially HR Pay, Patti was one of those people who put their personal lives on hold and went above and beyond,” he continued. “Patti does her job with dedication and that’s a hallmark of the staff here at UIS.” 

Accepting the official prize package worth “tens of dollars,” Patti said, “Everybody has been very nice to me and great to work with. That’s how we get through these trying times. Thank you,” she said. “I really appreciate this.” 

Patti’s husband, Norman, and Amy, one of the couple’s two daughters, were on hand for the party.

Chris Miller is September EOM

Chris Miller was thoroughly surprised to find that he was EOM for September.

It isn’t too often that the chancellor has to hide out in his office, but that’s what happened before the party honoring Chris Miller, vice chancellor for student affairs, as September Employee of the Month. 

Chris was in the area because Chancellor Ringeisen had asked him to speak on his behalf to a visiting community group about the new rec center. What the chancellor really needed, however, was to sneak down to the PAC restaurant so he could be on hand to make the official EOM presentation. It worked like a charm and Chris was utterly surprised.

“It’s unusual for a vice chancellor to be named Employee of the Month,” said Ringeisen, “and that says a lot about Chris. One of the things that I've done right was to put this young man in a leadership position.”

Ringeisen noted that Chris is the campus’ point man on a number of student-related issues, including the planned rec center, food service, and housing -- all areas that are expected to change dramatically within the next few years.

“Chris has a positive effect on things,” Ringeisen continued. “He can take a difficult situation and make it pleasant. He can be firm, and still everybody loves him.”

Accepting the honor, Miller said, “I am very humbled by this…and I can not understand how I didn’t know this was going on! 

“I work with some great people. I was telling someone just the other day that I don’t have to be overly concerned with a lot of things because I work with such dynamite people.” 

August EOM is Scott Nafziger

They had to open both doors to get Scott Nafziger inside when he caught sight of everyone waiting in the PAC restaurant to congratulate him on being named Employee of the Month for August. 

But once that was accomplished, Steve Rohrer, director of Campus Technology Services, where Scott is a network analyst, was able to make the presentation and explain the lateness of the party.  “When we first heard, our reaction was, ‘Oh no! We don’t have time for this!’” Steve said. “As you all know, it’s been kind of a busy summer for us.  “But Scott is employee of the month, and deservedly so,” Rohrer continued, joking, “He’s been a valued employee in technology services for a good number of years…I can’t tell you exactly how many because I can’t get in to Banner.”

Steve Rohrer closed the doors to the PAC restaurant after Scott Nafziger finally came inside.

Rohrer credited Scott with keeping the campus network running smoothly and called him “our internal secret weapon. Scott is like our built-in hacker, and this relationship has worked out very well on both sides, because UIS is a better institution than, say, Leavenworth.” 

Asked if he was ready for the honor, Scott replied, “Not really… I thought I’d never have to worry about this because I’m always in the background, which is ok because then if something doesn’t work I can deny it. 

“You can say I’m surprised, shocked…and speechless.”

Bob Walker is July EOM

Bob Walker isn't sure about being named EOM for July.

Bob Walker had been sent out to check some equipment when Gary Bach relayed a message that an unexpected event in the PAC lobby needed some microphones set up. All business as usual for staff in Educational Technology, but this time it was just smoke and mirrors allowing Bob’s co-workers to sneak over to his Employee of the Month party and to lure him there as well. 

Bob was completely surprised to find 40 to 50 people waiting for him in the lobby, including Ed Tech director Farokh Eslahi, who made the official presentation and praised Bob’s commitment to customer service and the “outstanding” job he does as the department’s nighttime lab supervisor. (“He’s really Ed Tech at Night,” said associate director Albert Whittenberg.) 

Gracious in his acceptance, Bob noted that he could not do his job so well without the help of his colleagues. 

Bob has been on campus, including time spent as a student and student worker, for more than 10 years.

Carmelita Washington is EOM for June

On her way to help out with a "Banner emergency," Carmelita Washington came across her own EOM party.

Carmelita Washington, a fixture in Human Resources, was “amazed, totally shocked, and even quiet for a few minutes” when she realized she was being honored as Employee of the Month at an outdoor party on June 17.

Carmelita and Wes Weisenburn, assistant vice president for human resources, were completing her annual performance evaluation Thursday morning when a call came in from “Chris Miller” (really HR administrative aide Lyn King) reporting “a severe Banner problem” and asking for Carmelita’s help right away! 

On the way to Chris’ office they just happened to come across Carmelita's husband, JD, granddaughter, Dorcas (Dee), the rest of the HR staff, and many well-wishers, all gathered around a picnic spread complete with cake, punch, and hot dogs.

As honoree, Carmelita received a new nickname (“Miss Banner”), along with warm congratulations and praise for her many accomplishments – most especially for her efforts in helping to get the new Banner system up and running – during her 23 years on campus.

Jana Wise is EOM for May

Belated congratulations to Jana Wise, director of the Upper Division Instructional Support Center in Peoria, who was Employee of the Month for May.

Jana has worked from the campus of Illinois Central College for many years, helping UIS’ Peoria-area students.

Typically modest, she said, “It was a wonderful surprise. I couldn’t believe I didn’t know what was going on.”

April EOM is Shari McCurdy

April EOM Shari McCurdy listens as Ray Schroeder praises her as a "renaissance woman."

Shari McCurdy, a web developer in the Office of Technology-Enhanced Learning, thought she was going to a staff meeting on April 13 and was prepared and ready to talk about online. But when she instead walked in to her own Employee of the Month party, her reaction was short and to the point.

“How embarrassing!” she said.

But never mind modesty. Ray Schroeder, OTEL director, was lavish in his praise as he made the presentation.

“We all know Shari,” said Ray, “but I think many of us know her for many different reasons -- active APAC leader, online adjunct faculty member, technology leader, or adviser of faculty members using blackboard online or on campus.

“And that’s why this recognition is so well-deserved and long overdue.  Shari is truly a renaissance woman at UIS.  Her competency and her knowledge cover so many areas, but spanning all of that knowledge is a caring, a dedication, and a devotion to UIS and all of us who depend on her knowledge and support.”

Shari returned the compliment. “I think that these types of honors really need to go to the entire department, and I would not be nearly as successful or prepared for my job if it wasn’t for the rest of the OTEL, ed tech, and campus tech team.

“I’m a pretty lucky duck as my job is such a pleasure. Each day I get to consult with and work alongside a dedicated and fantastic group of people.”

March EOM is Jim Kasper

Jim Kasper is March Employee of the Month.

Electrician Jim Kasper was lured in to his Employee of the Month party, March 5 in the Student Center, by an outright lie. 

“I looked him straight in the face and said it was one of the other electrician’s parties and he didn’t want to miss it,” said electrician foreman Larry Renn. 

Dave Barrows, director of physical planning and operations, made it official, however, saying, among other things, that Jim “walks on water. He’s a wonderful human being, a tremendous employee, and we just love spending time with him.” 

Being his normal, modest self, Jim replied that he felt like he was there on the shoulders of other people who should be there. “This is a wonderful place to work,” he added. “Everyone is so very nice. I’m very happy to accept the EOM honor.” 

According to Renn, Jim has been employed at UIS for four “pleasant, short” years.

Jim’s children were in school and his wife had worked the previous night, so his family wasn’t able to be there for the celebration.

Joan Sestak refuses to believe that she is the February Employee of the Month.

Joan Sestak is February EOM

Joan Sestak, director of special events in the chancellor’s office, had been out of town for a few days and when she was chosen EOM for February that gave her colleagues time to come up with the perfect ruse - they told her it was someone else (Charlene Lambert). 

So on Wednesday, February 25, the Chancellor’s wife, Carolyn Ringeisen, scheduled an early afternoon meeting with Joan that lasted slightly past the time when Charlene’s party was supposed to start. When that meeting finished up, Emily Schirding suggested that they all go down to the PAC restaurant to congratulate Charlene. 

After an astonished Joan was shoved to the room, Chancellor Ringeisen made the presentation, observing in part, “Every organization needs someone who is a ‘pocket of optimism,’ and Joan is ours. She’s so upbeat it’s disgusting sometimes. It’s customary on these occasions to give the person’s job description, but for Joan that’s impossible because she does everything. If it needs to be done, she’ll do it – you can’t stop her. She works with enthusiasm and joy every day.” 

Characteristically, Joan wasn’t flustered for long. “This is bad,” she said. “Imagine me, speechless! I guess you can tell I’m truly shocked. My first thought when I saw you all was ‘I’m not Charlene!’

“The truth is, I couldn’t do my job without many of you standing in this room. I get the credit and shouldn’t. I have colleagues who, when I call up and ask for a favor, never hesitate to say ‘we’ll take care of it.’ I’m privileged and humbled and honored.”

And later she demonstrated one of the qualities that got her the honor – when the last guest was gone, she helped clean up.