Summer 2019 All Staff Meeting

Nearly 300 Facilities Services (FS) staff members attended the semi-annual all-staff meeting hosted at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts this summer. The meeting was launched with an entertaining “calendar” video that captured FS staff members' work EVERY SINGLE DAY, OF EVERY SINGLE MONTH, EVERY SINGLE YEAR. To see our summer all-staff compilation video, click here

President, Robert J. Zimmer, our distinguished guest speaker, thanked FS staff for advancing the mission of the university. The second half of the meeting was dedicated to staff recognition and awards. The Keller and Safety Awards were received by FS staff who demonstrated exemplary service.

The Safety Spirit Award is presented annually to an individual staff member or team that consistently excels at creating and promoting a safe work environment through the application of safe practices, attitude and actions. Bob Bandura, chief electrical engineer, was selected as this year’s recipient. John D'Angelo, assistant vice president of operations, cited Bandura’s leadership in ARC Flash Testing/IR Testing, monthly shop and plant meetings, and routine inspection of electrical spaces as examples of his commitment to preventing safety issues.

The Keller Award is named after project manager Janet Keller, who during the last months of her life led a project team to create the USITE Computing Cluster in Crerar Science Library. Throughout the duration of this project, which represents a significant contribution to the University of Chicago community, Keller was repeatedly cited by clients and team members alike for upholding the highest values of teamwork and cooperation and for providing excellent client service and satisfaction. The Keller Award was created in 2002 to recognize Janet Keller and other outstanding Facilities Services employees in her honor.

The Material Control Group, comprised of Virginia Payne, Malcome Braggs, and Troy Gray, received the Keller Team Award. This team was honored for work that goes above and beyond expectations including embracing new software/and approval process changes, participating in the High School Summer Internship program, and processing over 4,000 purchase orders totaling $4.1 million.

Angela Knoble, senior project manager, received the Keller Individual Award for her dedication to the UChicago community through her work on the Keller Center (no relation to the award). Knoble was recognized for her overall contribution to creating a collaborative culture and her demonstrated commitment to issue resolution. Her name will be added to the permanent plaque honoring recipients of the Keller Award which hangs in the 10th Floor Break Room at Harper Court.

Forty-two FS staff members were acknowledged for their service to the university; their employment anniversaries range from 5 to 40 years (in 5-year increments). After the meeting, these staff members received a service pin in recognition of his/her contribution. Alicia Berg, assistant vice president for campus planning + sustainability, offered a special acknowledgment to Glenn Okasaki, manager planning accessibility specialist, for 40 years of dedicated service to the University. 

As it has become a tradition, the meeting concluded with a group photo. For the photo, some staff wore the custom FS backpacks they received at the start of the meeting. As we continue onward, hopefully the backpacks will remind us that in Facilities Services, “We have your back!”.  We look forward to another year as we continue to build and maintain excellence.

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