VCU news

By Leila Ugincius

Without the behind-the-scenes work of the Finance and Administration Division, Virginia Commonwealth University would come to a grinding halt.

"The lights don't get turned on and the buildings don’t open and the grounds don’t get cleaned and the computers don’t work unless we are all doing our jobs the best we can," said David Hanson, vice president for finance and administration. "We are the key infrastructure support unit of this university."

Tasked with keeping the university running, finance and administration employees — who comprise technology and business services, facilities management, human resources and the police department — know that, while they take their duties seriously, they can't forget to have fun.

For them, having fun on the job translates into promoting exemplary customer service. For that, they were awarded at the Finance and Administration Customer Service Awards ceremony June 7.

About 200 employees from both campuses turned out for the biennial event — a university tradition since 1997 — that recognizes faculty and staff who foster better communication, promote higher productivity and improve relations among faculty, staff and students.

"Our purpose in gathering here today is to acknowledge many talented and dedicated employees within the division who consistently exhibit the highest level of customer service through the four customer compass excellence points of respect, integrity, responsiveness and initiative," said emcee Daynon Smith of Human Resources.

Hanson presented the formal awards for exemplary customer service, which included a framed certificate and monetary award, to Joyce Foster of Facilities Management, David Puckette of Technology Services, Matthew Ruland of VCU Police and Larry Walters of University Renovations.

Smith then took over to present the informal “fun” awards.

Prizes — including a toy criminal profiling kit, miniature fire hydrants and an inflatable mask — were given in categories such as “Behind the Scenes,” “Firefighting” and “Fun at Work.”

Exemplary Customer Service Award

• Joyce Foster, Facilities Management
• David Puckette, Technology Services
• Matthew Ruland, VCU Police
• Larry Walters, University Renovations

Ambassador Award

• Emily Clarke, Human Resources
• Rebecca Ellison, VCU Police

Behind the Scenes Award

• Jody Atkins, VCU Police
• Alicia Styles, Physical Plant

Beyond the Call of Duty Award

• Mark Jacubec, Facilities Management
• Romero Payne, Physical Plant

Bright Idea Award

• Jennifer Brown, VCU Police
• Nancy Nicholson, Grants & Contracts Accounting

Firefighting Award

• John Thompson, Facilities Management
• Sheila Baker, HR Generalists
• Takeya McLaurin, HR Generalists
• Patricia Wallace, HR Generalists
• Allison Wetterhahn, HR Generalists

Fun at Work Award

• Priscilla Clayborne, Grants & Contracts Accounting
• Stephen Fore, Physical Plant

More with Less Award

Presepine Fleming, Grants & Contracts Accounting