VCU news

By Leila Ugincius

The Finance and Administration Division showed the fun side of finance at its annual Customer Service Awards ceremony.

Approximately 100 employees from both campuses turned out for the May 9 event — a university tradition since 1997 — that recognizes division faculty and staff who foster better communication, promote higher productivity and improve relations among faculty, staff and students.

The awards “recognize talented, dedicated folks who have exhibited the highest level of customer service,” said Paul W. Timmreck, senior vice president for finance and administration. “The quality of the service you provide is critical to the ongoing success of VCU.”

Timmreck announced the winners, as his successor, John M. Bennett, handed out the awards. Bennett officially becomes vice president of finance on July 1 when Timmreck retires.

The aptly dubbed Fun Awards were distributed first. Prizes included sandpaper, toy cars, toy fireman gear, a spray bottle and bubbles.

Formal individual awards were given to Edward Gillikin of Planning and Design, Gary Natoli of VCU Police and Kawana Pace-Harding of Human Resources. The Blackboard Support Team received the team award.

Bennett also presented Timmreck with a surprise award that kept with the spirit of the ceremony: it included accolades for the “Whose Bright Idea Was This Anyway?” award and the “Beyond the Call of Duty” award because Timmreck, Bennett joked, often fishes in remote locales and “was indeed beyond the call of duty.”

On a more serious note, Timmreck thanked the group for its hard work, saying, “The heart and soul of VCU is this group of people as well as you and your colleagues.”

Finance and Administration oversees technology and business services, facilities management, human resources and the police department.

The Winners
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Edward Gillikin, Planning & Design
Gary Natoli, VCU Police
Kawana Pace-Harding, HR

TEAM AWARDS
Blackboard Support Team

FUN AWARDS
Ambassador Award: Emma Minor, Parking & Transportation
Ambassador Award: Robert O'Connor, Construction Management
Behind the Scenes Award: Barbara Lawson, Business Services
Behind the Scenes Award: Karen Pearson, Financial Reporting
Beyond the Call of Duty Award: Evelyn Hinant, Construction Management
Beyond the Call of Duty Award: Lou Ann Jones, Parking & Transportation
Bright Idea Award: Miriam Maddux, Parking & Transportation
Bright Idea Award: Sanger B-3 User Renovation Team
Firefighting Award: Fayez Dajani, Construction Management
Firefighting Award: Barbara Kidd, Parking & Transportation
Fun at Work Award: Donald Cosgrove, Construction Management
Fun at Work Award: Gary Hughes, Parking & Transportation
More with Less Award: Mike Butler, Parking & Transportation
More with Less Award: Ralph Patch, Construction Management