Business Affairs Employee Appreciation Program

Do you work with a Business Affairs colleague who consistently goes above and beyond their regular duties? Did a coworker recently go out of their way to help you with a project? Does someone’s positive attitude make the workplace a more enjoyable place to be? If so, show these outstanding employees how much you value their contributions by nominating them for the monthly Business Affairs employee appreciation awards!

All Business Affairs team members are welcome to nominate a peer who exemplifies the Business Affairs culture standards - Collaborate. Acknowledge. Respect. Empower. If selected, they receive $100 and are entered into the pool for employee of the year. This award is $1,000!

This is an employee of the month and employee of the year program that runs on the calendar year (January through December). The selection process is designed with fairness in mind: employees are nominated by their peers and selected anonymously based on the contents of their nomination form.

Since Business Affairs is a large division that performs diverse functions, the staff is divided into two groups of approximately equal size whose employees work in related fields:

Facilities management, planning and construction, and real estate
Financial services/controller; resource management; budget and analysis; and administration services

Nominations should explain how an employee’s actions exceed expectations for their role. When nominating a co-worker consider these criteria:

Quality: Is the employee’s work effective, accurate, and useful?

Do they take steps to build relationships with customers and colleagues?

Are they detail-oriented, and do they take pride in creating excellent deliverables?
Dedication: Successful employees are proactive in their approach to work.

Does the employee take extra steps to ensure customer satisfaction or that a task is meticulously accomplished?

Do they regularly meet and/or exceed goals and expectations?
Timeliness: Organization and astute prioritization are qualities that make departments efficient and productive.

Does the employee consistently deliver service or products on time and/or ahead of schedule?
Innovation: Employees who identify problems and create solutions to streamline operations, reduce waste, and lower costs help the university create sustainable practices.

Is the employee a forward-thinker who identifies practices that simplify processes?

Do they find ways to help UNLV remain environmentally mindful?

To be eligible for the program, an employee must:

Be a current UNLV Business Affairs employee
Have worked in UNLV Business Affairs for at least six (6) months
Be in good standing (e.g., not in a progressive disciplinary process, last performance appraisal was satisfactory, etc.)
No self-nominations allowed!

Note: While an employee can be nominated more than once for the employee of the month award, he/she cannot win more than two monthly awards in a calendar year. A nominator cannot nominate the same employee more than once in a calendar year.

Employees nominate other employees for this award. Only one employee may be included per nomination. Group or team nominations will not be accepted. The nominator does not need to be the employee’s supervisor.

To nominate an employee, fill out the Business Affairs Employee Appreciation nomination form.

Nominations are due by the 25^th of each month.

Winners are announced monthly in the Business Affairs Bulletin.

Nomination Review Committees

Business Affairs employees are divided into two groups. One group is comprised of the facilities management, planning & construction, and real estate departments. The other group is comprised of financial services, controller, resource management, budget & analysis, human resources, and administration services departments.

Each employee group has a dedicated nomination review committee that evaluates nominations and selects monthly winner(s).

Each committee has at least five (5) members. Committees always include an odd number of members if membership exceeds five.
Committee members rotate biennially.
Committee members do not report directly to the vice president of Business Affairs. The committees consist of employees’ peers.
The Office of the Vice President of Business Affairs assists in the selection of committee members as members rotate off the committee.

Anonymity

Members of the review committees do not see the nominees’ names, which are replaced by an identifying number, when evaluating the submissions.
Per the nomination form instructions, please do not use the employee’s name in the nomination narrative.
The committees evaluate nominees based on the nomination narrative.

Number of Winners

For the monthly award, each group may have one winner, for a possible total of two monthly winners for the division.
- The review committees do not have to select a monthly winner.
For the annual award, each review committee will choose one winner from a pool of up to 12 monthly award winners, for a possible total of two annual winners for the division.

2024 Recipients

Cory Martin, Facilities Management
Karlie Passey, BA Business Partner - Human Resources

Jennifer Cozzolino, Cashiering
Maisara Abebe, Facilities Management

Matthew Diggins, Financial Services
Rob Howard, Facilities Management

Julie Moos, Risk Management & Safety

Kaytie Hackett, Planning & Construction

Craig Topple, Electronic Document Services

Bonita Johnson, Facilities Management

Jesse Burnett, Facilities Management

Yahsin Armstrong, Facilities Management
Logan Cohen, Parking & Transportation Services

Gina Gamble, Real Estate

Michael Archibald, Shadow Lane Facilities Management

Rodney Woodwall, Delivery Services
Calvin Milling, Facilities Management

Cory Martin, Building Automation System Specialist 2, Facilities Management
Jennifer Cozzolino, Accountant Technician 1, Cashiering & Student Accounts

2023 Recipients

John Cupo, Facilities Management
Duane Phillips, Risk Management & Safety

Craig Topple, Electronic Document Services
Brian Townsend, Real Estate

James Drollinger, Facilities Management
Nancy Dooley, Cashiering & Student Accounts

Frances Heiy, Purchasing and Contracts
George Ebner, Shadow Lane Facilities Management

Gary Gray, Facilities Management
Laura Schneider, Quality Assurance & Financial Compliance

Armando Campos, Facilities Management
Sang Yi, Administration Technology Services

Gilda Holliday, Facilities Management
Robert Deaver, Risk Management & Safety

Derrick Monroe, Facilities Management
Naseem Benjelloun, Administration Technology Services

Edwin Cardona Cortez, Facilities Management, IT
Hugo Calderon Cortes, Financial Services

Charlie Cisneros, Facilities Management

Kenneth Hughes, Facilities Management
Nohealani Benicarlo, Vice President’s Office

John Tomola, Risk Management and Safety
Kathy Adams, Financial Planning, Budget, and Analysis

John Tomola, Occupational Safety Program Manager, Risk Management & Safety
Armando Campos, HVACR Specialist 2, Facilities Management

2022 Recipients

Stephen Valine, senior software developer, administration technology services
Maisara Abebe, assistant director, facilities management

Rose Cummings, Program Officer, Cashiering and Student Accounts
Mike Kwiecien, Senior Project Manager, Planning and Construction

Dave Coleman, Facility Manager, Facilities Management

Jarred Achong, Custodial Worker 2, Facilities Management

Bill Knox, Maintenance Repair Worker 3, Shadow Lane Facilities Management
Daniel Landeros, Fire & Life Safety Inspector 2, Risk Management & Safety

Jeff Lagesse, Parking Operations and Events Administrator, Parking & Transportation Services
Andres DeLeon, HVACR Specialist 2, Facilities Management

Robin Love, Administrative Assistant IV, Risk Management & Safety
Haysam Selim, System Administrator, Facilities Management

Kim Seifert, Administrative Assistant III, Risk Management & Safety
Jeffrey Hahn, Maintenance Repair Specialist 2, Shadow Lane Facilities Management

Kelly Owsley, Senior Purchasing Analyst, Purchasing
Jeremy Malone, Plumber 2, Fire/ Life Safety

Elora Paik, Principal Systems Analyst, Financial Systems

Jemil Galang, Equipment Mechanics 2, Facilities Management
Darren Paulson, Director of Telecommunications, Business Affairs - Administration

Kinesha Davis, Project Coordinator Facilities Management
Deon Day, Safety Representative Risk Management & Safety

Rose Cummings, Program Officer Cashiering and Student Accounts
Mike Kwiecien, Senior Project Manager Planning and Construction

2021 Recipients

Chris West
Administrative Assistant 3, Facilities Management

Shari McClean
Accountant Technician 1, Planning & Construction
Meliscia Gilbert
Deputy Chief Budget Officer, Financial Planning, Budget & Analysis

Katelyn Brooks
Accountant Technician 2, Facilities Management
Joe Tammaro
Digital Telecom Specialist 2, Telecommunications

John Tomola
Occupational Safety Program Manager, Risk Management & Safety

Duane Kyles
Senior Network Engineer, Telecommunications

Gualberto Rodriguez
Senior Accountant, Financial Services

Jonathan Myers
Senior Network Engineer, Telecommunications

Reginald Stewart
Radiation Safety Specialist/Laser Safety Officer, Risk Management & Safety
James Drollinger
HVACR Specialist 1, Facilities Management

Farayi Dete
University Parking Enforcement Officer, Parking & Transportation Services

Belia Guzman
Senior Purchasing Analyst/Contract Administrator, Purchasing & Contracts
Garrett Hedges
Facility Supervisor 2, Facilities Management

Heidi Welniak
Grounds Maintenance Worker 2, Facilities Management
Caleb Abad
Parking Enforcement Supervisor, Parking & Transportation Services

Harry Schiffman
Electrician 3, Facilities Management

Chris West
Administrative Assistant 3, Facilities Management
Joe Tammaro
Digital Telecom Specialist 2, Telecommunications

2020 Recipients

Joshua Payne
- HVACR specialist 2
Nathan Frieders
- Accountant

Erin Messer
- Associate Budget Director

Alexandra Nikolich
- Executive Director, Financial Systems and Special Projects
Beau Barnett
- Landscape and Grounds Manager

Rebecca Paulson
- Senior Software Developer
Orlakdy “Dee” Douangprachanh
- Custodial Worker 1

Jason Hargis
- Occupational Safety Program Coordinator
Leslie Matys
- Assistant Manager, Rebel Recycling

Gilda Holliday
- Supply Technician 2

Julie Moos
- Safety Training Specialist
Antonia Contreras
- Custodial Worker 1

Nichole Staker
- Project Manager, Planning and Construction
Betty Nielson
- Systems Analyst, Cashiering and Student Accounts

Liliana (Lily) Magana
- Benefits Manager

Lori Church
- Deputy Controller
Ronald Rieger
- Equipment Mechanic 3

Bridget Hahn
- Real Estate Property Manager, Real Estate
William Smith
- Fire & Life Safety Inspector 2, Risk Management

Johannes Pikel
- Associate Software Developer, Administration Services
Georgi Batchvarov
- HVAC Specialist 2, Facilities Management

Lori Church
- Deputy Controller
Leslie Matys
- Assistant Manager, Rebel Recycling

2019 Recipients

Dana Tasso
Accountant Technician 2, Financial Services
Ray Figuerado
Custodial Supervisor 3, Facilities Management

Honorable Mention

Kinesha Davis
Construction Project Coordinator 1, Facilities Management
Lori Church
Deputy controller

Shelley Simon
Project manager, Planning and Construction
Elizabeth Deveraux
Accounting Assistant 3, Accounts Payable

Honorable Mention

Fabian Mendez
Electronics Technician 2, Facilities Management
Kahaunani Hernandez
Senior Accountant, Financial Services

Vanessa Hogan
Fire and Life safety Inspector 2, Risk Management and Safety
Jarred Achong
Custodial Worker 1, Facilities Management

Honorable Mention

Caleb Konner
Business Systems Analyst/Functional Architect, Workday Support Team
Sandy Ziegler
Assistant director, Parking and Transportation Services
Juan Lino
Plumber 1, Facilities Management

Joan Ludwig
Personnel Technician 3, Salary Administration

Elizabeth Deveraux
Accounting Assistant 3, Accounts Payable
Racquel Rodriguez
Accountant Technician 2, Accounts Payable

Honorable Mention

Arturo Baltazar
Personnel Analyst 1, Benefits

Steven Joseph
HVACR Specialist 4, Facilities Management
Chelsea Meggerson
Senior Purchasing Analyst/Contract Administrator, Purchasing

Patrick Castellano
Senior Project Manager, Planning and Construction
Michele Washington
Claims Administration Coordinator, Risk Management and Safety

Honorable Mention

Rebecca Paulson
Senior Software Developer, Administration Services
Gaspar Arana
Maintenance Repair Worker 3, Facilities Management

Michael Swearingen
Grounds Maintenance Worker 5, Facilities Management
Tad McDowell
Director, Parking and Transportation Services

Honorable Mention

Shelley Simon
Project Manager, Planning and Construction
Brenda Peters
Personnel Analyst 2, Benefits

Myke Molina
Programs Coordinator, Cashiering and Student Services
Robert Lucas
Custodial Supervisor 1, Facilities Management

Derek Jones
Equipment Mechanic 3, Facilities Management
Eric Compton
Business Analyst, Workday Support Team

Honorable Mention

Bethann Carrington
Accountant Assistant 3, Accounts Payable

Victor Reza
Accounting Assistant 1, Accounts Payable

Connie Gamble
Property Manager, Real Estate
Elaine Rojas
Administrative Assistant 4, Financial Services

Michael "Myke" Molina
- Programs Coordinator, Cashiering and Student Accounts
Jarred Achong
- Custodial Worker 1, Facilities Management

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