Finance and Operations celebrated National Employee Appreciation Day on March 7 by honoring seven outstanding F&O employees nominated by leadership for their excellence in the workplace. Employees were also encouraged to nominate their fellow colleagues and coworkers for their hard work and dedication across the organization, as seen below.
Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations, and a special appreciation to our nominees for your daily contributions that keep our departments and university thriving.
Employee Nominations
Submitted by Finance and Operations employees – all anonymous submissions have been removed due to privacy reasons.
Hailey James Senior Accountant, Grant Accounting “Hailey is a joy to work with—prompt, professional, and helpful. She quickly resolves grant review issues and shows great care for our work and respect for others. Her clear communication and collaborative approach make her a vital part our GAO team.” – Jodi Kennedy, Assistant Director, Grant Accounting | Yan Huang Assistant Director, Accounting & Financial Reporting “Yan's dedication to her team and her role in accounting and financial reporting is truly commendable. Her contributions are crucial to our achievements. Thank you for your consistent efforts, your support, and your attention to detail!” – Melissa Christianson, Director of Accounting and Financial Reporting |
Alyson Holevoet Customer Service Representative, Parking and Transportation “Alyson does a fantastic job working with the variety of customers in the parking & transportation department. She always goes above and beyond on anything she does. She is joyful and delightful person. Thank you for all you do Alyson, and I am very happy we have you in our department.” – Lori Skoff, Assistant Director of Parking | Robin Irvin Custodian I, Building and Landscape Services, Facilities Management “Robin is always willing to help when asked, and his long years of being here show how much – 36 years.” – Roberta Kost, Custodian I, Facilities Management |
Ken Friedhoff Maintenance Manager, Laundry Services and Parking and Transportation “Ken brings so much knowledge and experience to our team as a leader and an individual contributor. His special brand of professionalism with a touch of humor bring some brightness to the workplace. Our campus runs so much smoother because of Ken and the team he leads.” – April Wells, Communications Manager, Parking and Transportation | Brent Ihns Senior Cost Estimator, Design and Construction, Facilities Management “Brent has been an amazing advocate for the Construction Services team and has made great strides in getting them the support they need. His efforts to bridge the gap between Building Operations and Maintenance and Design and Construction have created a greatly improved client experience. His selfless leadership and drive for solutions is contagious.” – Elliott Poma, Quality Project Manager, Design and Construction, Facilities Management |
Travis Lenz Area Manager and Program Lead, Building Operations and Maintenance, Facilities Management “Travis takes care of student employees, worked with FLS to pilot the Student Care and Assistance Program (SCARE), and is always taking on more projects to make the team better. He is actively involved in FM's goals and future.” – Rich Krebs, Area Manager, Building Operations and Maintenance, Facilities Management | Suzanne Burnham Project Coordinator, Design and Construction, Facilities Management “Suzanne displays extensive knowledge and understanding of our department, her role, and the construction process. She is a key player in our document reviews as she shares valuable insight. As a new employee, I have felt welcomed and supported by Suzanne, who goes out of her way to help me understand!” – Olivia Martens, Project Coordinator, Design and Construction, Facilities Management |
Rose Sullivan Assistant Director, Grant Accounting “Rose is the kind of manager that makes a difference. She is unwavering in her support of her team and in her dedication to Grant Accounting, the departments we work with and the university as a whole. I've learned so much from her in my time on her team and I'm thankful for that opportunity.” – Dana Gafeller, Senior Accountant | Lauren Chesire Communications Specialist, Facilities Management “Lauren is extremely hardworking, a driving force in so many high-impact projects, and a skilled and valued member of our Communications team. She is data-driven and always finding innovative solutions to improve efficiency in FM. I am amazed by Lauren and am so lucky to work alongside her!” – Kara Gerardi, Communications Specialist, Facilities Management |
Tara Jennerjohn Supply Chain Specialist, Purchasing “I work with Tara regularly and she is always very collaborative and willing to put in the work to protect the university. When we negotiate with outside entities, she is always professional and strategic in her approach. She is always willing to help when people have questions.” – Josey Bathke, Director, Risk Management "Tara is an essential part of our team who strives to exceed the expectations of our customers and team members. She is always willing to help others when needed. Tara continuously challenges herself to learn new processes and brings innovative ideas that help our team continuously improve." – Renee Funk, Chief Procurement Officer, Purchasing | Eric Kirkpatrick Fire Safety Technician III, Building and Landscape Services, Facilities Management “Part of my job at Oakdale campus is assisting with the monthly inspections for fire safety. Any questions or needed assistance, Eric has always been over the top with helping me – whether that be hands on or explaining things to me. The university is very lucky to have employees like Eric helping spread knowledge.” – Cory Barta, Electrician III, Building and Landscape Services, Facilities Management |