Kudos

Kudos
by Kyra Worrell

Heidi Anderson: I just received a voice mail from a borrower who has had a lot of issues with a past due loan and she had this to say about the customer service she got from Heidi Anderson. Here are the words she used to describe the service she got: phenomenal, attentive, responsive, the absolute best, answers every question in a timely fashion, she's invaluable and an asset to the UW. She has been working with Heidi for a period of time. Student Loan Borrower

Monique Bradley: I'd also like to take this opportunity to commend Monique Bradley, who saved our department $65,000 in her negotiations with the sponsor. These negotiations were complicated, demanding, and time-consuming, and we are impressed and grateful that Monique pulled it off. This is the largest resolution by GCA of federal grant issues since I have been employed in this department, and it would have been very detrimental to our department's functioning if the $65,000 had been covered by the department's operating fund. Susie Hollingsworth, Zoology

Linda Braziel: Very nice work, Linda. I am always thankful to hear how we pulled away from the brink! (In regards to the “Expired Visa Project”: 90% of all departments have responded to Payroll; all individuals with expired visas have been updated and there are no individual employees with expired visas unable to work.) Patti Carson, Vice President for Human Resources

Georgette Brewder: I just wanted to pass along to you for your information how lucky I feel to get to work with Georgette. I always get wonderful service from her. She is so nice, she even helps me when I ask her questions about budgets that aren't even hers. (She never complains, just makes sure the questions get forwarded on to the right person.) I appreciate her. John Shipman College of Forest Resources

Sue Camber and Cindy Gregovich: Sue and Cindy, thanks for dogging this one and hope it is realized. Our faculty and staff will greatly appreciate the option for those long flights. (Sue Camber explains: Albert Berger caught me after a RAB meeting in the spring and asked me if I'd look into a travel concern of his. The feds have an obscure regulation (not in A-110 or NIH or NSF Grants Policy Manuals but in documents they refer to) that allows for an airfare upgrade to the next class of service (typically business, not first class) for flights over 14 hours. He wanted to know why we couldn't do the same. Enter our state travel policy. Not allowed. We looked at our peers and their policies are all over the board with respect to extended flights and upgrades. We I then worked with Cindy who worked miracles with the state and it looks like they'll be changing this policy October 1. I've been keeping Albert informed of our progress.) Weldon Ihrig, EVP

Frannie Gladney: I've had the pleasure of dealing with Frannie in the special loan department. What began as a very stressful situation because of my son evolved into a very positive experience because of Frannie. For this I am grateful to her and wanted to share this with you. From a parent of a student

Frannie Gladney: Thank you very much for coming to speak with the Upward Bound new college students. The students learned some very helpful things that should prevent them from having any financial problems. Fina Marino , Counselor, Upward Bound Program, Office of Minority Affairs

Lily Gebrenegus: I contacted this office for help last week. Lily was the person who took my call, and eventually answered my questions (although this was difficult since I didn't exactly know what I wanted to have answered). In my research position at the American Lake VA , I am on the phone with queries about 45% of my day. Lily was the most wonderful contact I've had - ever, for any of the companies we deal with! She was unfailingly polite, confident, cheerful, resourceful, a great listener (she figured out what my question was, and then got it answered for me), knowledgeable about not only what she does, but also how it fits in with other department all in relation to the financial reports sent out to PIs. After identifying the question I needed answered, Lily found the information and got to me in a very short amount of time, complete with an understandable explanation of how to read it. I just wanted to let you know what a wonderful asset this person is to your department, and how great she is at her job! I certainly appreciated the quality of the help I got from her. Laurie Maus, Program Coordinator, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, American Lake Division

Lily Gebrenegus: I wanted to send a quick message and say thank you very much for setting up all three new RRF sub-budgets today and for emailing me. I want you to know that I appreciate your speed and accuracy very much!! You are a true asset to the new accounts section. Every time you set up a new sub-budget it is done perfectly (which has not always been the case). Keep up the good work!! I just wanted to acknowledge how wonderful you are and let you know that I really do appreciate it! Barb Thompson, Office of Research

Paul Jeganathan: Paul Rudnick, Major Gifts Officer, College of Arts & Sciences , called this morning to thank you for your assistance with the donor yesterday. He said it was a very large gift which the college appreciates receiving and you went above and beyond in working with the donor to ensure that all went smoothly.

Ruth Johnston, Pam Luther, Student Fiscal Services and SFS Outreach: Had a very nice visit at Student Fiscal Services. Ruth and Pam Luther were great hosts. I did find that SFS was involved in many more areas than I was aware of. They provide so many fundamentally important services to the University - and are "unsung heroes". I was especially impressed with their outreach efforts. Truly an unfunded effort to do what's best for students! They also took me around and introduced me to many of the staff - always glad to put faces to familiar names. Bill Ferris , Executive Director of Administration , Office of the Executive Vice President

Ruth Johnston and Student Fiscal Services: That is great to host those providing similar support from our other universities. Ruth and her team got great feedback and appear to have had a wonderful learning experience. (Concerning the PAC-10 conference hosted by Student Fiscal Services) Weldon Ihrig, EVP

The Kill Slap Team (Charles Bennett, Jon Vanvick, Bill Christensen, and Phil Corcoro from Financial Accounting, Pat Benson and Nghia Do from C&C and Linda Barrett from the Budget Office): Great example of finding folklore which can be replaced with more modern way of doing business. It is wonderful that they are receiving the TOPS award for killing SLAP! Weldon Ihrig, EVP

Frank Montgomery, Jeff Follman and Charles Bennet: Hey, it is wonderful to get some good news, which this really is. I appreciate your, Jeff and Charles' efforts on achieving this deferral, and will be looking forward to learning the amount saved. (We have received the approval of our high tech deferral application for a portion of them genome building). Weldon Ihrig, EVP Outstanding!! Thanks very much for all of your hard work and success! Harlan Patterson, Vice Provost for Panning & Budgeting

The Treasury Office: Great job all (in regards to: The tax-exempt bonds to finance the Blue Flame project were successfully sold today) Weldon Ihrig, EVP

Bev Trulson: Parents were here yesterday for orientation. I talked to one of the parents who has a new student this year plus one who started last year. She had a couple of questions but was quite knowledgeable about our services. She said that she usually deals with Beverly in our office, whom she thinks is terrific. Bev answers her questions and is very helpful. From a parent at new parent orientation . I concur that such positive comments for Bev's work with new students to help them become more fiscally aware is great. Bev is a super representative for UW with new students and their parents. Weldon Ihrig, EVP

Office of Risk Management: Nice work, Elizabeth , by you and your team to bring in the premiums at such a favorable rate (on work by the office resulting in increase in workers' compensation rates proposed for 2005. From Andrew Faris, Manager, Workers' Compensation Program: the UW benefited from fewer claims, continuous advances in return-to-work programs and strategic management of claims. The proposed 2005 experience modification factor (0.8675) assigned by L&I would be the lowest in 8 years and will save the University more than $692 thousand in 2005.). We appreciate all your efforts and talent. Weldon Ihrig, EVP

Shari Spung: Nice work, Shari. Much improved bargaining position going forward with Friday's position. (On moving forward on a case for the UW) Weldon Ihrig, EVP

V'Ella Warren : A quick note to tell you that I very much enjoyed meeting you today.

I had another + that concerned you. I particularly liked the way you not only endorsed many of the instructor's points during the session, but also added comments pertaining to a larger perspective. I think that helped participants frame what they were hearing with the big picture. Many thanks for allowing me to participate! Clive Shearer, Management Consultant

V'Ella Warren; The Treasury Office: That is astounding performance…The final accounting for the past year had recently come in, and the UW Endowment had gained 17.8% last year, placing it among the very top performers in the country. This is particularly impressive because our endowment isn't that big -- Harvard's, for example, is 20 times the size of ours -- and bigger endowments tend to do better because of the risks they can afford to take. Ed Lazowska, Bill & Melinda Gates Chair, Computer Science & Engineering

Lisa Whitehead: (From) a voice mail from a borrower who had a Perkins loan and needed a lot of help trying to figure out about deferments and repayment of his loan. He called and talked to Lisa and then called me saying she was helpful, patient and so kind and he understood what was going on when he was through talking to her. He thought she should be recognized for her effort in helping him. Excellent Customer Service! A Perkins loan borrower

Shawn Williams : We have been struggling with our fiscal person being out and situation finally came to a head, so I took on the challenge of solving the problem. I want to let you know that Shawn Williams went out of her way to help me, answer all my dumb questions and build my confidence that though we in T&D had messed up, the vendor that needed to be paid would be taken care of. I know that service is a big part of your culture and I want you to know that Shawn is a great example of excellent customer service. Thanks! Elizabeth Warrick, Director UW Training and Development