Kudos

Kudos Compiled by Farida Ablang

To: Team 6 (Grant & Contract Accounting)
From: Scott Schwinge, Administrator, UW Friday Harbor Laboratories
Re: Early budget number for A39713 NPS Garrison Bay Outstanding! Thank you very much! Tami, I want you to know that I h ave been extremely pleased with the friendly, responsive customer service from Team 6! They're great!

To: Team 1 (Grant & Contract Accounting)
From: Susan Hammond, Administrator, Division of Oncology

I just wanted to take a minute to pause and reflect on the following. Last Thursday, Kathie Cummings (Lung Program) submitted her signed paperwork to Harriet to request an advance budget number. From the time she submitted her signed paperwork to Harriet--until the time she received the number from GCA--was 38 minutes.

I don't know who all to thank for this but we are thrilled. For sure Harriet had a lot to do with it. My bet is that she has the most "manual" part of the new process.

Also, major kudos to GCA for a quick turn-around time. When I was first hired (2 years ago), this process would take days. Now we measure in minutes. Pretty cool. We'll keep tracking and sharing successes.

To: Amy Liu (Grant & Contract Accounting)
From: Ken Anderson, Graduate School Business Office Staff, Dean of the Graduate School

Thanks, Amy! And thanks for all your great help!!

To: Grant & Contract Accounting
From: Beverly Berg-Rood, Division Administrator, UW Division of Medical Genetics
RE: advance requests to GCA

You are wonderful, thank you!!! Love this new system :)!!

To: Marisa Honig (Grant & Contract Accounting)
From: Gail Schmitz, Grants Manager, Biostatistics

Dear Kirsten, Lily and Yu-Chan,

For last week's Payroll cut-off, the Biostatistics Coordinating Center at Sand Point, had a very stressful couple of days trying to get numerous budgets extended. Problems with getting no-cost extensions from our sponsors, lost paperwork in OSP and an understanding of when it is appropriate to use the new on-line Advance Notice request all led to a perfect cut-off storm.

BUT then Marisa came to the rescue! Even with her manager and lead out of the office, Marisa was able to respond to our desperate phone calls and e-mails.

We are very thankful that she is on our GCA Team.

Email regarding comment made by Sandy Thomson, ONR, regarding Meg Russo and Nate Thomas (Grant & Contract Accounting) Meg and Nate have been working together on the EDI process. Meg has been training Nate, who has taken on and learned the EDI process. The transition has been excellent.

When Sandy Thomson from ONR stopped by, she commented on what a great job they are doing.

To: Erin Fay
From: John Andrews, Mgr. Logistic Services, UW Technology - Business & Finance
Re: Heidi Schwab and Martin Crabb (Financial Accounting)

Hi Erin,

Just thought I'd take a minute to pass on my appreciation for the efforts of Heidi and Martin on your staff. They have been nothing short of excellent in answering all my staff's asset inventory questions and in their customer relationships.

Thanks again for helping us to keep organized and maintain an accurate account of our equipment!

To: Team 1 (Grant & Contract Accounting)
From: Tami Sadusky

I was at a meeting this morning with OSP and some campus folks and one of them shared with me what a superb job Team 1 is doing for their department. They feel very lucky to be working with Team 1. Great job Team 1. We think you are great too!

To: Team 1 (Grant & Contract Accounting)
From: Monica Fawthrop, Administrator, Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine

I continue to be impressed with all the efforts that Team 1 makes in helping us manage our grants. I know this team has had exceptionally high turnover and consistently manages a high workload. But there is a sense of commitment to customer service that pervades the interactions. I may not always get the prioritization I would like but I always get communication about where something falls in the priority list or why there is a hold up. This helps immensely. Thanks!

To: Production Team/Checkwriters (Payroll)
From: Matt Eng, Payroll Coordinator, Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems
Re: Emergency check ready

You are all so speedy! Thank you. I really do appreciate you guys down there in Payroll, because I know what it's like.

To: Christa Woodhull (Payroll)
From: Scott Schwinge, Administrator, UW Friday Harbor Laboratories
Re: OPUS, Time Reporting authorization request

Christa, you're a rock star.

To: Heather Norberg Stewart
From: Mirtha T. Johnson, Director Payroll Services HMC - UWMC - UWPN University of Washington Medical Centers
Re: Mike Fleming (Payroll)
Subject: Fw: Late RSTs posted to June

Heather,

Just wanted to acknowledge Mike Fleming for working so closely with Veronica in ensuring the last minute FY08 RST's were processed. His commitment and follow-up were impeccable.

To: Heather Norberg Stewart
From: Christina Yarbrough, Payroll Coordinator, UW Medicine
Re: Mike Fleming (Payroll)
Subject: RE: An Issue with RSTs

Yes we were, Mike has been a great help. And he was correct, I was able to see all of the RSTs this morning and based on My Financial Desktop they are posting to June. Which is great. Sadly, I did have to send my student assistant over a few minutes ago, with approx. 12 RSTs that are the reverse of 12 RSTs that posted over the weekend as well that were not authorized to post. They were submitted and signed by someone outside of our office and they were not supposed to do that. But in terms of what Mike had been helping me to resolve he did a great job. Thanks Heather

To: Farida Ablang (Payroll)
From: Merly Jones, Payroll Coordinator, Pschyology
Re: Retropay Request, PUC 478

Farida, thank you. I will have to RST instead. This is why you are in your position - you have the sharp eyes for correcting errors. Thank you for looking behind my shoulders. In addition to email above

To: Heather Norberg Stewart
From: Christina Yarbrough, Payroll Coordinator, UW Medicine
Re: Mike Fleming (Payroll)
Subject: RE: An Issue with RSTs

I wanted to send you a note yesterday and the day got away from me completely. I wanted to let you know again that I cannot thank Mike enough for all of his help in getting these all posted.

I know it was crazy, and I do appreciate your having put up with my panic states of being.

Again and again and THANK YOU both so much for all of your help and million hats off to Mike for what I know was no small feat of accomplishment in terms of getting those all entered. Couldn't have been an easy job.

To: Cindy Gregovich
From: Buzzy Mounce, Payroll Coordinator, Allergy & Infectious Diseases
Re: Megan Dennis & Farida Ablang (Payroll)

Hi Cindy,

Due to a mix-up here in the division, one of our 100% employees did not get paid last payday. I was out Friday, Monday and Wednesday. His supervisor with the distributions and the info on where she sent her request for his distribution extensions was out Friday, Monday and Tuesday. As a result, when I got in this morning his payday was already 6 days late, he was in dire straights, desperate for funds and there were 3 voice mails and 4 emails waiting for me from yesterday.

I took the information the supervisor had provided, made the entries, requested an emergency check (early enough that the request would be waiting for the check writer when they came in) and sent out the explanation to the employee and supervisor that emergency checks take 24 to 48 hours but that we would do what we could for him. To make matters even worse for the employee, he works off campus which would create additional delays with the check delivery.

After two more phone calls explaining to me that the check was desperately needed and asking for help getting the employee paid, I called Megan in Farida's group to see if they could give me an ETA on the check, knowing it would still likely be tomorrow at earliest. Megan and Farida, between the two of them went above and beyond. I had the check *back at my desk* in under 2 hours from what is likely their start of shift, less than an hour after I called them (I was back at my desk around 10am). I was able to get it on the shuttle and have it met at the other end in time for the employee to be able to make the deposit during his lunch hour.

Kudos to Megan and Farida.

To: Farida Ablang (Payroll)
From: Eva Greulich, Payroll Coordinator, Jackson School of International Studies

Farida, in Payroll, has excellent customer services, she responds immediately and she knows what she is doing.

It is a pleasure to have her as a contact in Payroll.

Many thanks for all the hard work.

To: Sarah Moore & William Christensen (Financial Accounting) & Cristi Chapman (Management Accounting & Analysis)
From: Leann Dawson, Controller, UWMC Accounting
Re: Thank you so much

The education session yesterday was really, really helpful. Thank you so much for creating the handouts (quite helpful to know which data comes from which years) and coming over here to present this as a team. It is so much easier to get a grip on this stuff by having everyone in one room and being able to listen to all the different questions and answers. I really appreciate you doing this – especially now with the audit going on. Thanks for coming in your vacation Cristi.

To: Christa Woodhull (Payroll)
From: Eva Greulich, Payroll Coordinator, Jackson School of International Studies

Christa Woodhull, again, she is at the top of solving our problems, this time it was system problem: OPUS did not generate a PERM for one of our Faculty and give us an error after we submit. Christa immediately started resolving the problem and we got the PERM. She’s always prompt to answer our problems.

Many, thanks to her. I hope you know how good she is in her job.

To: Heather Norberg Stewart & Shawna Litterski (Payroll)
From: Thuy Truong, Budget/Fiscal Unit Supervisor, UW Department of Neurological Surgery
Re: need to meet with you

Heather,

I hope that you feel better now. It looks like the flu season. I still have mine.

Regarding my question, Shawna did talk to me last week. My question/trouble has been taking care of. She replied to my call promptly. Also, I want to let you know that I was extremely impressed and surprised that just 15 minutes later she called me back with the solution.

Now, you follow up with my question. I really want to extend my gratitude to you and Shawna for your assistance. It did show me how wonderful the payroll staff are. I always get the solution/answers in the timely manner.

Thanks again.

To: Tess Domingo-Herrera
From: Joe Carlucci, parent of UW Student
Re: Shannon Corcoran (Student Fiscal Services)

Dear Ms. Domingo-Herrera,

I would like to take this opportunity to compliment one of your employees, Shannon Corcoran.

My son started at UW this month, and my being in California makes it a little more difficult to follow up on administrative matters. I have been in contact with Ms. Corcoran about getting my son's account settled, and she has been nothing short of prompt, efficient, and pleasant in getting this accomplished. She has also been very patient, answering each of my questions along the way. I am very appreciative of her efforts and wanted to let you know of her outstanding customer service.

Thank you.

To: Lichang Wong (Student Fiscal Services)
From: Jim Seagren, Assistant Director, Recreational Sports Programs
Re: help!

Li,

You are the greatest employee that the University has ever had - in it's entire history!

Many thanks.

Email regarding comment made by James Flower, Financial Aid Counselor, Student Financial Aid regarding Rachel Reichert (Student Fiscal Services).

Sandie, James Flowers gave a kudos to Rachel. He says she is a star and really made things happen for him today. Was extremely helpful.

To: Frannie Gladney (Student Fiscal Services)
From: Maya Frame, UW Student
Re: Final Integrative Essay

Frannie, I am not exaggerating when I say that I would not still be here at UW today if you hadn't listened, cared, and gone above and beyond what was required of you to assist me.

When I first stepped into your office, I was uninsured and struggling to get through each day with a misdiagnosed and untreated illness that had been causing constant pain and anguish for months. This strain had gone on for so long that I was exhausted and despondent, having all but given up hope that I'd catch a break and be able to stay in school.

Then, most unexpectedly, your compassion and sympathy for my situation and your efforts on my behalf not only allowed me to stay in school and afloat financially, but raised my spirits when I needed it most, when it felt like I had no one on my side.

I am now healthy, happy, and taking a full course load because you cared and tore down barriers for me. "Thank you" doesn't cover it.

To: Nancy Hurja (Student Fiscal Services)
From: Cynthia Lysen, UW Student

Hi Nancy,

Thank you so much for all of your help, I'm sitting on an plane for DC this morning and knowing that this is almost resolved is a great relief. I appreciate you going above and beyond to help me expedite this matter.

To: Farida Ablang (Payroll)
From: Diane Schulstad, Pharmacology
Re: You are so wonderful!

Thank you, Farida! I so appreciate all the efforts you expended to produce the two relocation checks for our department, Farida! You are THE BEST! I hope you have a splendid weekend awaiting you!

To: Katherine Wu (eCommerce)
From: Kim T. Dinh, Director, Finance & Administration, Office of the Provost
RE: Arrival UW Travel Card for Phyllis M Wise

Hi Katherine,

Thanks for this message and thank you all for expediting the replacement card. I'll ask my assistant, Maria to pick up the card. Thanks, again.

To: Amy Liu; Tami Sadusky
From: Mike Winans, Grants Administrator, UW School of Social Work
Re: Great Job, Team One (Grant & Contract Accounting)

Hi Amy,

I was speaking with Cy Talebi and my co-administrator Barb Woods about what a great job Team One is doing. This is a wonderful change from about a year ago and we wanted you to know it makes our jobs so much easier. We appreciate all the hard work you and Team One have done and I hope you're proud of yourselves!

To: Elisa Manabat & Michael DeShazo (Grant & Contract Accounting)
From: Scott Schwinge, Administrator, UW Friday Harbor Laboratories
Re: Invoice # GCX110276 for Budget 66-0009 Friday Harbor Labs

Dear Elisa and Michael,

I'd like to pass along my gratitude to you both for pushing this invoice out so quickly! Thanks so much for going the extra mile to make it happen.

To: Donna Andreason; Ruth A. Johnston; Linda Lake; LAWRIE G. ROBERTSON; Jeff Follman; Kelly J. Campbell; Mark Conley; Sharon F. Frucci; Carla J. Helm; Laurie A. Hunt; Karen Long; Jan N. Sullivan; David J. Wright; George T. Daniel; Karen L. Russell; Mary J. Mackay; Shaun Spearmon; Doyle L. Huckabay; Dawn R. Lake; Julie A. Condit; Kassy Ellefson; Lynn K. Catlett; Ronda L. Grazen; Tara L. Trowbridge
From: Ann Anderson, Controller
Re: GREAT JOB, UTG #1!!!!!

I wanted to take a minute to again, express my congratulations and thanks to UTG#1 of the Seamless Procure to Pay project. You all did a fantastic job of identifying creative, yet thoughtful options to reduce and manage invoice discrepancies, but even more importantly, to improve the overall procurement process. I especially appreciate our friends and colleagues from outside Financial Management who have consistently given of themselves to help us improve our services. Without your input, advice, nudging and overall involvement, the outcome wouldn't have been as rich. I would also like to give a nod to the PIT for their great leadership and direction. Again, my humble thanks to the folks below. I look forward to an exciting implementation and more improvement ideas from follow-on UTGs.

• Mark Conley; Purchasing (Team Leader)
• Lynn Catlett; Aeronautics & Astronautics
• Ronda Grazen, Intercollegiate Athletics
• Tara Trowbridge, Medicine/Pulmonary & Critical Care, Harborview
• Dawn Lake, Purchasing
• Julie Condit, Accounts Payable
• Kassy Ellefson, Purchasing
• Doyle Huckabay, Office of Information Management (technical consult)
• Donna Andreason; Financial Services (team support)
• Elise Davis, Project Manager

To: David Wright
From: Lee Lee Lim, Fiscal Specialist 2, Department of Pharmacy
Re: Excellent customer service - Liza Plotkin (eCommerce)

Hi David,

I want to write to tell you how much I appreciate help from one of your employees, Liza Plotkin. I am new to eProcurement and did not have a chance to take the class yet, but I wanted to learn to navigate Ariba when I am preparing budget reconciliation reports for my department.

Liza not only answered my questions, she set me up as an user and offered to give a crash course on how to look up details on a requistion or purchase order last Friday

To: Team 6 (Grant & Contract Accounting)
From: Scott Schwinge, Administrator, UW Friday Harbor Laboratories
Re: A39713 NPS Garrison Bay

Outstanding! Thank you very much!

Tami, I want you to know that I have been extremely pleased with the friendly, responsive customer service from Team 6! They're great.

To: Ann Anderson, Jeff Follman, Kate Riley (Financial Management)
From: William Nicholson, Assistant Attorney General
Re: Julia Shanahan (Tax Director, Financial Management)

In our world of non-stop demands, I try to find time when I can to express my appreciation for those I work with. I have done so for each of you to your superiors several times through the years. And I wanted to do so now with regard to Julia Shanahan. She is incredible to work with—knowledgeable, talented, friendly, timely, creative, go-getting…I am thrilled to be able to work with her. Thanks for the excellent hire!

To: Doug Kramer (Grant & Contract Accounting)
From: Marc Provence, UW Administrator, Fred Hutchinson/University of Washington Cancer Consortium

Dear Doug,

I wanted to thank you once again for your help with the Cancer Consortium budgets. The fact that you responded so promptly and professionally to my initial phone call, then worked with OSP to find a resolution within a very tight timetable, is a great example of customer service. Hats off to you and GCA.

To: Teri Brentnall, Associate Professor of Medicine, Gastroenterology
From: Lori Oliver, Assistant Attorney General
Re: Sophia Meyering (Purchasing)
Subject: Contract with Virginia Mason

Dr. Brentnall, the UW Purchasing Office and Virginia Mason have sorted through and agreed to how to handle the purchasing of Dr. Kowdley's services. The PO is finalized with the consulting agreement from VM that is attached. Judy McMillan, in your Division, and Sophia Meyering in Purchasing have kept this moving at every turn – thanks again to both of you for sorting through this quickly and efficiently.

In reply to email above.

To: Lori Oliver, Assistant Attorney General
From: Judy McMillan, Fiscal Specialist 2, Gastroenterology
Re: Sophia Meyering (Purchasing)
Subject: RE: Contract with Virginia Mason

Lori,

You have no idea how grateful I am for your e-mail. Sophia (Meyering) was extremely helpful in calling Virginia Mason as this was NOT a standard or easy agreement and I really appreciated all her assistance in going the extra mile. Thank you.

To: Ginny Montgomery
From: Patricia Gonzalez, former UW employee
Subject: Farida Ablang (Payroll)

Good morning Ginny,

I just wanted to let you know how helpful and wonderful that Farida has been, in helping me get my vacation pay. For almost 2 months now I have been waiting for my vacation pay to be sent to me, after numerous phone calls and getting the run around from HMC & UW payroll, Farida is the only the only person who I spoke with, who took the ball and ran with it, by checking into things and being so kind to follow through with phone calls letting me know what was going on. Hooray for Farida, she made what was turning into a horrible experience into a great one!!! I just thought you should know, how much I have appreciated what she has done. Other people could take definite lessons from her. She rocks!!!!

To: Suzanne Blais (Purchasing)
From: Joseph Kittleson, Director, HR Information Systems, UW
Re: Addendum

Hello Suzanne –

Thank you again for the rapid response and for your time and that of your team.

In addition to email above

To: Suzanne Blais (Purchasing), Joe Kittleson, William Nicholson
From: Liz Coveney, Assistant Vice President, HR Administration and Information Systems
Re: Addendum

Thank you all for going the extra mile...and in record time...to make this happen. It's the best we can hope for and I appreciate your help in navigating us through uncharted waters.

From SFS comment card:

From: Anonymous UW Student
Re: Robin Elliott (Student Fiscal Services)

“Robin was very nice and thoughtful. Thank you.”

To: Diane Cooley & Kyra Worrell (Student Fiscal Services)
From: Beckie Supiano, reporter for The Chronicle of Higher Education
Re: Presentation at NASFAA conference

Dear Diane and Kyra,

My name is Beckie Supiano and I'm a reporter covering financial aid for the Chronicle of Higher Education. I attended your presentation at Nasfaa the other day, and found it very interesting. I am working on a story about financial literacy, and would like to talk with one or both of you for it. Is there a good time I could reach you on the phone in the next several weeks?

To: Teresa Crisostomo (Travel)
From: Bret Brodersen, State Financial Senior Consultant, Office of Financial Management

In addition to commenting verbally at the Shoreline travel training, I would like to commend you on the UW's travel website. I have referred other higher education agencies to it in the past, since it provides a great amount of detail and looks very helpful to your employees.

From voicemail left by John Morris, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance.

To: Jeff Peterson (Student Fiscal Services)
From: Sandie Rosko

SFS and the Intercollegiate Athletics Department along with Housing and OFSA have been working together over the summer to assist the Athletic department with scholarships disbursements for athletics. There have been many challenges along the way. Yesterday, SFS was summoned to a meeting at the request of Intercollegiate Athletics to assist with some of those challenges.

This morning when I arrived I had the best voice message a leader could receive. It was from John Morris, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance. He had nothing but praise for Jeff. He appreciated his patience, willingness to listen, and really caring and concerned that everything that needed to happen would happen.

John commented how this spoke well for all of SFS and its staff as he does not always see this when working with other units on campus. Great work Jeff. You do a good job on behalf of all of us.

To: Christa Woodhull, Shawna Litterski, Farida Ablang (Payroll Office)
From: Monica Maul
Re: Thank you

Dear Christa,

Thank you and your staff for the very informative and interesting payroll class today. I learned so much and so much of the question and answer portions were very helpful to me, I felt the encouragement from your staff towards me in that I am new and learning "trial by fire". I was not once bored, and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. How about that. I hope to be in the Intermediate Payroll class. Please put me on your list and expect me to attend.