Outstanding Supervisor Nominations

Awarded to the supervisor who is recognized to have that unique blend of human relation skills and knowledge of the organization and its mission, coupled with the ability to apply problem-solving and communication skills to the successful management of their employees. This person is able to successfully balance the goals of the Libraries with the individual goals of the employees.

What makes this person an outstanding supervisor (technical skills, teaching ability, interpersonal skills, attitude, leadership)?

Her ability to deal with so many different types of people and to address
each persons/departments special needs.

Is there a specific incident you'd like to cite? For example, has this person led your unit through a difficult change?

After the fire things had to keep moving along while there were many new things that had to be ordered. Dealing with the insurance people can be quite a task.

What else do you think the ASSET Awards Committee should know about your nominee?

Many people have to work with June from time to time and often they seem to think that what she does for them is what she does for everyone. Every department has it's own need and demands.

What makes this person an outstanding supervisor (technical skills, teaching ability, interpersonal skills, attitude, leadership)?

What, indeed. Steven came to Archives/Records Management in June of 2000 with no grounding in either area of specialization, but he brought with him a keen understanding of the importance of communication in the workplace, and a willingness to subordinate his authority to learn as much as possible as quickly as possible about his new environment. I have never had the privilege of working with someone so open to challenges presented by change in my 20+ years at the University. That Steven not only succeeded in assimilating this information, but in the intervening not-quite-three years has managed to invest the program with a new dynamism is testament to his commitment to make not only Archives and Records Management, but by extension, UGA Libraries a force to be reckoned with as we help the University explore new avenues of information access. This is accomplished because first and foremost Steven is committed to the human element in the equation. He never forgets the needs of the individual patron, and he never forgets the needs of the individual worker on his team.

Is there a specific incident you'd like to cite? For example, has this person led your unit through a difficult change?

If there was a difficult change in our department for Steven to master, it might have been the reorganization which brought him to Special Collections in the first place. In spite of his newness to the discipline, Steven has proven himself a committed "team player" and has established our program as a valued contributor to both the larger Special Collections "family" and to UGA Libraries as a broader community. Numerous specific instances could be cited, but Steven's commitment to train and pass the exam to become a Certified Archivist speaks most succinctly to his desire to fuse the mission of Archives/Records Management to the larger missions of Special Collections and the Libraries as a whole. His implementation of new Regents' records disposition standards, and his commitment (with Venus Jackson, UGA Records Manager) to educate the larger University community as to the most effective means to implement the new standards likewise speak to his commitment to the University and the citizens of Georgia.

What else do you think the ASSET Awards Committee should know about your nominee?

Steven is both a compassionate humanist and an administrative realist, choosing his battles wisely, but always advocating fiercely for both his people and his program. He is committed to his work here at UGA Libraries, and he is committed to making this the best working environment possible. In an age of economic uncertainty and vocational unrest, he is the very best that anyone could ask for in a supervisor.

Those who saw nominations last year may recognize some of the verbiage above. There is a reason for that, but the main lesson of the intervening year is that it is all more true now than it was then, and I'm willing this time to be *REALLY EMPHATIC AND PERHAPS OVERLY ENTHUSIASTIC IN MY PRAISE OF MR. BROWN'S EXTRAORDINARY MANAGEMENT SKILLS> IN THE WORDS OF THE CHILDREN, HE 'DA BOMB!!!!!*

All of which is to say, I appreciate any small consideration you would be willing to give to this recommendation, and to those of my colleagues elsewhere in Mr. Brown's Neighborhood...........

Head of both the University of Georgia's Archives and Records Management Center.

What makes this person an outstanding supervisor (technical skills, teaching ability, interpersonal skills, attitude, leadership)?

Steven has the tremendously complex task of managing two very different units located in buildings separated by a distance of several miles. Although such a situation might cause lesser souls to cringe in absolute terror, Steven takes up this daunting challenge and makes it seem effortless.

Our boss has the patience of a saint along with a slightly devilish sense of humor. Such a winning combination goes a long way toward making our workplace an enjoyable one.

Steven encourages the input of his staff and is always receptive to their suggestions. Whereas some supervisors might have a tendency to "hog the limelight," Steven is incredibly generous, going out of his way to acknowledge the contributions of his staff and student workers.

Is there a specific incident you'd like to cite? For example, has this person led your unit through a difficult change?

Steven is always open to challenges and works to assure that both of his units and all of his staff are seen in a positive light. For example, just recently he took on the task of creating a major exhibit to be featured as part of the dedication ceremony held in honor of the Life Sciences Complex being named for former UGA president, Fred Davison. Steven went out of his way to make sure that this exhibit-one that would viewed by Dr. Davison, Michael Adams and Louise McBee, among others-reflected well on his department, staff, and the libraries. Although he had done much of the work on the exhibit himself-he made sure that his staff's contributions to its design were prominently credited. Steven also encouraged us to attend the reception and, in turn, hobnob with the University elite.

What else do you think the ASSET Awards Committee should know about your nominee?

Steven is a unique person whose talents need to be celebrated and acknowledged by the entire library. This being the case-I believe that Steven Brown should be this year's "Outstanding Supervisor."

What makes this person an outstanding supervisor (technical skills, teaching ability, interpersonal skills, attitude, leadership)?

Julie has remarkable communication skills. She is so clear and articulate that she rarely has to repeat herself or explain something in a different way. Her genial and enthusiastic attitude, coupled with her strong verbal skills, make her an excellent teacher. She is extraordinarily proficient in utilizing Voyager, OCLC, Collection Manager, and other searching databases. She never shirks from difficult "other duties assigned." She is always diplomatic and willing to work with other departments to achieve goals.

Is there a specific incident you'd like to cite? For example, has this person led your unit through a difficult change?

Recently, the library acquired over 10,000 books from Follett Bookstore (formerly the UGA Bookstore). Julie worked with Will Langford to ensure that ALL the books would be reviewed by the bibliographers in the most efficient and timely manner. This project took only about a month and a half due to Julie's excellent planning and strong commitment.

What else do you think the ASSET Awards Committee should know about your nominee?

Julie always has a funny story to tell, making everyone loosen up and smile more. I couldn't ask for a better supervisor.

What makes this person an outstanding supervisor (technical skills, teaching ability, interpersonal skills, attitude, leadership)?

Emily is a patient and caring supervisor who is always approachable and willing to answer questions. She is a great trainer who is able to explain the most intricate maintenance issues to her staff and relay the importance of maintenance work in GIL to the OPAC, and thus our patrons.

Although Emily is still new in her position as Head of the Maintenance Unit, she was able to step in and keep the Unit running seamlessly. Emily's steady guidance, professionalism, and positive attitude combined with her many years of experience in the library, enable her to lead and train her staff effectively and keep them motivated.

Is there a specific incident you'd like to cite? For example, has this person led your unit through a difficult change?

Emily has lead staff through projects and personnel changes. She is well respected by her coworkers and peers and is able to balance the duties of being a supervisor with her own maintenance work. Emily is always willing to tackle any challenge with hard work, grace, and a good humor.

What else do you think the ASSET Awards Committee should know about your nominee?

Emily is dedicated, hardworking, understanding, knowledgeable and patient and excels as a trainer and supervisor. It's hard to describe how good she is at being a supervisor and trainer because it just seems so natural to her.

What makes this person an outstanding supervisor (technical skills, teaching ability, interpersonal skills, attitude, leadership)?

Is there a specific incident you'd like to cite? For example, has this person led your unit through a difficult change?

Jesse has been more than committed to helping oversee the renovation move for the second floor.

What makes this person an outstanding supervisor (technical skills, teaching ability, interpersonal skills, attitude, leadership)?

As a supervisor, Jesse really makes you feel like your opinion counts. He's always willing to listen and ask for your suggestions or ideas. He has excellent interpersonal skills which create a fun and enjoyable working environment. He's dependable and a hard worker. His previous work in Shelving has allowed him to have a more in-depth understanding of problem areas and solutions for them.

Is there a specific incident you'd like to cite? For example, has this person led your unit through a difficult change?

When Jesse was first hired as the Stack Supervisor, he had many challenges ahead of him. Disorganization in the stacks at the Repo were two main issues. His excellent supervisory skills have made a major impact on these two areas. Also his hard work and dedication to the library in post-fire time period was a great aid to the library.

What else do you think the ASSET Awards Committee should know about your nominee?

Jesse is very dedicated to his job and insists on completing a task efficiently and effectively.

What makes this person an outstanding supervisor (technical skills, teaching ability, interpersonal skills, attitude, leadership)?

Sheila is the most organized, determined and ambitious person I know. Having an extraordinary memory for detail, she always knows exactly what needs to be accomplished at every stage in each of our large and complex projects. She delegates responsibility with confidence and juggles with ease multiple projects spread among several work groups. Leading by example, Sheila promotes a diligent work environment. She is especially good at identifying and capitalizing on employee strengths in order to accomplish the best work in the most efficient manner. Sheila's multi-department experience and networking talent enable her to identify and work with people in and outside the library who can help us address both administrational and project related challenges. One of Sheila's greatest strengths is that she encourages and rewards initiative while closely tracking progress toward goals. This year she has tirelessly pursued a Master's degree in Library Science, commuting to South Carolina regularly, while keeping DLG operations running at full steam.

Is there a specific incident you'd like to cite? For example, has this person led your unit through a difficult change?

Sheila has worked closely with our new director, Toby Graham, to effect a seamless transition. She is circumspect and precise in her ongoing analysis of the efficiency of our operation and the quality of our production. Sheila offers sound advice while enabling and realizing Toby's vision for DLG.

What else do you think the ASSET Awards Committee should know about your nominee?

Dedicated to mentoring, Sheila promotes ongoing training and development. She has enabled me to improve my technical and managerial skills in addition to introducing me to archival work and cataloging. Such training benefits the Digital Library directly by building my skills and indirectly by appealing to my interest in the work that we do. By encouraging her employees to take an active interest in their work, Sheila creates an environment of high morale and promotes a disciplined work ethic.

University Librarian and Associate Provost

(He is actually my supervisor's direct supervisor, but he's still over me in the chain of command so I figured I'm qualified to nominate him!)

What makes this person an outstanding supervisor (technical skills, teaching ability, interpersonal skills, attitude, leadership)?

Bill's leadership is what I want to focus on on this occasion.

Is there a specific incident you'd like to cite? For example, has this person led your unit through a difficult change?

Following the fire on July 23, 2003, Bill's abilities to say the right thing to the right people at the right time, and to set priorities in order to have us functioning again as a service unit with as little delay as possible, proved what many of us have known for some time: that he's the right person for the job and is an outstanding leader among his peers, nationally and internationally.

What else do you think the ASSET Awards Committee should know about your nominee?

Time and time again we have heard various people from outside the Libraries, including both the CEO of DSi and Bill's supervisor, Provost Arnett Mace, praise Bill's leadership during this crisis. They talked about his abilities to communicate what needed to be done among various diverse groups that sometimes had competing priorities, and about his steady, unruffled approach to a rapidly shifting "landscape of sub-crises." We have since seen his ability to keep the University Library Committee and his supervisors from overreacting and implementing security procedures that would cause extreme inconvenience to Georgia citizens and UGA students and faculty, without necessarily decreasing the risk of further such incidents. A refined sense of balance is crucial in a top leader, and Bill has that.

What makes this person an outstanding supervisor (technical skills, teaching ability, interpersonal skills, attitude, leadership)?

Jill encompasses all of these attributes: Creative, inventive, sympathetic, supportive, motivated, energetic, humorous, intelligent, demonstrates excellent leadership skills, encourages staff to excel, flexible, open to new ideas and supports change, and more!!!

Is there a specific incident you'd like to cite? For example, has this person led your unit through a difficult change?

Jill is able to weather almost every storm with a determination to succeed. Her positive attitude makes working for her a pleasure.

What else do you think the ASSET Awards Committee should know about your nominee?

Jill works harder than anyone we know. Her dedication to her job makes us want to work just as hard. She never expects kudos for her efforts but she deserves them nontheless.

Beth is a real team leader that is happy to help us work through problems and find solutions. She is a positive and motivational leader that encourages all her staff to do their best. She also has a depth of technical skills and experience, is a good trainer, and answers our questions patiently and gracefully. She has confidence in us and enables us to be successful. She is a mentor as well as our supervisor.

What makes this person an outstanding supervisor (technical skills, teaching ability, interpersonal skills, attitude, leadership)?

Beth took part in two days of intensive map cataloging training just so that she would be able to help with questions as I learned to catalog maps. She has taken part in similar training and interdepartmental discussions for other members of the section.

What else do you think the ASSET Awards Committee should know about your nominee?

What makes this person an outstanding supervisor (technical skills, teaching ability, interpersonal skills, attitude, leadership)?

Acquisitions lost a unit head position. Most of that unit, standing orders and approval plans, was merged into Marie's existing unit to form Acquisitions Receiving Unit. She has accommodated the change, and is absolutely knowledgeable in library procedures. Every type of material is received and paid by her staff. She's conscientious and keeps these materials moving by keeping her staff well informed of procedures, organizing the workflow, and delegating responsibility plus the independence to complete all tasks. This is the backbone of all material coming into the Libraries.

She also works with Hargrett, receiving some of their material.