Nobody does it better

On Dec. 2, the University of Alberta will take time to honour its longest serving employees and it will once again recognize support staff who go above and beyond the call of duty to keep the university operating smoothly. This year's awards include a new category for Administrative Professional Officers.

The idea of handing out awards is simple, says Dr. Larry Beauchamp, the university's vice provost and associate vice president of human resources.

"We want to be able to celebrate, recognize and say thank you to outstanding members of the support staff," he said. "I think we have a lot of support staff that make extraordinary contributions to the university and this is an opportunity to thank them."

The long-term service awards and employee recognition awards will be handed out during the Celebration of Service ceremony Dec. 2 at the Myer Horowitz Theatre, from 2 - 6 p.m.

This year's recognition awards go to:

KATHLEEN HYMANYK

Kathleen Hymanyk

Imagine taking a job where members of the public who you work with are pretty nervous, or even frightened, by the prospect of working with you. It is something everyone involved in dentistry needs to deal with and by all accounts, Kathleen Hymanyk handles those issues, and everything else that comes her way, with aplomb.

Hymanyk works in the dental implant clinic as a registered dental assistant (II) with the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry's general practice residency program. There, she works with patients and dental students in a general practice setting specializing in implants - new permanent tooth replacements.

"It's kind of the new age of dentistry that's going on here," she said of the advanced level of work. "It's exciting working here because there is always something new in this world, new parts or developments - there is a lot to keep up with."

Just being nominated for the staff recognition award was a pleasant surprise, said Hymanyk. "I got an e-mail saying I was a finalist and couldn't believe it. When you think of how many people work on campus, getting an award like this is a real honour. I thought I was just doing my job," she said. "We've got a great group of people here. Everyone really looks out for each other."

RUTH BUTLER

Ruth Butler

Ruth Butler started working at the U of A 17 years ago, spending her first 11 years in temp services, working whereever she was needed most. It turns out the idea that every day was different appealed to Butler. She was asked to fill in as administrative assistant for the dean of the Faculty of Science in 1993 and hasn't looked back.

"It wasn't boring," Bulter said. "There wasn't another position I'd been in where things changed all the time and what you put into it is what the position was and it let you go as far as you wanted to."

Her priority is helping the dean meet his goals. That involves much more than simply acting as a dam to control the flow of phone calls or paper that make it to the dean's desk, in being one step ahead of the dean, laying the groundwork for future initiatives.

Apparently, her work is appreciated. When Butler learned she'd been nominated for the Support Staff Recognition Award, she was overwhelmed.

"I felt like I didn't need to win at all - that they would recognize me in that way made me feel really good."

GERDT KLINGBEIL

Gerdt Klingbeil

Most folks assume that if they had to pull a fire alarm, it would work. Gerdt Klingbeil's job is to make sure the thousands of alarms across campus function properly. It's no small task, but one that the 34-year U of A employee enjoys, because it requires a little detective work.

When he was asked to join the group of electricians who maintain the fire alarms 20 years ago, he was reluctant to accept.

"I didn't think it would appeal to me but I didn't have much training in it at the time," said Klingbeil. "But there is a lot of trouble-shooting involved and that does appeal to me."

Klingbeil is often on call, in case something goes awry. And when he is on the job, the alarms take priority over all else.

"There's a lot of pressure, sure. If an alarm's not working, you've got to get it repaired in a hurry. And if it's coffee time or your lunch break, you just keep on working."

Another thing about the job that appeals to Klingbeil is his co-workers. "They're all good here. I can't say anything bad about them."

It's obviously a case of mutual respect. "I'm honoured, very honoured, that my co-workers would consider me for an award like this," he said.

KEVIN FRIESE

Kevin Friese

Kevin Friese manages a staff of nine (out of a total staff of about 40) at the University Health Centre in the Students' Union Building, ensuring the clinic, which offers the university community access to eight general practitioners and four specialists, runs smoothly.

"We really try to promote a sense of team," he said. "We are a group of people who are cross-trained to help out in each other's area - there is a real respect for the idea of trying to assist and help out where it is needed."

That kind of commitment has helped the centre in some demanding times, such as implementing a mass meningitis-inoculation program a few years back, and establishing protocols with the Capital Health Authority to deal with SARS patients last year.

The staff members who nominated Friese say that without him the centre would be "less efficient, less human and less harmonious." It's high praise that Friese feels should be spread around.

"There is a staff of about 40 here and we have a director who is really supportive," said Friese, an APO at the centre. "This award came as quite a surprise to me. When I found out about it I was sort of stunned."

JIM KIDDOO

Jim Kiddoo

When Jim Kiddoo began working at the U of A he had no idea that he'd one day be teaching a class of fourth-year business students. Yet he wound up helping to teach a course in management information systems last year and will teach the course solo in January.

"I have no problem talking to 50 or 60 people," he said. "I've done seminars for 60 or 70 people before, so I was excited about the class - it felt natural."

Kiddoo instructs students on policy-level issues of information management.

"There is more on how will it affect a company - if I am managing this technology what do I need to know?" he said.

This is all on top of his full-time duties as senior network administrator in the School of Business, where he's been for four of the five years he has worked at the U of A. The sure sign that he's doing a good job is that no one hears from him.

"People don't know what I do until something goes wrong . . . then they ask 'what happened?' and I go over it and their eyes gloss over and they go 'oh - that's what you do,'" he joked, adding that receiving the recognition award is humbling.

"You don't want to toot your own horn, so it was a nice surprise for me."

KELLY DEIS

Kelly Deis

When you listen to Kelly Deis' colleagues talk about her, it makes you want to go work with them. "We absolutely adore her," said Louisa Fricker of the Centre for Health Evidence. "She helps us do our best and helps us to grow. She makes us all look good."

So how does someone come to be so admired by the people she supervises?

Fricker says Deis does it by being her staff's "biggest cheerleader." Deis says her staff are so talented "they make it easy to be a good role model and leader."

Deis, associate director of operations for the centre, was caught off guard by her nomination for an employee recognition award. And she's pleased APOs have been added to the annual recognition awards. "APOs do a lot to help the university meet its objectives and struggle with the day to day business of how to make things happen - how do we implement the visions of others.

"I have to say I didn't know they put my name in first of all, and that kind of annoyed me that they could keep something from me - because I thought I knew everything that was going on at our office. I feel an immense level of gratitude - it's really gratifying."