Vice President News from Ian Harper
Can you believe it? We are entering the seventh week of the fall semester, and the leaves are already starting to change color! With the coming of fall there was good news for SUNY Brockport, with the release of the U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” rankings. SUNY Brockport is now ranked number 55 (out of 165 schools) among regional universities in the north, which is nine spots higher than last year. And when it comes to best value schools among regional universities in the north, we were ranked 43rd — up 20 positions!
Please join me in congratulating Steve Cook, promoted to the position of Chief Information Officer, as well as FMO’s Austin, Joseph, and Michael on their respective promotions noted further below.
Don’t forget to check out the “Staff Saver Wednesdays” offer, see details further below.
Last month I talked about improving work-life balance by thinking about work processes that could be simplified, eliminated, or automated. There are several initiatives already underway, for example: elimination of reports, simplifying travel reimbursements, and looking at our hiring process. Change can be uncomfortable, but I truly believe this is a key enabler to achieve a better work-life balance. And so, I will continue to encourage everyone to look for opportunities and to share them with the team.
On a personal note, my family and I had the privilege to attend the Courage Bowl at the weekend; it was an unbelievable day, and SUNY Brockport won, 35 to 0!
Departmental News
A cross-departmental group from our division attended the September 24th Women’s Leadership Summit held at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center and hosted by the Rochester Business Journal, for an afternoon of celebrating and elevating women. Attendees were (L to R): Julie Caswell, Elizabeth Gregory, Kristin Hartway, Johnna Frosini, Tammy Gouger, Serena Starr, Michelle DeMonte, Becky Gagne, and not pictured: Crystal Hallenbeck-McPhall and Rachael Killion, representing Facilities Maintenance and Operations, Environmental Health and Safety, Parking and Transportation Services, Human Resources and Payroll, and Finance and Management.
Brockport Auxiliary Service Corporation (BASC)
Brockport Auxiliary Service Corporation (BASC) partnered with Student Union Leadership & Activities (SULA), the Intercultural Center, and the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) to host its first of several Heritage Month Lunches at Harrison Dining Hall. Recipes are adapted from Hispanic chefs and authors including Vanessa Mota, Virgilio Martinez, Pati Jinich, Carmen Aboy Valldejuli, and Jose Andres. The first lunch was Tuesday, September 17, and Harrison served: Mini Chicken Pastelitos/Empanadas, Street Corn Salad, Red Rice, and Arroz Con Leche (rice pudding). The handmade empanadas received rave reviews! Come to Harrison Dining Hall for its second Hispanic Heritage Lunch on Thursday, October 10, and enjoy Campfire Rice, Yuca Fritters, Mallorca-Style Roasted Vegetables, and Candied Plantains … you won’t want to miss it!
Attention all employees: As a special thank you to faculty and staff, BASC will be offering “Staff Saver Wednesdays” at Harrison Dining Hall and Brockway Dining Hall Express for the remaining Wednesdays in the fall semester. For this limited time only, enjoy any all-you-care-to-eat meal at either dining hall for only $9.99 ($9.25 + tax)!
Departmental Fun Facts
- BASC states that their biggest-selling Starbucks drink is Strawberry Acai Refreshers. During the week leading up to Homecoming, Jitterbugs Café sold 510 of the popular refreshers! If you were not included in that number, check out Jitterbugs Café to see what you’re missing!
- Finance & Management’s (F&M) Office of Student Accounts and Accounting (OSAA) has processed over $5.7 million in Fall 2024 student refunds prior to the first day of the term. Refunding continues throughout the semester, providing students with needed funds for educational and living expenses.
- F&M’s OSAA has also disbursed over $15 million in Fall 2024 federal aid funds through the first week of the term. Federal, State, campus, and external loans, grants, and scholarships will continue to be disbursed throughout the semester.
- Human Resources (HR) states that pay period 12 is their largest payroll of the year, as it is the first one of the fall semester. Members of the HR and Payroll team successfully entered over 700 transactions to ensure all faculty and staff are paid correctly and on-time!
Employees in the Spotlight!
New Employees
- BASC welcomes Beth Harvey, Shift Supervisor, to their team!
- Facilities Maintenance and Operations (FMO) welcomes the following new hires to their team!: Scott Castle, Maintenance Assistant; Lucas Voorhees, Plant Utilities Assistant; Dan Walterick, Ryan Pasnik, and Karen DiMarzo, Custodial Cleaners; and Darryl Luxon, Plant Utilities Engineer.
- F&M’s OSAA welcomed new team member, Paul Polaski, on September 26. Paul is a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, with recent experience as an Assistant Manager in a retail environment. His background makes him the perfect fit for his new role as OSAA Operations Analyst.
Please join us in welcoming all of these new folks to the University and our Division!
Promoted Employees
Congratulations to Steve Cook on his new position as Chief Information Officer (CIO) for SUNY Brockport, after 19 months as Interim CIO (and almost two years as Director of Information Technology). Reporting to the Vice President for Administration and Finance, the CIO oversees Brockport Information Technology Services (BITS) and, specifically, the teams who manage Enterprise Systems Programming, Technology Support Services, Communications Infrastructure, Academic Technology, Systems & Networking, Information Security, and Project Management in an effort to provide the best Information Technology Services to the University’s faculty, staff, and students.
FMO congratulates the following employees on their promotions: Austin Vick, now a Facility Operations Assistant 1 with the Grounds team; Joseph Spada, now a Trades Specialist Mason Plasterer; and Michael Lyons, now a Facility Operations Assistant 1 with the Moving team.
Please join us in congratulating these colleagues on their promotions!
Retired Employees
FMO congratulates Douglas Drake, Janitor, on his retirement!
Please join us in wishing them well in their retirement!
Employee News
F&M’s OSAA welcomed FUTURE team member Noah Michael Stellman at 9:52 a.m. on August 15. Thanks to dad, Patrick Stellman (Revenue Accountant), and mom, Ashley, for allowing us to share this beautiful miracle!
Birthdays in October
- Kevin Anderson
- Joseph Arno
- Frederick Banks
- Marcia Brown
- Angelo Cole
- Jason Conn
- Audrey Corby
- Kevin Derrane
- Robert Fisher
- Peter Gattie
- Crystal Hallenbeck-McPhall
- Dora Henry
- Nicholas Heveron
- Robert Johnson
- Gina Johnson
- Andrew Jones
- Jason Knab
- Michael Lyle
- Kevin Manners
- Christopher Martinez
- Patricia Maxwell
- Frances Moore
- Joe Peles
- Kallee Quill
- Jeffrey Thompson
- Nathan Trembley
- Jasmine Wells
- Cynthia Wolfe
- Carmen Wyse
- George Yankanich
Work Anniversaries in October
- William Coughlin 1 year
- Erin Salisbury 1 year
- Robert Skrzypek 1 year
- Hanna Guck 2 years
- Nicholas Heveron 2 years
- Kayla Manners 2 years
- Thomas Spoto 2 years
- Amy Whitlatch 2 years
- Finessa Brandenburg 3 years
- Bonnie DeZarn 3 years
- Amy Freeman 3 years
- Linda Mason 3 years
- Jill Colleen Trimble 3 years
- Nabil AL Rashdi 6 years
- Peggy Barringer 6 years
- Marc Gummerson 6 years
- Erel Lozano 8 years
- Mark Watt 8 years
- Wayne Thorn 9 years
- Sally Avino 10 years
- Sue Clase 10 years
- Darlene Sietmann 12 years
- Diane Staub 12 years
- Joseph Arno 14 years
- Alicia McGuire 14 years
- Michael Baird 15 years
- Sharon Engle 17 years
- Steve Mallaber 17 years
- Lawrence Brien 19 years
- Cameron Forsythe 19 years
- Jason Knab 19 years
- Christine Passarell 20 years
- Dian Robak 20 years
- Sarah Plain 23 years
- Tammera Robertson 25 years
- Chad Collins 27 years
- Robert Johnson 27 years
- Brad Menear 28 years
Did you know?
- Q: What the most common birth month is for A&F Division employees?
- A: More than 11% of our staff were born in September!
- Q: What the most common starting month is for A&F Division employees?
- A: More than 12% of our staff started in August over the years!
Kudos Korner
Kudos and special thanks to the BASC Team who put in extra time and effort to ensure that all of the food events associated with Homecoming & Family Weekend were a success!
Kudos to the Allen 5th Floor for being creative with team building! Every Friday afternoon, the 5th floor staff participate in a “Wind Down and Recharge” stretch session, led by Rachael Killion. This shared time is not only filled with exercise and meditation, but it also allows the team to end the week with fun conversation and laughs. Way to go 5th Floor!!
Kudos to OSAA’s Colleen Crouse and Elizabeth Gorall, who developed a creative solution to an issue that was preventing a group of students from receiving needed book funds! Although the issue did not fall under the responsibility of Student Accounts & Accounting, Colleen and Elizabeth jumped in to ensure students weren’t penalized.
Kudos to OSAA’s Amy Aina, who solved a mystery that was preventing reconciliation of the federal TEACH financial aid program!
Kudos to OSAA’s Erika Johnston, who is rocking her duties as Collections Analyst, including process enhancement and efficiency suggestions!
*New* Getting to Know You, Getting to Know all About You!
On August 19, 2023, Steve Cook became an “ADK 46er,” completing a hiking dream that began when he was 14 years old and climbed Mt. Marcy in the Adirondacks for the first time in August 1982. An ADK 46er is an individual that has climbed all 46 of the High Peaks of the Adirondacks and logged the adventures for registration with the volunteer organization called the Adirondack 46ers. This organization provides funding, workshops, and advice to hikers in the Adirondack Park. Steve finished his last climb on an overcast day full of wind and drizzle with some close friends and his family while representing SUNY Brockport!
Green & Gold Star Awards – September 2024
- Sondra Aman (Facilities Custodial) Great job to you and your TEAM, for everything they had to do to get the University ready for Fall.
- Paul Brundage (Facilities Maintenance) Doing an amazing job this summer! You were an invaluable part of our TEAM!
- Susan Bush (Facilities Custodial) Great job to you and your TEAM, for everything they had to do to get the University ready for Fall.
- Sue Clase (HR) Sue presented 3 times at NEST- new employee service training.
- Chad Collins (Facilities Grounds) Great job to you and your TEAM, for everything they had to do to get the University ready for Fall.
- Jesse Conklin (Facilities Custodial) Great job to you and your TEAM, for everything they had to do to get the University ready for Fall.
- Holly Cunningham (HR) For being helpful, understanding, kind, and a pleasure to work with these last 8 years. Thank you!
- Michelle DeMonte (HR) Dedication to ensuring all part-time employers are informed of benefits that are available to them.
- Peter Gattie (BITS) Excellent coverage of the service desk while Krystal was out of the office.
- Robert Heywood (BITS) Huge help. Rob jumped up to help a parking customer while PTS staff was assisting other customers.
- Anna Hintz (BASC) Helping to ensure a student with severe allergies has access to food on the weekend.
- Anna Hintz (BASC) For going above and beyond to assist a student in need! Thank you!
- Rachael Killion (Budgeting) Being responsive and supportive when all the numbers and reports seem to blend together.
- Mary Kochmanski (BITS) Excellent coverage of the service desk while Krystal was out of the office.
- Cathy Legacy (BASC) Helping to ensure a student with severe allergies has access to food on the weekend.
- Kevin Manners (Facilities Moving) Doing a great job with all the moves this summer. Thank you for all your hard work!
- Nick North (BITS) For always providing thorough and friendly support! And fixing the things I miss (even years later)!
- Krystal Perlman (BITS) Thank you for going above and beyond to assist in securing a student’s account information!
- Karen Simpson (HR) Thanks for going above and beyond to help us with the latest DOB COVID request! You are a Rockstar!!
- Serena Starr (HR) Thank you for your help and expertise in quickly completing our latest DOB COVID request!!
- Jeff Thompson (BITS) Jeff is always prompt and courteous with emails and helped me a great deal with missing IAS scores.
- Jeff Thompson (BITS) For your diligence and commitment to support faculty and students.
- Jeff Thompson (BITS) For your help recovering an adjunct’s Brightspace, which was deleted due to a complicated issue.
- Pam Turner (BITS) Pam is wonderful, she is diligent and so organized. She makes my job so much easier.
- Wanda Wells (Facilities Custodial) Great job to you and your TEAM, for everything they had to do to get the University ready for Fall.
- Denise Wiggins (BASC) Thank you for your unfailing kindness and support of students, especially those in need!
- Denise Wiggins (BASC) For going out of her way to assist a student and ensuring as a team did everything we could to help!
BizLibrary Suggested Course of the Month
Manage Change Effectively – In this quick, two-minute video, you’ll learn how to manage your emotions during times of change, spot new opportunities in evolving situations, and help others adjust to challenges.
Upcoming Events
- October 9 (7:30 p.m.) – Brockport Writer’s Forum: Heidi Macpherson in McCue Auditorium
- November 1 (4:00-5:30 p.m.) – First Friday at the Alumni House – stop by for refreshments & socializing!
If you have an item you’d like included in a future issue, please send to Laurie Smith (lausmith@brockport.edu).
SUNY Brockport Leadership Newsletters can be found on the Information page for Faculty & Staff (5th topic down).