Do you work with a Business Affairs colleague who consistently goes above and beyond their regular duties? Did a coworker recently go out of their way to help you with a project? Does someone’s positive attitude make the workplace a more enjoyable place to be? If so, show these outstanding employees how much you value their contributions by nominating them for the monthly Business Affairs employee appreciation awards!

All Business Affairs team members are welcome to nominate a peer who exemplifies the Business Affairs culture standards - Collaborate. Acknowledge. Respect. Empower. If selected, they receive $100 and are entered into the pool for employee of the year. This award is $1,000!

This is an employee of the month and employee of the year program that runs on the calendar year (January through December). The selection process is designed with fairness in mind: employees are nominated by their peers and selected anonymously based on the contents of their nomination form.

Since Business Affairs is a large division that performs diverse functions, the staff is divided into two groups of approximately equal size whose employees work in related fields:

  • Facilities management, planning and construction, and real estate
  • Financial services/controller; resource management; budget and analysis; and administration services

Nominations should explain how an employee’s actions exceed expectations for their role. When nominating a co-worker consider these criteria:

Quality
  • Is the employee’s work effective, accurate, and useful?
  • Do they take steps to build relationships with customers and colleagues?
  • Are they detail-oriented, and do they take pride in creating excellent deliverables?
Dedication

Successful employees are proactive in their approach to work.

  • Does the employee take extra steps to ensure customer satisfaction or that a task is meticulously accomplished?
  • Do they regularly meet and/or exceed goals and expectations?
Timeliness

Organization and astute prioritization are qualities that make departments efficient and productive.

  • Does the employee consistently deliver service or products on time and/or ahead of schedule?
Innovation

Employees who identify problems and create solutions to streamline operations, reduce waste, and lower costs help the university create sustainable practices.

  • Is the employee a forward-thinker who identifies practices that simplify processes?
  • Do they find ways to help UNLV remain environmentally mindful?

To be eligible for the program, an employee must:

  • Be a current UNLV Business Affairs employee
  • Have worked in UNLV Business Affairs for at least six (6) months
  • Be in good standing (e.g., not in a progressive disciplinary process, last performance appraisal was satisfactory, etc.)
  • No self-nominations allowed!

Note: While an employee can be nominated more than once for the employee of the month award, he/she cannot win more than two monthly awards in a calendar year. A nominator cannot nominate the same employee more than once in a calendar year.

Employees nominate other employees for this award. Only one employee may be included per nomination. Group or team nominations will not be accepted. The nominator does not need to be the employee’s supervisor.

To nominate an employee, fill out the Business Affairs Employee Appreciation nomination form.

Nominations are due by the 25th of each month.

Winners are announced monthly in the Business Affairs Bulletin.

Nomination Review Committees

Business Affairs employees are divided into two groups. One group is comprised of the facilities management, planning & construction, and real estate departments. The other group is comprised of financial services, controller, resource management, budget & analysis, human resources, and administration services departments.

Each employee group has a dedicated nomination review committee that evaluates nominations and selects monthly winner(s).

  • Each committee has at least five (5) members. Committees always include an odd number of members if membership exceeds five.
  • Committee members rotate biennially.
  • Committee members do not report directly to the senior vice president of Business Affairs. The committees consist of employees’ peers.
  • The Office of the Senior Vice President of Business Affairs assists in the selection of committee members as members rotate off the committee.

Anonymity

  • Members of the review committees do not see the nominees’ names, which are replaced by an identifying number, when evaluating the submissions.
  • Per the nomination form instructions, please do not use the employee’s name in the nomination narrative.
  • The committees evaluate nominees based on the nomination narrative.

Number of Winners

  • For the monthly award, each group may have one winner, for a possible total of two monthly winners for the division.
    • The review committees do not have to select a monthly winner.
  • For the annual award, each review committee will choose one winner from a pool of up to 12 monthly award winners, for a possible total of two annual winners for the division.

2024 Recipients

  • Cory Martin, Facilities Management
  • Karlie Passey, BA Business Partner - Human Resources

  • Jennifer Cozzolino, Cashiering
  • Maisara Abebe, Facilities Management

2023 Recipients

  • John Cupo, Facilities Management
  • Duane Phillips, Risk Management & Safety

  • Craig Topple, Electronic Document Services
  • Brian Townsend, Real Estate

  • James Drollinger, Facilities Management
  • Nancy Dooley, Cashiering & Student Accounts

  • Frances Heiy, Purchasing and Contracts
  • George Ebner, Shadow Lane Facilities Management

  • Gary Gray, Facilities Management
  • Laura Schneider, Quality Assurance & Financial Compliance

  • Armando Campos, Facilities Management
  • Sang Yi, Administration Technology Services

  • Gilda Holliday, Facilities Management
  • Robert Deaver, Risk Management & Safety

  • Derrick Monroe, Facilities Management
  • Naseem Benjelloun, Administration Technology Services

  • Edwin Cardona Cortez, Facilities Management, IT 
  • Hugo Calderon Cortes, Financial Services

  • Charlie Cisneros, Facilities Management

  • Kenneth Hughes, Facilities Management
  • Nohealani Benicarlo, Vice President’s Office

  • John Tomola, Risk Management and Safety
  • Kathy Adams, Financial Planning, Budget, and Analysis

2022 Recipients

  • Stephen Valine, senior software developer, administration technology services
  • Maisara Abebe, assistant director, facilities management 

  • Rose Cummings, Program Officer, Cashiering and Student Accounts
  • Mike Kwiecien, Senior Project Manager, Planning and Construction

  • Dave Coleman, Facility Manager, Facilities Management

  • Jarred Achong, Custodial Worker 2, Facilities Management

  • Bill Knox, Maintenance Repair Worker 3, Shadow Lane Facilities Management
  • Daniel Landeros, Fire & Life Safety Inspector 2, Risk Management & Safety

  • Jeff Lagesse, Parking Operations and Events Administrator, Parking & Transportation Services
  • Andres DeLeon, HVACR Specialist 2, Facilities Management

  • Robin Love, Administrative Assistant IV, Risk Management & Safety
  • Haysam Selim, System Administrator, Facilities Management

  • Kim Seifert, Administrative Assistant III, Risk Management & Safety 
  • Jeffrey Hahn, Maintenance Repair Specialist 2, Shadow Lane Facilities Management

  • Kelly Owsley, Senior Purchasing Analyst, Purchasing
  • Jeremy Malone, Plumber 2, Fire/ Life Safety

  • Elora Paik, Principal Systems Analyst, Financial Systems

  • Jemil Galang, Equipment Mechanics 2, Facilities Management
  • Darren Paulson, Director of Telecommunications, Business Affairs - Administration

  • Kinesha Davis, Project Coordinator Facilities Management
  • Deon Day, Safety Representative Risk Management & Safety

  • Rose Cummings, Program Officer Cashiering and Student Accounts
  • Mike Kwiecien, Senior Project Manager Planning and Construction

2021 Recipients

  • Chris West
    Administrative Assistant 3, Facilities Management

  • Shari McClean
    Accountant Technician 1, Planning & Construction
  • Meliscia Gilbert
    Deputy Chief Budget Officer, Financial Planning, Budget & Analysis      

  • Katelyn Brooks
    Accountant Technician 2, Facilities Management
  • Joe Tammaro
    Digital Telecom Specialist 2, Telecommunications

  • John Tomola
    Occupational Safety Program Manager, Risk Management & Safety

  • Duane Kyles
    Senior Network Engineer, Telecommunications

  • Gualberto Rodriguez 
    Senior Accountant, Financial Services

  • Jonathan Myers
    Senior Network Engineer, Telecommunications

  • Reginald Stewart
    Radiation Safety Specialist/Laser Safety Officer, Risk Management & Safety
  • James Drollinger
    HVACR Specialist 1, Facilities Management

  • Farayi Dete
    University Parking Enforcement Officer, Parking & Transportation Services

  • Belia Guzman
    Senior Purchasing Analyst/Contract Administrator, Purchasing & Contracts
  • Garrett Hedges
    Facility Supervisor 2, Facilities Management

  • Heidi Welniak
    Grounds Maintenance Worker 2, Facilities Management
  • Caleb Abad
    Parking Enforcement Supervisor, Parking & Transportation Services

  • Harry Schiffman
    Electrician 3, Facilities Management

  • Chris West
    Administrative Assistant 3, Facilities Management
  • Joe Tammaro
    Digital Telecom Specialist 2, Telecommunications

2020 Recipients

  • Joshua Payne
    • HVACR specialist 2
  • Nathan Frieders
    • Accountant

  • Erin Messer
    • Associate Budget Director

  • Alexandra Nikolich
    • Executive Director, Financial Systems and Special Projects
  • Beau Barnett
    • Landscape and Grounds Manager
       

  • Rebecca Paulson
    • Senior Software Developer
  • Orlakdy “Dee” Douangprachanh
    • Custodial Worker 1

  • Jason Hargis
    • Occupational Safety Program Coordinator
  • Leslie Matys
    • Assistant Manager, Rebel Recycling

  • Gilda Holliday
    • Supply Technician 2

  • Julie Moos
    • Safety Training Specialist
  • Antonia Contreras
    • Custodial Worker 1

  • Nichole Staker
    • Project Manager, Planning and Construction
  • Betty Nielson
    • Systems Analyst, Cashiering and Student Accounts

  • Liliana (Lily) Magana
    • Benefits Manager

  • Lori Church
    • Deputy Controller
  • Ronald Rieger
    • Equipment Mechanic 3

  • Bridget Hahn
    • Real Estate Property Manager, Real Estate
  • William Smith
    • Fire & Life Safety Inspector 2, Risk Management

 

  • Johannes Pikel
    • Associate Software Developer, Administration Services
  • Georgi Batchvarov
    • HVAC Specialist 2, Facilities Management

 

  • Lori Church
    • Deputy Controller
  • Leslie Matys
    • Assistant Manager, Rebel Recycling

2019 Recipients

  • Dana Tasso
    Accountant Technician 2, Financial Services
  • Ray Figuerado
    Custodial Supervisor 3, Facilities Management

Honorable Mention

  • Kinesha Davis
    Construction Project Coordinator 1, Facilities Management
  • Lori Church
    Deputy controller

  • Shelley Simon
    Project manager, Planning and Construction
  • Elizabeth Deveraux
    Accounting Assistant 3, Accounts Payable

Honorable Mention

  • Fabian Mendez
    Electronics Technician 2, Facilities Management
  • Kahaunani Hernandez
    Senior Accountant, Financial Services

  • Vanessa Hogan
    Fire and Life safety Inspector 2, Risk Management and Safety
  • Jarred Achong
    Custodial Worker 1, Facilities Management

Honorable Mention

  • Caleb Konner
    Business Systems Analyst/Functional Architect, Workday Support Team
  • Sandy Ziegler
    Assistant director, Parking and Transportation Services
  • Juan Lino
    Plumber 1, Facilities Management

  • Joan Ludwig
    Personnel Technician 3, Salary Administration

  • Elizabeth Deveraux
    Accounting Assistant 3, Accounts Payable
  • Racquel Rodriguez
    Accountant Technician 2, Accounts Payable

Honorable Mention

  • Arturo Baltazar
    Personnel Analyst 1, Benefits

  • Steven Joseph
    HVACR Specialist 4, Facilities Management
  • Chelsea Meggerson
    Senior Purchasing Analyst/Contract Administrator, Purchasing

  • Patrick Castellano
    Senior Project Manager, Planning and Construction
  • Michele Washington
    Claims Administration Coordinator, Risk Management and Safety

Honorable Mention

  • Rebecca Paulson
    Senior Software Developer, Administration Services
  • Gaspar Arana
    Maintenance Repair Worker 3, Facilities Management

  • Michael Swearingen
    Grounds Maintenance Worker 5, Facilities Management
  • Tad McDowell
    Director, Parking and Transportation Services

Honorable Mention

  • Shelley Simon
    Project Manager, Planning and Construction
  • Brenda Peters
    Personnel Analyst 2, Benefits

  • Myke Molina
    Programs Coordinator, Cashiering and Student Services
  • Robert Lucas
    Custodial Supervisor 1, Facilities Management

  • Derek Jones
    Equipment Mechanic 3, Facilities Management
  • Eric Compton
    Business Analyst, Workday Support Team

Honorable Mention

  • Bethann Carrington
    Accountant Assistant 3, Accounts Payable

  • Victor Reza
    Accounting Assistant 1, Accounts Payable

  • Connie Gamble
    Property Manager, Real Estate
  • Elaine Rojas
    Administrative Assistant 4, Financial Services

  • Michael "Myke" Molina
    • Programs Coordinator, Cashiering and Student Accounts
  • Jarred Achong
    • Custodial Worker 1, Facilities Management