Awards

“Carla is always available to help me when I need it; she’s also always super quick to respond. She is very knowledgeable and more than willing to teach and coach me along the way. And – she helps WITHOUT hesitation, and WITH a smile – every single time. She is so patient! I still have so much to learn (I’m utilizing a system that I’ve never used before) and I’m very thankful to have someone like Carla in my corner. I don’t know what I’d do without her most days! To say I appreciate her is quite the understatement. Thank you SO much, Carla!!”

“I have asked Carla probably a trillion questions regarding software that I’m unfamiliar with, and each time, Carla is patient and explains the process very well. She’s offered me training resources and to sit down with my team to set up in-person training. (Our team CANNOT wait to sit down with her and pick her brain.) She is always so kind and understanding of my unfamiliarity, and she bends over backwards to ensure I’m comfortably and confidently learning these new processes. Every interaction with her leaves me impressed with her knowledge and caring, and I am so so thankful that she is part of this OA team.”

Congratulations, Carla!

“I can’t say enough about Ashlei and how she provides great customer service. Having worked on a team with Ashlei before, I know how much of a rock star she is to her internal partners and team members. Having moved from OA to DOC, I can attest that she provides the same, if not better, service to her customers outside of OA. She is quick to respond to emails, always willing to help, and wants all of us to “work smarter, not harder.” I think she could assist with ENGAGE change requests in her sleep and she is so damn knowledgeable about Qualtrics. OA really does have a rock star on their hands. Look out Mick Jagger!”

“The Department of Social Services is a large agency so we have a number of change requests for ENGAGE evaluations that come up each cycle. We also have our share of questions from employees that come up. Ashlei carefully works each request and points out areas to consider (e.g., a supervisor has left and we asked to move 4 out of 5 employees, she will ask about the 5th one avoiding additional change requests from being done). I have no doubt she has a large volume of requests but works ours timely which allows us to move forward with completing evaluations. She is professional, helpful, and goes the extra mile.”

Congratulations, Ashlei!

“While helping me register some iTrack equipment, Gavin noticed that the tablet that I had been using as my computer was greatly needing an upgrade (the screen had popped out and wires were sticking out). Knowing I wasn’t the type to request an upgrade as it was still functioning, he went ahead and requested it to be replaced on his own. Seeing me in out by the Truman building, he came up and apologized that I was working with such equipment. He made it a top priority to get it replaced even when I was shrugging it off knowing he probably had much more important requests to tackle. Later that week he would send a few messages on WebEx asking if I would be in the office so they could update the equipment. Both Gavin and Morgan Strong came within not much time and also helped me connect my laptop computer to one of our nearby OA printers in the Capitol. They did this all with a great personality and sharing a few laughs about how the tablet will now be in their museum of misfit computers. (You’ll seriously need to go by and look at the computer. It was in rough condition.) Gavin is an exceptionally hardworking talent for the OA and genuinely cares about his colleagues and the service ITSD provides. Gavin displays some of the best customer service I have ever seen in my years in state government. We are fortunate to have team members like him and so many more in ITSD.”

“Gavin has helped our team many times, but this morning when I was having issues logging on to my main application for work (of course with a major deadline approaching) and it needed to be updated by an administrator, he was so kind as to complete the necessary steps while we were on the phone. I called just asking if it was an appropriate item to file a ticket for or if it was internal to my department and he went above and beyond to fix the issue in the moment to keep our team up and running this morning. Thank you so much Gavin!”

Congratulations, Gavin!

“Scott (Emmerich) and his team are always happy to help out! Recently Scott noticed we had a large quantity of new fleet vehicles being delivered. Scott took the initiative to come offer his and his teams assistance moving the fleet and putting the parking flyers in the windshields. Scotts team organized the vehicles by type and lined them up nicely! This made the upcoming deliveries easier! Later the same day 2 more deliveries arrived. Scott came to me again offering the same assistance. I took him up on his offer. this set of deliveries was not as organized as the first. I explained to Scott that I had a box full of keys with no way to identify the vehicle. He smiled and said, “We will take care of that!” He returned with each set of keys easily identifiable. This was above and beyond. Scott and his team handle a multitude of things. They saw I was extremely busy with other job duties and reached out to help! Then exceeded the original task. I owe them a HUGE thank you!” (Scott is no longer employed with OA, but his team is being recognized)

Congratulations, team!

“Was in a refrigeration training with Perry at the Fulton State Hospital. Our instructor was busy with other students and Perry went out of his way to help teach and show other students and myself the proper way to evacuate and recharge an AC system. He made sure to explain everything he could and answered any of our questions. Which in return helped us learn a new trade to better ourselves and the state. With out his knowledge and willingness to help us out we wouldn’t have learned as much as we did.”

Congratulations, Perry!

“Tina assisted me in finding options to change all my screens to darker backgrounds, making it easier for me to read and work. She also helped me go through other computer settings to reduce the number of white backgrounds. I am grateful for the time she took to help me.”

Congratulations, Tina!

“Destiny illustrates OA CARES in her every day activities. I have had the pleasure of interacting with her before and I am going to describe one situation when she went above and beyond. We had about 7 or 8 vendor staff members who needed to go through the steps to access a secure folder to be able to fulfill their obligations. They were not a tech savvy group but that did not bring Destiny down. She was very patient and kind and ensured that they got exactly what they were needing.

Communication: She communicated in a positive and kind manner and listed to the vendor personnel’s’ concerns.
Adaptive: She was flexible with her time and made time to assist them.
Reliable: She is always responsive and is very timely with her responses and assistance.
Expert: She knew exactly how to help this group and walked them through each step.
Solution-Driven: She definitely provided solutions in order to help this group get the appropriate access.

The vendors are still commenting about how professional, kind, and patient she was when assisting them. I am so proud to have her as part of our team.”

Congratulations, Destiny!

“AJ came and helped the Department of Revenue (DOR) Motor Vehicle and Drivers License Bureau with a Tableau dashboard build. This included multiple spreadsheets, spatial files, and a Tableau Prep build. When first approached for assistance he didn’t bat an eye and wanted to dive into it. He came to the meeting with no clue as to the depth of the issues and never got frustrated with us as we wanted to learn. The data cleaning tips and Prep build were amazing! My supervisor and I will take a lot away from the Prep instruction we received. When we couldn’t get it done in one session he said find a spot on my calendar and let’s get back to it. AJ has great knowledge and lets us know that it’s okay to not know everything. He made it feel like he wasn’t just trying to teach us but was invested with us in it. We did a build ourselves that we had played with for weeks. Within two meetings with AJ, we had our data in order, a prep flow built (and published), and a dashboard ready to go. We are excited to take his Tableau Prep 101 course coming up. Thanks again AJ!”

“AJ has gone out of his way to provide excellent customer service to the MOVERS project. He was unconditionally supportive of our needs, provided advice when needed, and was flexible with availability. Because of AJ’s dedication, MOVERS was able to get a Tableau dashboard that has made an impact on every agency at every level. Beyond his knowledge and skills, his personality was pleasant and exciting.”

Congratulations, AJ!

“Casey has helped me on several occasions. Whether it’s getting Temp Staff computers set up ASAP with DOR or getting the programs I need to work remotely, he is very knowledgeable, accurate, and friendly. I have submitted several doozy’s and he has always been able to figure them out and get me up and going. Casey takes that time to explain what the issue is and how he was able to fix it so that I can reference it in future instances. I have really appreciated all of his help throughout the years.”

“There was one item on my ticket. He fixed that, plus two more issues I had been having for weeks. He was so nice and easy to work with. He did a phenomenal job!! He deserves recognition!!!”

“Casey has always provided great service, patience, and insight about any questions I have. He takes the time to explain the whys and what to look for next time.”

Congratulations, Casey!

“The person in our organization who reported to me and took care of our LinkedIn Learning account resigned. I knew very little about the administrative side of LinkedIn Learning. Amanda met with me and our new LinkedIn Learning lead and she trained us so thoroughly. She was positive and helpful. We immediately wrote some procedures and got to work cleaning up our roster with full confidence that a) we knew what to do, and b) if we didn’t or if we messed something up Amanda had our back!!! We really appreciated her level of care for us!”

Congratulations, Amanda!

“Beginning February 2022, OA ITSD, the Governor’s Office, and several state agencies began meeting multiple times each week to develop a web portal to aid in the administration of the State’s American Rescue Plan Act Recovery Funds (ARPA). The portal development team set several goals for the portal, which included building a platform from which impacted Missourians could apply for state ARPA funds, and a dashboard to display the State’s use of the funds for public transparency. The project is an excellent example of the Scrum framework and the need for adaptation on the go. Agencies each had related, yet unique business needs, compounded by the fact that the portal was an entirely new concept for the State.

This type of development requires highly effective communication and extraordinary levels of participation from the agencies, developers, and State leaders. The Tiger Team, consisting of Kyle Heidlage, Uriah Puhse, Tonna Cornett, and Brayton Wilkerson, has been the picture of excellent customer service. The team is responsive, creative, open-minded, and solution-oriented. They are consistently open to troubleshooting and trying new ideas all while launching new portal features at a remarkable rate. Their answer is never “no”, but “let’s figure it out”.

The Tiger Team’s ability to lead a cross-functional, multi-agency workgroup through the development of a portal that serves millions of Missourians, with positive energy and a laser focus is above and beyond all expectations.

The agencies involved in this process have developed immense respect for Lynn, Kyle, Uriah, Tonna, and Brayton. This team has set the bar for IT projects and processes. They have methodically implemented the Scrum framework and demonstrated the highest degree of customer service. It will take years to truly calculate the full widespread impact this team has had on Missouri by establishing the portal through which more than $2.5 billion will pass to Missouri communities and facilities.”

Congratulations, team!

“State Data Center (SDC) is currently in the middle of replacing MOBIUS with a new product called Content Manager OnDemand (CMOD). This was going to be a huge undertaking and require lots of staff time to change the 336 different JCL/PROCs that are spread out across all of the teams within ITSD – Department of Social Service (DSS). Charles Williams stepped up and coded some procedures that will automatically add new steps to the impacted JCL/PROCs. Now the teams involved will only have to test and migrate their modules. Charles’ effort saved hundreds of hours across multiple teams as well as eliminated possible typos or other errors that happen when editing existing modules. Thank you Charles for stepping up and being the epitome of a team player.”

Congratulations, Charles!

“Ryan works diligently to get to know his ITSD counterparts and agency partners. He works very hard to ensure there is consistent clear communication from his team and on all Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DOLIR) projects. Recently, his project has had some challenges and Ryan teamed up with the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) to tackle the Project Director’s duties until these challenges can be resolved. He has excelled in being adaptable and working with unforeseen changes as they arise. He consistently works to build trustworthy relationships with the agency and shows confidence to keep projects moving in the right direction. He also exemplifies Reliability by ALWAYS following through.”

DOLIR-DWC Deputy Division Director Ben Qualls ”adds, “Over the last eight months, I have had the pleasure of working professionally with Ryan and getting to know him personally, as well. He always exerts a positive attitude and has proven to be an indispensable asset in regard to managing the project. He has a high proficiency in communicating the appropriate information to the appropriate audience at the appropriate time and in an appropriate tone and manner. He has proven to be an expert in project management through his ability to juggle multiple projects, to stay focused on the end product and come up with solutions to once again, ensure the project moves forward.”

Congratulations, Ryan!

“I’d been having an issue with Restore, which is the program we use in the Central Accident Reporting Office (CARO) for all of our workers’ compensation claims management. This issue was preventing me from completing my work as efficiently as I could have. Katie came over and helped me save all my internet bookmarks and reset all my Google Chrome settings. Her troubleshooting resolved my issue, allowing me to cancel my ITSD Help Desk ticket and resume my normal work functions. Thank you to Katie for taking the time to help and being an awesome co-worker.”

Congratulations, Katie!

“Aaron Weber doesn’t let grass grow under his feet! Aaron works hard to keep the George Washington Carver (GWC – Department of Agriculture) building in working condition. As with older buildings, emergencies frequently arise (usually plumbing issues here at GWC) and Aaron doesn’t delay. Within minutes of being contacted, he assesses the emergency and quickly deals with it. Aaron frequently checks in with our Division Secretary during the week to identify items or areas needing attention.

Aaron has also been known to build tables, shelves, and help move office furniture for department staff. Recently, a contractor failed to address a leaky window and Aaron said, “I’ll take care of it.” In the mornings before department employees arrive, Aaron is walking the perimeter of the building looking for areas needing repair and then he walks the parking lots and grounds keeping them clean and presentable.

Aaron’s hard work has not gone unnoticed here at the department. We have never had anyone like Aaron assigned to GWC and we certainly appreciate everything he does for us. It is a pleasure to have someone of Aaron’s character, he is dependable, hardworking, personable, and dedicated to making GWC a nice place to work. Aaron fits in here at the Department of Agriculture, he is just like the rest of us, and he belongs here. It would be wise of OA to utilize Aaron as a mentor for younger staff.”

“Over the past several weeks Julie worked tirelessly to get a very complex procurement facilitated and completed for the Department of Social Services (DSS). In summary DSS was utilizing a cooperative agreement with another state for this software and services, but it is set to expire December 2023, thus the need for DSS to have a new State of MO agreement. Through much research and due diligence on Julie’s part the agency was able to establish a new agreement. Throughout this process Julie was able to demonstrate every single one of our core values: Communication, Adaptive, Reliable, Expert, Solution-Driven.

Given all the above it is my pleasure to nominate Julie.”

“Alex helped me fix my VPN connection issues. As a remote employee, the new Global Protect VPN update caused a few problems that required a lot more work and coordination to fix because no one could physically fix my computer. Alex worked with me for 2.5 days to resolve my issue. The nature of my problem made it impossible to solve in less than a day as I had no internet access with my VPN not working properly. He made tickets for me, contacted additional IT and vendor staff to brain storm and problem solve, walked through possible solutions with me over the phone, and worked diligently with me to try and resolve the issue. It was an enormous amount of work and creative problem solving to finally get it resolved. Alex was very skilled and kept a great attitude, despite it being very frustrating as we tried more and more solutions. He never gave up and made sure that I knew what was going on the whole time. Alex was wonderful to work with and provided exceptional customer service.”

“Christian Crader, Doug Patterson, Anthony Fisher, Aaron Dunn, John Ruppel, Jr., Keith Arnel, Scott Muenks, Jack Pruitt, Andy Welschmeyer, George Percival, and Bert Reinstein were instrumental in getting our remodel project across the finish line. It was more than “just doing their job.” Each of them listened to ramblings, changed plans, updated plans, and came up with plans while communicating with our team to ensure timeliness. When there was a problem, they communicated and adapted the weekly plans to ensure we completed the project on time.”

“Shelby Williams, a member of the Admin Tech Team for the Division of Purchasing, is constantly willing to help out in any way she can and always seems to do so with a positive attitude. Recently, Shelby has been willing to help both the Commodities and IT sections within the Division of Purchasing by training new support staff. Her contribution to training is helping the Commodities and IT teams tremendously, as well as the Division of Purchasing as a whole. Her previous experience in the support staff role and her experience as a buyer makes her an extremely valuable and resourceful trainer to these two new support staff. Additionally, Shelby is always willing to go above and beyond to help our customers, our vendors, and the Division of Purchasing in any way she can. I believe that Shelby Williams is an EXCELLENT candidate to receive an OA Cares award.”

Congratulations, Shelby!

“Michael has been amazing at helping support our team members. Taking time to follow up and ensure that things are working correctly, contacting other ITSD teams to support us or complete a ticket, thinking beyond what we thought we needed. He is an asset to us and ITSD. He CARES about us as his customers. I have also watched him interact with his team and it’s amazing how well they work together and keep the expectations as a team high.”

Congratulations, Michael!

“Scott has taken the time to learn all the ins and outs of our project management software. He has gone further though and shown the initiative to teach others in the department how to use it well by developing multiple courses for the different types of users the software hosts. I was recently hired, and his entry level training was one of the most relevant and informative hours I have had in my first two weeks. He saw the challenges and benefits this program presents to its users and packs great information into just an hour of time to show us how to use the interface correctly and to the advantage of the team. After he was finished, he spent additional time answering questions and troubleshooting issues for attendees. I feel confident using this new to me system, and I am grateful for Scott’s willingness to answer questions and be available beyond the hour of teaching. I will definitely be attending the next level of training pertaining to my role when it is offered.”

Congratulations, Scott!

“Devon is a rock star! She embodies the OA CARES core values more than anyone. Her mindset is to be solution-driven day in and day out with everything she does. If she doesn’t know, she will find the answer!

Devon adapts to the ever-changing environment and processes we support in IT. She answers the call above and beyond for which her title calls. She works extra hours to ensure projects are completed for the support of our customers and the Department of Secondary and Elementary Education (DESE). DESE has several complex, cryptic, and tedious data reporting requirements each year. There’s a history of misinformation, and a lack of solid documentation about these data processes and the rules change often. Devon has true role model qualities that our App Dev shop needs and wants. Thanks for being reliable, adaptive, expert, and solution-driven while communicating across teams and boundaries. Thank you for all you do, and all the successes you are helping to build here!”

Congratulations, Devon!

“Angie has done so much to serve Missourians and the businesses she supports. Just this year, she has received at least nine acknowledgments of how fantastic she is, and we are only in April!

Angie embodies the OA CARES Award core values. She communicates with businesses and ITSD. She keeps projects moving forward by keeping everyone calm and showing them the right path. She adapts constantly in this position. She has had to change from supporting the Department of Social Services (DSS) to supporting the Department of Mental Health (DMH) and now she is back to DSS again because she was needed. Not only did she make those changes without complaining, but she also provided so much value that no one wants her to leave!

She is so reliable. I know if I give her something that needs to be done not only will she do it, but she will do it so great that all parties involved are going to come away thrilled. Angie has quickly become an expert at many things and has even begun training other BAs. She also created a document with the best training on it to give to the new BAs without even being asked, because she felt it would be helpful. Lastly, she is most certainly solution-driven. Angie is not afraid to speak up if she feels there is a better way to do something. The state of Missouri is so fortunate to have a BA like this serving the citizens in the best possible way.”

Congratulations, Angela!

“Among her exceptional qualities, Kristina is professional, knowledgeable, articulate, supportive, and a total pleasure to work with. Working with Kristina is the clear definition of teamwork at its best! I have been fortunate to have Kristina assigned as my OA Buyer on numerous Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and other solicitation projects in the past few years. The experience has been amazing, every time. She is precise and thorough, and her communication skills are impeccable. With the exorbitant amount of work we all have these days, I have never felt that Kristina was too busy to assist with anything I needed or any question I had. Also, the confidence and level of knowledge that Kristina demonstrates on calls, in meetings, and during evaluations, is apparent to all participants. I realize that part of the OA Buyer’s job is to do exactly what I have described here, however, I feel that Kristina Cramer goes above and beyond “the expected”, every time and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to work with her.”

Congratulations, Kristina!

“Our recent statewide hiring event would not have been the success it was without the help from great team members across OA. Several division leaders and hiring managers were at the event to meet with job seekers and highlight current opportunities to join our team. The OEO team was onsite to offer information on their programs to visitors. Also, Landon Hance, George Welling, Sam Swoboda, and Kelli Buffington worked behind the scenes on pieces that were integral to making the event happen. Chris Moreland was on site to take photos, talk to reporters, and offer professional headshots to guests. It truly was a group effort and we appreciate the support the team members shared with the DOP. The five individuals mentioned here exemplify OA Cares with their stellar customer service. They adapted when we needed help last minute, were experts at finding the right solution, and were reliable to get what we needed to be done. We couldn’t have done it without them!”

Congratulations, Team!

“Kayla is the epitome of OA’s core values: Communication, Adaptive, Reliable, Expert, and Solution-Driven.

Kayla wears many hats. She is the administrative services manager and also FMDC’s HR liaison. FMDC did not have an HR liaison for many years. It took a lot of determination, drive, meetings, establishing relationships, and hard work for Kayla to master this role. She communicates information to team members, has adapted to the department’s needs, and continues to get tasks done with a smile on her face and a great attitude.

Kayla has managed to get the FMDC team on the same page in many areas, including OA policy reminders, HireTrue internal forms, training opportunities, recruitment opportunities, informational one-pagers and brochures, contractor background checks, FMDC’s placemat and branding, and the new badge project. These are just a few of the items Kayla has provided a significant influence on.

Kayla is one of my favorite people to work with!”

Congratulations, Kayla!

“Felix is always so helpful and truly cares about whether his support to a person is sufficient. Recently, he knew that the support he provided to my unit would be key to other employees being able to use polling software during events. This could be senior leaders needing to conduct polls and, in some cases, could involve polling legislators. Felix made sure that all troubleshooting was done upfront so we would be successful when relying on his initial support regarding this issue.

Felix has helped out tremendously in multiple situations where I’ve needed assistance. He provides quick work. He is determined to get any situation resolved and never failed to fix a single problem that I’ve had. He is so helpful!”

Congratulations, Felix!

“Each and every time I reach out to Ashlei she’s quick in her response, even if she has to research it a bit and get back to me (which she always does). She’s friendly and just an all-around joy! She has been a tremendous help to me this month with all of the ENGAGE evaluation questions I’ve had. I greatly appreciate all she does. Ashlei CARES!”

“Ashlei is amazing. She is an expert at what she does. We rely on her expertise, but also her honesty when she doesn’t know the answer. She is always willing to find the answer by researching it, asking her peers, testing it, etc. She is very solution-driven. Her excellent customer service not only is an asset to OA, but statewide.”

Congratulations, Ashlei!

“Theressa is absolutely phenomenal! She consistently delivers beyond expectations. When she came into OA she hit the ground running and hasn’t slowed down one bit. She caught on quickly and immediately started seeking other areas to help out. I can’t even begin to describe the level of support she has provided to others outside her own division. She’s volunteered for other tasks, such as helping plan the Black History Month event. She handles every interaction professionally and follows through on all of her commitments. She is honest, upfront, and communicates the “why” in situations to create clear understanding. She listens actively and seeks to understand fully so she can respond to challenges in the best way possible. OA and the State is lucky to have her!”

Congratulations, Theressa!

“Charles has been instrumental in helping many team members in DOP. He is always quick to respond to a message, email, or voicemail. We have relied on him lately when onboarding team members are having difficulty explaining unique situations. The admin. team has him listed as an expert and he works hard to find a solution for us. Recently Julie [Schlup] had difficulty with a task for Missouri Leadership Academy. After going back and forth with ITSD and trying to find a solution we shared Charles’s name with her. We told her that if he doesn’t have the answer, he will tell her who the expert is to help. Five minutes later, Julie was taken care of. This solution not only affected her but the Governor’s Office as well. Charles is always solution- driven. The Division of Personnel appreciates everything he does for us!”

“I just wanted to say kudos, thanks, and props to Charles. He is always prompt, consistent and accurate in completing my user permission tickets which makes my job as a Tableau Admin. easier because I can give department customers accurate estimates of when they will have access to the data they need. Charles also consistently communicates when the ticket is completed in multiple ways (email and WebEx), on top of the ticket completion email, and is always personable, genuine and humorous in those communications, which makes working with him a pleasure. I truly appreciate his excellent customer service.”

Congratulations, Charles!

“Kelli is simply amazing! She has been a consistent support to our recruitment needs for several years. Not only are her final graphic products so good, she is a gem to work with. Very responsive, friendly, offers feedback, lets us be too picky…. I could go on and on. Our team loves working with her and looks forward to her help and support.

This has all been most recently demonstrated (again!) as we prepare to host another statewide hiring event. We have a variety of needs from social media, billboards, digital, banners, etc. It is all done FAST, with top quality and with a “can-do” attitude.

Another recent example is a “binder” of sorts we had to put together from DOP, to be shared with top leaders across the state. The needs for the project changed over time and Kelli was right there. She moved along with us, adjusting as needed. In this particular instance, she had MANY of us she was working with daily, for many days, many times a day! Never an ounce of frustration. Never a time when we didn’t feel like her top priority. Never a moment when I doubted taking the project to success. Kelli is one of the best people I have worked with – EVER.”

Congratulations, Kelli!

“Our office can present a business problem and they develop a solution and implement it. We have over 12,000 address changes for nurses that are renewing. We needed a way to pull out changes from nurses that have not renewed so we could do those changes first. I presented the business problem to Brad. He ran some code and provided the list. We had another business problem of nurses requesting inactive status but wanting the effective to be at the end of the current expiration date. These nurses would then complain that they were continuing to receive renewal reminders. Makes perfect sense from a technical perspective. We presented the business problem and Brad and Amy found a solution and implemented it. They are very knowledgeable about our systems, problem solvers, and critical thinkers.”

Congratulations, ITSD Team!

Chenoa was nominated for always going above and beyond to help others day in and day out. Recently, CARO had to deal with several circumstances out of their control. The team received a stipulation for settlement with only two days to be processed before they would have to pay interest on the settlement amount. Processing had to be rushed and, unfortunately, the recipient of the settlement was not active in SAM II. They needed to be in there immediately. The team directly reached out to Chenoa, who didn’t hesitate to help.

She was nominated by Heather McClure for completing everything CARO needed in a timely manner, then further assisting McClure and answering her questions. Chenoa not only went out of her way to help the team, but she did so in a meticulous manner to make sure everything went as planned.

“I would just like to thank Chenoa for all of her help, relieving some of my stress and anxiety in the situation, and saving the State of Missouri and our tax payer dollars by taking the time to get this task completed so quickly,” said McClure. “Thank you so much.”

Congratulations, Chenoa!

Marcy was nominated for her hand in helping several departments with their ETA processes. With the implementation of ERP, there was a need to have a Division of Personnel team member project code their time in ETA. Marcy helped the team set up the needed projects in SAM II. Later, there was also a need for a Budget & Planning team member to project code their time. This was a new process for that division as well, and Marcy did not hesitate to assist.

She was nominated by Jennifer Heinkel for her willingness to help, her positive attitude, and her excellent communication throughout the whole process. She talked to both divisions during the process, letting the teams know what was going on and the steps she took to create a solution to the issue.

“I’m glad we can count on an expert like Marcy who is willing to help out fellow divisions!” said Heinkel.

Congratulations, Marcy!

Amanda was nominated for going above and beyond to support OA team members. This is an everyday thing for her. Whenever you see Amanda, she is always in the process of making something better or working to help others in OA. Recently, she went above and beyond to help put together the OA Strikers team event. She also always does what she can to make sure people are cared for.

She was nominated by Alyssa Bish for her friendly personality, her hard work, and her caring attitude. When Bish took over as the Director of Personnel, Amanda worked to personally onboard Bish including helping her learn the ropes and make sure she had access to everything she would need.

“Amanda radiates positivity and is always there to help to ensure success,” said Bish. “We could not be team OA without her!”

Congratulations, Amanda!

Joshua was nominated for the type of worker he is. Not only is he dedicated to his role, but he is always willing to help others the moment he sees they are in need. He always drops everything when called. Josh has configured numerous switches and AP’s and shipped to the field for replacement. His attention to detail has made swapping out network equipment a painless experience. He makes everyone look good.

He was nominated by both Jerome Redding and Betty Skelton. Josh was the real hero recently for a DOC probation satellite office that struggled for years with a pitiful internet connection and no printing capability, often having to use their cell phone hotspots. When the first options were shot down due to cost, Josh came up with a plan B at a lower cost, coordinated everything with the ISP, shipped a router and switch ready to plug in, and worked again with the ISP when there was a glitch on their end during the install.

“Josh was a vital part of making that happen from listening to the initial complaints, researching options, configuring equipment, on down to the day we flipped the switch. Josh’s work shows that OA really does care!”

Congratulations, Joshua!

Amy was nominated for her willingness to always help others. She is the ultimate team player. When team members have questions, she is often the one they go to. Along with being a wealth of knowledge, Amy is the perfect person to help train new team members. She is kind, patient, and incredibly helpful.

She was nominated for her help with teaching Amanda Wilber the ins and outs of her new position. Wilber says that Amy is more than helpful to answer all of her questions, and is always willing to sit with her and go through various tasks as Wilber continues to learn.

“She has also been patient with me as I’m trying to learn everything, rather than acting annoyed or inconvenienced. I can’t explain how much I’ve appreciated her!” said Wilber.

Congratulations, Amy!

Bridget was nominated for her excellent communication, which is one of the pillars of the Office of Administration. Not only is it the first word in “CARES”, but it is also a goal that many team members hope to achieve. Bridget achieves this every single day. Most recently, she was an integral part of communication during the DOP remodel. She organized, communicated, and went above and beyond to make sure team members felt comfortable and in the loop with what was going on.

She was nominated by an anonymous team member for exemplifying all of the OA CARES core values of communication, adaptive, reliable, expert, and solution-driven. Bridget is both excellent as a worker and as a team member, as a whole.

“Everyone from our contractors to the janitorial staff was treated with respect,” the team member said. “She did her best to ensure minimal disruption for her team by being adaptive to the tasks ahead.”

Congratulations, Bridget!

There are many reasons while Paul Ridenour’s Capitol FMDC crew comes to mind when one thinks of OA CARES. However, this team, plus Brad Berendzen, Zach Russell and Leslie Wolfe were nominated thanks to all of the work they did in regards to the recent updates in the building. Specifically, the carpet and paint update and the kitchenette installation.

This team was nominated by Jessica Farley thanks to their hard work and can-do attitude of each and every team member. Not only was the team supportive of listening to ideas of those in the building, but they were also always open and willing to giving advice on the subject matter.

“Paul’s team worked with us to reconfigure our workstation by giving us knowledgeable advice and a can-do approach on our ideas along with their expertise in doing the installation,” said Farley. “With their advice, we were able to also update our kitchenette. We are so pleased with the total results!”

Congratulations, FMDC Capital Team!

Melody was nominated simply for the kind of person she is. In more ways than one, she is an excellent all-around person, friend, and teammate. No one can ever be in a conversation with Melody without her giving out kudos or praise to someone else and their successes or how they have helped her. However, it is not talked about enough how much she helps others. Not only does she work hard in her day-to-day job, but she is always the first person to boost up a teammate.

She was nominated by an anonymous person, but that just shows everyone how much she is loved in the department. Not only will she always make time for someone, but she will actively listen and is always willing to provide honest feedback in a respectful way.

“I have never met another person who has done so much to help others shine!” the nominator said.

Congratulations, Melody!

Laura was nominated for her ongoing hard work and reliability. Not only does she always know even the smallest aspect of her job, but she is always willing to help others who need it and become an expert overnight.

The MSECC is a one-person program, which means that during the campaign season when pledge cards are coming in, Leah Strid can get swamped. This year, many departments opted to return to paper pledge cards, which require more manual data entry. Laura Adamik stepped up and volunteered to help, which freed up Strid’s time to attend to other important campaign business. Laura quickly learned to navigate the MSECC application and how to enter the required data, and was able to flag small issues for Strid’s attention so they could be addressed.

“Her assistance helped me provide more up-to-date campaign numbers throughout the fall to make sure Departments knew where they stood in the rankings,” said Strid.

Congratulations, Laura!

Timmy was nominated for his selfless act of helping the Department of Social Services – Division of Youth Services (DYS) team on Christmas Eve. Around 4 p.m. that evening, the department received a call that there was a water leak and a flooding dorm at the Riverbend Treatment Center in St. Louis. Tim lived only 5 minutes away. Despite his son and grandchildren recently arriving to his house, Tim assisted with the situation.

He was nominated by Matthew Hursman. Timmy’s quick response time saved DYS issues with flooding and clients and FMDC with a bigger cleanup bill. Thanks to his efforts, DYS was able to ensure the safety of students and staff and FMDC’s repair bill was a lot smaller.

“This goes to show Tim’s dedication and serve to the state and its agencies,” said Hursman. “He could have easily let me respond since he is upper management. He took time away from his family on Christmas Eve and helped DYS and his staff.”

Congratulations, Timmy!

Robert was nominated thanks to his help with the iTrack Reverification process. He took it upon himself to streamline the process, which had previously been a manual, laborious, time-consuming task. With Robert’s improvements to the system it is a matter of scheduling the process through a calendar type setting.

He was nominated by Sherri Holland for going above and beyond his normal duties in order to help our state team members. Robert saw a need for improvement and got to work. Instead of two I.C. staff going through multiple screens in iTrack, then timing and making sure it was successful, Robert made it so the department only has to schedule the reverification and click ‘Save’.

“I cannot thank Robert enough for empowering the I.C. staff in working more efficiently,” said Holland. “We now have an even better tool for this required process of iTrack Reverification leading into the annual 5 Year Refresh.”

Congratulations, Robert!

Jerome was nominated for his hard work, prompt response time, and knowledge of all things ITSD. Most recently, the printer for one of the DOC departments went out. This was a very important issue, as the department frequently uses the printer for several aspects of their daily work. The IT report for the printer had been turned in at 2:45, and by the time it was 3:30 Jerome had already solved the problem.

He was nominated by Libby Martin, Kim Cherry, and Donna Rick thanks to his willingness to always help others and his ability to lead by following the example of “excellent customer service, every time.”

“Jerome has always been helpful when needed,” said Cherry. “His work ethics has been impeccable and very professional.”

Congratulations, Jerome!

Morgan was nominated because of his excellent job knowledge, as well as his willingness to always help others. On 7/1/2022, Lauren Johns’ HR team was preparing for new hire orientation, but they were running into technical difficulties. One of the DOP team members contacted Morgan and he immediately showed up to address the situation. Part of the team member experience is having a good onboarding and orientation experience. The DOP team was worried that this technology issue would negatively affect our new team members’ experience, but Morgan kept that from happening.

He was nominated by Johns and an anonymous person thanks to his work ethic, and his ability to exemplify every single OA CARES core value: Communication, Adaptable, Reliable, Expert, and Solution-driven.

“I believe Morgan truly cares about getting the job done well and taking care of his fellow OA team members,” said the anonymous team member.

Congratulations, Morgan!

On October 7th, the Fletcher Daniels State Office Building had a water main break outside the building. FMDC Staff Gerald White and Sabrina Mack cleared the area of staff and tried to keep as much water out of the building as possible. ITSD team member, Dan Jones, ran through a few inches of water to grab a user’s laptop just before a window broke, flooding the office suite. FMDC staff Jamie Fergison starting making calls for repairs, while Fletcher Daniels Housekeeper Edward Nichols pushed gallons of water down the hall and stairs to a floor drain in the basement for hours to keep the water away from other suites.

Once the area was deemed safe to enter, ITSD staff Nicholas Ogbevoen, Pius Omeife and Daniel Jones arrived to remove all equipment from the area while FMDC staff Gerald White, Sabrina Mack and Matthew Hursman packed up staff member’s personal belongings so could begin cleanup. In a very short amount of time the area was emptied and demo started in this office suite. Over the holiday weekend, several FMDC team members onsite so Servpro could have access to the building to continue cleanup. By October 11, a temporary location was set up.

Thank you to Gerald White, Sabrina Mack, Dan Jones, Jamie Ferguson, Nicholas Ogbevoen, Pius Omeife, Matthew Hursman, Joe Cisewski, Tiffany Boyles, Steven Mahnken, and Nathan Ethridge!

Bailey was nominated for going above and beyond in her daily work. Recently, the State Recycling Program had a discrepancy with a contractor over a couple of invoices. The invoices had been paid, but the contractor’s records did not reflect that these had been paid. After going back and forth with the contractor, Rob Didriksen reached out to the Missouri Buys team for assistance. Bailey promptly responded with a clear explanation of the problem. Bailey then sent a separate email to the contractor explaining the problem and how they could fix it.

She was nominated by Didriksen for exemplifying the OA CARES core values of communication, adaptive, reliable, expert, and solution-driven.

“Bailey took ownership of the problem and quickly informed each of the stakeholders about the problem and how to fix it,” said Didriksen. “I appreciate the great customer service!”

Congratulations, Bailey!

Jennie was nominated for constantly being willing to provide solutions to ongoing problems, as well as new ones. With the pricing instability in the auto industry, General Services’ traditional vehicle contracting mechanisms are not working right now. State agencies need a reliable contract to acquire fleet vehicles. Jennie and her colleagues in the Division of Purchasing came through in a big way and offered up a solution to use a Qualified Vendor List that will give all state agencies the flexibility they need to acquire vehicles until such time that the auto industry stabilizes and General Services can return to regular annual contracts.

She was nominated by Cindy Dixon for her amazing attitude, excellent customer service, and the hard work she put in to finding a solution.

“Jennie exhibited all of the OA CARES core values to bring us a new solution and worked diligently until to get it done in a timely manner,” said Dixon. “The team in General Services greatly appreciates all of Jennie’s efforts. Thank you!”

Congratulations, Jennie!

Nathan was nominated for his hard work and reliability each and every day. Recently, Mental Health was working to bring in a cloud-based electronic health record system to transition away from paper charting. It was one of the largest transformative projects the agency has undertaken. To pave the way for the project, the team has been working to upgrade infrastructure. They are installing over 1100 wireless access points across 15 different campuses. Nate has worked tirelessly, often delaying other tasks, to make site visits, create predictive designs, provide expert advice, push through purchases, pivot to new facilities, and stay in constant communication to keep the project moving forward.

He was nominated by Mike Moran for the major help he has been on the project, as well as his excellent organizational skills.

“It’s not easy juggling all the tasks but Nate always does so with a smile,” said Moran. “He truly shows he cares every time he picks up a project.”

Congratulations, Nathan!

Casey was nominated because he is always quick to respond to others when they need his help. He is always prompt and polite while he works. But he also engages the people around him while he works, making them feel like humans. A number of times, MVDL Division office has needed something done in a hurry and was never able to get an answer on who was working on our tickets. They would call Casey for help and he was always able to either provide information or help with issues.

He was nominated by Felicite Plemmons, Amanda Morris, and Candace Buford of DOR thanks to his excellent work ethic.

“We just wanted to say thank you to Casey for always helping us out,” said Buford.

Congratulations, Casey!

Nathan was nominated for always going above and beyond in his work. Most recently, he worked to obtain cost-effective items for the Division of Personnel. This required talking to many different people, while trying to obtain everything on a tight budget. This is not only difficult, but time consuming.

He was nominated by Rebecca Bondurant due to his hard work and excellent attitude every single day.

“Nathan is the employee that represents the values of OA Cares,” said Bondurant.

Congratulations, Nathan!

Dipendra was nominated for his constant great attitude at work and his ability to always put a smile on everyone’s face. He is the person many people refer to as dependable and excellent at what they do. Dipendra has fully committed to ITSD-DESE this past year and learned the skills that a technical BA must have to support this large database workload, which shows he is adaptable. He took on learning this while still completing his regular duties, then trained other staff so that we had a bench of employees to be able to do the work.

He was nominated by Angie Anderson for truly exemplifying the OA CARES values of Communication, Reliable, Expert, and Solution-Driven.

“Every month, I ask employees to submit Kudos for their team members for our monthly all staff meeting, and each month Dipendra’s name is on that list,” said Anderson.

Congratulations, Dipendra!

The Surplus Property Team was nominated for a variety of reasons, including excellent communication, knowledge of their job, and excellent work. Recently, Brenda Luadzers began to work with the computerized system of surplus property. Brenda worked with several team members to become familiarized. Not only was the team helpful, but they were quick to respond and always happy to help.

The Surplus Property Team was nominated by Luadzers for being great examples of the ideal OA team members.

“I am impressed with the staff. They got me started immediately, answered my questions right away, and the items they had on hand were organized and easily accessible,” said Luadzers. “They made this process simple and quick for me.”

Congratulations, Surplus Property Team!

Kelly was nominated thanks to her work with several complicated and somewhat “messy” procurements, and numerous simple ones, for the SOS Office. Besides an obviously cast-iron work ethic, she seems to have a genuine aptitude for the complex, and often frustrating, work of public procurement. Most importantly, she understands customer service.

She was nominated by John Stegmann for her professionalism and calmness under fire. Not only is she excellent at her job, but she is always patient with her customers.

“Any work can be learned, but a patient demeanor and a servant’s heart are innate and rare,” said Stegmann. “I believe if there is an individual deserving of an OA Cares award for excellent customer service, it is most certainly Kelly Miller of OA Purchasing.”

Congratulations, Kelly!

Amanda was nominated thanks to her hard work and dedication every single day. Recently, she directed and executed the first ever OA Supervisor foundations trainings for 380 supervisors. Using OA QPS data and focus groups, she identified specific leadership training supervisors were wanting. She created a leadership summit covering Coaching and Mentoring, Preventing Harassment, and Respecting Diversity, as well as curated content/coordinated speakers for several virtual trainings.

She was nominated by Alyssa Bish due to the tremendous effort she put in to this event. It was wildly successful and popular amongst many OA supervisors!

“Thank you Amanda for thinking outside the box on how to invest in our team, improve communication between supervisors and team members, and create a better working environment!” said Bish. “I couldn’t be more proud of Amanda for her above and beyond work and positive attitude. We are lucky to have her on team DOP!”

Congratulations, Amanda!

Bonita was nominated for her work ethic and knowledge when it comes to all aspects of her job. . If the team works late, she works late. When working on a project, Bonita takes charge. She is always willing to go above and beyond on a day-to-day basis.

She was nominated by Devon Christensen and Angela Anderson for giving 150 percent all the time. If a problem is detected in a project, Bonita can look back at her notes and point to the step that created the issue. She shares her notes with the team so they can also track the progress of the project, and they are on display at every meeting.

“Expert is an understatement when it comes to Bonita’s knowledge of DESE’s application. She has even taken on the role of putting together architecture documentation because it had to be done and she knows the most about the systems,” said Anderson. “What she doesn’t know she goes in search of and doesn’t stop until she gets there.”

Congratulations, Bonita!

Garrett Bommel was nominated because of his excellent dedication to always giving his customers a good experience. He often helps with setup of audio and visuals in a variety of rooms when people are presenting, and he and his team have always worked hard to do it in a precise and timely manner.

He was nominated by George Welling for being kind and easy to work with, while also always being efficient. Recently, he went above and beyond to help out with finding a solution for equipment during a weekly intern meeting when nothing worked – he tore it down and reworked everything!

“I appreciate him, and his willingness to find a resolution so I was then able to present it to ITSD’s Interns,” said Welling.

Congratulations, Garrett!

Chris was nominated thanks to everything he has done for the people of OA. Recently, he worked to make sure everyone had an excellent Team Member Appreciation Month. He planned and coordinated food truck opportunities, and found solutions so people outside of Jefferson City could enjoy many activities as well.

He was nominated by an anonymous person who wanted to show their support for someone who is often behind the scenes, but deserves recognition.

“He was vocal about showing appreciation to team members outside of Jefferson City and made it a priority to find ways to expand the activities. Because he is consistently behind the camera he is not often ‘seen,’ but behind the scenes stuff isn’t easy, and he does a great job executing events seamlessly.”

Congratulations, Chris!

Melissa was nominated for her hard work and dedication when it comes to helping others. Recently, she was helping Rob Didriksen to establish a contract to purchase recycling equipment. Throughout the entire process, she communicated regularly about the status of the contract.

She was nominated by Rob Didriksen for her excellent customer service and willingness to share her knowledge with others. She shared her procurement expertise to help determine the most efficient path to setting up a contract.

“We were able to utilize an existing contract through Sourcewell, which saved a great deal of time!” said Didriksen.

Congratulations, Melissa!

The OA Personnel/ITSD/B&P Cross-Divisional Team on the Pay plan was nominated for the hard work that went into making the historic supplemental pay plan happen. The effort of everyone involved lead to meaningful impact for all 50,000 state team members across all 16 executive branch departments, the six statewide elected officials’ offices, as well as the legislative and judicial branches of state government.

Weekends and late nights were worked to ensure everyone had timely feedback and didn’t have to troubleshoot issues themselves. Not only did this work impact all 50,000 state team members, but all involved exemplified the core OA values day-in and day-out.

“Communication was timely with all customers, individuals adapted their own schedules and work approach to accommodate the various needs of departments/branches, they were reliable where no balls were dropped in their regular duties in addition to pay plan implementation, they were experts doing something that had never been done before with no blue print, and they were solution focused when they hit obstacles.”

Congratulations OA Personnel/ITSD/B&P Cross-Divisional Team on the Pay Plan!

Carla was nominated for her reliability and expertise. She always responds in a timely manner and constantly exceeds expectations. Recently, she worked with DOLIR on a project that she assured could be done in about a week’s timeframe. She came to the DOLIR building to work with staff members and completed the project in the short time period.

She was nominated by Maura Browning for her hard work and efforts to help the DOLIR team on an important project.

“She came through in the clutch and I appreciated her great attitude and willingness to work with us,” said Browning.

Congratulations, Carla!

Chris was nominated for his expertise in all areas of his job. He is the go-to person for many people when they have questions concerning various aspects of the procurement process. He is always friendly and open to giving team members and customers the answers they seek.

He was nominated by Tiffanie Meyer for his willingness to always teach others. He never minds taking a moment to pause what he is doing, share his screen, and help someone learn.

“Chris will drop what he’s doing, share his screen, show you what you asked about, then show you even more options that you didn’t know about, and follow up with an email with the links he described to you,” said Meyer.

Congratulations, Chris!

Julie was nominated by multiple people for her outstanding work. Recently, she made the Governor’s Award for Quality and Productivity Ceremony look effortless, despite the very complicated process involved in putting it together. She also provides immense support for the Missouri Leadership Academy and the Governor’s Awards and Recognition Program.

She was nominated by both Karen Miller and Alyssa Bish for all of her hard work, and excellent work ethic.

“In June alone Julie has orchestrated 2 classes of leadership academy, 2 statewide awards ceremonies, she will be presenting a live virtual training on recognition, and she oversaw the implementation of the MO Appreciation website,” said Bish. “Julie does all of her work with a smile and makes it all look effortless.”

Congratulations, Julie!

Roberta “Bobbie” burns was nominated for exemplifying the OA CARES core values on a daily basis. To name just a few, she has continued to communicate clearly and effectively with all of the janitorial contractors, had dealt impressively with an ever-changing schedule and adapting to it, and she is the epitome of expertise.

Bobbie was nominated by her supervisor Amber Willis for being a fantastic employee who is always willing to help others.

“Bobbie is by far the epitome of what a Custodial Supervisor should be,” said Willis. “She is an expert at her job and is highly valued as a mentor by her peers and supervisors.”

Congratulations, Bobbie!

Tim was nominated for his hard work and expertise in all areas of his job. Not only does he have excellent customer service, but he works hard to make sure that everything is completed in a timely manner.

He was nominated by George Welling, after Welling needed help with a ticket. Tim fulfilled it in a timely manner, as well as provided Welling with several backups for his lost item.

“I am not sure what Tim’s title was, but now it is Wizard,” Welling said. “He needs a purple wizard hat with moons on it now.”

Congratulations, Tim!

Tiffanie was nominated for her excellent customer service. Recently, Rob Didriksen reached out to her regarding an IT-related procurement. Not only did she respond quickly on a Friday afternoon, but she also spent thirty minutes on the phone to address Didriksen’s questions.

Didriksen nominated her thanks to her hard work and great attitude. She is always willing to help, even when it is close to the end of the day. She always puts others first and is incredibly knowledgeable.

“Her professionalism and helpful attitude exemplify the OA Cares spirit!” said Didriksen.

Congratulations, Tiffanie!

The Surplus Property Team was nominated for their constant hard work. The team helps out organization around the state every year. However, the team went beyond their regular duties this year in helping out the homeless in Springfield and St. Louis.

While operating the Federal Donation Program, MOSASP obtains property from around the country, which is then brought to Missouri and transferred for minimal fees. New Life Evangelistic Center, an organization that feeds and provides items for the homeless, is an organization that utilizes Surplus Property. When needing sleeping bags, coats, scarves, and tents, the team at Surplus was able to search around the United States for surplus items and bring them back so that New Life was able to use these items to help those less fortunate. Hundreds of people have benefited from this act as the team used their resources to help those most vulnerable. Furthermore, two team members went down to Springfield to help hand out these items, which were graciously and humbly received.

Congratulations, Surplus Property Team!

Melissa was nominated for her reliability and always going above and beyond to make herself available. Recently, she has even made herself available on vacation days and days where she has taken personal vacation.

She was nominated by Mike Zielinski for her hard work and willingness to always put others before herself.

“We recently had to let our staff work from home because of the odor from the epoxy on the flooring,” said Zielinski. “Melissa helped mitigate with the flooring provider to make sure the next bathroom didn’t release this odor. This allowed our staff to work in the office.”

Congratulations, Melissa!

Leann was nominated for being the go-to person for the Administrative Hearing Commission on all matters related to HR or Personnel. She has been incredibly knowledgeable and helpful, going above and beyond to teach others about how to do things in her area of expertise. She always acts professionally and responds in a timely manner.

She was nominated by Spencer Bartlett for exemplifying the OA CARES core values.

“I don’t know how we would have survived and operated efficiently without LeAnn’s support and guidance,” said Bartlett. “She is a trusted teammate and we appreciate all that she does for us.”

Congratulations, Leann!

Glynne was nominated for her help on a recent merger during a DOC reorganization project. It has been a major undertaking and Glynne has played a huge part in making sure everything runs smoothly. She has been the ITSD facilitator for all of the recent mergers. Each and every time, she walks the staff through the process and ensures everything is completed properly and in a timely manner.

She was nominated by John Mosley for her strong work ethic and excellent customer service.

“Ms. Strube’s dedication, attention to detail, and unwavering customer service through this journey has been more than we could ever have expected,” said Mosley. “It is my sincere hope Ms. Strube be recognized for her contributions and service.”

Congratulations, Glynne!

Lori was nominated for her excellent customer service. She is always friendly, responsive, and helpful when interacting with people. She is even patient when customers have questions. Recently, she helped migrate the MSECC website to WordPress.

She was nominated by Leah Strid for her help with the MSECC website and her patience and reliability while working on the project.

“Not only does she fix problems, but she always explains how they happened and how I can fix them myself in the future,” Strid said. “When I email Lori with a problem, I know I can rely on her to provide a solution quickly, no matter how small or large the issue is.”

Congratulations, Lori!

Mike was nominated for above and beyond work to reach out and help when needed. Recently, Jessica Farley took a position in B&P involving dealing with SAM II security forms. When she submitted a request for a new user for SAM II, Mike reached out and explained how the ID system works, as well as RACF IDs and what steps needed to be taken.

He was nominated by Farley for being the perfect example of the OA CARES core values of Communication, Adaptive, Reliable, Expert, and Solution-Driven. He was both incredibly knowledgeable and communication-driven while helping Farley.

“He gave me more information on security IDs in one day than I have gotten in 5 years,” said Farley. “He took time to not simply answer my questions but also look outside my question and help me clean up outstanding issues I was not aware of that existed for our agency. Because of the time he took with me, I feel much more confident in my role with SAMII security forms for our staff.”

Congratulations, Mike!

Anthony was nominated for demonstrating the core values of OA CARES: Communication, Adaptive, Reliable, Expert, and Solution-Driven. Though being a fairly new team member, he has continued to show his reliability. Most recently, he reached out to a vendor to verify information to change banking information. While in communication, he realized the request may have been fraudulent and reported it.

He was nominated by his supervisor Justina Brewer for his excellent communication and reliability when following OA protocol.

“Anthony’s reliability in following procedures, and his communication with the vendor to make sure we have correct information for that vendor, demonstrates he is a valuable member of our team,” said Brewer.

Congratulations, Anthony!

The ITSD video team was nominated for its constant high performance while serving all state agencies and the Governor’s Office. Despite being a small team, they work as if they are made up of dozens. They often get requests, including from the Governor’s Office with minimal notice. They quickly adapt their schedules and show up anywhere, anytime whether that’s days, nights, or weekends.

They were nominated by Sara Libbert for their reliability and constant quality work.

“They are truly experts in their area, providing quality expertise to not only the Governor’s Office but to all state agency requests,” said Libbert. “Their commitment to excellence is truly admirable. Internally, they often provide quality video expertise to OA and ITSD. We love having this team and their expertise to help us promote initiatives and new ideas.”

Congratulations, ITSD Video Team!

Brandon was nominated for his quick and reliable work. He is always responsive when requests are submitted, and always makes sure his work is accurate and precise. He exemplifies the OA CARES values, specifically “reliable” and “expert.”

He was nominated by Liz McDermit, AJ Womack, and the ITSD admin team for his excellent customer service.

“Brandon is timely, reliable and accurate,” said one of his nominators. “I am given a multitude of request from leadership across all state agencies to be given access to the many dashboards that Personnel generates. Leaders are expecting quick turnaround and I know if I ask Brandon for help he will quickly and reliably grant access.”

Congratulations, Brandon!

Michael was nominated for exemplifying the OA CARES core values of Communication, Adaptive, Reliable, Expert, and Solution-Driven. He is always in constant communication with those he is working with and is flexible to accommodate others’ needs. Not only is he well-versed in all of the tasks he does, but he goes above and beyond to reach solutions when needed.

He was nominated by Tynesha Hardin for his excellent communication and customer service.

“Not only does he find solutions to our issues quickly, he even teaches us while doing it,” said Hardin. “He explains how he will fix our issue, what he needs from me to get it done, and explains a little more in detail to me—knowing I was interested.”

Congratulations, Michael!

Betty was nominated for going above and beyond her normal duties to help others. Recently, she has helped with the Stoddard County Probation Office merger, aiding in computer issues and other tech issues that came up. She has also helped team members with phone issues when they needed to work from home during inclement weather.

She was nominated by Roxanne Cook and Tcheanina Watkins for her excellent customer service and timely responses.

“I called our IT Help Desk and they attempted to help me, but said they couldn’t do anything unless I went to the office,” said one of the nominators. “Our supervisor sent an email to Betty asking her to call my personal cell phone to see if she could help me. She called in a very timely manner and was so helpful. She went through all the possibilities and was so nice. She never once made me feel like it was my lack of knowledge and broke things down simple so I could do what needed to be done.”

Congratulations, Betty!

Nicole was nominated for her willingness to always go above and beyond to provide excellent customer service. She is always the first to jump in when it comes to projects, specifically hiccups involving getting new employees set up. She finds the solutions quickly and accurately.

She was nominated by Nikki Roark for all of her help. Nikki is a member of the admin team for ITSD, which has taken over the new team member set up process. Because of the new hiring changes, there has been frequent issues that Nicole always helps with.

“She doesn’t ever seem to be overwhelmed by the constant chaos of our demanding needs for things to happen ‘right now’ and she does it with a smile every single time!” said Roark. “Our team is very grateful for her positive attitude and all of her hard work!”

Congratulations, Nicole!

Mike was nominated for his constant hard work and problem solving. He never stops when there is a problem to be fixed. Recently, there was a hiccup with the Time Clock Plus, causing SAM II to reject 80% of the DMH Facilities CPER file. This meant staff would not get paid if the issue was not resolved before SAM II went down for monthly payroll processing. Mike quickly researched the issue and found that TCP included three days from the prior payroll period on the current file, so SAM II rejected those transactions. He ended up manually updating the files.

He was nominated by Cynthia Hassler for exemplifying the OA CARES values every day.

“When it comes to serving DMH, Mike Moran’s middle name is CARES. He repeatedly works to make sure that DMH staff have what they need and that their processes work,” said Hassler.

Congratulations, Mike!

Donna was nominated for her excellent customer service. She is always ready to help when needed, and always has a smile on her face. Recently, she worked on a critical payroll issue that had occurred. In the matter of an hour of learning about the problem, she had details and ideas to help remedy the situation.

Donna was nominated by both Lee Hogue and George Welling for her constant availability, hard work, and great attitude.

“Donna is always willing to help in any way she can. She is a great example of more than one core value. Off the top of my head, C communication, always responding as quickly as she can. A adaptive by always being flexible to help her customers and tying to always improve. R reliable, knowing if and when I have an issue needing HR’s help i can go to her and she will figure out a solution. Those are just a few.”

Congratulations, Donna!

Lisa was nominated for her reliability. She is always available when needed, and constantly goes above and beyond what is asked of her. She exemplifies the OA CARES values of reliable and expert, as well as being solution-driven when needed.

She was nominated by Shelley Hughey for being the perfect example of OA CARES.

“She provides outstanding customer service!” said Hughey. “She always goes above and beyond to find the answer to my SAMII questions. Lisa is what all employees should strive to become.”

Congratulations, Lisa!

Andrew was nominated for his exceptional customer service. He has continued to excel in his customer service since OA CARES was even a thought. Recently, he helped an employee that had been approved to work remotely. He was contacted to help with finding a charger for the employee’s computer, and had solved the problem within an hour.

He was nominated by Aaron Stalter for his hard work and reliability.

“Andrew doesn’t provide exceptional customer service for recognition or expecting a favor in return,” said Stalter. “He does this because he is just a flat-out good dude.”

Congratulations, Andrew!

Robert was nominated for his constant hard work and taking the initiative. Rob Didriksen was on the way to the Truman cafeteria and saw Robert digging through a paper recycling container in the fourth floor conference room area. Robert had taken the initiative to remove a large amount of nasty food waste from a luncheon that was hosted the day before. He noted there was food waste in the recycling container and then he did something about it.

Robert was nominated by Didriksen for taking the initiative and making sure the “buck stops here.”
“Contamination of recyclable materials is one of the top challenges we face with recycling and Robert solved this problem on the spot,” Said Didriksen. “His actions likely prevented over 200 pounds of paper from going to the landfill.”

Congratulations, Robert!

The ITSD-Unified Communications Team was nominated for being a vital part of the DHSS hotline. Recently, the hotline has seen a large call volume after opening up vaccine registration. The team has helped to create an outbound caller and creative prompt system to help route callers to the correct region based on zip code.

The team was nominated by Lee Pearson for their vital work and constant willingness to help.

“They are vital assets to Missouri,” said Pearson.

Congratulations, ITSD-Unified Communications Team!

Beth was nominated for her hard work and reliability. When Alyssa Bish called two minutes before 5 p.m., Beth picked up and stayed on for about 45 minutes to help. This was all done on her personal time, as Beth’s shift was over. However, she continued to help until the problem was resolved despite not needing to.

She was nominated by Bish for the help given when it was needed and going above and beyond to do so.

“Beth was kind, made me feel as if I was the only person in the world who mattered, and was patient through the entire process,” said Bish. “I would not have been able to complete my work for the week without her help.”

Congratulations, Beth!

Robert was nominated for exemplifying the OA CARES core values of expert and reliable, as well as his constant great attitude when helping others. He approaches every day with an attitude befitting of an OA CARES award winner. His customers not only love him, but he has constantly shown that he can adapt to the needs of others.

He was nominated by several people: Angie Anderson, Brenda Kissenger and Brenda Hentges.

“Robert’s customers love him and for good reason,” said Anderson. “OA CARES is his everyday approach to interacting with them. With Microsoft Access’s exit from existence coming very soon and the very intricate applications that Division of Labor Standards had built for them using Access databases years ago by a skilled coder and the very small budget that they work with, Robert has to be very adaptive and solution-driven to begin to move DLS off of access and to maintain what is already there while we work to move them off.”

Congratulations, Robert!

Amanda was nominated for her hard work and constantly being in good spirits. In addition to her primary duties, Amanda has been asked to provide backup support to other programs in the division. She has consistently provided outstanding support to numerous programs within the division. Teammates know when Amanda is asked to do something, she will get it done.

She was nominated by Rob Didriksen for her reliability.

“I know when I ask Amanda for assistance that it will get done and not require any follow up. When managing numerous projects it is really helpful to have this level of reliability,” said Didriksen. “Another of Amanda’s great qualities is that she is not afraid to ask questions when she doesn’t understand something. Asking questions is such an important part of communication that often gets overlooked.”

Congratulations, Amanda!

Russell was nominated for his hard work and perseverance while trying to help customers and solving issues. Recently, he helped when various people were having their mainframe sessions drop after coming back from a break. He exhausted all of his troubleshooting steps and persevered to work with agency staff members to finally determine the issue.

Russell was nominated by David Statler for his excellent customer service.

“Russell has demonstrated time and again of going beyond his sphere of duty in order to help customers and solve issues,” said Statler.

Congratulations, Russell!

Lindsey was nominated for her positive attitude and her knowledge at all things job-related. She is the perfect candidate for OA CARES. Her work is often detailed and requires a significant amount of coordination with different parties, all while completing it in a timely manner. A recent example is with the Kofax upgrades. Lindsey coordinated the build of the new server with SDC and worked with them to get the DB2 connections set up and tested, while also working with several others on the project.

She was nominated by Angie Anderson for her reliability and hard work on all projects she completes.

“Lindsey is the kind of team member that makes people happy to come to work. She knows her job so well,” said Anderson. “She is always happy to help and does her work so efficiently and quietly in the background it makes it look easy. It’s not easy.”

Congratulations, Lindsey!

Nicoshia was nominated for being a primary support in planning an on-sire hiring event for the Division of Youth Services. Her job in aiding DSS has been instrumental, and she has consistently displayed OA CARES core values during her work. Not only has she been patient, professional, approachable and efficient, but she has quickly and accurately continued to address questions and needs.

She was nominated by both Courtney hall and Beverly Struemph for her hard work.

“While she has almost solely worked with Courtney Hall, I have heard Courtney share many positive remarks about Nicoshia’s help,” said Struemph. “I had the opportunity to work directly with Nicoshia this week and could immediately identify what a wonderful asset she is. She was approachable, professional, helpful, and her focus was on addressing any challenges we faced. Nice work, nice reflection on OA and thank you for making our work easier.”

Congratulations, Nicoshia!

Grayson was nominated for his hard work, reliability, and vast knowledge when working with team members. He has been working to develop a dashboard for Leah Strid’s agency coordinators to use throughout the MSECC campaign to track pledges from the agency employees. He has had great knowledge when using Tableau software, but has also continuously explored new options to find what is best suited for the campaign and its dashboards.

He was nominated by Strid for his excellent work and reliability.

“When he tells me an update will be made, I never have to worry, as he is reliable and dependable to a fault,” said Strid. “He has exceeded my expectations in terms of the services we are able to offer, and has been instrumental in assisting the MSECC continue to adapt to changing conditions.”

Congratulations, Grayson!

John was nominated for going above and beyond to help Jessica Farley’s agency when they were scheduled for a computer refresh. Each laptop had specific software used within the office, as well as different uses. This was a project Farley had been dreading, as each laptop would have to be separately worked on. However, John took the time to make sure each laptop contained the software and apps that were individually needed.

He was nominated by Farley for his help with the laptop project, as well as his excellent communication during the project.

“We communicated daily for nearly 2 weeks on what the plan was for the next day, the next week, the next laptop,” said Farley. “I know firsthand how hard it can be to be assigned to a comprehensive project while still maintaining daily issues that arise. John communicated when things were being delayed because of his other commitments. He made expert recommendations as needed. He maintained friendliness and courtesy at all times.”

Congratulations, John!

Sharon was nominated for her constant dedication to her work and always going above and beyond to provide the best services possible. She first showed her outstanding service in 2017 while helping with MOPlants. She worked with third-party vendors and kept everything running smoothly. She has also continued to deliver functionality, which has helped to better serve citizens and businesses.

She was nominated by John Brunnert for her reliability and constant availability to help with anything thrown Brunnert’s way.

“Sharon is an essential part of our Plant Industries team and deserves recognition for the success she brings,” said Brunnert. “We are grateful.”

Congratulations, Sharon!

The OA Insider team was nominated for exemplifying the meaning of OA CARES: Communications, Adaptive, Reliable, and Solution-Driven. The newsletter and coinciding newscast were developed around the time of the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when communication needs were at an all-time high. Thanks to the Insider, team members now get monthly updated information about what has happened in the department, milestones, and celebrations.

The OA Insider Team was nominated by Karen Enlow for helping everyone stay informed.

“The articles are well written and informative,” said Enlow. “I especially love the variety of articles and that all divisions are featured. I was pleased to see my B&P colleague Matt Hesser featured in the March newsletter. I know how hard Matt and his team works, but now so does everyone else.”

Congratulations OA Insider Team!

Jeff was nominated for his unrelenting commitment to the OA-FMDC mission and the OA CARES core values. One year ago, the Specialized Trades Supervisor assigned to the School for the Deaf retired. Jeff accepted the responsibility as the supervisor within the maintenance department, always seeking extra responsibility and taking on the hardest task. He constantly displays strong technical knowledge and excellent support daily, using his knowledge to solve complex problems and maximizing resources.

He was nominated by Mitch Rogge for his strong work ethic and being a pillar of support for others.

“Jeff is an inspiring motivator and trainer always willing to support others within the department,” said Rogge. “He is a superb organizer, always planning and prioritizing wisely and with great foresight he constantly develops and processes improvements and efficiencies.”

Congratulations, Jeff!

Amanda was nominated for her reliability and constantly stepping up when needed. She stepped into the ENGAGE Change Champion meeting facilitator role following Becca Baylor’s departure, and she has continued to set a comfortable and conversational tone for meetings despite being new to the role. She has encouraged productive dialogue and continues to work hard to get better and make others better along with her.

She was nominated by Darlene Fritz for her hard work and reliability.

“I admire her incredible knowledge and spirit of customer service in supporting both MO Learning and TMTP,” said Fritz. “She has added a new layer of admiration for the great job she is doing supporting the ENGAGE Change Champions!”

Congratulations, Amanda!

Gloria was nominated for continuously demonstrating OA CARES values. During the past year, Gloria took on additional workload due to staff departures, applying her wealth of knowledge and expertise to a number of additional projects. ITSD is in the middle of a multi-year software project for DOC’s MOCIS application. Gloria has taken ownership of additional modules, helping with documentation and software testing beyond her primary responsibilities. She has identified and provided documentation for dozens of software issues that need to be completed, communicating the business needs, details of test case failures, and in many cases potential solutions for the developers to pursue.

She was nominated by Kurt Brewer for always being around when needed, and for exemplifying what it means to follow OA CARES values: communication, adaptive, reliable, expert, and solution-driven.

“Gloria’s reliability and adaptability is critical to keeping the MOCIS project and the ongoing application support tasks on track,” said Brewer. “She has taken on numerous additional duties.”

Congratulations, Gloria!

Olawale was nominated for going above and beyond his daily duties, both in the office and outside of the office. Specifically, he was nominated for his recent act of good will. Olawale had a friend who was concerned about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, but Olawale helped his friend ease that concern. At the time, Olawale was wearing an “I’ve Been Vaccinated” shirt provided by DMH. DMD Director, Mark Stringer, went on to give Olawale as many shirts as he needed to help aid in getting others vaccinated.

Olawale was nominated by Phil Reed for his caring nature and willingness to always help others, no matter the situation.

“Wale is a remarkable person,” said Reed. “He also sponsors children from his home country Nigeria who are in need. He brings them to United States and pays for food/housing/clothing/education so they can have a better life.”

Congratulations, Olawale!

Craig was nominated for his sheer ingenuity and determination to provide the best possible service and get the job done. A decision was made the first of May for the Department of Social Services to move out of a leased building in New Madrid to a vacant, state-owned building that had been a residential facility. The site had only accommodated a few offices and needed to be prepared for staff to move in by June 30th – barely six weeks for a total remodel. Through sheer ingenuity and dogged determination, Craig came up with a plan, set up a second data room and found a way to cross that vaulted ceiling to connect the network.

He was nominated by Betty Skelton for the large role he played in aiding DSS with their move to a new office space.

“This job should have taken several months to complete, but leases and money were involved so there was an urgent need to make this happen,” said Skelton. “We went from feeling that the structure of the building made this impossible – to having the work completed and staff moved in less than six weeks.”

Congratulations, Craig!

Teresa was nominated for her constant hard work and going above and beyond her required responsibilities. On June 25th, CARO received a large stipulation for compromised settlement for an injured employee. This was the last day that payments could be made for the current fiscal year. Vendor input forms were send over on June 23rd to have the injured employee and their attorney added to SAM II, but no one had heard anything back. Teresa went out of her way to locate the documents that had been sent and to expedite the process so the parties would be in SAM II.

She was nominated by Heather McClure for the help she gave to expedite the process so that the settlement could be processed that afternoon.

“She very easily could have said it would be processed in the order it was received or that it was in someone else’s work queue, but she took the time to find it and saved the day,” said McClure.

Congratulations, Teresa!

Kelsey was nominated for exemplifying the values of OA CARES, specifically when working on an RFP for recycling services. Kelsey was able to quickly grasp a rather involved bid and make suggestions that simplified and cleaned-up language in the RFP. At each step through the process, she clearly communicated what she needed.