By Mary Jo Frank
Five staff members were honored at the second annual Business and Finance Distinguished Staff Award ceremony and dinner Nov. 8 at the Oxford Conference Center.
Those honored for unusual and exemplary service to the University and for outstanding achievements in their work were Judy Ash, administrative associate, Purchasing and Stores; Jimmy Hieber, custodian; Gordon Peters, heavy equipment mechanic; Tom Przybylski, foreman in maintenance services and renovations in zone maintenance; and Richard Throne, senior purchasing agent-minority vendors program, Purchasing and Stores.
The Business and Finance Distinguished Staff Award includes a plaque and a cash award. It is designed to recognize “the indispensable contribution that staff make to the University’s success, and to support and reward outstanding efforts on the part of individual staff members,” according to Farris W. Womack, executive vice president and chief financial officer.
Ash, who joined the University 25 years ago as a purchasing clerk, was nominated by Robert E. Russell, assistant director of Purchasing and Stores. Her nomination was supported by letters from University Mail Service, Payroll, Travel Services and colleagues within her department.
“Purchasing and Stores depends on her dedication, reliability, focused performance and friendly style of accomplishment,” according to Russell.
Ash has “solid knowledge of the intricate inner workings of Personnel, Financial Operations, Purchasing and Payroll and she very effectively maintains relationships with these departments. She has the reputation of being pleasant and responsive to all,” Russell adds.
When Hieber applied for employment at the U-M in 1960, there was a question on the employment application: “How long do you plan to work here?” He responded: “Lifetime.”
Over the years Hieber has demonstrated his on-going excellence in performing his responsibilities, according to his supervisors Linda C. Sen and Richard J. Williams.
Hieber’s professional conduct and willingness to help co-workers is second to none, they add.
“He has always displayed a readiness to assist supervisors and customers. He is willing to problem-solve and prevent building maintenance problems,” they wrote in their nominating statement.
Peters began his career with the Uni-versity 18 years ago as a custodian in Building Services. He has since become a heavy equipment mechanic, the most skilled mechanic position on campus.
Peters maintains and repairs the University’s fleet of 38 buses, which annually provide 3.5 million rides.
Transportation Services Manager Patrick Cunningham, who nominated Peters, said manufacturers of buses and engines have often remarked upon Peters’ expertise and willingness to learn about new innovations in this rapidly changing field.
Peters is a member of the Plant Department’s Safety and Wellness Quality Improvement Team. His analysis of data regarding on-the-job injuries has resulted in providing Plant units with valuable information about incident rates of injuries.
In his spare time, Peters continues to advance his education at Washtenaw Community College and is pursuing a supervisory career. Cunningham says Peters is a well rounded individual who interacts well with everyone.
Przybylski has been with the Univer-sity for 17 years, starting his career at the Michigan League in 1976 and becoming a supervisor in 1977.
He transferred to a maintenance supervisor position in 1982 and in 1990 was promoted to foreman in maintenance services and renovations in zone maintenance. He is the Plant Department’s liaison for the University’s official and ceremonial events held on campus.
“He has been responsible for executing the arrangements for a multitude of high-profile events, including presidential visits and campaign kickoffs,” notes Pamela Korniski, director of university and
development events, who nominated Przybylski. She says Przybylski has received numerous letters in recognition of his efforts for trouble-shooting at events, including letters from President James J. Duderstadt, the CBS Morning Show and former President George Bush.
Throne recently celebrated 30 years with the University, almost all at Purchasing and Stores. He began as an assistant traffic clerk and is now senior purchasing agent for the minority vendors program.
Eugene O. Ingram, who directed Purchasing and Stores, nominated Throne. Ingram says Throne “employs honesty, a positive attitude, hard work, education and leadership qualities” in his position. “Those qualities and a long, progressive U-M career have led to his successful management of the minority vendor programs, an independent purchasing office.”
Throne was assigned to the minority vendor program position in 1981. Since then, under his leadership, purchases from minority-owned and women-owned businesses have increased 1,600 percent.,
Throne also acts as a consultant to other institutions and has presented seminars about the U-M program.
