Annual Staff Awards Winners

The winners of the Administrative Operations Annual Staff Awards were announced at the AO Staff Appreciation Meal. Read more about each winner and why they were nominated below.
Pictured left to right: Ryan Gallagher, Josh Brown, Nate Snodgrass, Russell Price, Rebecca Terry, Ana Estrada, Michael B. Cline (not pictured: Kathrine David, Kelia Abatesi, Michael McClimans)

Gold Service Awards

The Gold Service Award recognizes staff who are high-performing service providers committed to customer care.

Winners

Kathrine David, GIS Analyst, Facilities Information Services

Kathrine was nominated for this award by her supervisor for being instrumental in a partnership with Occupancy Planning and Space Administration. She collaborates with the team to coordinate building walk-throughs together, creating significant time savings and consistency in documenting floorplans.

Ana Estrada, Hiring Program Coordinator, Building Services

Ana was recognized by her supervisor for her involvement with external customers wanting a job at Purdue, as well as internal customers who currently are employed at Purdue. She goes out of her way to get potential hires in the door and then helps facilitate the orientation process. She also follows up with the new employees to ensure everything is going well.

Nate Snodgrass, Lead Data Analyst, Integrated Analytics

Nate was nominated by his supervisor for being a great asset to the Administrative Operations organization. His dashboards are polished, professional and user friendly. He is customer service focused and goes above what the customer requests every time. Others at Purdue and other institutions are consistently impressed with his work.

Most Valued Principle (MVP)

The MVP Award recognizes staff who have operationalized the organization’s guiding principles, contributing to a safe, reliable and transformative culture.

Winners

Kelia Abatesi, Custodian, Building Services

Kelia was nominated for her commitment to provide safe, reliable and transformative services. She was specifically recognized for her work on safety plan for cleaning with various chemicals. She spent time analyzing chemicals the department uses for cleaning and how they were being stored to come up with the safety plan.

Josh Brown, Biological Safety Officer, Environmental Health and Safety

Josh was nominated for the MVP award for managing Purdue’s biosafety program. His contributions since taking over the program in May 2023 have been invaluable. His supervisor says he is dedicated to reducing risks while providing dependable services and is constantly looking for ways to innovate and introduce new ideas.

Outstanding Leader Award

The Outstanding Leader Award recognizes people-centric leaders who visibly work to create a stable, reliable and engaged workforce.

Winners

Michael McClimans, Custodian Crew Chief, Building Services

Michael was nominated for this award for his positive impact on the morale and engagement of his team with team members commending his clear communication skills. He has expertly maneuvered his team through vacancies created by retirements and transfers by working alongside his crew and making sure their daily achievements are celebrated

Russell Price, Plant Maintenance Manager, Energy and Utilities

Russell was recognized by his supervisor for this award for leading by example. His attention to detail and engagement with his staff is top notch. He starts each day with a safety moment and ensures that each person understands what he/she will be doing. It is not uncommon to see Russell on the floor showing someone how to do the work.

Rebecca Terry, Director, Communications

Rebecca was nominated for this award because of her work to elevate the AO Communications team. She has created a strategy for the department that organizes efforts to create stronger brand recognition, contributes to increased customer satisfaction and outlines a proactive approach to communications. She was described as a reliable ‘go to’ person who always delivers.