CAST AWARD: commitment, attitude, service, teamwork
- May 2009 Winners
- December 2008 Winners
- May 2008 Winner
- December 2007 Winners
- May 2007 Winners
- December 2006 Winners
- May 2006 Winners
- December 2005 Winners
- May 2005 Winners
- 2004 Winners
- 2003 Winners
May 2009 Winners
Larry Andrews is a recipient of the May 2009 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Andrews is a Senior Computer Equipment Maintenance Technician for the Facilities and Repair and was presented the award by Brian Roberts, Vice President for Information Technology.
"Larry has a lot of experience repairing printers and PCs. He is Dell Certified and is in the process of becoming Apple Certified, too. He has great customer skills and genuinely cares about the quality of his work. Larry is always on time and willing to take on any tasks assigned."
Judy Guido is a recipient of the May 2009 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Guido is a Senior Administrative Associate for Human Resources and was presented the award by Brian Roberts, Vice President for Information Technology.
"In a relatively short time, she has demonstrated her solid character, her unquestionable work ethic and her indefatigable personality to profound effect."
"Judy excels at promoting a positive workplace and always has a good word and premium chocolates on her desk to share."
Ruby Philipose is a recipient of the May 2009 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Philipose is a Help Desk Specialist for Customer Services and was presented the award by Brian Roberts, Vice President for Information Technology.
"Ruby is extremely hard working and dedicated to making the University, and ITS, a better place. She approaches problems and concerns with a friendly, positive outlook and a good sense of humor. She is outstanding when dealing with frustrated customers or difficult situations, and she is a great mentor and role model for our student consultants."
Jo Sherman is a recipient of the May 2009 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Sherman is a Senior Administrative Associate for Business Services and was presented the award by Brian Roberts, Vice President for Information Technology.
"Jo is great juggler and is able to anticipate what is needed before you even ask for assistance! She is a whiz at getting things done and following up on all the necessary details. Whether she is planning the annual holiday party or setting up three meetings, she manages to get it all done with a smile. She is always cheerful and friendly answering the many phone calls and assisting the drop-in visitors."
December 2008 Winners
Earl Blackburn is a recipient of the December 2008 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Blackburn is a Supervisor for the University Data Center and was presented the award by Brian Roberts, Vice President for Information Technology.
"This individual has worked for UT for approximately 40 years and has great ideas and exhibits initiative towards proposing innovative proposals. He practices his new and creative ideals along with all existing policies that demonstrate commitment and dedication for self as well as for co-workers, always implementing leadership and motivation to all. His leadership and high work performance is admired by all."
Carter Francis is a recipient of the December 2008 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Francis is a Desktop Support Specialist for User Services working with Texas Student Media and was presented the award by Brian Roberts, Vice President for Information Technology.
"Carter is always available to help with our department's IT issues. He is friendly, courteous, and very knowledgeable. He is very in tune with our wide range of IT needs, and has proven flexible in juggling our various media group's technological needs."
"Carter has been a delight to work with. A former TSM student, he understands the culture of our work group. He is very energetic and creative. In short, we feel fortunate to have him with us one-half day every day!"
Adrian Getzoff is a recipient of the December 2008 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Getzoff is a Systems Administrator for User Services working with Texas Student Media and was presented the award by Brian Roberts, Vice President for Information Technology.
"It seems that most people usually have negative things to say regarding their IT Support personnel. I am happy to say that is not the case here. Adrian is consistent with his work and positive attitude. Adrian has provided exceptional IT Support since he first arrived to UT and has helped evolve our department in terms of technology-staying up to date, which is a difficult task on its own. I must say he has a very good and solid work ethic and team mentality, it is greatly appreciated. If it's not stated enough, thank you for all of your hard work Adrian!!!"
"Adrian is always willing to help with our ITS challenges. He plans and upgrades our department's ITS needs, and keeps us at the cutting edge of technology without breaking our budget...not an easy task this year. Adrian is very intelligent and detail oriented. He knows his customer base...it's great having his expertise in our department...it allows us to do our jobs in a much more effective manner."
"I've never asked Adrian a question that he didn't have the answer for right away. He also makes suggestions on how to improve workflow on his own initiative-- he pays attention! However, the trait that sets him apart is his attitude. I think most people feel that we're mostly at the mercy of the IT folks, but he's always got a great attitude not only of helpfulness, but seems like a good natured partner, with whom one can honest and forthright--- he doesn't require "handling". I know its past the deadline, but I would appreciate it if you could leave this in his file."
May 2008 Winner
Scott Richardson is the recipient of the May 2008 CAST Award. Richardson is a Desktop Support Specialist in User Services, providing IT support to ROTC and the Anthropology departments in the College of Liberal Arts. Richardson was presented the award by Brian Roberts, Vice President for Information Technology. Highlights of the nominations for Scott include:
Scott is the best IT tech we've had in the 16 years I've been working for The University. He solves the problem, period. If he does not know the answer, he researches it and gets the issue resolved."
"He is knowledgeable, courteous, friendly, responsive and responsible."
"Scott Richardson is hands down the nicest, most skilled, most efficient, and most professional IT guy I've ever worked with. He is a phenomenal asset to the university."
December 2007 Winners
Mic Kaczmarczik is a recipient of the December 2007 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Kaczmarczik is a Senior Operating Systems Specialist in the Unix Group and was presented the award by Brian Roberts, Vice President for Information Technology.
“Mic is responsible for Web Central, which consists of 5 servers, over 50 different virtual hosts, and literally scores of config files. The fact that this service never goes down is a testament to Mic's skill in managing it. I've worked with Mic for over 10 years and am consistently amazed at the depth of his knowledge and skill and how he applies it to solving university problems. I think Mic embodies what ITS staff should strive for: outstanding technical skill and expertise, creative problem solving and a commitment to running secure and reliable services that meet customers' needs.”
“Mic manages most of the systems I rely on daily as a PHP developer working primarily on Web Central. These systems are so quietly reliable I rarely need to contact Mic with any technical questions or concerns. However, on the rare occasion when this has been necessary, Mic always responds quickly and professionally. Recently, I submitted an e-mail about a problem with a MySQL database table at 5 p.m. on a Friday, not expecting a response until Monday. Mic had already responded by the time I got home and the issue was resolved immediately, saving a weekend's worth of downtime.”
“Mic is one of the most dedicated ITS staffers I know; he is also one of the most helpful resources on campus. Mic is a fountain of knowledge. In 1992, Mic was responsible for installing the university’s first Web server; at the time it was one of 26 Web servers in the world. Mic provides stability and dedication to Systems and ITS. He is very modest about his own abilities and yet is the first person I turn to in ITS Systems for sound technical advice and for server solutions.”
Mark Goodrich is a recipient of the December 2007 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Goodrich is a Senior Systems Analyst in the Applications group and was presented the award by Brian Roberts, Vice President for Information Technology.
“Mark has been attentive and transparent in working with ITS Admin in upgrading and maintaining our MySoft software. He consistently manages issues quickly and produces results. I can always count on him to manage this vital piece of software and be in communication with us and address our concerns.”
Bryan Wilcox is a recipient of the December 2007 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Wilcox is the UDC Facilities Manager, in the Infrastructure group and was presented the award by Brian Roberts, Vice President for Information Technology.
“Bryan has been with the university for over 26 years and is a cornerstone for ITS Infrastructure. He displays a positive image for ITS with his professional behavior. He consistently demonstrates these qualities in his day-to-day dealings with all university employees and is well respected by the whole UT community. Bryan does not know a stranger on this campus. He would definitely go out of his way to help anyone and is always look upon for his knowledge, guidance or advice by all. His experience and analytical skills have consistently improved the university’s data centers over the past years.”
“Bryan and I are not in the same workgroup, but I have worked with him over the years and he has always been supportive and willing to assist our group in anyway possible. During a major upgrade of how we transport the Define accounting system on Campus, he was a major reason we completed the retirement of old 3270 circuits, equipment and coax cabling located in terminal rooms and the tunnel system throughout Campus. When my workgroup has needed access or design of space in the remote Data Center space in the SER building, Bryan has always been there, even after hours during emergencies. We need more people like Bryan at ITS.”
May 2007 Winners
S. Jeff King is a recipient of the May 2007 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. King is a Systems Analyst in the Infrastructure group and was presented the award by Brian Roberts, Vice President for Information Technology.
“Jeff consistently displays the highest work performance; he quickly responds and not only fixes the problem, but provides guidance on how to avoid similar situations. He is always ready to support initiatives that will help the University/Department; he was instrumental in getting access for our group on the ITS MS Project Server and getting some initial training; his initiative in providing address locations for our work order packages and day to day scanning has been an enormous asset, allowing for a smooth transition to 'paperless' distribution between shops; and his experience in software packages has provided our Planning & Design shop valuable tools which increases the professionalism of our products. His consistent initiative and creativity have really benefited our department and the University of Texas.”
Marianne Chance is a recipient of the May 2007 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Chance is a Senior Systems Analyst in the Applications group and was presented the award by Brian Roberts, Vice President for Information Technology.
“Marianne Chance is a 'bright light'. She is humble and unassuming yet she displays her exceptional attitude in all that she does. Marianne is always requested by Project Managers to work on their initiatives because of her analytic ability and her ability to deliver on the vision. She is easy to manage and an asset to any work team. She is committed to the good morale of the group and is always looking for ways to engage with others outside of work commitments. She organizes the Poker Walk Team each year. She coordinates personal gifts for members of the team when they are deserved. She is always willing to play a part in any department special initiative. Marianne also gives back to the developer community. She is currently the SY101 Coordinator, taking new programmers through Systems Analyst training. She is an excellent role model for our newer employees. The best thing that we could produce are more people like her. Most recently she has been developing a new critical service for campus that will allow for the upload of documents of all types. This will be available to the other developers to integrate into their applications as a service, saving them much time. We had never done this and she worked hard in the piloting stage to confirm that we could figure out how. This took initiative and creativity.”
Alexander Barth is a recipient of the May 2007 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Barth is an Operating System Specialist in the Systems group and was presented the award by Brian Roberts, Vice President for Information Technology.
“Alex exemplifies excellence in several ways. Alex possesses exceptional people skills and exemplary technical expertise. Alex is the consummate professional who is committed to helping peers, customers and stakeholders achieve their service objectives. He has mentored peers within Systems. Although he is in high demand, he always makes time to help peers become better at what they do. His can-do attitude is infectious. Many university peers, both at the technical and managerial levels, seek his involvement in their projects and daily technical issues. These qualities distinguish Alex from many talented technical personnel within ITS. Alex is sought after campus-wide and within ITS for his innovation, consulting skills, and gifted technical expertise. The volume and quality of his work is extraordinary. He is driven and always looking forward. He has been and remains a key player in many of the visible ITS initiatives involving Windows networking, security, storage technologies, systems integration and other areas.”
Tracy Whitehill is a recipient of the May 2007 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Whitehill was a Project Coordinator in the Education and Development group and was presented the award by Brian Roberts, Vice President for Information Technology.
“Plain and simple, Tracy rocks. She has worked with the Information Analyst Training program for several years and is exactly in-tune with it as well as with the departments who draw from the training program. Tracy is approachable to trainees and developers alike. She has an excellent blend of being warm yet professional. Tracy is extremely perceptive; she's able to quickly get to the heart of issues and suggest solutions appropriate for the individuals involved. As a supervisor, Tracy has encouraged me to and allowed me time to participate in training appropriate for my position. She trusts me to make decisions regarding the training program, but she also shares her experience, opinion, and knowledge willingly. Tracy works hard at team-building and community-building. With the trainees, she periodically facilitates team-building exercises to strengthen their relationships to enhance their training experience and to identify trainees' strengths and weaknesses to aid her in the placement process. She is working with representatives from the community that draws from the program to refine that placement process so that it is better understood and so that there is increased trust in the process. Tracy has worked tirelessly to arrange various types of training and professional development for developers all over campus, coordinating people to take Java classes here at UT as well as at other locations.”
December 2006 Winners
Diane Gierisch is a recipient of the December 2006 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Gierisch is a Senior Systems Analyst in the Applications group and was presented the awarded by Brian Roberts, Vice President for Information Technology.
“Diane's work and collaborative efforts with other parts of ITS and the University are outstanding. The list of things that 'wouldn't happen without her efforts' continues to grow. In the last year alone she was instrumental in the launch of mobile.utexas.edu, managed the UT Home page redesign, and has helped many departments improve the security of their applications through education and scanning. It's rare that an employee's efforts have such measurable impact. Through Diane's leadership and her encouragement of others, the University Web site presence is more accessible, has less outdated content, and fewer broken links. This is a direct result of the WebXM Issue of the Month Challenge she conceived and promoted last Spring. In addition to all of these accomplishments, Diane facilitates a digital video users group on campus and publishes best practices for video on the web (http://www.utexas.edu/web/video/). These efforts have resulted in an increase in digital video content (over 7,000 unique files served last year) and file views (over 1 million) during the past year.”
“Diane is one of the most positive, congenial and supportive colleagues I know. She gives thoughtful and encouraging feedback to any endeavors or ideas one might have, and is always warm, friendly, and helpful, no matter what. Diane has been instrumental in getting the media developers together by initiating, promoting and coordinating group meetings as well as cheerfully participating in various campus wide efforts for sharing information and collaboration. She also took the initiative for making Com 8 a more beautiful and comfortable place to meet. She is an effective leader in such a subtle and understated way that makes you feel very at ease and comfortable, a great pleasure to work with.”
Harold Nall is a recipient of the December 2006 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Nall is a Journey Cable Splicer in the Telecommunications & Networking group and was presented the award by Brian Roberts, Vice President for Information Technology.
“Most people in the ITS community would not know Harold Nall. Most of his time is spent either in a manhole or in a telecommunications closet splicing copper and fiber cables across campus. Harold has proven himself as a leader and role model among the Outside Plant Cable Crew and Telecommunications & Networking. He continues to prove his worth and integrity along with his strong work ethics on campus. When there is a large cable outage on campus, an emergency installation, or routine cable work, Harold is always ready, eager, and able to accomplish the work at hand either alone or as a team. LBJ and SRH network customers recently requested Harold's fiber guidance and expertise on a project. Men's Athletics requests Harold for all fiber terminations in their buildings. The Power Plant and T&N Engineering staffs have requested Harold work on the new upgrade for the Power Plant since he performed such an outstanding job on the last upgrade. Harold's understanding of the fiber diversification on campus has allowed him to accomplish the task and resolve problems during a very long project. During this time, Harold and his partner were able to take over the work that outside contractors had previously handled. Whenever I have cable questions, Harold continues to be the go to guy for answers and guidance. Time and time again, he has proven to be a valuable employee not only to ITS, but to The University.”
Tanya Marcum is a recipient of the December 2006 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Marcum is a Senior Administrative Associate in the Software Distribution and Sales group and was presented the award by Brian Roberts, Vice President for Information Technology.
“During a period of transition in Software Distribution and Sales, Tanya has consistently demonstrated professionalism and dedication to her work. She is always cheerful and willing to take on new tasks even if the work is not in her scope. She welcomes challenges. Her knowledge of the complex contract and licensing issues with software is invaluable. For example, the Microsoft Campus Agreement is a large and highly complex program that reaches across all of the UT System. Tanya does a superb job of keeping up with the latest Microsoft licensing updates and is the 'go to' person across the entire System in some cases for issues relating to the Microsoft Campus and Select Agreements. Tanya has absorbed an impressive breadth of knowledge on the Microsoft Campus Agreement and all other SDS programs.
"Tanya is proactive and a self-starter. She willingly extends her day and very often goes above and beyond the call of duty to finish tasks or resolve a customer issue. She performs at a very high level and frequently interacts with customers at all levels of the organization with UT System, including very demanding faculty and outside organizations. She handles all customers with care, patience, friendliness, diplomacy, and the utmost professionalism. She receives commendations on nearly daily basis. She is thoughtful and observant and asks all the right questions and uses excellent judgment in so doing. She goes the extra mile to ensure that the customer is satisfied. She has a cheerful, genuine, thoughtful demeanor that is uplifting for the entire office. She takes on the task of ensuring that the office runs smoothly even though this is not her responsibility. Tanya takes the initiative to self-improve and is always on the look-out for classes that will enhance her knowledge of Web site maintenance. She ensures that the information she posts to the ITS Web site is professional and accurate and always ensures that her Supervisor reviews the material. Tanya Marcum enhances the image of ITS and the University. We are very very lucky to have someone like Tanya working for us.”
May 2006 Winners
Lisa Wright is a recipient of the May 2006 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Wright is a Technical Writer/Editor in the Strategic Communications group and was presented the award by Randy Ebeling, ITS Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
While presenting Lisa with her CAST Award, Randy called her a "force of nature." "Once Lisa comes into a project-it gets done. As a technical writer in Strategic Communications, she has a true gift for taking complex issues and turning them into clear documentation that makes sense. She routinely goes "above and beyond the call of duty" with every project she takes on and is well known for tackling large amounts of work in very little time. Lisa consistently works very hard to make ITS the best organization it can be."
Johan Van Zanten is a recipient of the of the May 2006 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Van Zanten is a Systems Analyst in the Systems Unix group and was presented the award by Randy Ebeling, ITS Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
"Johan works very hard keeping the Blackboard servers up and running. Working long hours-day or night, at home or in the office-Johan supports the students and faculty members who use this very busy service. His commitment is a great example of how our team members come to work every day to support the academic goals of The University of Texas at Austin."
David Silverstrim is a recipient of the of the May 2006 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Silverstrim is a Construction Inspector in Telecommunications and Networking and was presented the award by Randy Ebeling, ITS Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
"David has been described as one of the most reliable "go to" guys in Telecommunications and Networking. He consistently demonstrates a true gift for taking difficult projects and making them work-and work well. The leadership and support David shows his co-workers has been recognized as a great example of how to create a work environment that is positive, friendly and productive. David's example benefits our entire ITS department and the university as a whole."
The Help Desk Student Employees are recipients of the May 2006 Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award and were presented the award by Randy Ebeling, ITS Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
"For many people on our campus, the Help Desk is the voice and face of ITS. From the moment students enroll, the Help Desk provides them with support and advice. Approximately 500 calls are received every day at the Help Desk and each one of these calls is met with kindness and authority. These workers calm people down and fix problems. During the recent data theft at the McCombs School, these employees really went the extra mile. They worked long hours and reshuffled schedules to serve our campus."
December 2005 Winners
Allen Graham is the eighth recipient of the Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Graham is a Computer Programmer in User Services, On-Site Support. He was presented the award in December 2005 by Randy Ebeling, ITS Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
“One of the things Allen does in User Services is finding homes for discarded/surplus equipment and computer peripherals with people who need them. In this capacity, he is one of the most proactively helpful people I know. Allen frequently checks in with me to see whether I or my staff needs anything at all. When I do need something, he seems to be able to dig up just the right thing. For example, I wasn't happy with my mouse, and he produced three different ones for me to try out and see which one I liked best. I tried the trackball mouse and fell in love with it (now I think no other type of mouse would do!). Allen was also very helpful during my group's rushed PCL-to-NOA/FAC move. The movers couldn't move any of Research Consulting's furniture, since our furniture needs were supposed to be taken care of, but we did not yet have the furniture for our new consulting desk location in FAC. Allen immediately stepped in to the rescue and dug up some light, portable furniture that could be easily used as a temporary measure. In general, Allen always has a positive, friendly, energetic, can-do attitude that makes him a great example for good customer service.”
“Allen has consistently displayed an attitude of community and service to everyone that I am aware of. He is constantly seeking to insure that the equipment I have been issued is not only up to my specifications, but he has helped me time and time again to clarify and improve my own equipment requests with an above and beyond attitude. He is professional and constantly aware of UT policy and is, in my opinion, a great asset to ITS User Services.”
Mark Innmon is the ninth recipient of the Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Innmon is a Senior Computer Equipment Maintenance Technician in University Data Center, Facilities & Repair. He was presented the award in December 2005 by Randy Ebeling, ITS Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
“Mark is the best technician on computer related equipment, He has repaired computers, monitors and laptops down to component level when out of warranty saving the university and our department many thousands of dollars, He constantly strives to do the best for the university in keeping outdated equipment running and his ability to restore data on hard drives that have turned flaky have boosted the ITS image to a very high level.”
ITS Purchasing Group is the tenth recipient of the Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award and the first Group to receive this award. They received the award in December 2005 from Randy Ebeling, ITS Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
ITS Purchasing Group, Administration, Purchasing Asset Management
- Manager: Ray Weikel
- Purchasing: Diane Elder, Joyce Gregory, Chris Palacios
- Facilities & Repair: Jeff Lyon, Roanna Wright
“Ray, Joyce, Diane, Chris, Jeff and Roanna form an amazing low profile, high productivity team in ITS. They probably hold more knowledge and experience about the laws and policies that we must follow to spend the $12 Million each year for ITS as well as the campus wide hardware and software initiatives that ITS leads for the other colleges and departments. Purchasing laws were specifically constructed to not be efficient but fair to vendors. The Central Purchasing Office has bestowed delegated authority to our group that is way beyond what others have on campus. This group has earned that special status by walking the fine line between following the rules to satisfy the officials and getting the purchases done to satisfy the requestors. This is a job that gets done behind the scenes without much if any recognition. When they do their job well no one notices because it becomes the standard expectation. When there is a problem, they get the blame even when it is out of their control. We recently had to have some parts for BACS and although they were ordered, the vendor was not delivering as ordered. One of the buyers called around locally to find an alternative supplier and then picked up the parts and delivered them to SER to meet the operational deadline. It is this type of pro-active, consistent positive solutions oriented attitude that keeps things rolling and meets the thousands of deadlines every day, month and year.”
May 2005 Winners
Richard Jinkins is the fifth recipient of the Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Jinkins, Assistant Director of the Data Center, was presented the award in May 2005 by Randy Ebeling, ITS Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
"Throughout his career in Operations, Richard has distinguished himself."
"The Data Center is a demanding environment. With hundreds of servers and scores of services, it is the nerve center of ITS. Richard understands this awesome responsibility, but is not intimidated by it.""His considerable technical abilities aside, Richard also has a genuine interest in people. His reputation is as strong outside ITS as it is within ITS."
Andrew Kutz is the sixth recipient of the Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Kutz, a Systems Analyst in Windows Enterprise Services, was presented the award in May 2005 by Randy Ebeling, ITS Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
"He gets involved from the start and keeps his enthusiasm throughout projects. He has been the first one to come in when there have been problems with services. We know we can always count on him to be there when needed. He even took his laptop on his honeymoon and checked e-mail, well, that is just too much, but do you wonder why we count on him so much?!"
"The Windows Enterprise Support team has benefited from Andrew's talent and energy. His attention to detail, technical skill, creativity, and thorough understanding of his environment often conspire to achieve the seemingly impossible."
Charles Spurgeon is the seventh recipient of the Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Spurgeon, a Senior Systems Analyst in Telecommunications and Networking, was presented the award in May 2005 by Randy Ebeling, ITS Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
"Charles literally "wrote the book" on Ethernet networking."
"Often referred to as the "go-to" guy for solving problems, Charles' co-workers consistently have said how fortunate ITS was to have him on staff."
"Everyone in our group looks up to Charles, and it's not just because he's taller than the rest of us. He has an incredible knowledge base and is always willing to help us understand and solve problems."
2004 Winners
LeighAnne Achilles is the fourth recipient of the Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Achilles, a senior administrative associate in ITS Administration, was presented the award in October 2004 by Randy Ebeling, ITS Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
If you've spent any amount of time around her you know her forte is making someone feel welcome and comfortable. With her pleasant demeanor and warm personality, excellent customer service comes easy for her.
Co-workers had the following to say about Achilles when nominating her: "She always assists others in a polite, enthusiastic and cheerful manner. She goes out of her way to teach others and volunteers to do whatever is necessary to help the team."
A native Texan, she grew up in the country outside of San Antonio. She began her career with UT in August of 2000 as a Sr. Student Associate supporting SYS, SDS, UNIX, WNT, and VMS while finishing a B.A. in History. In February of '01 she became a benefit earning employee and did an excellent job working with SDS until she came to ITS-HR in January of '03.
Ben Armintor is the third recipient of the Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Armintor, an operating systems specialist in the Mainframe Group of ITS Systems, was presented the award in May 2004 by Randy Ebeling, ITS Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Armintor has worked for ITS since 2000 when he began Information Analyst training with EIS. Armintor worked in the early development of the university's data warehouse on Project IQ and served as project manager of the technical R&D phase of Abra, new authentication initiative in ITS.
While with the EIS Tools Team and now as a member of the Mainframe Group, Armintor has been instrumental in the rollout of the Java environment for UT Direct and related servers. His expertise in Java application development and Java application server administration is complemented by a genuine desire to assist individual developers.
In his role with ITS Systems, Armintor continues to be very involved in supporting the Abra project and in implementing a Shibboleth solution for our environment in addition to other open source investigations.
Co-workers had the following to say about Armintor when nominating him: “His approach - curious, thoughtful, people-first and cooperative - provides an excellent role model for others.”
2003 Winners
Cathy Roberts is the second recipient of the Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. Roberts, a senior administrative associate in ITS Telecommunications & Networking (TN), was presented the award in December 2003 by Randy Ebeling, ITS Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
A TN employee for the past three years, Roberts is responsible for project orders for TN and all UT Austin locations. She works with various departments to upgrade or redesign their phone systems, and most recently managed new service installation for the North Office Annex and Sealy buildings.
Co-workers had the following to say about Roberts when nominating her:
“She is highly respected and admired as a supervisor; always willing to teach others as well as learn any new technology required; will volunteer to do whatever is necessary to help the team; is always willing to attend classes to increase her knowledge of the technical and managerial facets of her job.”
Roberts, who manages the business office for TN, successfully completed the Telecommunications Certification Program taught jointly by UT Austin and Texas A&M Telecommunications professionals and was recipient of the October 2002 TN/OTS Employee Excellence Award. Before joining ITS, Roberts worked for the Texas General Services Commission (now the Department of Information Resources) where she managed telecom additions, moves and changes for the Capitol Complex.
Todd Mote is the first recipient of the Information Technology Services (ITS) CAST Award. The CAST Award is an acronym for "commitment, attitude, service and teamwork."
Mote, a systems analyst with ITS User Services Onsite Support, was presented the award Oct. 21, 2003, by Randy Ebeling, ITS Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
A UT Austin graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in physics, Mote worked as a computer services technician for Ryerson Enterprises, Inc., in Plano and as a help desk technician for LCRA before joining the university in June 1999 as a computer programmer. He was promoted to systems analyst in January 2001.
Mote is involved in several ITS projects and supports the ITS Help Desk, computer desktops and servers. Co-workers had the following to say about Mote when nominating him:
"Todd is a consummate team player with excellent people skills." "He has always been there as a teammate to help me out." "He is always looking for better ways to do things." "Todd always stays current on technical skills and continuously seeks to broaden his expertise."
