Employees honored with Outstanding Staff Awards

May 16, 2019 | News, UToday, Alumni, UTMC, Arts and Letters
By Staff



Five employees took home the University’s 2019 Outstanding Staff Awards.

More than 60 nominees were celebrated at a May 6 ceremony in the Thomas and Elizabeth Brady Engineering Innovation Center. The event was hosted by Human Resources on behalf of President Sharon L. Gaber.

Winners this year were:

Laura M. Brown, academic accommodation specialist, compliance, in the Department of Student Disability Services. She joined the University in 2014 as a secretary in the College of Business and Innovation, and is a graduate of UToledo with a bachelor of arts degree.

“Laura is the face of Student Disability Services at the University. She is extremely knowledgeable, compassionate and kind in a very busy and demanding environment,” one nominator wrote. “She effortlessly manages the daily operations of the office while providing resources and guidance for new and continuing students, parents, faculty and staff. Navigating resources and academic accommodations can sometimes be complicated for students with disabilities, but Laura provides a consistent and friendly contact every step of the way.” Another noted, “Laura is an efficient and talented employee who engages in process improvements and creating efficiencies. Her work is continuously done at a very high standard, and Laura is always willing to share her knowledge with others on her team. Laura helps to represent the absolute best of the University.”

Betsy Buschmann, registered medical assistant clinical supervisor in the Gastroenterology Clinic in UToledo Medical Center. She has worked at the hospital since 2014.

“Betsy has a great passion for what she does and it shows in her work,” a patient wrote. “She has always taken my calls, got answers for me in a timely manner, and had patience with me regardless of what the issue may have been or how many times I may have contacted her. She is always willing to help me, and I have seen her take the time to help others when needed. Not everyone enjoys going to the doctor, but her positive and friendly personality makes it much more rewarding when entering the clinic.” Another wrote, “I always feel as if I am the only patient that is being seen because of the way that Betsy ensures that the flow of my visit goes smoothly.” Another noted, “She is an inspiration to others.”

Catherine Chengges, administrative coordinator in the Department of English Language and Literature in the College of Arts and Letters, and instructor in both the Jesup Scott Honors College and the College of Arts and Letters. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University.

“Literally nothing in our department would work well without Cathy Chengges. She not only makes sure that we have humane teaching times, she also makes sure that we are teaching classes that reasonably complement one another,” one nominator noted. Another wrote, “Cathy Chengges has been a steady, supporting presence in the English Department for many years. Her work in creating the extremely unwieldy course schedule for the English Department, semester after semester, is remarkable. She is a scheduling superhero. I hate to think that she will ever retire.” “She is the most professional, competent, exceptional person on so many levels. She is my go-to person who I can ask just about anything, epitomizing what I feel defines the highest qualities of University spirit and character,” another wrote.

Lisa Edwards, secretary in the Department of Art in the College of Arts and Letters. She joined the University in 2014.

“Lisa is the absolute heart of our department. She is always positive, helpful, organized and so on top of everything,” one nominator wrote. “She works selflessly and passionately to make everyone’s life better — especially for our students and prospective students. Her positive attitude is infectious and makes the whole department a better place.” “Lisa’s reliability is almost unfathomable until you get to work with her,” another wrote. “She is excellence performed every day; from urgent tasks that overtake the long-term projects she is always working on, to the consistency of keeping calendars for the entire department’s goings on, she is always on top, sorting out issues, and stopping problems even before they are able to arise. Lisa is truly a role model for professionalism and excellence.”

Sherri Kaspar, director of parking and transportation in Auxiliary Services. She joined the University in 2004 as event manager for the Toledo Police Department. A UToledo alumna, she received a master’s degree in recreation administration in 2004.

“Ms. Kaspar inspires others to do excellent work and promotes the professional goals of those she works witrh. She takes positivity and applies it to every employee not to mention the many students whom she directs,” one nominator wrote. “She consistently monitors her program, employees and volunteer retirees who work with her. After seeing her in action for five years, she is in a position where no one is consistently pleased with all aspects of parking simultaneously as the daily variable issues she deals with are never the same. Her commitment to excellence in her area is exemplary and deserves to be brought to the attention of the University community,” one nominator wrote. “She runs a tight ship and cares for her employees, and we all care for her.”

Receiving the University’s 2019 Outstanding Staff Awards were, from left, Catherine Chengges, Sherri Kaspar, Betsy Buschmann, Laura M. Brown and Lisa Edwards.

Click to access the login or register cheese