Congratulations to the Spring 2024 HR Pillar Award winners!

Category: Customer Experience

Meganne Jeter is a leader in customer experience and innovation, known for her expertise and exceptional service. She excels in providing responsive and trustworthy support across all levels of an organization, driving process improvements and innovative solutions.

• Meganne is recognized for her exceptional service and being a responsive and trusted partner, from individual contributor to senior leadership. She excels in researching, developing, evaluating, and redesigning processes, showcasing her innovation and expertise.
• She played a crucial role in the adoption of the Workday Learning Application at UVA HR, providing the necessary structure for a complex Learning Management System. Her expertise has also benefited other universities, including Arizona State and Loyola Marymount, through her consultations.
• Internally, Meganne has driven innovation within LD&T, particularly through Workday Learning Innovation Days. These sessions have led to significant improvements such as enhanced reporting, effective process consultations, and the development of a campaign audit protocol.
• Meganne has significantly contributed to the professional development of training teams across the University. She has organized monthly workshops, launched comprehensive newsletters, and fostered partnerships to explore new learning opportunities and improve training compliance.
• Her customer service extends beyond training teams to all users. She has revitalized Learning documentation and training, transitioned resources to Confluence for better accessibility, and reorganized the Workday Learning website to enhance user experience.

Meganne Jeter's leadership, innovative practices, and collaborative efforts have made a substantial impact. She supports end-user training, professional development for training teams, and ensures regulatory training is operational. Her dedication to creating positive learning experiences benefits the entire UVA community, making her an outstanding teammate and leader.

Hear Will Davis's testimonial on Meganne here.

Category: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

As a dedicated member of UVA, Erica Wood embodies the spirit of community. Her unwavering commitment to welcoming new team members within UVA makes her an exemplary candidate for recognition. 

Erica has been a very welcoming colleague for new team members. She makes it her priority to check in and ensure new team members are aware of programs and events within and beyond HR. She goes above and beyond to show up, ensuring new team members are not alone in the sea of people. Erica does her best to introduce new team members to colleagues in HR and across Grounds, to help build their professional network. 

Her commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive environment makes her a valuable asset to UVA HR, deserving of recognition for her outstanding contributions.

Hear Jasmine Porter's testimonial on Erica here.

Category: Community, Health, & Wellness

Rachel is being nominated for her exceptional dedication to improving the lives of faculty, staff, and team members, by guiding them through life transitions. Her commitment to support and empathy has earned her high praise and gratitude from those she assists.

• Rachel's genuine empathy and patience set her apart. She approaches every interaction with a positive attitude, ensuring that people feel heard and valued. Her professional yet compassionate approach creates a sense of trust and reliability during vulnerable times.
• Numerous unsolicited emails from the UVA community highlight Rachel's impact. For example:
  • Victor Luftig praised her clear, precise, and patient assistance with retirement plans, describing her as extremely well-informed and deserving of recognition.
  • Carol Keese commended Rachel for her instrumental role in coordinating complex processes between VRS and UVA HR, ensuring smooth and timely handling of retirement and disability matters.
  • David Carmines appreciated Rachel's attentive and gentle guidance during their meetings, noting her excellent listening skills and thorough pre- and post-communication.
• During moments of grief and loss, Rachel has shown extraordinary sensitivity and understanding. She provides practical assistance and a comforting presence, ensuring individuals feel respected and supported through challenging times.

Rachel embodies the principles of Community, Health, & Wellness through her compassionate support and dedication. Her efforts in guiding individuals through various life transitions, from retirement planning to dealing with loss, have created a positive and trusting environment. Rachel's exceptional service makes her a deserving candidate for the Pillar Award.

Hear Rebecca Gristina's testimonial on Rachel here.

Category: Innovative Practices

Hollie Lee is an exceptional leader of innovation, responsible for the ideation and implementation of various programs, including HOOS training programs, online workshops, career fairs, and anniversary events. Her vision and execution have been pivotal to the program's success.

• Hollie has spearheaded efforts to reach the community through events, fairs, and training programs. Her innovative thinking is exemplified by the HOOS Driving program, which successfully placed 12 candidates as bus drivers at UTS, fully staffing the service for the first time in years.
• She meticulously constructed a budget for the HOOS Driving program, utilizing funds from President Ryan's office. Her coordination with recruiters, UTS, HR, and Pipelines & Pathways (P&P) staff ensured a smooth hiring process, providing hands-on support for candidates who typically struggle with HR paperwork.
• Hollie's leadership in workforce development spans over 16 years. Her expertise and innovative practices have made P&P a successful program for UVA HR, the community, and the University of Virginia.
• She has led and created programs that streamline job processes and recruitment, such as the HOOS Driving and HOOS Greeting programs. These initiatives have employed capable individuals, provided customer service training, and offered CDL lessons to both English and non-English speakers.
• Hollie's dedication extends to assisting individuals in the application process and helping recruiters and hiring managers screen capable candidates. Her efforts have filled multiple vacancies within various UVA departments, benefiting both the university and the job seekers.

Hollie Lee's exemplary leadership and innovative practices have significantly contributed to the success of the Pipelines and Pathways program. Her dedication to UVA, its employees, and job seekers, along with her ability to connect people and streamline processes, make her a deserving candidate for the Pillar Award.

Hear Claudio Otero III and Melissa Hannah's testimonial on Hollie here.

Category: Exceptional Execution (team category)

The UVA Temps team is nominated for the Exceptional Execution award for their outstanding recruitment and hiring efforts for the Earn While You Learn (EWYL) program. This program, established by Wendy Horton, University Medical Center CEO, provides equal access to healthcare careers and has seen significant success under the UVA Temps team's management.

• Since taking over the EWYL program in Spring 2023, the UVA Temps team has achieved the highest fill rates in the program's history, reaching an 85% fill rate for the February 2024 cohort.
• The team implemented process improvements, including screening and interviewing all candidates themselves, which saved time for hiring managers and ensured a consistent evaluation process. This created a more positive candidate experience with a single point of contact throughout the process.
• By using Evergreen requisitions and contacting all candidates to invite them to interview, the team improved the candidate experience and expanded the pool of qualified candidates. In 2023, they contacted 1,750 applicants and completed 600 interviews for the program.
• The UVA Temps team now manages the entire recruitment life cycle, from interview to the first day of work, streamlining hiring and onboarding processes. This led to higher fill rates and improved experiences for both managers and candidates, with 123 EWYL candidates hired in 2023.
• The team integrated EWYL with all Talent Flex offerings, providing "earn while you wait" opportunities and connecting non-selected candidates with other employment paths at UVA. This holistic approach has transformed the hiring process and delivered exceptional results.

The UVA Temps team's dedication and innovative practices have significantly enhanced the Earn While You Learn program, filling critical positions at UVA Health and providing valuable career opportunities for community members. Their commitment to excellence in recruitment and their positive impact on the community make them deserving of the Exceptional Execution award.

Hear Janet Turner-Giles's testimonial on the UVA Temps team here.