Congratulate our Q2 HR Pillar Award Winners!

Category: Customer Experience

UVA Human Resources proudly recognizes Kate Belliveau, a Senior HR Training Specialist on the Learning and Development team. Her exceptional facilitation skills and dedication to continuous improvement have left an indelible mark on the UVA community. Here are some of Kate’s contributions:

1. Engaging Facilitation Skills: Over the last month, Kate has demonstrated an incredible ability to facilitate groups of all sizes and types during DiSC Overview and Crucial Conversations training sessions. Her dynamic approach ensures that participants fully engage in the subject matter, regardless of the session’s format or audience.
2. Detailed Preparation and Follow-up: Kate’s efforts extend beyond the session itself. Her commitment to providing clear, organized, and timely information before the session ensures that participants are well-prepared. Moreover, her follow-up after the session, including providing course materials and availability for questions, reinforces her dedication to a comprehensive learning experience.
3. Intuitive Adaptability: One of Kate’s standout qualities is her innate ability to “read the room.” She adeptly gauges the group’s needs, knowing when to push for deeper engagement and when to create space for sharing. This intuitive approach ensures that every session is informative and tailored to the participants’ unique dynamics.
4. Consistent Value Added: Regardless of group size or session format, the quality of the learning experience remains consistently high. Kate’s commitment to delivering value-added content ensures that every participant walks away with valuable insights and practical takeaways.
5. Setting a Positive Tone: Kate’s presence is a driving force in creating a positive and energized learning environment. Her ability to reset the tone and energy in virtual and in-person classrooms is a remarkable talent. This skill enables participants to focus and benefit from the training.

Kate Belliveau’s contributions to UVA’s Learning and Development initiatives exemplify a commitment to excellence and a genuine passion for facilitating growth and learning. Her impact extends beyond the classroom, positively influencing UVA employees’ professional development and success. Kate’s dedication to providing high-quality training experiences aligns seamlessly with UVA’s mission to foster a continuous learning and improvement culture. Thank you, Kate!

Category: Innovation

UVA Human Resources proudly recognizes the outstanding contributions of Christopher Birkl, an Instructional Designer within the Learning Design and Technology team with a Pillar Award.  

Thanks to his expertise in process improvement and customer feedback controls, he has significantly impacted HR operations and the community. Let’s look at what Christopher’s accomplished:

1. Streamlined Workflow: Through his proactive approach, Christopher has identified inefficiencies and implemented solutions that have streamlined operations within the Learning Design & Technology team. Using tools like Confluence has allowed for standardized governance, saving time and resources.
2. Cost and Time Savings: Christopher’s innovative work with extended partners in developing Salesforce Dashboards has led to concrete improvements in workflow efficiency. This has resulted in tangible cost and time savings for his team and the HR community.
3. Customer-Centric Approach: Christopher’s commitment to an intake process marked by rigor and structure has resulted in fewer delays and errors. This approach, coupled with his attentiveness to customer feedback, fosters a culture of continuous improvement, benefiting all members of the UVA community who interact with HR.
4. Meaningful Solutions in Action: Case studies involving Nursing Professional Development Services (NPDS) and EOCR Mandatory Training showcase Christopher’s ability to pinpoint opportunities for improvement and implement effective solutions. These real-world examples highlight his impact across the broader UVA community.
5. Exemplifying Excellence: Christopher’s relentless pursuit of excellence in process improvement, intake rigor, mandatory training development, and feedback control has a ripple effect. It optimizes HR operations, reduces costs and time, ensures that services are of the highest quality, and benefits everyone who relies on HR support across UVA Grounds.

Christopher Birkl’s contributions serve as an inspiration for all of us at UVA. His dedication and expertise exemplify the transformative impact that one individual can have on a large institution.

Category: Community, Health, & Wellness

UVA Human Resources is delighted to shine a spotlight on Sarah Patterson, a Senior Well-Being Specialist, with a Pillar Award.

Her exceptional dedication to promoting wellness and improving the lives of UVA employees and the surrounding community has left a lasting mark. Let’s look at what Sarah’s accomplished:

1. Creating a Healthier Environment: Sarah played an instrumental role in establishing lactation rooms across UVA Grounds and the Health System, showing her commitment to supporting the well-being of UVA employees, especially new mothers.
2. Advocating for Nutritional Counseling: She worked tirelessly to streamline the process of providing one free nutritional counseling consultation to employees through collaboration with nutrition services. This initiative ensures that employees receive essential health services without the added hassle of billing.
3. Open Communication and Engagement: Sarah's efforts in maintaining open communication between Hoos Well program offerings and Aetna demonstrate her dedication to keeping employees informed about available wellness resources. Her presence at events like UVA Staff Breakfast, UVA Health Week, and Open Enrollment’s Benefits & Well-Being Expos, even during night shifts, showcases her commitment to engagement.
4. Empowering Educational Opportunities: Sarah planned and executed the University Employee Wellness Summit, bringing together health and higher education professionals. This collaborative effort provided valuable insights for employees and highlighted UVA’s robust wellness program.
5. Innovative Approach during Challenging Times: Sarah’s resourcefulness during the COVID-19 pandemic (particularly in finding a budget-friendly virtual vendor for UVA Benefits & Well-Being Expos) demonstrated her ability to adapt and ensure that essential events continued seamlessly.

Sarah’s dedication to promoting wellness for UVA employees and the surrounding community has a far-reaching impact. Her initiatives have improved individuals' lives and contributed to a healthier and more vibrant UVA community. We celebrate her efforts and look forward to witnessing her future contributions to the UVA community.

Category: Exceptional Execution (team category)

UVA Human Resources is pleased to celebrate the outstanding collaborative efforts of George Minor, Tonia Duncan-Rivers, Elizabeth Feola, and Lucy Cummings, a dedicated team within Rewards & Recognition. Their combined contributions have significantly enhanced HR operations and positively impacted the UVA community. Let’s look at the team’s collective achievements:

1. Strengthening Alignment with UVA Health HR: Over the past year, the R&R team has worked tirelessly to align their functional programs and events with UVA Health HR’s recruitment and retention efforts. This strategic collaboration is paramount in delivering excellence to UVA Health and ensuring the satisfaction and retention of our valued team members.
2. Promoting Academic Excellence Through Awards: The team’s efforts in managing various academic awards, including the prestigious President’s Award, showcase their commitment to recognizing and rewarding excellence within the UVA community. These initiatives play a vital role in acknowledging and celebrating the accomplishments of our outstanding faculty and staff.
3. Managing Vendors and Events with Diligence: The team’s dedication is evident in their meticulous management of vendors, events, and overall satisfaction. Their commitment extends beyond standard working hours, with efforts often stretching late into the night. This level of diligence ensures that every event is executed flawlessly.
4. Fostering a Culture of Appreciation: The team empowers leadership and management to express gratitude and appreciation to our employees and team members through consistent efforts. These gestures, both big and small, contribute to a culture of recognition that strengthens morale and reinforces the value we place on our team members.

George, Tonia, Elizabeth, and Lucy’s combined efforts have optimized HR operations and created a positive and appreciative work environment. Their dedication to recognizing excellence resonates with employees across UVA, fostering a culture of belonging and appreciation.

The collaborative spirit and exceptional execution demonstrated by George Minor, Tonia Duncan-Rivers, Elizabeth Feola, and Lucy Cummings are shining examples of effective teamwork’s impact within a large institution like UVA. Their contributions have been integral to the success of HR initiatives and the satisfaction of our valued employees.

If you would like to nominate a colleague who exceeds customer expectations, streamlines a work process, or a group of seven or fewer colleagues who completed a project important to the University’s mission and vision, access the Nomination Form here! Nominations are due by the 15th of every month. More information can be found on the HR Pillar Award webpage.

Questions? Contact Tonia Duncan-Rivers.