One Physical Plant department recently held a special ceremony to thank its employees for their service, stewardship and dedication.

Custodial Services held its 29th annual Custodial Training and Employee Recognition Event on Friday, May 15. Phys Planters received Service Recognition Awards and Stewardships Awards, as well as attendance and education awards for their continued service. The event took place in the Business College Complex and was followed by dinner in the Snyder-Phillips cafeteria.

As one of the few times of the year Custodial Services employees are all gathered together, the awards night allows co-workers to socialize and catch up with each other. Director of Building Services Gus Gosselin said that the annual events “feel like a family reunion.”

Custodian I Cynthia Jones, who received a Service Recognition Award, said, “It gives the whole custodial department a chance to meet, and it pulls us all together as one.”

Speakers at the ceremony included Gosselin, Service Manager III Ted Minnick, Unit Human Resources Administrator Michelle Jacobs, Administrative Assistant I Darius Bradley, Service Manager III Brandon Baswell, Assistant Vice President of the Physical Plant Ron Flinn, and special guest Phil Zeller, a motivational speaker.

According to Baswell, the awards ceremony is a good way to communicate the values of Custodial Services while commending the staff on their work. “We want to recognize how our employees are doing their jobs in a manner that the University and the department is proud of,” he said.

May 21, 2009