On April 16, 2018, Kevin Smith transitioned from a Facilities Repair Worker-Advanced to an HVAC/Refrigeration Specialist-Advanced for Residence Life.

Congratulations, Kevin!

Name: Steve Meyer

Position at UWGB: Associate Professor (NAS – academic background is agricultural climatology) and Secretary of the Faculty and Staff (SOFAS)

Summary of what you do: Still trying to figure that out

How long have you been employed: 17^th year at UWGB

Brief history of employment with UWGB: Assistant/Associate Professor (2001-present), Faculty Co-Director of FOCUS (2007-2011, 2012-2015), SOFAS (2015-present)

Three words that describe you: Compassionate, loyal, honest

Any favorite line from a movie? “Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.”

Are you messy or organized? Organized (usually)

Describe what you were like at age 10. Hard working (already had two paper routes by 5^th grade) and loved 1930s and 1940s Universal Studios monster movies.

Do you have a favorite quote? “Fat may not be fashionable, but it is functional.” (I am rarely cold)

Do you have an office nickname? What is it?  Although only unnamed one person (Scott Ashmann) calls me this…King SOFAS X

Do you recall any embarrassing moment at work?  The time a student came up to me after class and said “Do you know your shirt is on inside out?” (give me a break, I dress in the dark so as to not wake up the Mrs.)

Favorite travel spot?  Northern Wisconsin.

If given a chance, who would you like to be for a day? The Governor – I would increase the budget of UWGB and give everyone a 50% raise.

If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be?  Jesus Christ

If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see? Crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

If you were an animal what would you be? My dog…spoiled, spoiled, spoiled.

If your house was burning down, what’s the one non-living thing you would save? Family photos.

Least favorite Food? Liver.

Motto or personal mantra? It takes a special kind of stupid to be SOFAS.

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us?  My guilty pleasure is Hallmark Christmas movies.

Tell us three things most people don’t know about you. 1) I enjoy horror/monster movies, 2) I love the Fall season, 3) 35^th anniversary coming up this May.

Top 3 life highlights? My marriage, birth of my kids, Cubs World Series Championship.

What advice would you give to recent new hires? Get to know as many people who work here as possible. Faculty, get to know staff and students. Staff, get to know faculty and students. Students, get to know faculty and staff. This place is surrounded by amazing people, get to know them!!

What book did you read last? The Walking Dead Compendium (don’t judge me, it is research for my First Year Seminar “The Science and History of Monsters”)

What celebrity do people think you look like? Jeffrey DeMunn (played Dale on “The Walking Dead”)

What children’s character can you relate with most? Why? Charlie Brown.

What do you like most about your job? Developing relationships with colleagues and students.

What do you like to do in your spare time? What is this “spare time” of which you speak?

What does a typical day look like for you? Try to be at the Kress Center gym by 6:15, in the office at 7:30, teaching/faculty duties in the morning, SOFAS duties in the afternoon. Leave around 5:45. Watch ABC Evening News and Jeopardy, walk the dog, watch a show, go to bed.

What is an ability you wish you had? The ability to control the weather.

What is the first concert you attended? Jethro Tull (they have been my favorite band since 1974)

What is the most important thing you have learned in the last five years? Patience is a virtue…and I am not very virtuous.

What is your biggest pet peeve? When I care more about a student learning the material than they do.

What is your favorite meal? Thanksgiving dinner.

What is your favorite movie and book? Movie: “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Book “Tuesdays with Morrie”.

What is your favorite sport? As a kid: baseball. As an adult: golf.

Hidden talent? Salsa making (although maybe that isn’t so hidden anymore).

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work? Golfing, gardening, fishing.

What one food do you wish had zero calories? Chocolate.

What phobias do you have? Claustrophobia: not a fan of tight, enclosed spaces. So, no, I’m not going spelunking with you.

What places have you lived in? Des Plaines, IL (24 years), Lincoln, NE (18 years), Green Bay WI (17 years).

What was your favorite book, toy, or outfit as a child? Tabletop hockey game.

What would you like to be famous for? Convincing the President and Congress that climate change is real so that they finally act on it.

What’s the one thing, you can’t live without? My wife.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten? You mean besides my own words?

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Retired?

Where is your favorite place to eat? Mackinaws.

Where is your home town? Des Plaines, IL (suburb of Chicago)

Where would you like to go on a dream vacation? I’ve always wanted to go to Vermont or New Hampshire in the Fall to see the turning leaves, but something always prevented me from doing so.

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are voluntary, employee-initiated social groups of University of Wisconsin– Green Bay faculty and staff that share common interests, issues, backgrounds, characteristics, or pursuits. Currently, UW-Green Bay has four active ERGS. Please review information about active ERGs at UW-Green Bay on the Inclusive Excellence Website.

Please see the information below related to the newest ERG:

The key interest of the Group for International Employee Support is to help international employees with questions, concerns, and general social support. This group is focused on interacting and sharing experiences while also guiding each other to new and available resources or local cultural experiences. International employees get a chance to share knowledge and provide support to each other in an inclusive environment. Employees gather once a month during the academic year in a social setting.

For more information about the Group for International Employee Support, please contact one of the following two facilitators:

1. Vallari Chandra (coordinator), Assistant Professor, chandnav@uwgb.edu or 920-465-2496
2. Jagadeep Thota, Assistant Professor, thotaj@uwgb.edu or 920-465-2817.

If you are interested in being contacted by the facilitator of any of the active ERGs, please complete the Employee Resource Group Interest Survey or directly contact a facilitator listed on the Inclusive Excellence Website.

If you are interested in facilitating a new Employee Resource Group, please see the Employee Resource Group Program Guidelines.

Pursuant to Chapter UWS 8 and Regent Policy Document 20-7, all UW System faculty, academic staff, and limited appointees with half-time appointments or more are required to report annually (by April 30 of each year) outside activities and interests related to their areas of professional responsibility and for which they receive remuneration.

All faculty, academic staff, and limited appointees should have received an e-mail on March 8, 2018 from Human Resources with instructions on how to fulfill this requirement as well as an associated escalation schedule for non-compliance. All forms must be returned to your budget unit chair or supervisor by Monday, April 30, 2018.  Your supervisor or chair will forward the completed forms to the Division Leader after they have been signed.

All employees must also be aware of Regent Policy Document 13-4: Wisconsin System Policy on Institutional and Employee Relationships with Educational Loan Lenders. Please review this document, as well as Regent Policy Document 20-22, which identifies guidelines related to employees’ public responsibilities and definitions of those activities that cause a conflict of interest.

Thank you for your attention. Please contact Human Resources at hr@uwgb.edu or (920) 465-2390 if you have any questions.

Abbey Sutherland started as the Head Women’s Volleyball Coach in Athletics on March 12, 2018.  She was the head volleyball coach at UW-Stevens Point from 2013-2018 and has a B.A. from St. Norbert College and an M.A. from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Abbey is actively involved with raising money and awareness through the Alzheimer’s Association.  She enjoys volleyball and traveling the world.  Abbey is married to Ryan Geschke.  She also has a brother Robbie and sister-in-law Anna who live in Ledgeview with their three children.  Her dad is her mom’s loving caretaker in a memory card facility due to the early onset of Alzheimers.

Abbey is from West Bend, Wisconsin.

Welcome, Abbey!

On March 1, 2018, Mai Lo Lee transitioned from Interim Diversity Director to Director in the MultiEthnic Student Affairs Department.

Congratulations, Mai!

The new year is upon us, and with it begins the University Staff performance evaluation process for the evaluation period of January 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017. Your supervisor should initiate this process with you within the next couple weeks.

Annual performance evaluations are a key component to employee performance and development and provide employees and their supervisors an opportunity to discuss job performance, set goals for professional development, establish objectives for contributing to the department’s mission, and discuss expectations and accomplishments.

Resources:

• Performance Evaluation (Non-Exempt University Staff)
• Performance Evaluation (Exempt University Staff)

In line with UW System compensation guidelines and the UW-Green Bay Compensation and Pay Plan Policy, all compensation adjustments must be based upon merit and employee performance.  Therefore, any future pay adjustments, including base rate adjustments and Board of Regents approved pay plan, will be contingent upon satisfactory performance.

In an effort to facilitate timely completion, evaluations are due by Friday, March 23, 2018.

Please note that annual performance evaluations are not required for individuals who have had a probationary review on or after July 1, 2017, or for new employees that have been hired since this date.

Please contact Human Resources if you have any questions about the University Staff performance evaluation process. Thank you.

Name: Brent Haack

Position at UWGB: Events Coordinator at the Kress Event Center

Summary of what you do: Besides coordinating events here at the Kress, I schedule the rooms throughout the building, supervise an event staff of 30 students, and help with other facility needs when asked.

How long have you been employed: 18 Months

Brief history of employment with UWGB: Outside of the four years I worked as student at the Kress Event Center, I started an LTE position as the Event Coordinator in September of 2016. After my LTE position, I applied to be the full time Events Coordinator and started my new position last July.

Three words that describe you: GB Alumni, Hardworking, Responsible

Personal interests: Sports, Outdoors, and Traveling

Random facts/interests: I owned a landscaping and snow removal business for 6 years named “Haack All Season Services LLC”.

Are you messy or organized? Organized

Do you have an office nickname? What is it?  Hawk

If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be?  Michael Jordan

If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see? The First Super Bowl

If you were an animal what would you be? Dog

If your house was burning down, what’s the one non-living thing you would save? My Cell Phone

Motto or personal mantra? Live every day to the fullest!!!

Tell us a little bit about your family. I have 3 brothers and a sister. One brother older than me, twin brothers that are younger than me, and my sister is the baby of the family.

What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most? Being able to work with College Students

What did you want to be when growing up? Business Owner

What do you like to do in your spare time? Adventure the countryside

What do you like to do on your days off? I like to spend time with family and friends.

What else do you do for fun? In the winter, I enjoy snowmobiling.

What is the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery? A new truck

What is your favorite meal? My favorite meal is Chicken and Rice

What is your favorite sport? My favorite sport is Football

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work? Something that has really gained my interest the last few years is hunting.

What’s the one thing, you can’t live without? My family

What’s your favorite thing to do in Green Bay? Attend Packer Games

Where is your home town? My home town is Mishicot, WI

Where would you like to go on a dream vacation? My dream vacation is a hunting trip to Montana or Canada.

Starting February 19, 2018, Amy Ibuaka will transition from the Phoenix Bookstore, where she worked as the Textbook Department Manager, to the College of Science and Technology as the new Dean Assistant.

Congratulations, Amy!