By Beverly Newsam,
University Affairs
Some find a busy
environment stressful and tiring, but not Connie Guthrie, business manager in
the College of Information Science and Technology (IS&T). She said the
office bustle inspires and challenges her.
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"There are
days that I am being pulled in so many directions that I scarcely know what
time it is," she said. "However, they are frequently the most challenging and
the most fun."
She joined UNO
in the fall of 1995 as a secretary in the computer science department,
relocating a year later to the dean's office in the newly formed College of
IS&T. Starting her job at the beginning of a semester enabled Guthrie to
quickly become acclimated to her surroundings.
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Photo by Tim Fitzgerald
Connie Guthrie (center) received UNO's Employee of the Year Award from
Chancellor Nancy Belck and Joe Price, president of the Staff Advisory
Council. She was presented with the award March 29 at the annual Faculty
Senate/Staff Advisory Council Recognition Dinner.
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"What a week to begin a
new position at a university—the busiest of the whole year," she said. "I had
never seen so many people in my life who needed to know where to go and how to
find a room. I barely knew how to find my own office, much less a faculty
member's or a classroom!"
From the get-go, she
said she has enjoyed the everyday challenges that come with working in a
college of 58 full-time faculty and staff members. Some of her tasks include
working with grant and budgeting issues, collaborating with Human Resources in
the hiring process and assisting with the relocation of newly hired faculty.
During her time at UNO,
Guthrie has gained the respect of many of her colleagues, in addition to
various recommendations for the January 2004 Employee of the Month Award and,
more recently, the 2004 Employee of the Year Award. "Such an award is long
overdue for Connie," one nominator wrote. "She has been so consistently on top
of the game for so long that I'm now convinced she's the glue that holds the
whole place together."
She was named the 2004
Employee of the Year March 29 at the annual Faculty Senate/Staff Advisory
Council recognition dinner. Guthrie said it is an honor that was quite
unexpected. "I was stunned," she said.
"Then I wondered, 'How did I get selected?'"
Guthrie received a cash
prize as part of the Employee of the Year Award in appreciation for her
dedication to UNO. "My husband and I are taking a trip in June and we'll
probably use this for that trip," she said. "Obviously, this was pretty
exciting to receive."
She said a wide range of work experiences has led to her success
at UNO. "Employment in a variety of industries, including working on a U.S. Air
Force base and a U.S. Army post, has been instrumental in one way or another in
helping me prepare for my position at UNO," she said.
Her experience, in addition to her exceptional organizational and
interpersonal skills, has made her a favorite among her peers. "Connie Guthrie
is the most professional, courteous and competent colleague that I have ever
worked with," another co-worker wrote. "She is a quiet leader who works
extremely well with people. Her positive personality and work ethic has been
inspiring to her colleagues, and we are very lucky to have her as a member of
our college family."
Guthrie said it was chance that brought her to UNO, as she was new
in town and happened to be in the neighborhood. "I had only moved to Omaha a
day or two earlier and accidentally drove by the campus," she said. "I was immediately
interested. It was my first time working in a university environment, and I
really enjoy it."
Co-workers said her
positive outlook emanates throughout the College of IS&T, making it an
outstanding place to work as well as an effective entity in the community and
beyond. "People who work with Connie see UNO as a professional, well-organized
and very trustworthy institution," one individual said. "These impressions are
very important if UNO is to build alliances with external international
institutions."
As Employee of the Month
and now the Employee of the Year, Guthrie said she has enjoyed receiving kudos
from fellow workers. However, she said others in the College of IS&T also
deserve recognition. "I'd like to thank everyone who has been so supportive of
me being selected for this honor," she said. "The congratulations and comments
I have received have been pretty overwhelming. Also, I would like to thank Dean
Hinton and Associate Dean Ali for providing an environment that is so pleasant
to work in."
