Institute community members feted at OOD awards banquet

Robert Nesmith
Communications
& Marketing

	Joyce Lowe, School of Mechanical Engineering, shows her Defining Customer Service award to Lanous Wright, director of Georgia Tech Traning Services.

On Nov. 19, 200 members of the Tech community—from Housing to the College of Engineering and from the Office of Information Technology to the Georgia Tech Research Institute—received recognition from their peers and appreciation from Institute administration for completing career development courses offered by the Office of Organizational Development (OOD).

Interim President Gary Schuster opened the awards luncheon, thanking recipients, instructors and the community as a whole for fostering an atmosphere receptive to community development. “This is the fifth [awards] banquet since 2002,” he said. “OOD has one of the most robust staff-training programs among our peer institutions. We have recognized more than 700 recipients to date, and this year a record 262 recipients will receive awards.”

While Schuster reiterated the challenges Tech, Georgia and the nation are facing in light of recent budgetary and financial concerns, he also said how inspiring it was to see Tech come together “as a community of students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents and friends of Georgia Tech.

“We invest in our students, invest in our faculty and invest in our staff. Thank you for not only investing in yourself, but in Georgia Tech,” he said.

	Defining Customer Service awards are lined up to be presented at the banquet.

Director of Training Services Lanous Wright echoed these sentiments, after which recipients began their “graduation” walks across the stage—to cheering and clapping from members of their respective departments and units. Awards were given in nine different classes: Office Professional, Supervisory Development, Management Development, Departmental Financial Development, Course Leader, Emerging Leaders and Academic Advisors, along with the two newest courses, Defining Customer Service and Emergency Preparedness.

Defining Customer Service, first offered in March 2007, seeks to inform and enhance customer service across the Institute, expanding on initiatives launched by Gov. Sonny Perdue and University System of Georgia Board of Regents’ Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr. Last fall, more than 50 certificates were awarded. This year, OOD recognized 70 recipients—the largest total group by far.

Started in fall 2007, the Emergency Preparedness certificate informs the Institute community on handling campus events such as a fire, chemical spill or weather emergency. According to Emergency Preparedness Director Andrew Altizer, the first group to complete the course numbered about 40 people.

Steven Swant, executive vice president for Administration and Finance, wrapped up the program, thanking recipients for taking the time necessary to enhance and plan their career development.

“It’s important to continue these efforts,” he said. “We all should take pride in [OOD], one of the cutting-edge programs in higher education and the country.”

The training calendar for 2009 classes, including the new Financial Management Certificate Program, has been posted on OOD’s Web site.