Three FCBE Staff Members Win Fogelman Force Awards

For release:  May 12, 2011

Three outstanding staff members received Fogelman Force Awards at the College Faculty and Staff Meeting on April 28.  Established in 2009 by a group of Fogelman faculty, the Fogelman Force Awards Program provides an avenue for faculty to recognize the outstanding efforts and contributions of staff who support College programs and activities.  Candidates are nominated by College faculty members, and the FCBE Continuous Improvement Committee reviews nominations and determines award recipients.  The winners for spring semester 2011 were Pat Taylor, Laura Edwards, and Michael Houston.  Each received a gift certificate in recognition of the award.  

Pat Taylor has worked in the College for 30 years, holding many staff support roles, most recently as advisor of students with international business majors in the undergraduate program and advisor and coordinator for the IMBA program.  In her nomination, Pat was recognized for her mastery of “everything required to recruit, socialize, advise and ensure the success of students in the IMBA program.”  Students in the program from disparate cultures have expressed appreciation for her student orientation, her calm demeanor, and her knowledge and willingness to do whatever it takes to help them succeed in their programs.  Pat’s dedicated service in the  international programs of the College will be missed as she is retiring in June. 

Laura Edwards has effectively filled multiple assignments in the College during the last three decades.  Laura’s roles have included successful conference planning for dozens of events in the Fogelman Executive Center and the Institute for Emerging Technologies, providing administrative and budgetary support for the FedEx Supply Chain Management Center, and currently performing critical roles as a staff member for the Economic Club of Memphis.  Her nomination noted: “Her passion for high quality, personal service, and her attention to detail have helped to make the Fogelman College a classy and professional act, and has made us all look better as a result.”

Michael Houston is in his second year as a manager of tech support for the Fogelman College.  

Michael not only effectively maintains a staff of 7-8 graduate assistants who provide tech support for classrooms, faculty, and staff and operate the computer labs, but he also specs and orders computer and related equipment, handles the computer hardware exchanges, and fills an important liaison role with U of M central IT division.  In addition to his technical ability to efficiently address computer problems, his nomination referenced his pleasant and professional demeanor and “responsiveness, flexibility, and sensitivity that helps faculty and staff maintain their activities with minimal disruption of their work.”

(From left: Pat Taylor, Laura Edwards, and Michael Houston)