Barbara Blake Gonzales, Chief Administrative Officer, is the Employee of the Month for August
August 17, 2017
(L to R) Vicky Curtis, executive assistant for the Department of Economics; Barbara Blake Gonzales, Employee of the Month winner; Vinod Agarwal, Professor of Economics and director of ODU's Economic Forecasting Project
Barbara Blake Gonzales, the chief administrative officer for the Center for Economic Analysis and Policy, is Old Dominion University's Employee of the Month for August.
Blake Gonzales has been employed by the University since 2015.
Blake Gonzales created and continues to maintain the Center's "texttojoin" email database, which allows the center's events, press releases, publications and reports to reach subscribers in Hampton Roads, the greater Commonwealth and across the nation. She also serves as the point of contact for important community events and as a media liaison for the center's activities.
Blake Gonzales is being recognized for her dedication, which includes positively impacting participation in major events and contributing to a 25 percent increase in attendance during the 2016 State of the Commonwealth opening report presentation in Williamsburg.
According to Blake Gonzales' colleague Vicky Curtis, "Dr. Blake Gonzales wears many hats, and continues to execute all of her roles flawlessly. She's hard working, enthusiastic and a great asset to ODU."
Aside from her role at ODU, Blake Gonzales' colleagues say she continuously represents the ODU standard of leadership and professionalism throughout the community. Blake Gonzales has worked with several local girls to help them plan for their higher education futures. She was also asked to join the 2017 LEAD class of the Hampton Roads chapter of LEAD Virginia, a 9-month leadership program for emerging leaders.
DETAILS ABOUT THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH PROCESS
The University Employee of the Month Selection Committee encourages employees to nominate their outstanding, "go the extra mile" colleagues and employees. This program is designed to acknowledge and reward employees whose accomplishments and/or demeanor exemplify excellence, quality service and commitment to ODU. Classified and AP faculty employees receive a framed certificate from the president, $175 and one day of leave. Hourly winners get $250, since they are not eligible to receive recognition leave.
Note: The selection committee needs specific examples that relate to each applicable criterion in order to select a nominee for the award. Nominations remain active for six months from date of submission and nominators may submit additional documentation to support a nominee during the active six months.
The criteria used to nominate an employee include the following:
An outstanding accomplishment that benefited the department/students.
Extraordinary service to internal and/or external customers.
Inspiring initiative/leadership.
Enthusiasm/energy given to assigned work.
Teamwork.
Exemplary efforts to nurture a climate of care, concern and civility.
Creative innovations to service, process or work tools.
For more information contact Tony Belk at jbelk@odu.edu or 683-3046, or visit ODU's Employee of the Month website.
