Jerry Klein, an enforcement/maintenance manager for Parking Services, has been named the recipient of the STAR Award for January 2010. He has served the University since 1987.
Joe Blohm, director of Parking Services and University Books & More nominated him. His nomination letter follows:
“Jerry Klein routinely goes above and beyond the call of duty to be of service to the campus community, but this summer he surpassed his normal high standards by pulling off two minor miracles in one week. These miracles improved the lives of approximately 300 students and 50 staff members.
“On a regular basis, Mr. Klein strives to make life better for the campus community. Whether it’s helping a student shovel their car out after a snow storm, or notifying a faculty/staff member that their lights are on, or that their trunk is unlatched, or their tire is losing air, Jerry helps make people’s days a little easier.
“During the period of Aug. 28-Sept. 4, 2009, Jerry performed two minor miracles that went far beyond preventing a dead car battery.
“In the late afternoon of Friday, Aug. 28, Parking Services received the plans for the layout and signage of the two parking areas at the new Campus Services Building. With Jerry’s leadership and hard work, both parking areas were ready for use by the end of the day on Wednesday, Sept. 2. This meant that 200 students and approximately 50 staff members had professionally prepared parking stalls ready for their use in time for back-to-school. The stalls for the University’s fleet vehicles were also ready.
“The second minor miracle was even more important. At 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27, Parking Services received word that the Oshkosh Area School District had accepted our offer to lease the Lincoln School parking lot for the ’09/’10 academic year. This meant that Jerry had one work day to get this lot striped and signed by move-in Sunday/Monday. Working feverishly, Jerry had the lot ready by mid- afternoon on Friday. As a result, we were able to call 100 Resident students to tell them, yes, you can bring your car to UW Oshkosh when you move-in on Sunday or Monday, after all. Previously, all of these students had been told not to bring a car because we did not have parking for them.
“Jerry’s ‘can do’ attitude will save the University approximately $5,600 in ’09/’10. When Mr. Klein learned that Parking Services needed to hire two Limited Term Employees (LTE) to drive the daily shuttle back and forth between the University and the new Campus Services Building, Jerry suggested we hire only one LTE and that he and his staff would handle shuttle runs in the afternoons. As stated above, this should save the University roughly $5,600 in ’09/’10. Mr. Klein is a true professional and very deserving of the STAR Award.”
Winners of the STAR Award receive a framed certificate, a reserved parking space for one month and a gift from University Books & More. The award for exceptional performance is presented each month to a member of the classified staff who has worked at least six months at UW Oshkosh.
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