Employees' money-saving efforts earn big awards for UF

April 17, 2007

Several University of Florida employees have been recognized in the 2007 Prudential Financial-Davis Productivity Award program for their efforts to save the university money. The annual awards honor government employees in Florida for innovation, creativity, and smart work that increases performance and productivity in delivering services and products.

This year the UF FICA Alternative Team will receive a $500 award for its implementation of a retirement plan for temporary employees. Besides helping employees save for retirement, the plan also has saved the university millions in Social Security taxes since it began in January 2006.

“We estimate that this will save the university over $4 million each year,” said Paula Varnes Fussell, the associate vice president for human resource services and functional project leader for the team. “This was the best team we’ve had in a long time on a project. Everything went smoothly because of their dedication.”

A commemorative plaque will go to the Electronic Personnel Action Form Project Team for its work streamlining human resources transactions through enhanced electronic forms. The Student eBill Implementation Team will receive a certificate of commendation for reducing paper and postage use through an electronic billing system.

Anthony Bouton, the only individual Davis award winner, also will receive a certificate of commendation for digitizing and editing hundreds of video and music clips for classes in the Warrington College of Business.

After seeing instructors struggle to access different audio and video file formats during lectures, the audiovisual specialist decided to create digital files of all the media to save time and make recording a lecture much smoother.

“We’ve been digitizing classes for quite some time now. I just took that idea and put it on a smaller level,” Bouton said. “I appreciate the nomination by Professor Robert Emerson because it shows that teachers are appreciative of my efforts.”

Winners will attend the University of Florida Davis Productivity Awards Recognition Luncheon from noon to 2 p.m. May 30 in the Arredondo Room of the Reitz Student Union. The regional awards presentation ceremony will be held June 20 at the Best Western Gateway Grand in Gainesville.

A vision of the late J.E. Davis and A.D. Davis, co-founders of Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. and co-founders of Florida TaxWatch, the Davis Productivity Award program has publicly recognized and rewarded state employees since 1989.

The 2007 competition attracted 503 nominations for innovations and productivity improvements totaling $332 million in savings and increased revenue for state government. A committee of Florida TaxWatch staff and a panel of judges make final award decisions.

“The awards recognize both individual and team contributions in program and technology initiatives by our staff,” said Kyle Cavanaugh, senior vice president for administration. “We are very proud of their collective accomplishments and it is wonderful that an outside organization has recognized their achievements.”

UF’s Davis Award winners

FICA Alternative Team ($500 cash award)
Implemented a retirement plan for temporary (OPS) employees

  • Paula Fussell, Janet Malphurs; Human Resources
  • Steve Wing, Mary Alice Albritton, Jim Freymann, Jane Thomas, Nicole Garvey, Tom Cassarly, Greg McEachern; Bridges
  • Linda Orfield, Murphy Miller; Payroll
  • Gloria Sheffield, Sheela Moudgil, Cheryl Bell; Finance and Accounting
  • Donna Kolb; Student Financial Affairs
  • Eric Davidson; Tax Services

ePAF Project Team (Plaque)
Streamlined Human Resources transactions through enhanced electronic forms

  • Melissa Curry, Andy Jeffers, Bob Willits, Jae Won Lee; Bridges
  • Janet Malphurs; Human Resources
  • Mary Ann Morgan; Liberal Arts
  • Beth Douglas; Chemistry

Student eBill Implementation Team (Certificate of Commendation)
Implemented Electronic Billing System Reduced Paper/Postage

  • Andrew McDonald, Carol Cohen, Alan Cook, Dan Hanson, Patti Perkins, Kathy Sachs, Debbie Sams; Bridges
  • Diane Hurtak, Ruth Harris; Financial Services
  • Ward Wilson, Vicki Clifford, Nolan Garido; Registrar

Anthony Bouton (Certificate of Commendation)
Digitized/edited hundreds of video/music clips for business classes
Audiovisual Specialist, Instructional Support
Dudziak-McClintock Business Technology Center, Warrington College of Business