Winner: Aimee Ellett

Highlights from her nomination letter:

“Aimee has continuously supported our team over the last three years as our team worked tirelessly to onboard a new customer relationship management platform (CRM) commonly referred to as AMP, which we worked to integrate with different UIT systems (e.g., Duo single sign-on, Zoom, and a web file transfer process).

Aimee has a wonderfully positive attitude and a kind spirit, and she has been instrumental in ensuring key systems are functional to meet the mission critical needs of the School of Medicine. As a recent example, Aimee worked with a representative from the Admissions team to seamlessly navigate the new OAuth 2.0 authorization protocol for Zoom and connected our team with the appropriate Zoom administrators to ensure appropriate permissions were in place for the School of Medicine Admissions Office’s upcoming virtual interview season.

Aimee is a content expert and her commitment to ongoing improvement, creative problem-solving, and a high standard of work is evident. She exudes the profound service excellence and legacy of Kevin Taylor for her superior service and commitment to UIT and to the University of Utah.”

~ Submitted by Jennifer Handrop and Jessica Hurtado, School of Medicine Office of Admissions

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Excerpts from the letters for the other nominees:

Chris Moore

Middleware system administrator, Web Application Development & Automation team, Software Platform Services, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) organization

“Chris’ experience working in UIT (and formerly at the University Campus Help Desk) has made him remarkably proficient in handling challenging or unusual questions, even those beyond his regular scope. Yet, more extraordinary is his enduring patience and innate ability to pose the precise follow-up questions that lead to solutions for said questions.

Chris is a kind and humble individual who is naturally inclined to assist others, regardless of the circumstances. On several occasions, despite being out of the office due to illness or scheduled time-off, he has actively participated in time-sensitive discussions via Microsoft Teams, offering invaluable insights. While not mandatory for someone in his role, his commitment to remaining engaged with his team even when off-duty is commendable. This willingness to share knowledge, offer guidance, and collaborate with colleagues has enhanced our cross-functional team dynamics and contributed to the professional growth of numerous individuals, myself included.

Another of Chris’ admirable traits is his effective communication with diverse audiences. He regularly updates our team on his progress with projects tied to our platforms and services, allowing us to be on alert for potential issues. And in the rare event of a problem arising, he promptly resolves it. Furthermore, he possesses the ability to distill highly technical information into understandable terms for those with limited technical knowledge. This skill is pivotal in conveying information to our team’s clients and providing them with comprehensive answers to questions or requests that I might struggle to address on my own.

I am confident that these exceptional qualities and his substantial contributions to the success of our respective teams' initiatives warrant recognition and celebration.”

~ Submitted by Emily Jacoby, Content Management & Usability team in University Support Services

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Teri Pearson

Information coordinator, Account Executives and UTV team, UIT Network Services, CTO organization

“Ten years at UIT this is the first time I have felt the desire to nominate an employee for the Taylor Memorial Service Award. But over the past few years, I think this employee has become so good at their job, so dedicated to UIT, and proved how crucial a role they play on their team, I had to nominate. Teri Pearson is a very hard working employee. She is an incredible multitasker all the while ensuring every aspect of her job doesn’t fall any bit short of excellence.

She is diligent, creative, organized, tenacious, and valuable. Her work ethic makes a difference to those she encounters and makes their job easier. Knowledge is unparallel in her area. I recently worked directly with Teri on a project. She would just evoke admiration. She is always consistent in her job performance. She is patient, professional, and skilled. I’m amazed by how she maintains her performance while taking on even more work. She’s a rock star!”

~ Submitted by Brandon Zimmerman, UIT & UETN Accounting & Finance