Environmental Progress - Fall 2004

Employees of the Month

Editor's Note: Each month the Illinois EPA recognizes outstanding employees for making quality part of every job they do. Three recent honorees are listed below.

Max Twum was the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's Employee of the Month for June 2004. Max works for the Division of Laboratories in Champaign where he analyzes water samples for inorganic elements using a highly technical machine. The project requires 20 analytes of each of the 30,000 samples received annually, with a resultant 600,000 lines of data.

In addition, Max worked on the metals team analyzing the more than 30,000 water samples from throughout the state, filling in where needed as co-workers left the unit or were away from the lab temporarily.

The Champaign laboratory's safety program has benefited from Max's leadership for six years.

He teaches the procedures for inspecting safety equipment to other staff; supervises three junior safety officers, and holds meetings once a month on safety issues. He schedules safety classes for fellow employees, including CPR and fire extinguisher handling. Also, he keeps excellent documentation of safety equipment services. There has not been a major accident in the lab during the six years that Max has been in charge of the safety program.

Mark Schollenberger was the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's Employee of the Month for July 2004. Mark serves as the lead worker in the Disposal Alternatives Unit, Division of Land Pollution Control, in the Bureau of Land. He has worked for the Agency for more than 20 years.

Mark was recognized for his knowledge of environmental regulations and his ability to provide guidance and background information on multifaceted issues confronting his unit and his co-workers. Due to his expertise, frequently he is responsible for controversial and complex projects that require coordination with other Agency bureaus and interaction with the regulated community and the general public.

He helps with the federal hazardous waste management database and often is found researching the files for required information that aid in interpreting hazardous waste regulations.

We were assured that his selection was in no way influenced by the fact that he keeps his candy dish full, thus providing chocolate and other treats to all his co-workers and friends who stop by his desk.

Linda Williams was the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's Employee of the Month for August 2004. Linda works in the Bureau of Land Records Management Unit. She was awarded for her diligence, attention to detail, and desire for accuracy,

Linda performs document preparation and quality control for pending Agency imaging projects and quality assurance activities for resulting document images and microfilm. She participated in the imaging of 25,000 Bureau of Land engineering drawings and aerial photographs currently available electronically.

In addition, she assists in the processing, filing and setting up of new file folders for the incoming 55 lineal feet of paper each month, an average of 7,000 documents. She maintains the files, which requires repairing and typing new microfilm jackets, printing new bar-code labels for expansion, and other tasks that keep the files orderly and current.

Her "can do" approach to the work and her willingness to help where needed are much appreciated.

Stormy Stillwell was the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's Employee of the Month for September 2004. Stormy is the office coordinator for the Champaign Inorganic Laboratory, coordinating all laboratory clerical tasks and customer inquiries for a wide variety of subjects. She handles all the paperwork for insurance, benefits, etc. for new employees and introduces them to the state personnel system. In addition, she is the timekeeper for the laboratory staff and their varying schedules.

Stormy was recognized for her organizational skills, attention to detail, and her ability to anticipate and resolve potential problems before they occur. She makes certain that the laboratory does not run out of supplies and reminds individuals of responsibilities and appointments. She compiles and distributes weekly reports, aids personnel with report writing or completion of forms when needed, and takes many calls related to the shipment and delivery of testing bottles. She assists in the shipment of the proper bottles for each program to ensure that they are sent out in a timely manner.

Her knowledge of specific computer software programs enables her to accurately prepare reports containing complex chemical names, statistics and methodologies. She has recently taken on responsibility for printing out what can be batches of 10,000 different labels for the lead/copper, nitrate, inorganic, and other sampling programs.

Rebecca Oswald was the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's Employee of the Month for October 2004. Rebecca works for the Bureau of Land in the Des Plaines Regional Office where she is known for her thoroughness and the high quality of her work.

Rebecca responded immediately to address citizen concerns regarding a site in Lockport, Illinois. She reviewed records of the site, sent weekly e-mail updates to other staff, coordinated sampling, and assisted with an expanded site inspection. She performed over-site activities at both Paxton I and Paxton II landfills for the completion of the landfill caps. She assisted the Project Manager in arranging a source for the soil needed for landfill construction at Paxton I Landfill.

Her willingness to keep a flexible schedule allows her to take on projects at a moment's notice. For example, she conducted a late in the day inspection at a site, prepared maps and a report that provided the Agency with necessary information in determining further action.

In 2003, Rebecca conducted 36 No Further Remediation inspections that involved, not only site visits, but also visits to a county courthouse to ensure the letters were properly recorded. She was able to provide training on how to conduct a title search for No Further Remediation letters to Leaking Underground Storage Tank staff, thus saving the cost of acquiring an outside contractor.

Rebecca's personal commitment, dedication, and performance are greatly appreciated.