KU announces June employees of the month
LAWRENCE —The University of Kansas has bestowed Employee of the Month honors for June 2013. They are as follows:
University Support Staff Employee of the Month
Who: Laurie Funk
Start date: 2006
Current title: Payroll and benefits specialist, Human Resources
What that means: Funk keys new hires and reappointment information into the HRPay system, which was upgraded in a major overhaul in 2012. One sometimes complex duty involves verification of the information on a new offer letter with data in the HRPay system. Funk also is called on to correct the data entry of colleagues when necessary.
Notable: For a significant part of two years, Funk covered for a vacant staff position and trained three new hires into the job in addition to completing all her own responsibilities and tasks. Due to turnover, she has at times had the sole responsibility for keying every appointment on campus. This not only requires excellent attention to detail and tracking several payroll panels at once, but the individual also must field the many inquiries that flow in regarding activation of appointments and any issues holding them up. Funk skillfully juggles it all.
University Unclassified Staff Employee of the Month
Who: Andrew Hause
Start date: 1996
Current title: Associate technical director for the Lied Center
What that means: Hause leads crews of students and professional stagehands in all aspects of running the technical systems for shows and events at the Lied Center. He also maintains the technical systems and makes sure all backstage areas are clean, safe, and organized. He provides a vital service that makes it possible for the Lied Center both to operate and to offer a rich and diverse performing arts experience. He also works with a variety of artists, faculty and staff.
Notable: A large Broadway-tour show might require Hause to work nonstop from a 7 a.m load-in through the performance and then to completion of load-out in the early morning hours. This is extremely hard work and requires he be on his feet, working and negotiating with the road crew, managing large groups of stagehands (up to 60 or 70 for a large show), integrating technical systems, troubleshooting and solving myriad problems. One recent example of his adaptability was mounting the "Guru of Chai," designed for a small theater, in the Lied Center Pavilion. This required extensive creativity and technical genius to make work, but Hause and his team made it happen, and the show went off without a hitch.