Barbara Angelotti receives 2011 Outstanding Staff Award in National Capital Region

Barbara Angelotti, office manager, Occoquan Laboratory, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, was awarded the 2011 Outstanding Staff Award during last week's staff appreciation luncheon, the first event held at the new Virginia Tech Research Center – Arlington. Jim Bohland, vice president and executive director, National Capital Region Operations, presented Angelotti with the sixth annual staff award – which carries a $500 prize – in recognition of "consistent exceptional service to the university." Charmaine Carter, assistant to the MBA director, Business Administration Program, and Myriam Lechuga, administrative assistant, School of Public and International Affairs, were honored with plaques as nominees for the award. (Lechuga was not in attendance)

The Outstanding Staff Award winner was chosen by a selection committee convened by Sherry Fontaine, associate dean of the Graduate School in the National Capital Region and director of the Northern Virginia Center. Serving on the committee were Gabriella Belli, associate professor emerita, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies; Debbie Cash, coordinator, Northern Virginia Resource Center and recipient of last year's award; and Kenneth Wong, assistant professor/research.

Angelotti has served in her current position at the Occoquan Lab for more than 25 years. In her nomination letter she was described as someone who wears "many hats," including accounting, purchasing, human resources, and facilities management – all activities necessary to support operations.

"Ms Angelotti has a knack for making new arrivals feel welcome during what, at times, is a difficult adjustment....On more than one occasion, she has found apartments, kitchenware, and even sofas for new students!

The nomination letter elaborated:" During a more than $1 million renovation/expansion project, the past two years, she has functioned as the deputy project manager. She took care to be fully informed on all aspects of the project, so that...she could seamlessly take on responsibility for communication and coordination with sub-contractors, including roofing, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, carpentry and specialty laboratory casework installers...managed to resolve any number of conflicts between groups well before they escalated to the point that they would have negative scheduling or financial implications."

During the staff appreciation luncheon and awards ceremony Bohland also recognized three staff members celebrating 10 year anniversaries at Virginia Tech this year. They are: Justin Davenport, director, Information Services; Khristi Moore, administrative support specialist, Virginia Bioinformatics Institute; and Kristin Sorensen, library assistant, Resource Center.

The staff appreciation celebration included a barbecue luncheon and ice cream sundaes served by the faculty and raffles for door prizes. Staff and faculty attending the event were among the first to have the opportunity to tour the new research center.

Posted June 2, 2011