Reona: Goal setting is important for my growth because it provides clear direction and purpose and holds me accountable. It allows me to track my progress and make improvements as needed. Goal setting is also a means of reflection – it requires me to pause and take inventory of my accomplishments and growth throughout the years.

Ben: The exercise of setting goals each year helps to challenge me to look beyond the essential functions of my job and find areas where I can push for growth both personally and professionally.

Aleara: I feel that setting goals provides me with direction and something to work towards. It is crucial to my growth because, without goals, I would simply wander through life and my career. I always ensure to set specific, tangible goals and focus on the motivation behind them to encourage myself to work harder and stay on track. Additionally, there is immense satisfaction in achieving the goals you set, especially when they initially seemed like “if all the stars align” type of goals.

Reona: Exciting changes are underway in the Office of Equal Opportunity, Compliance, and Conflict Management (EOCCM). In my role this year, I am eager to contribute to the development and growth of the office by helping memorialize processes, trainings, and onboarding new staff.

Ben: This year, I plan to focus my professional goals on utilizing existing data on campus accessibility and enhancing learning opportunities for accessible event planning. By identifying patterns and trends in the existing accessibility data, we can suggest procedures and protocols to enhance the accessibility and usability of the GT campus community. In addition, providing educational opportunities on accessible event planning will assist our campus community to understand best practices in providing a usable and adaptive environment for all participants in GT sponsored meetings, events and activities.

Aleara: In my role as an Organizational Readiness Lead, my professional goals for 2025 focus on enhancing the effectiveness of readiness initiatives by developing a feedback loop that assesses impact and drives continuous improvement. By collaborating with stakeholders to gather valuable insights and implementing data-driven enhancements, I aim to align readiness efforts with Georgia Tech’s core values of responsible stewardship, collaboration and innovation. Prioritizing these goals will ensure that organizational changes are effectively adopted and sustainable long-term.

Given the advancements in A.I., I am eager to learn more about Artificial Intelligence and explore ways to incorporate it into my role. Additionally, I plan to pursue advanced certifications and participate in workshops and conferences to further expand my professional knowledge and network.

Reona: As I enter my third year as an investigator at Georgia Tech, I’ve gained valuable experience and insights into the field of investigations. This year, I am eager to submit a proposal to present at a conference and share the insights I’ve gained with fellow investigators who are just starting out in this profession.

Ben: As a lifelong learner, I always have a personal goal to enhance my knowledge. and this year I am focused on the changing legal landscape for ADA policy in higher education. With this knowledge, I can incorporate this understanding into my daily work and guidance to the GT community.

Aleara: Yes, I've jumped on the vision board bingo bandwagon, and I'm loving it! Believe it or not, I have 24 personal goals that I intend to achieve by the end of the year. Some of them include taking a pottery class, cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles at an away game next season, becoming conversational in another language, and reading at least two books a month. All of these goals are a meaningful way to broaden my horizons and enrich my life. It's going to be an exciting year!

Cheryl: It allows for diverse perspectives, encourages open lines of communication, and can build relationships to help foster a sense of community and teamwork.

Diana: Cross-departmental collaboration is integral to achieving our overall goals and objectives at the Administrative Services Center (ASC). By fostering collaboration and partnership across departments on campus, we ensure that all perspectives and expertise are leveraged, leading to more innovative solutions and interconnected strategies within the division and with our campus partners. Not only does this enhance our efficiency, but it also strengthens our ability to continuously improve the experience and journey of our campus partners. Most importantly, it benefits our students, who remain our top priority. 

Kimberly: My collaborators and I are dedicated to being responsible stewards of Georgia Tech's resources. We understand that many of the current challenges in A&F arise from the fragmented flow of data across various campus systems. Through our collaborations, we bring together functional users from across campus with technical staff to develop innovative solutions that enhance interoperability between systems that otherwise don't communicate with each other.

Cheryl: Our unit, Infrastructure and Sustainability(I&S), participated in the Week of Welcome for new students. As the event leader, I coordinated with various departments in I&S to solicit their participation. This collaboration was crucial; by involving multiple departments, we were able to create an informative and interactive experience that showcased all aspects of I&S campus operations. The diverse contributions enriched the event, making it more engaging and beneficial for the students.

Diana: One recent project where I collaborated with colleagues from various departments on campus was Interviewing @Tech. This project involved working closely with colleagues from the ASC, Georgia Tech Human Resources, HR Partners, Georgia Tech Research Institute, and pilot groups representing a cross-section of the campus. A key aspect of the collaboration was cross-departmental coordination, which ensured a comprehensive change management plan and ultimately strengthened our relationships with colleagues across campus for future initiatives.

Kimberly: The creation of CPF Bot, which has approved more than 5,300 position funding change transactions since it went live in August. This was a collaboration between me, the Commitment Accounting team, and the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) group.

Cheryl: To ensure effective communication and coordination, it's essential to start with a clearly defined goal for the event and how your colleagues can contribute to achieving it. For every event I organize, my primary objective is to provide an exceptional customer experience for attendees. By involving representatives from various departments within I&S, we were able to effectively highlight our initiatives, explain our processes, and emphasize our commitment to students as our top priority. This collaborative strategic approach not only enhances the event, but also strengthens our collective focus on improving the student experience on campus.

Diana: I prioritize regular check-ins and open communication to maintain strong connections, address issues, and foster collaboration. While I enjoy using tools like Teams, Outlook, and SharePoint for virtual interactions, I prefer the personal touch of in-person conversations, which help build stronger relationships. And to brighten my colleagues’ days, I always keep chocolate handy—it’s a simple but magical way to share joy and bring smiles!

Kimberly: To ensure effective communication and coordination in collaboration, it's crucial that everyone shares a common vision of the final product. Tools like Microsoft Teams facilitate regular check-in meetings, while SharePoint is ideal for centralizing process documentation and ensuring everyone has access to the latest information. This combination helps keep the team aligned and informed throughout the project.

Ericka: To me, sustainability is about creating a lasting positive impact by using resources responsibly, reducing waste, and ensuring that today’s activities don’t compromise tomorrow’s well-being.

Vanessa: Coming from a family that had to be frugal, I was living sustainably before I even knew what sustainability was. To me, it means being conscious of our choices and their consequences, especially in relation to our fellow humans, creatures, plants, and future generations. It's about ensuring that we manage resources in a way that allows both ourselves and others to thrive in the long term

Lisa: To me sustainability is living within a reasonable means as to not adversely affect other people or natural systems. Making the least impact so as to allow others to have all they need, both individually and as a society.  

Ericka: Being sustainable is vital because it helps protect our planet's resources, supports healthy communities, and ensures a higher quality of life for future generations. It's about taking responsibility for our impact and striving to make it a positive one.

Vanessa: Humans are consuming Earth's resources at an unsustainable rate, which harms both ourselves and the ecosystems we depend on. If we don't properly manage these resources, the planet will endure, but many of the things we cherish — including our own well-being — will not.

Lisa: Previous practices that haven't employed sustainability have led to crises on our planet and poor health individually. We can all try to make small changes in our lifestyles like reducing car trips, purchasing locally, and consuming mindfully. Every bit can help.

Ericka: I practice sustainability at home by using less energy, reducing waste, and choosing environmentally sourced products whenever possible. Additionally, I support local businesses to further minimize my impact on the environment.

Vanessa: In my personal life, I practice sustainability by being mindful of my actions and their impacts. Before buying anything, I consider its lifespan, disposal, the journey it took to reach me, and whether I can repurpose something I already have. Other practices include thrifting, supporting local businesses, prioritizing native plants, eating a mostly plant-based diet (one of the most impactful personal choices), sharing sustainable tips with others when the opportunity arises, and using heating and cooling efficiently.

Lisa: My lifestyle includes biking and walking for nearly all my trips, which happily keeps me healthy and allows me to better interact with the community. I'm passionate about recycling and try to reduce the use of plastic and non-sustainable materials and in general reuse/repair as much as possible. I garden with mostly native plants to support our local ecosystems.

At work, I promote sustainable and active transportation options such as biking, transit and carpooling. Parking and Transportation offers services and programs that can support cleaner commute modes for our students, faculty and staff. Please check out our Commute webpage for ideas on improving your trips to campus!

Brooklyn: At the Coda building, the Community Support Services (CSS) team strives to make sure that we are proactive and anticipate needs in the building. This is to ensure that students and faculty can perform their research with little to no delay. We provide access, mail services, project coordination, and more to help ensure tenants in the building have what they need to succeed.

Kimala: Exceptional service is akin to fast-acting pain relief for a severe headache. Our team excels in moments of urgency for students, faculty, and staff. When technology hinders valuable class time or disrupts study and information sessions, we promptly address the issue, prioritizing the resolution of any audiovisual problems to minimize disruption.

Brooklyn: Exception customer service is extremely important as it allows us to cultivate a great relationship with our end users. This makes for great channels of communication, which allows us to be in touch with what is needed on our end so users can get things done.

Kimala: In times of need, everyone seeks assistance. AV Services aims to provide reassurance and support to our users, particularly during moments of panic when classroom technology malfunctions. Whether the user is addressing an audience of one or one hundred, we empathize with their situation and commit to finding a solution that alleviates their stress. By establishing high expectations of service, we create a unique bond with students, faculty, and staff across the Georgia Tech campus.

Brooklyn: To make things easier for tenants – our customers – in the building, the CSS team is looking to bring campus resources and software utilized on campus to streamline our processes on events, conference room bookings and more! We anticipate announcing new programs for other services by Fall 2025.

Kimala: Our team is continually seeking ways to enhance our support for the campus. As technology evolves, we remain committed to exploring new solutions for improvement. After each service ticket, we distribute a survey to gather feedback from students, faculty, and staff regarding our performance and areas for enhancement. This input is invaluable as we strive to deliver exceptional service to our campus community.

Jessica: I try to be as thorough, thoughtful, and conscientious as I expect my team and my leadership to be.

Kendra: When you lead by example, you take on the charge of demonstrating leadership and excellence through your everyday actions to be a model to those around you. When you become a model, you can inspire others and create a greater workspace or environment for everyone.

Jason: Leading by example means not being afraid to speak up to help solve problems. At the same time, being willing to listen to others and allow the best ideas to surface. 

Jessica: As a people leader, I try and be an example to my team. I try to ensure they are supported when they make good decisions that are challenged by others and offer coaching and guidance when issues arise.

Kendra: My role as an Assistant Title IX Coordinator supports the idea of leading by example because it was created as an innovative way to better support our campus community in conjunction with the Institute's Title IX Coordinator. Part of our office's charge is to ensure that the Institute is compliant with Title IX and Georgia Tech's Sexual Misconduct Policy. When my role was added to the office, it greatly expanded our ability to educate the campus community on Title IX and provide access to supportive resources to students, faculty, and staff who have been affected by sexual misconduct.

Jason: As Institute Landscape Architect, I have to listen to stakeholders (students, faculty and staff) to determine the best forward-thinking solutions for our campus environment, while being willing to make suggestions to get the conversation started. 

Jessica: I hope to continue to develop my leadership skills and put them into action. I want my team to feel supported and valued. I also want to further positive relationships within the team while delivery excellence in our work.

Kendra: I plan to lead by example this academic year by continuing to find ways to foster a culture beyond Title IX compliance here at Georgia Tech.

Jason: In 2024-2025, I hope to help guide the completion of 6 years of work on improving the safety of the multi-modal transit on campus. Since 2018, we have been working on a solution that started as a student capstone project in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. We plan to be substantially complete in time for a spring ride! 

David Lacy just got back from the Big Island and Oahu with his family.

My trip to Hawaii was unforgettable, exploring both the Big Island and Oahu. Highlights included witnessing the awe-inspiring Volcanoes National Park, standing at the southernmost point of the U.S., and marveling at the majestic Banyan trees. Each moment was a blend of natural wonder and adventure.

Roland Parungao and family visited Japan, where his wife is from, this spring and summer.

My family and I went to Japan in May and July. My wife is from Japan, and it was mostly just a visit for family for her, but I had not been since before COVID, so we did do a bit of sight-seeing.

Taylor Goodson spent time in various places just across the pond with her family, including Paris, Rome, and most recently, London.

While in London, we visited Buckingham Palace, witnessed the Changing of the Guards, explored Harry Potter Studios, saw Big Ben, and many more monumental sites! My favorite part about summer vacations is the time I get to spend with the people who matter most to me and being able to completely disconnect from work.

Daniel Looby experienced an uninvited guest while in the Catskill Moutains!

Not a vacation, but you never know who or what may show up at your house when you live (for the most part) in the country besides the Catskill Mountains in New York.  We recently had these guests that were just off our kitchen deck.  Mama is on the ground keeping an eye on us while her two cubs play in the tree beside the deck

Keith: Participating in leadership training at my church has provided me with valuable tools to manage change effectively. It has equipped me with the ability to set clear expectations for customers, which is crucial in any service-oriented role.

Jessica: A self-development opportunity that I have participated in, and didn't realize I needed, is learning the art of meditation which has allowed me to give myself some grace. Working in law enforcement requires you to be flexible. Often, changes are bestowed upon us, and we just simply "roll with the punches." The act of meditation allows me to embrace change as it comes with patience and understanding while providing me a sense of calmness and stress relief. Plus, I can practice any place and time!

Keith: I have learned that there are similarities in the customer experience across various situations. It’s a testament to the idea that at the core of every interaction is a human being seeking understanding and assistance

Jessica: It confirmed things that I had always been told about meditation. There are so many different benefits beyond stress relief that meditation provides, and it doesn't require financial expenditure. It's a form of self-care and personal development that literally anyone can benefit from.

Keith: Applying these learnings in day-to-day customer service interactions shows a commitment to excellence.

1. Listen to the individual: By truly hearing what the customer is saying, you’re able to understand their needs and concerns better.
2. Involve the individual: When customers feel involved in the process, they are more likely to be invested in the outcome.
3. Refocus if needed: Sometimes, conversations can veer off track. Gently steering them back towards the main issue helps maintain clarity and progress.
4. Participation is required: Encouraging customers to participate in finding a solution increases their satisfaction and fosters a sense of collaboration.
5. Provide inspiration: If you can inspire your customers to see the benefits of a solution, they are more likely to be receptive to it.

By adhering to these principles, you not only enhance the customer service experience but also foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Jessica: I meditate every day. I'm a mother of a toddler and teenager, serve in a supervisor capacity in my workplace, and often engage in small business ventures. My work-life balance requires me to meditate often so that I can present the best version of myself when I'm home, when I'm working, and when I'm accomplishing milestones in my entrepreneurial journey. Mediation keeps me grounded, reduces stress, and reassures me that it's okay to give myself some grace when needed.

Ashley: I prioritize self-care and maintain a work-life balance by setting clear boundaries between work and personal time – making it a point to disconnect from work-related tasks after hours. I avoid connecting any work accounts to my personal phone, which helps me stay present and avoid working during my downtime. Protecting my peace is essential to me, and I do so unapologetically. These practices support my mental health and prevent burnout, especially during demanding periods like year-end. Additionally, I engage in regular exercise, practice mindfulness, and enjoy hobbies. To maintain these habits, I schedule breaks and even lunch periods dedicated to self-care.

David: I make sure I am intentional about allocating time for activities like exercise, cooking nutritious meals, spending quality time with loved ones, and getting outside. I try to focus on these items while I am doing them and leave work at work. Sometimes this is as simple as turning off work notifications after working hours.   

Ashley: During a particularly busy project at work, I was faced with tight deadlines and high expectations. To manage the stress, I first organized my tasks by priority and created a detailed schedule to ensure I stayed on track. I took short breaks throughout the day to clear my mind and avoid burnout. The Calm app helped me stay centered with deep breathing exercises and guided meditation. My strategies after a stressful day include reading a book or watching light-hearted television. Additionally, listening to a playlist of old soul and rhythm and blues songs by artists like Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin helped me relax mentally. By maintaining a structured approach and incorporating these relaxation techniques, I was able to effectively handle the stress and complete the project successfully.

David: During my time at Georgia Tech, I have had several projects that all have brought their own unique and stressful situations. During a high-pressure moment, I maintained my well-being by leaning on support from colleagues, taking regular breaks, and getting outside.  These strategies have not only helped alleviate stress but are also instrumental in refocusing on the problem at hand, allowing me to approach it with renewed clarity and determination.

Ashley: I actively promote a positive and supportive work environment by encouraging open communication and fostering a sense of psychological safety within the team. As the chair of Georgia Tech Staff Council's Health and Wellbeing Committee, I help plan and promote activities focused on both mental and physical self-care. I make it a point to listen to my colleagues' concerns and offer support whenever needed. Additionally, I organize regular team-building activities and informal gatherings to strengthen our connections and create a sense of camaraderie. I advocate for a healthy work-life balance by encouraging my colleagues to prioritize their well-being, such as taking breaks and stepping away from their workstations. By planning and executing events and trainings that foster an inclusive and supportive atmosphere, I aim to ensure that everyone feels valued and motivated.

David: I actively work to cultivate a positive work environment by nurturing open and transparent communication, fostering empathy, and encouraging collaboration among all team members. We embrace new ideas, view mistakes as opportunities for growth, and recognize each team member brings a unique and valuable insight to the team. Additionally, we look out for each other and make sure we are supporting each other’s self-care and work-life balance. 

Abby: The Office of Sustainability recently published Georgia Tech's first comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CAP). This plan is the Institute's road map to address climate change by cutting campus greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. The plan also focuses on community impacts and offers ways that Georgia Tech can leverage education and research for climate solutions. Many campus community members contributed to the plan, and releasing it was a significant accomplishment for Georgia Tech.

Mattie: Last summer, I spearheaded the development of a comprehensive recognition strategy with five new initiatives spanning 23 total projects, and we have achieved significant progress. A few key areas of focus include infusing recognition into our regular culture, creating “wow” moments along the employee lifecycle, improving service milestone recognition program, and developing outreach/events to inform people leaders. Notably, we launched a recognition website featuring downloadable content and tutorials for managers, and we are launching a “Leading at Tech” module that focuses on the importance of ongoing employee recognition. 

Abby: Now that the CAP is out in the world, the Office of Sustainability is focused on implementing the plan. We have already made great progress towards many of the plan's strategies, but I'll be working on setting up a comprehensive tracking system to ensure we make progress towards our goals. We will also coordinate implementation committees to continue to draw on all the brilliant individuals at Georgia Tech as we move to take specific, practical actions. Implementation is important because these are the steps that will help us meet our commitments and tangibly reduce the emissions that drive climate change.

Mattie: I’m currently focused on revolutionizing service milestones and anniversary gifts at Georgia Tech, preparing for a new fiscal year and fresh slate. I am also fine-tuning the Staff Awards nomination process, aiming to maintain our momentum of increased nominations. Additionally, I’m exploring ways to automate parts of the process. These efforts are especially relevant as we transition from the busy season, with the 2024 Staff Awards now concluded and the 2024 Service Recognition Luncheon for the fiscal year underway.

In addition, I’m developing a resource to guide units in establishing monetary awards and recognition programs, aligned with USG policies. I’ll be presenting this resource to the campus before the current fiscal year ends. My work is vital in fostering a culture of appreciation, ensuring that our employees feel valued for their dedication to Georgia Tech, ultimately contributing to higher satisfaction and retention. 

Abby: We have several exciting projects in progress that directly support the CAP, including increasing renewable energy on campus, working towards cleaner transportation, and improving our waste infrastructure. My hope is that by the end of the year, we will have already begun to reduce emissions at Georgia Tech and that we'll be more prepared to respond to increasingly frequent severe weather events such as storms, flooding, and droughts.  I'm also excited to continue to build our climate-related data and emissions inventory so that we have the most accurate picture of campus emissions sources as possible.

Mattie: Looking ahead to the rest of 2024, I'm excited about reaching even more employees and creating a workplace environment where recognition and appreciation are deeply embedded in our culture. I also to continue drive innovative strategies to be a leader in the higher education world when it comes to how our organization approaches recognition. I’m hopeful Georgia Tech will continue to make the investment in our greatest asset… our people!  

On a personal note, my bucket list is to visit all 63 National Parks with my husband! We’re going to three parks in Washington this summer (Mt. Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades), and I look forward to checking more parks off our list this year!

Lisa: “Innovative infrastructure” means creating the most sustainable, energy efficient, forward-thinking projects while using Georgia Tech’s resources in order to have the best possible outcome for Georgia Tech now and in the future.

Emily: When I hear the term “innovative infrastructure,” I think of more than just infrastructure in the physical sense. I think of infrastructure that harnesses new technologies, processes, and materials to bridge not only physical barriers, but social, environmental, and economic barriers as well.

Lisa: I support Georgia Tech’s expansion by helping to identify available and allowable sources of funds to support each initiative by working with campus partners in Infrastructure and Sustainability, Office of Real Estate Development, and Finance and Planning. I partner with these departments to ensure funds are spent as planned to move these initiatives forward.

Emily: In my role as a project manager at the Center for Economic Development Research (CEDR), a unit of Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2), I have had the opportunity to support Georgia Tech’s Office of Real Estate Development in pursuing grant funding for the construction of the Westside Community Connector Bridge. The bridge, once constructed, will play a significant role in expanding access for Atlanta’s Westside communities to Georgia Tech’s campus.

Lisa: I look forward to seeing how the campus evolves as we find ways to improve the utilization of existing space, update utility infrastructure, and build new state-of-the-art facilities to support our growing research and student population. In my 20 years at Georgia Tech, there has been amazing growth, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds. We create examples of “innovative infrastructure” with each project accomplished.

Emily: As an urban planner by trade, most of the projects I work on are long-range plans that may not come to fruition for 20+ years. Being able to work on and support infrastructure projects like the Westside Community Connector Bridge is especially exciting, as it is something that once constructed will have an immediate impact on campus and the surrounding community. I look forward to seeing how infrastructure investments like this will expand Georgia Tech’s physical footprint, while also paving the way in innovative project design and delivery.