Thank you, thank you, thank you

Staff Development Day 2013 was a fine example of just the sort of system-wide teamwork, collaborative leadership and staff initiative which the day was designed to lift up and celebrate.

First: Staff and supervisors of every JPL unit organized themselves to assure customer service coverage, despite the schedule disruptions which a full Monday work day made necessary.

Second: Administrative and Support Services Team members went out to the branches on Tuesday to help catch up on weekend book drop returns and other tasks.

Third: We had over a dozen volunteers from Main Library who served as guides to the building during the day, and 30 more folks who worked as session helpers during the workshops.

Fourth: Bob Silkett, Darlene Nicholson, Tammy Crotts, Patricia Palmer, Ayshea Golden and Leila Wertman staffed the registration desks in the morning, and Diane Alexander and Tenesha Anderson were at the Help Desk for every break.

Fifth: Several people coordinated the development of the 30 breakout sessions and served as presenters, and we had a broad range of additional presenters, including guest speakers.

·         Laura Minnich – Educational Success: Susan Mankowski, Amber Holley, Julie Pactor and Cheryl Callavini

·         Michael Sullivan – Economic Success: Marshelle Berry and Anthony Williams

o   Maurice Menchan and Jennifer Simms (WorkSource)

o   Rev. Reginald Bryant (Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church) and Mary Dumbleton (FSCJ North Campus)

·         Karen Walker & Lynn Jacobson – Technological Success: Andrew Coulon, Randy Mapanoo, Donna Peretzman, Greg Royce, Eric Soriano, Yuri Jewitt, John Carter, Linda Eckersen, Alisha Levasseur, Lisa Peterson, Carrie Paez and Mark Merritt

o   Rhonda Sarli (City Employee Services)

o   Zach Dunmire (3M Company)

·         Ron Block & Julie McNeil – Customer Service, Circ Roundtable & Readers Advisory: Stephanie Harley, Cynthia Simmons, Sara Radovic, Ann Fridl, Mark Hohnadel and Amber Holley

·         Mike Shell – General Topics: Scott Adams, Chris Eaton, Sharon Jaskula, Katie Devanny, Katie Bark, Richard Mott, Charlene Ovshak, Stacey Van Hoy, Mia Brack, Amber Holley and Andi Hammond

o   Jerry Reynolds, manager emeritus, Talking Books/Special Needs Library

o   Candy Solomon and Carol Michael (Independent Living for the Adult Blind – FSCJ), Tyler Morris (Independent Living Resource Center and Mayor’s Disability Council) and Natalie Alden (Disability Rights Florida and Mayor’s Disability Council).

Sixth: We had solid, reliable support from several individuals and teams, both during the months of planning and on the day:

·         Luis Flores and the Facilities staff: Michael Soto, Robbie Tiedeman, Charlene Ovshak, Gene Bragg and Brad Schwarzbauer

·         Mitesh Sangani and the Conference Center staff: Will Daniels, Nathan Fuller, Sheldon Wright and Rob Giles

·         Kathy Lussier and the Community Relations & Marketing staff: Kris Snider, Beth Hawks, Olga Bayer, Cindy Johnson and Pam McClellan

·         Ayshea Golden: development and creation of the “Wall of Fame” slide presentation

·         Matthew Moyer and Andrew Coulon: Music from their “Lost in the Stacks” WJCT Radio show

·         The CW Crew: “Harlem Shuffle” video.

Seventh:The Staff Development Day Committee members and advisors, who began planning in January, surprised themselves with their own smooth efficiency.  Each member took on multiple tasks, and the following is merely an overview:

·         Andi Hammond: Event-planning coordination, development of team-building exercise

·         Mike Shell: Workshop coordination, JPL Training tasks and communication

·         Diane Alexander: Development and implementation of the registration process and workshop evaluations, coordination of team logistics

·         Mitesh Sangani: Coordination of  Conference Center/Main Library logistical support, Anthony's Catering and City Parking arrangements

·         Julie McNeil: Keynote speaker Bertice Berry arrangements, coordination of the Tuesday branch assistance

·         Kathy Lussier: Communications (including print materials, signage, news releases, etc.), coordination with Mayor’s Office, City Council, solicitation of gift donations

·         Lynne Baldwin: Planning, purchase and coordination of gifts and door prizes

·         Anthony Williams: Arrangements for hospitality with the Downtown restaurants

·         Mark Merritt: Budget and finance coordination, master of ceremonies for the opening session and door prize drawing

·         Tenesha Anderson: Committee minutes, administrative and logistical support

·         Tricia Larrabee: Support for gifts and door prizes arrangements

·         Kate Holmes: Support for registration arrangements and online evaluation creation

·         Richard Mott (advisor): Guidance from previous SDDs

·         Ron Block (advisor): Circulation and customer service input

·         Lynn Jacobson (advisor): Technology training

·         Karen Walker (advisor): Technology training.



Standing: Anthony Williams, Lynne Baldwin, Mitesh Sangani, Kathy Lussier,
Diane Alexander, Tenesha Alexander, Mark Merritt, Tricia Larrabee
In Front: Andi Hammond, Julie McNeil

  And, finally, ALL of you blessed us with your presence and with your enjoyment of the day.

Thank you.