StaffWorks 2016: Sharing best practices & great ideas

On Wednesday, May 11, U-M Voices of the Staff held its third StaffWorks Best Practices and Technology Conference. The event is a unique opportunity for staff from all three campuses and the health system to come together and celebrate success, share knowledge, and network. "As a first time attendee, I was very impressed with the quality and quantity of great ideas being shared. I made a surprising number of new personal connections that are going to help me improve my work here at the university," says Dave Wentworth, regional energy manager with Plant Operations.

This year's conference at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business showcased the use of best practices and technology by staff in support of the services and operations of the university. More than 400 staff participated. The event featured:

• A leadership panel discussion with Laurita Thomas, associate vice president of Human Resources; Kevin Hegarty, executive vice president, chief financial officer, and interim chief information officer and associate vice president, Information and Technology Services; Sucheta Joshi, associate professor of pediatrics and communicable diseases, Medical School; and Amy Byron-Oilar, chief people officer, Stephen M. Ross School of Business
• Presentation of the President's Staff Innovation Award
• 16 breakout speaker presentations, all of which were recorded and which should be on the StaffWorks web site by late June
• Nearly 100 poster presentations in areas as diverse as information technology, faculty and student services, and communications, among others.

The conference, first held in 2011 and again in 2013, has been well-received. Feedback was positive for the 2016 event as well. Jocelyn Anderson, web applications developer for the Department of Psychology in LSA, was "inspired by the depth and diversity of the work and the ideas presented." John Gallias, senior desktop support specialist with LSA IT, says he "got to meet a diverse range of people from across the university who seemed to really care and be engaged in finding the best way to do their jobs. Further events will only continue to strengthen our ability to find common solutions, and learn to leverage them where it makes the most sense."

Anderson and Gallias both added that they were able to bring some great ideas back to their departments. Donna Hurst, lead surgery scheduler at the Cardiovascular Center, agrees: "Anytime I am able to attend an event or class and leave having learned something new, it is a good day-and StaffWorks gave me so many new things to walk away with."

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