The Information Technology Division team at the new Santa Maria Public Library was recently named Santa Maria’s Going the Extra Mile (GEM) Award winner for the third quarter of 2008. The award recognized the team’s ability under deadline pressure to install a fully functioning computer network at the library.
Team members honored include Teri Maa, Whitney McCarthy, Mike Davis, Michael Spears, Richard Cunningham, and Michelle Aquino. GEM certificates from the Santa Maria city manager were presented at the Santa Maria City Council’s Nov. 4 meeting.
For three weeks leading up to the grand opening, the team worked long hours, including nights and weekends, to install, configure, and transfer data for 155 computers.
The team members also became temporary carpenters when they found that much of the new furniture didn’t have grommets for computer cables. And the team stayed up until 2 a.m., just hours before the library’s grand opening, assembling furniture for the computer center, according to a press release from the city.
GEM Award winners are honored for their effective leadership on specific assignments, and for going “above and beyond” the call of duty while providing service to the city.
This article appears in Nov 13-20, 2008.