Virginia Tech® home

Employee Shoutouts!

Employee Shout-Outs!

Controller_VT_hands

2025 Division of Finance Shout-Outs!

Jennifer Tabor

Controller

I want to give a big shout-out to Jennifer for her incredible and continuous support in helping me better understand payroll-related reports in operation. Thank you, Jennifer!

Cherrie Rose

Bursar

Cherrie has done an excellent job of collaborating across departments and overseeing her departments this year.

Courtney Orey

Student Medical Insurance

Courtney - You are an incredible asset to the Student Medical Insurance office! You have tackled a lot in your first year and your hard work to help make the office run smoothly for our students is very much appreciated. Thank you for all you do!

Angela Harrison

Risk Management

Angela, your work on claims is impeccable!  You're so well-organized and always eager to close out claims.  Your dedication and efficiency make a huge difference.  Thanks for being such a valuable part of our team!

Rosa Lucas

Bursar

Rosa is a constant and vital part of our office. She is incredibly knowledgeable and always puts her team first! She has helped me grow as a professional and I wouldn't be where I am without her! 

Cashiering Team - Kevin Carlan, Xavier Garcia, Jenni Wheaton, Angela Cox, Kayla Pace, Rosa Lucas

Bursar

As one of the newest teams, the cashiering office has been able to make it through two tuition due dates while learning the job and training on the windows with efficiency!

Kelly Mabe, Kayla Pace

Bursar

Thanks to both of you for never being too busy to answer a question or help resolve an issue whether you are directly involved or not you have always tried to help.  You are both my "go to" people in the Bursar's office and I appreciate you. 

Caroline Eaton, Tracy Christensen

Controller

Tracy & Caroline approach work with a positive attitude and are always willing to help! Thank you each for all you do!

Savannah Cooley

Bursar

Thank you for taking on new responsibilities with enthusiasm and ensuring that your previous duties were fully covered before transitioning to your new role. Your commitment to a smooth transition is greatly appreciated and has made a big difference to the team.

Veronica Barajas

Controller

Veronica always goes above and beyond to provide outstanding customer service on the payroll phone line.  Your hard work does not go unnoticed and we’re lucky to have you on the team!

Kelly Mabe

Bursar

Thank you so much for stepping up and taking on additional job duties, even during our peak periods. Your efforts filling in for vacant positions, maintaining and sharing institutional knowledge, and supporting the team have been invaluable. 

Fiscal Training Team

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for the entire fiscal training team. Their dedication to delivering high-quality training materials has been invaluable as I transitioned into my new role. Navigating the intricate and often complex landscape of fiscal responsibilities can be daunting, but their expertly designed content has made this process much smoother.   I particularly admire the various tools and technologies they employed to enhance the learning experience. Their innovative approach not only made the training informative and relevant but also engaging and enjoyable. It’s clear that they invested a lot of thought and effort into ensuring that we not only understand the material but also find joy in the learning journey. Thank you for all your hard work!

Stacy King, Derek Scheidt

Controller

Thanks to both of you for being dedicated leaders and mentors.  I appreciate your knowledge and help everyday.  Neither of you have ever been too busy to answer a question or help in any way you can to resolve an issue.  We could never accomplish the work we do without you.

Rob Blackley 

Controller

Thanks so much for all your hard work in the Cost Accounting Area.  You stepped up and went above and beyond to ensure that the department kept functioning and deadlines were met. You did this in addition to training a new employee. I especially appreciate the priority lists that keep me on track for reviewing all your hard work. Thanks for being so dedicated and resourceful.

Emma Ruby

Procurement

I’d like to give a big shout-out to Emma Ruby from the Procurement Office! Emma is always willing to lend a helping hand with any project and consistently goes above and beyond to work with campus departments to find solutions. Her dedication and proactive approach make her an invaluable asset to our team. Emma’s teamwork, positive attitude, and commitment to getting things done make her a true standout. Thank you, Emma, for all that you do – your hard work and collaboration are deeply appreciated!

Crystal Jones

Controller

I want to give a big thank you to Crystal for her expertise in helping me understand payroll-related data and reports in actual operation. Her ability to coordinate communication and her willingness to step in when needed also made a huge difference. I truly appreciate her dedication, hard work, and leadership. Thank you, Crystal!

NEC Event Committee and Holiday Party Planning Committee

Lyndsey Mitchem, Amanda Marcum, Jolene Lucas, Jennifer Hollins, Sherry Hollandsworth, Tami Foutz, Karey Gray, Tracy Christensen and Caroline Eaton, Tara Owns, Pan Shu, Karen Sapp and Becky Saylors - Shout out to everyone on the North End Event Committee and the Holiday Party Planning Committee. Your creativity and hard work make all our events a huge success. You are all Rock Stars!

Kris Buhrdorf

Finance IT

Best work supervisor ever!

Kim Myers, Jolene Lucas, Veronica Barajas

Controller

A massive round of applause to International Tax team for their exceptional dedication and outstanding customer service to the VT community! Your efforts have truly made a difference, and the numbers speak for themselves: 990 I-9 reverifications completed with precision and care. 1,270 employees and students onboarded seamlessly into the tax and payroll systems.Over 800 employees assisted with obtaining Social Security Numbers (SSNs).  Your unwavering commitment, expertise, and support have not only set a high standard but have also made a lasting impact. Thank you for going above and beyond to ensure a smooth and successful process for everyone you’ve supported. 

Alene Harris

Risk Management

I recently read, Be around the light bringers, the magic makers, the world shifters, the game shakers. They challenge you, break you open, uplift and expand you. They don’t let you play small with your life. These heartbeats are your people. These people are your tribe. Fortunately for me, this is Alene Harris.  Alene, you are the spark that ignites creativity, the force that drives change, and the heartbeat that keeps the rhythm of inspiration alive. Thank you for being a beacon of light and a source of endless magic! Keep shining, keep inspiring, and keep being the incredible person you are!

Shu Pan

Controller

Shout out to Shu Pan, thank you for your exceptional organization skills and user-centric approach. You have positively shaped my thinking on evaluating and conceptualizing solutions work.

Beth Santolla

Controller

Anyone who visits the Controller’s Office knows that Beth creates a warm and welcoming environment while ensuring the office operates seamlessly. Her professionalism and positive attitude are truly valued and appreciated!

Jennifer Tabor

Controller

Thanks to Jennifer for stepping up and preparing reconciliations when processes aren’t working as expected.  Your proactive approach and attention to detail ensure accuracy and keep things on track, even in challenging situations. 

Kim Myers

Controller

A big shout out to Kim who provides exceptional support to our international employees.  Navigating complex employment documentation is no easy task, but Kim handles review and processing of all foreign national payments efficiently and accurately.

Sherry Hollandsworth

Risk Management

Shoutout #1: Sherry is awesome at putting people first. Every day, she shows how dedicated she the VT Community. She makes sure everyone that calls, emails or comes into the office is heard and valued, which is super inspiring. 

Shoutout #2: Sherry, you're always finding new ways to make our processes better.  Whether it's improving the Certificate of Insurance or making the billings run smoother, your innovative ideas and dedication really stand out. Thanks for always pushing us to be better! 

Lisa Assad, Jenni Schoner, Becky Saylors, Stephanie Honts

Controller

Thanks for all your hard work this past year.  I really appreciate your dedication to getting the job done and tackling all the challenges in each one of your areas.   

Tracy Christensen

Controller

Shoutout #1: Tracy has gone above and beyond in providing exceptional support with processing payroll deductions. Your flexibility and dedication to teamwork are truly invaluable and greatly appreciated!

Shoutout #2: FIT appreciates your energy and joy that you bring to your work!

Payroll Team

Thanks for all your great work team! I recorded this video to shout you all out!

Finance IT team

I would like to give a shoutout to the entire Finance IT team. I think I have interacted with all of you in different capacities, and I genuinely appreciate your support from day one during my onboarding process. As I get settled, you all have been wonderful knowledge supports! You have been invaluable in answering or trying to answer my questions related to IT infrastructure and databases, no matter how random they seemed. Thank you for all your help!

Tracy Shirley

Bursar

Tracy has great customer service and always goes above and beyond! 

Vicky Wilburn, Ashley Bell, Janice Chumbley

Controller

Thank you for your hard work and dedication with the ABBYY Processing Project and the 16,808 invoices processed from 266 different Vendors thru the end of December 2024 for Fiscal Year 25! 

Tracy Sibold, Henry Showalter, Dee Anderson Lisa Riggs, Lorenzo Brown, Sara Breeding

Bursar

This team handles a vast amount of phone calls, mail, emails and in person customers daily, especially at our peak times at the start of each semester.  This is in additional to their daily AR Clerk duties.  The Team handles each customer contact professionally, providing accurate responses and ends each call asking if they can help with anything else.  The Team is able to answer most all questions and almost eliminate an call having to be moved up the office ladder.  Thank you Team for your daily dedication to your duties and providing excellent customer service!  I truly appreciate all you do and you make my job so much easier!  Thank you!

Julia Gregory, Ashley Snider

Controller

I appreciate both of you for your work ethic, your positive attitudes and your willingness to take on any new task or help your co-workers without complaints.  I enjoy working with both of you everyday.  Thank you for everything you do. 

Kristin Bell

Controller

I want to recognize Kristin for going above and beyond her job duties and always thinking outside the box for ways to advance and improve the ARMICS program. Your positive attitude, consistent dedication, and commitment is truly inspiring. Thank you for all your hard work throughout the year it is a pleasure working with you! 

Omeir Husain

Controller

Shout out to Omeir Husain, thank you for your help adopting a new method for finance reporting. Your adaptiveness, problem-solving, and patience are sincerely appreciated.

Rebecca Folmar, Alene Harris, Amanda Marcum, Angela Harrison, and Courtney Otey

Risk Management and Insurance

To my amazing office team, you are the superheroes of the university! Your hard work, dedication, and unwavering support make every day a little brighter and a lot more fun. Whether it's tackling the toughest tasks or volunteering to help with office functions, you always step up with a smile (and sometimes a coffee in hand. You all deserve a gold medal in the Office Olympics for your incredible teamwork and spirit! Thank you for being the glue that holds everything together and for making the office a place where we can laugh, learn, and grow together. Keep being awesome, keep being hilarious, and keep being the best team ever!

Erin Evans

Controller

A big thanks to Erin for her invaluable support with reconciliations and for stepping in to help manage a process on another team. Your readiness to go beyond your own responsibilities is a true testament to your dedication and teamwork!

Jennifer Hollins

Controller

I want to recognize the outstanding work Jennifer does in overseeing the labor redistribution process for thousands of employees across various university projects.  Thank you for your dedication, expertise, and the vital role you play in supporting our team and their projects. 

Jason McGraw

Controller

Jason has really done a wonderful job for Accounts Payable!  He has become very knowledgeable regarding our policies and procedures, and is friendly and kind to the staff.  We appreciate all you do for us Jason!

Danyelle Earnest-Higgins

Controller

I want to recognize Danyelle for her dedication and professionalism in tackling some of the most challenging aspects of our Payroll work. Your commitment and hard work make a real difference, and we deeply appreciate everything you’ve done this year.

Jolene Lucas

Controller

I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible work you do in processing all foreign national employee documentation and onboarding for the entire university. This is no small feat—Jolene plays a critical role in ensuring a seamless and compliant experience for employees joining us from around the globe.