Business Horizons


A monthly publication of Business Affairs

The University of Texas at
San Antonio

September 2006

In All We Do,
We Do With

EXCELLENCE

Every Person,
Every Day,
Every Job

Business Affairs -Your partner for successful solutions

SPECIAL EDITION

Business Affairs is proud to recognize Mr. David Zepeda, Building Attendant II, Office of Facilities, Downtown Campus Facilities, as the 4th quarter recipient of the Celebrating Excellence Award.

David recognized that the Downtown Campus Facilities staff could better communicate with and provide service to faculty, staff, and, especially, students when they first visit the Downtown Campus and attempt to locate a department, a program, or, occasionally, a building.

Facilities staff are often approached by students and visitors unfamiliar with the downtown campus, asking for directions or assistance. Realizing that staff were not consistently able to provide helpful directions, David came up with a great idea! Using his own initiative, David prepared a prototype - a laminated plastic card with all the Downtown Campus buildings, departments, programs, phone numbers, and emergency numbers on it. He color-coded each building and listed the occupants of the building on the card, and offered it as a quick reference guide for Facilities staff to assist visitors to the campus. The card was so successful that all the Downtown Campus Facilities staff now have one of these cards inside their ID Card pouch for quick reference to assist and direct visitors to any area. The card is especially helpful during the beginning of each semester when half of our visitors or new students are unfamiliar with the campus or are simply lost.

We are very pleased to recognize David's contribution of creativity in developing the new card approach, improved communication in providing directions to disoriented visitors and students, and change, by identifying a need and taking action to fill the need. This type of creative thinking will continue to bring the UTSA Facilities Department and Business Affairs toward the level of Excellence to which we all aspire.

For all your hard work, creativity and service to the university and Business Affairs, David, thank you and congratulations!                                       

When David was asked what made him think of this idea, he stated, “I live in the downtown area and when visitors come to our campus I want them to be able to get where they need to go in a timely manner by asking any Facilities staff member for directions and or locations.  This card allows the new staff members to know as much about the buildings as those of us who have been here a long time. This small card brings about change because it improves customer service and it opens the door for better communication between us and our customers.”

Example of the card David developed   

David will be able to select from one of the following:

4 Season Passes to Sea World
4 Season Passes to Fiesta Texas
 2 Nights at a Bed & Breakfast in Fredericksburg
Selection from Awards Network Catalog of almost 60 products.

For more information on the VPBA Celebrating Excellence Program visit:
http://www.utsa.edu/Celebrating.Excellence/Index.htm

In all We Do, We Do With Excellence - Every Person, Every Day, Every Job