Employees recognized at events for retirement, years of service

Three employee recognition events were held in May to honor administrative and support staff from the College of Saint Benedict, Saint John's University and the Order of Saint Benedict.

Employees were recognized for retirement and years of service. In addition, several special awards were presented.

Retirement

CSB/SJU – Deb Lehman, Fine Arts Programming; John Muggli, IT Services; Maryjean Opitz, Education Administrative Assistant; Karen Storkamp, Chemistry, Nutrition and Natural Science Coordinator; Mary Tamm, Communication, Honors Program and Competitive Scholarships Coordinator; Rebecca Terhaar, Libraries Coordinator.

CSB – Paul Erickson, Custodial; Denny Johnson, Athletics; Gary Nelson, Custodial; Bill Storkamp, Security.

SJU – Thomas Herges, Dining Service; Roger Hoffman, Dining Service; JoAnn Matheny, Institutional Advancement; Mary Sendy, Campus Mail Center.

OSB (includes Saint John's Abbey, Liturgical Press and Saint John's Preparatory School) – Br. Mark Kelly, OSB, Grounds; Tom Kroll, Abbey Arboretum and Outdoor University; Nancy Mitchell, Abbey Retirement Center.

Five years

CSB/SJU – Tammie Fabel, Transportation; Laura Hammond, Experiential Learning and Community Engagement; Kari Harren, Bookstores; Brenda Hommerding, Bookstores; Krista Lindstrand, Bookstores; Jillian McKenzie, Student Accessibility Services; Tammy Moore, Marketing and Communications; Mark Mortrude, Education; Bridget Nordlund, Marketing and Communications; Alicia Reif, Counseling and Health Promotion; Br. Joseph Schneeweis, OSB, Library; Laura Sherr, Counseling and Health Promotion; Anthony Stephens, IT Services; Ben Stommes, Academic Affairs; Danielle Taylor, Center for Global Education.

CSB - Michelle Brisk-Wallace, Culinary Services; Carley Castellanos, Campus Ministry; Rachael Click, Athletics; Jennifer Crary, Athletics; Vicki Ganley, President’s Office; Sarah Haffner, Culinary Services; George Jansky, Custodial; Michael Kunkel, Culinary Services; Paula Lange, Culinary Services; Jake Lesnau, Culinary Services; Kristin Lyman, Institutional Advancement; Angie Malone, Culinary Services; Chad Marolf, Institutional Advancement; Sister Sharon Nohner, OSB, Campus Ministry; John Scharenbroich, Culinary Services; Brad Sinn, Facilities; Julie Van Vleet, Business Office; Briana Wentland, Business Office.

SJU – Aaron Bertram, Dining Service; Theresa Beutz, Sexton Commons Dining; Megan Evens, Institutional Advancement; Daniel Franklin, Athletics; Fr. Nick Kleespie, OSB, Campus Life; Sandy Kloss, Custodial; James Kuhn, Institutional Advancement; Edward Mathews, HMML; Julie Neuwirth, Dining Service; Heather Olmscheid, Dining Service; Jennifer Rau, Custodial; Ion Senchea, Athletics; Byron Westrich, Athletics; Tony Willaert, Athletics.

OSB (includes Saint John's Abbey, Liturgical Press and Saint John's Preparatory School) – Linda Adrian, Abbey Custodial; Jennifer Daiker, Prep School; Ryan Gapinski, Liturgical Press; Raymond Halupczok, Abbey Guesthouse; Paul Kampa, Abbey Guesthouse; Kimberly Koffi, Prep School; Stephen Larson, Prep School; Diana Salzl, Abbey retirement Center; Katie Vogel, Abbey Business Office; Eric Yanke, Prep School.

10 years

CSB/SJU - Jon Anderson, Transportation; Debra Baloun, Nursing; Laura Beirne, Admission; Gwen Geisenhof, Fine Arts Programming; Shelley Gemza, Upward Bound; ; Leslie Hanlon, Fine Arts Programming; Kathleen Parker, Library; Debra Paulson, IT Services; Roxy Pringle, Institutional Planning and Public Affairs; Kay Richter, Admission; Catherine Robak, IT Services; Lisa Scott, Academic Advising.

CSB - Carl Masog, Power Plant; Darrin Pence, Security; Katherine Sass, Residential Life; Lois Schroden, Custodial;.

SJU - Dick Adamson, Business Office; Pete Amann, Institutional Advancement; Michael Burma, Power House; Hans Christoffersen, Liturgical Press; Linda Geers, Dining Services;  Mike Janku, Dining Services; Sara Mruz, institutional Advancement; Dora Shay, Dining Services; Lynn Tamm, Business Office; Karen Voller, Dining Services; Sara Winter, Life Safety.

OSB – Br. Richard Crawford, OSB, Abbey Business Office; Diane Dols, Abbey Retirement Center; Carla Durand, Collegeville Institute; Thomas Grandy, Prep School; Nune Langseth, Abbey Retirement Center; Elisa Schneider, Collegeville Institute; Kevin Zierden, Liturgical Press.

15 years

CSB/SJU - Theresa Anderson, Academic Advising; Merry Hoppert, Center for Global Education; Stacy Kampsen, IT Services; Tasha Marwitz, Financial Aid; Stuart Perry, Financial Aid; Catherine Stoch, External Grants; Tina Streit, Bookstores.

CSB - Steve Howe-Veenstra, athletics; Jessica Reiter, Events and Conferences; Mary Beth Thompson, Residential Life.

SJU - Marybeth Kemper, Dining Service; Rob Koch, Dining Service; Tammy Marthaler, Dining Service; Jane Stodolka, Custodial; Carrie Zierden, Sexton Commons Dining.

OSB - David Fremo, Prep School; Matt Heintzelman, HMML; Tom Kroll, Abbey Arboretum and Outdoor University; Dennis Luethmers, Power House.

20 years

CSB/SJU – Tony Amelse, Admission; Michael Hemmesch, Marketing and Communications; Mary Ellen Sullivan, Admission.

CSB - Karen Buermann, Institutional Advancement; Debra Juntunen, Custodial; Jody Terhaar, Student Development.

SJU - Patti Epsky, President's Office; Ken Osborne, Business Office; Leila Utsch, Institutional Advancement.

OSB - Bryan Backes, Prep School Athletics; Br. Isidore Glyer, OSB, Abbey Guesthouse; Josie Stang, Abbey Cemetery; Julie Surma, Liturgical Press.

25 years

CSB/SJU - Heidi Harlander, Personal and Professional Development Center; Barb Novak, registrar's office; Tom Voller-Berdan, Admission.

CSB - Ken Johannes, Custodial.

SJU - Tom Stock, Institutional Advancement.

OSB - Robert Erickson, Prep School; Kathy Zdroik, Liturgical Press.

30 years

CSB/SJU - Suzette Ehlinger, Natural Science Coordinator; Louise Geyer, Financial Aid.

CSB – Mike Durbin, Athletics; Judy Hoeschen, Custodial; Bev Overman, business office.

SJU – Bob Alpers, Athletics; Gary Jorgensen, Physical Plant; Karen Pogatschnik, Life Safety; Ginny Vickerman, business office.

OSB - Sandy Eiynck, Liturgical Press; Lisa Hennek, Liturgical Press.

35 years

SJU - John Elton, Physical Plant; Tom Vogel, Physical Plant.

OSB - Paul Kollmann, Custodial.

40 years

CSB - Keith Matthies, Power Plant.

SJU - Cyndi Ernst, Dining Services; Gary Pflueger, Grounds.

Special awards

OSB Outstanding Administrator Award – Tom Kroll, retired land manager, Saint John’s Abbey Arboretum and director, Saint John’s Outdoor University. The award, named in honor of Fr. Vincent Tegeder, OSB, recognizes service and excellence within the Saint John's administrative community - someone who embodies the spirit of Saint John's, provides quality service and makes a powerful contribution to Saint John's.

“He supports and encourages his staff, which he has effectively led for 16 years, to be the best versions of themselves,” said SJU President Michael Hemesath, who presented the award. “He has successfully navigated many complex situations, such as the expansion of the solar farm, the final path of the CAPX 2020 power line and helping preserve the natural setting of the surrounding landscape through his work with the Avon Hills Initiative.”

The other nominees for the award were Gloria “Chick” Hardy, assistant director of the Benedictine Institute; and Fr. Don Talafous, OSB, alumni chaplain.

“The selection committee reported to me that Fr. Vincent would have been very proud of our nominees,” Hemesath said. “Each has a strong commitment to their work, their coworkers and colleagues, our students and to the mission of Saint John’s.”

CSB WOW Awards – The awards were given to five individuals who were recognized for "special" contributions and honors. The recipients were:

Susan Palmer (Vice President of Finance and Administration) – For leadership excellence in financial management; Brad Sinn (Executive Director of Facilities) – For leadership excellence in facilities planning and project management; Valerie Jones (Executive Director of Alumnae Relations) – For vision, dedication and leadership in achieving Service Enterprise certification; Kathryn Enke (Chief of Staff) – for dedicated service and leadership in support of the president, cabinet and Title IX team; Larry Christen (Facilities Director) – for dedicated service and positive impact to the CSB community.