Ilene Deckert - Associate Director of Industrial Technology
(District Office) 
 
Ask Ilene Deckert's colleagues to describe her and you will invariably get the same response: Superwoman. Her ability to take on a project, connect people and resources, and see a thing through to its successful conclusion are what make her such a valuable asset to the District. And that same sense of innovation, responsibility and genuine caring are evident in her commitment to her community and her family.

Ilene came to EICCD in 1990 from a term as executive director of the DeWitt Chamber of Commerce. Her personal touch there was instrumental in attracting new companies to the area (she was known as "The Cherry Pie Lady" for the homebaked cherry pies she delivered to prospects), and made her a natural choice when the District's economic development department needed a Regional Economic Development Center director. In the nine years since then, Ilene's job title and duties have changed many times, but her enthusiasm for her responsibilities remains the same.
 
Ilene's current position as Manufacturing Technology Center field agent, coordinator for a program conducted jointly with the Iowa community colleges and Iowa State University, gives her ample opportunity to do what she really loves - get out and meet with companies, help them evaluate their needs and then connect them with resources to meet those needs. This past year, she took on a totally new assignment - project director for the District's grant program that establishes linkages between U.S. companies and businesses in Vietnam and the Philippines. Working with faculty and business executives, she has led two EICCD delegations to Southeast Asia, resulting in new curriculum development for the District and business opportunities for area companies.
 
"This project pushed Ilene to the forefront as a local, national and international ambassador for EICCD," notes a co-worker. "We are fortunate to have someone of her experience, skill and drive to lead this effort."
 
Ilene is also deeply involved in her community and her family's activities. She serves on the boards for the hospital and the parks and recreation department in her hometown of DeWitt, and spearheaded development of the town's new $2 million public swimming pool. Most weeknights and weekends you can find her at one of her children's sporting or school activities.
 
"Ilene truly hears what people tell her," writes a co-worker. "She's a master at looking at challenges from a new direction and coming up with innovative solutions to a problem, whether it involves her work here at the District, a knotty problem in DeWitt or a challenge for one of her children. She is truly an outstanding individual." 

Vickie Lehmann - Bookstore Manager
(Clinton Community College) 
 
"If ever there was a valuable district employee, Vickie Lehmann is it," writes a nominator.

As bookstore manager at Clinton Community College, Vickie is responsible for running an operation that caters to students, faculty and staff alike, providing them with products they need at prices they can afford, and doing it all against deadline after deadline. Students are her priority, and she works hard to package supplies at the best possible prices, as well as to organize a book buyback program that offers students the best price possible.

For many years, she has been well-respected at CCC for running an efficient, customer-friendly organization. But in the last few years, colleagues at Scott and Muscatine also have found out just what a jewel she is.
 
When SCC lost its bookstore manager in the summer of 1998, Vickie volunteered to help them organize for the fall back-to-school rush. She set up files, entered book adoption information, placed purchase orders to publishers and used book companies, and facilitated the implementation of a computerized order and return system. When the newly hired manager resigned after less than two weeks on the job, Vickie again stepped in, writing a detailed proposal for how the SCC operation could get through the end of the year and operate more efficiently in the future.
 
"Vickie spent many hours physically counting books, checking orders, producing reports and teaching us the bookstore business," explains a co-worker. "She sent back outdated items that were costing us money sitting on the shelves. She virtually managed our store for months, then spent hours training our new manager, and is still a valuable resource to us. I sincerely do not know how we would have survived without Vickie's leadership and assistance."
 
The MCC bookstore has also benefited from Vickie's expertise. She helped implement a new computer system there, and each time new managers have been hired, she has volunteered time to train them, help them organize most efficiently and answer their questions.
 
"Vickie's commitment is to the success of the entire District and service to our students," writes an administrator. "She is willing to share suggestions for improvements with others and has made improvements in the Clinton bookstore to better serve the students. She is an example of what we should all do to better serve EICCD."

Lori Matthew - Psychology Instructor/Department Coordinator
(Scott Community College) 
 
In her 18 years at Scott Community College, Lori Matthew has made a career of understanding and helping students. In the last few years, she has added a focus of helping her colleagues understand the differences between the students of today and those of years past.

Lori started her tenure at SCC as a counselor in 1981, and took a full-time faculty position in 1990. Her classes are always filled, and the waiting list to get in is often lengthy. As further testimony that her students are enjoying their learning experience with Lori, her retention rate is among the highest in the District.

"A casual observer might report that what Lori accomplishes in the classroom appears to be effortless," writes her nominator. "In truth, Lori's endless efforts to keep her content
 
current, her presentation style flexible, her instructional strategies diverse and her objectives relevant are indeed tireless. She is, in my opinion, a consummate professional who embraces her discipline, projects a genuine joy for learning and continually plans for the success of her students."
 
Recognized around the District as our resident expert on "Generation X," Lori shares freely of her research and knowledge about this group's learning styles. Last year, she involved her students in an applied research project, forming them into self-directed work teams for a class project that culminated in a video project comparing the beliefs on education of individuals from various generations. Lori has also shared her findings in a SCC-sponsored public forum and as part of the college's Faculty Lecture Series.
 
"This is applied research that can help bridge the gap between student and teacher and have a great effect on learning outcomes," notes a colleague. "Just an understanding of the differences between the age groups can make an instructor more comfortable in the classroom."
 
Beyond the classroom, stories of Lori's commitment to her students are many. She has performed crisis intervention counseling for a suicidal student, helped secure part-time jobs for students who would otherwise have left school, worked with countless students each semester to accommodate their special needs, and provided special academic advising sessions for off-campus students in a pilot elementary education program.
 
"She never questions the need to dedicate this time outside of the classroom because she knows it will benefit our students," explains a co-worker. "Lori is without question one of the most creative, versatile and flexible teachers we have at Scott Community College."

Brad Scott - Culinary Arts Apprenticeship Facilitator
(Scott Community College) 
 
"Cooking up" new ideas for the culinary arts program, Brad Scott has taken what started as a good program and turned it into a national model. Since he took on the assignment of apprenticeship facilitator in 1996, the culinary arts program has tripled in enrollment, expanded to include a youth apprenticeship program and been reviewed by the American Culinary Federation as a national model.

"Brad has been the catalyst for the program growing to become one of the top 20 culinary arts apprenticeship programs in the nation," writes a nominator. "He's an exceedingly enthusiastic individual who has a vision for the future of the program and works every day to make that vision a reality."
 
One of those visions resulted in the "2+2" culinary arts youth apprenticeship program, started initially with Bettendorf High School. Brad created a curriculum for BHS, generating so much interest around the area that several other K-12 districts wanted in on the action. Working with the Mississippi Bend AEA, Brad has co-written five grants raising more than $400,000 to equip a BHS lab with ICN capabilities. This nine-camera, industry-level kitchen laboratory allows Brad's classes to be seen around the state. Seven Iowa schools are participating this fall, and plans are being made to expand the program to more Iowa schools and three Illinois schools; the Iowa Department of Corrections has expressed interest, too.
 
Brad has tremendous connections within the restaurant industry, which allow him not only to keep current in the field but also to provide his students with access to excellent apprenticeship sites. He serves as president of the local American Culinary Federation and was selected their "Chef of the Year" in 1998. The national ACF office has named Brad one of the nation's most creative and inventive culinary educators, and the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training has also recognized him as one of the state's most proactive experts on apprenticeship training. In his free time, Brad volunteers his considerable skill as a chef for the Festival of Trees, and has worked for 10 years as a counselor to families experiencing domestic violence.
 
"His students are clearly the reason he does what he does," writes a colleague. "When they complete the program, they have indeed acquired the competencies of an entry-level chef, but more importantly, they understand the expectations of the profession. They have learned to love what they do, just like Brad does. They say you can't really teach someone to develop a passion for their work. Before I met Brad, I guess I would have agreed with that statement - now, I'm not so sure."

Dean Sessler - Computer/Media Services Specialist
(Muscatine Community College) 
 
If you've got a computer problem, Dean Sessler can solve it. And he won't limit himself to resolving just that particular incident - he'll come up with a way to keep it from happening again.

Computer users on the MCC campus know that Dean is "the man" when it comes to troubleshooting hardware and software problems on campus. As the District has implemented its computer network, faculty and staff at the other sites have learned this as well.

Dean began his EICCD career in 1982 as media services specialist at MCC. In 1997, he took on additional duties as the college's main computer support person. He also became EICCD's Webmaster and e-mail administrator, two tasks that presented unique challenges he has successfully met.
 
"From the early days of implementing our web presence, Dean has emerged as the reference for the organization's web activities," writes a colleague. "He handles everything from helping faculty get homepages on the web to designing security 'firewalls' to prevent hacking through the web into the EICCD. His rare blend of artistic and technical skills is an asset to the organization."
 
Dean is dedicated to the computer user, always thinking about how to make the system easier to use for students and employees. When people had trouble setting up their dial-in service from home, Dean created a step-by-step web page tutorial to help. When a co-worker needed a faster way to back up numerous computer files, he was able to develop a method that cut the time from more than an hour to less than 10 minutes.
 
"Dean is a tireless worker who goes far beyond the Monday through Friday workweek and the eight-hour workday," one co-worker notes. "It would not be uncommon to receive an e-mail from him that was composed at an early hour on the weekend. He stays with a project until accomplished and then always keeps an eye out for how to improve it."
 
Staff have been known to call Dean at home for help in setting up their personal home computers, and he even made a "house call" to a faculty member's home to help set up special computer equipment. He has been called "the soul of Muscatine's computer network" and is deeply appreciated around the District for his prompt responses, pleasant demeanor and technical wizardry.
 
"Dean is very helpful with the 'little crisis,' whether it be the new ACCESS system, the internet or developing shared drives so that we can work more efficiently," writes a co-worker. "He has learned and practices CQI, and we, his internal customers, are grateful for all of his services."

Gail Leben-Spies - Dean of Students
(Muscatine Community College) 
 
"What's best for the students?" seems to be the measuring stick for any decision Gail Spies makes. In her almost 15 years with MCC, first as counselor and now as dean of students, Gail has made it a point to serve as the students' advocate in campus decision-making, always looking for ways to ensure student success.

"In the 15 years I have worked with Gail, I have appreciated her ability to problem-solve effectively and always on students' behalf," writes a colleague. "She establishes working relationships easily because they are built on a respect of ideas and values, and an effective use of a great sense of humor."

Gail has been instrumental in MCC's retention efforts, and has spearheaded a dynamic effort to recruit Hispanic students.
 
Faculty members appreciate her commitment to follow-through on new policies; for example, when she assisted in the development of simplified graduation requirement sheets, she made sure faculty advisors were comfortable using them with students.
 
More than one supporter wrote about Gail's "open door" and the "lines of communication" she maintains with her own staff as well as faculty and administrators. Regular staff meetings and her support of several CQI teams focused on advising and staff development are testimony to her commitment that everyone have a voice in decision-making. A wall-hanging in her office says it well: "Management is the development of people, not the direction of things."
 
But perhaps the most fitting description of Gail comes from a recent graduate who wrote: "From the very first time I talked with her I liked the way her dark brown eyes snap, the easy way she laughs and the intent way she listens with her whole body during conversations."
 
"She has always been professional in her dealings with me as a counselor and student adviser, and yet she has never come across to me as someone who is too educated to listen to my ideas. Even when I was not sure which direction my life or career was headed, she gave my thoughts serious consideration. She seems to have the special ability of making an average person like me believe I am capable of doing great and mighty things. She then goes the extra mile in showing you how to work through your goals to make them become a reality."
 
"I believe she has a unique way of making her education applicable in a personal, down-to-earth way. Overall I would say that Gail Spies is a role model and a friend who combines professionalism and caring in a way that I would be proud to emulate as I head into a career of my own."