MERIT Manager Award

MERIT Manager Award: Dawnna Pease

Dawnna consistently brings her positive can do attitude to even the most difficult projects and/or schedules. She brings a level of confidence to meetings that makes all involved believe that they can complete this project. Even our biggest nay-sayers' leave meetings believing we will be successful.

She supports her team, but sees the big picture for OIT and her client, which allows her to create an environment where there are no artificial barriers between support groups that may slow service delivery.

Her commitment to our organization, management skills, exemplary work ethic and ability to make us laugh when all else fails, makes her the candidate to received the Manager Award.

MERIT Honorable Mention Manager: Jonathan Ives

For the past 1 ½ years, Jonathan has been dedicated to the success of both the Data Hub project, and of the Maine Integrated Health Management System (MIHMS) implementation. Jonathan has continually worked beyond the standard work week, to ensure the project stays on track. Jonathan has reached out to, and has worked well with other project managers for systems that provide the needed information to both the Data Hub and MIHMS. Jonathan has recognized within the Data Hub team, the strengths and weaknesses of staff members, and has always tried to take advantage of the knowledge his staff members have, as well as held guide staff members in areas in which they are less comfortable and confident in their abilities. Jonathan has shown patience in dealing with the many issues that have arisen over the course of the project, and has dealt with these issues in a calm and organized fashion. Jonathan cares about his work. He cares about his staff, and he is dedicated to seeing the Data Hub and MIHMS implementation as successful state ventures!

MERIT Honorable Mention Manager: Rachel Garippa

Rachel's honorable mention is based on her demonstrated ability as a Project Manager to motivate and support the projects she has mentored to brings about positive transformation in the individual team members and Maine OIT organization as a whole.

Rachel's attention to details, exemplified by her practical implementing of TenStep project management methodology, can been seen in her work with the MSCommNet Radio project and CERTS project where she made team members feel part they are an integral part of the process by fostering communication, encouraging contributions and helping everybody work together on task.

Her work on the CERTS project has been recognized by NASCIO as a finalist for the 2009 Recognition Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Information Technology in the category of Information Security & Privacy.