Information Technology Services team works wonders
When a computer crashes or a monitor won’t turn on, the superheroes in the Information Technology Services (ITS) department at Coastal Carolina University swoop in and save the day. The ITS super team works together to tackle technology projects big and small all over campus.
Last summer marked the start of a total technology makeover for the Wall College of Business. The project called for new paint, carpet, seating and technology. Progress began on the third floor in the summer of 2015 and continued on the second floor this past summer. ITS staff members were responsible for moving furniture, computers, updating software, bringing in new equipment and helping rewire each room, then moving everything back once the project was finished. Tackling a project of this scale requires a team effort.
Stephanie Carroll, information technology project manager, said the project was expected to take five or six months, but due to the ITS team’s hard work, it was completed in three months.
Christina Genovevo, who nominated the ITS team for I Spy recognition, described the hard work that went into this past summer’s project.
“Alissa, along with others in ITS, has been amazing this summer! Not only is she dealing with her own move, but quickly handled us in the Wall College of Business. We needed the dean’s office line set up immediately and, without hesitation, she started running (OK, walking extremely fast) on the second floor of Wall to ensure not only that my office was set up, but others as well. I would also like to recognize Gene, Stephanie and Joe, as all of them did an amazing job in helping us get up and running. Our ITS team really goes above and beyond.”
Several different ITS departments within IT came together to make the project a success. Carroll coordinated the move and worked with the facilities office to make sure she could address any new technology needs. She worked as the off-site liaison while others worked directly in the Wall building. Gene Carlisle, help desk manager, and Pierre-Olivier Antoine Tavernier, information resource consultant, moved computers and got them back up and running. Their team also answered calls from the faculty/staff members who moved into their new spaces. Alissa Gibson, network support technician, was responsible for evaluating networking equipment and deciding what updates needed to be done to make sure there was complete network connectivity.
All classrooms and the offices of around 70 staff members, who all had phones and network connection in their offices, were moved and technologically renovated during the project.
“A lot of the ITS folks were here after hours and on weekends, working very hard to get everything ready for the semester,” said Carlisle.
Collaboration was the key to finishing the project. Though each person had a specific role, they were willing to help one another in any way possible. “We have a great group of people here who work together as a team. It makes things so much easier for all of us,” said Gibson.
This is not the first time the ITS “super squad” has worked together. They have had to repeat this same renovation on all new campus buildings, as well as the other floors of Wall. “We’re like a well-oiled machine, same group, same process, just a different project,” said Carroll.
Some of the team members are CCU alumni, while others just have a passion for Teal Nation. “I love CCU,”said Gibson. “I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”
“We all love Coastal, and it’s not just the job. It’s being part of the Coastal community and the Coastal family,” said Carlisle. “And we’re computer geeks, too.”
“I Spy” is an employee recognition tool for CCU faculty and staff to recognize outstanding actions and behaviors of their co-workers. The Department of Training and Development administers the program.
To nominate someone for I Spy, go to http://www.coastal.edu/traininganddevelopment/employeerecognition/ispy.
