It's all about efficiency, customer service, and fun

Laurie Macadam, an administrative assistant in MechSE’s business office, said she was “shocked and flattered” upon learning she was one of only a few people at Illinois to win the Chancellor’s Distinguished Staff Award, given annually to a handful of staff across campus for their exceptional accomplishments and service to the university.

Macadam provides a wide variety of accounting, purchasing, reimbursement, and other services to the department’s faculty, staff, students, and external constituents. Her responsibilities are made all the more complex by the fact that MechSE is one of the largest departments in the College of Engineering and on campus.

“MechSE’s business office has processed more expenditure transactions than nearly any other unit on campus during the past several years, which is a tremendous testimony to Laurie’s productivity. When one considers the broad scope of her position, the wide variety of issues she handles, and the exceptionally large volume of transactions she processes, it’s truly amazing,” said John Wierschem, assistant to the department head and the nominator of Macadam for the award.

Macadam has had a long career at the university, and made her way to MechSE through positions in Academic Human Resources, University Administration, and the Center of Applied Materials and the Purification of Water with Systems (WaterCAMPWS). When Laurie joined the Center, she immediately got to work putting the necessary support systems in place, supported the Director and Managing Director, and was part of the administrative team that successfully reorganized it.

“About three years ago, when WaterCAMPWS was finishing up its final year, John needed help in the business office, so I came over to MEB, rolled up my sleeves and have loved being part of the office ever since,” said Macadam.

Wierschem said that upon her arrival in the business office, there was an overwhelming volume of work to be processed, and Macadam worked evenings and weekends to help the department catch up. “She exhibited tremendous initiative and creativity in redesigning processes and procedures, which greatly improved the efficiencies in the department’s business processes,” he said. For example, she developed a system to reduce the processing of purchases from 7-10 days down to same-day processing. This means faculty and students now receive the supplies and parts necessary to complete their research a full 7-10 days earlier, which keeps their research programs running smoothly and on schedule.

“One of the best aspects of my job is the interaction with students and faculty, and in a small way feeling like I am helping them with their important research projects and class projects,” said Macadam.

She also recommended and implemented a system to scan and attach internal purchase request forms, approvals, and other documentation in the campus’ iBuy system, creating an electronic archive and resulting in doing away with printing and filing thousands of paper purchase orders each year, saving significant time, paper, and filing space. Following Macadam’s lead, several other units on campus now use this best practice.

Even more impressive is that Macadam achieves all of this with a great attitude.

“Laurie is extraordinarily friendly and fun to work with, always smiling, always positive, and she has a work ethic, spirit of helpfulness, and customer service focus that is seldom seen in today’s workforce,” said Wierschem.

Outside of MechSE, Macadam said she likes to cook, karaoke, and dance, “though not at the same time.”

She will be honored at a banquet on April 10, where all the winners will receive a trophy, photo with Chancellor Phyllis Wise, a compilation of their nomination and support letters, and $2,000.