Susan Elsner, business manager for the Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering has been selected as the recipient of the 2020 Director's Operations Excellence Award. The award is given annually to honor Ames Laboratory operations and administrative employees who impact Ames Laboratory through our core values of excellence, people, innovation, collaboration, agility, safety, and inspiration.
Elsner was nominated for the award by Stephanie Gunderson who called Elsner "the ‘glue’ that holds the Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering together. Business Manager of DMSE is no small feat and the division functions and succeeds due to her incredible ability to motivate and engage others, inspire innovation, and facilitate collaborative accomplishments."
"Over the last year or two, DMSE has seen a major shift in funding resources and types which has caused many new obstacles and challenges for Susan, her team, and the overall business processes for the division as they seek to support the research," Gunderson continued. "What was once a steady and reliable core of funding for the Division has grown and changed into a more dynamic and complex funding stream. Further, new DOE requirements and relationships have been thrust upon the science and administration. Susan has been a key leader within the Division to manage these changes with agility and effectiveness through collaboration."
Gunderson cited two examples that demonstrate Elsner’s talent in collaboration.
- The Sensitive Instrument Facility instruments require expensive maintenance agreements and at the onset Susan initiated meetings with the Division Director, admins, and the Procurement and Finance departments to find the most cost-effective approach and funding mechanism.
- The Division is growing in Strategic Partnership Projects (sponsored agreements) as a form of research and funding. This type of work requires more intense administration, reporting, and communication. Susan has driven meetings, policy, and timelines with PIs, DOE headquarters program managers, the Lab IPP department, and Finance in order to best communicate to researchers and meet DOE regulations and requirements surrounding this type of work.
The award includes $250, the recipient’s name on the Director’s Excellence plaque, and recognition during the Annual State of the Lab Address in May 2020. Previous Excellence Award winners are John Lawson, Shawn Nelson and Sarah Morris-Benavides.