by Gabrielle Bodin

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

Several employees at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)'s National Wetlands Research Center and the USGS Lafayette Publishing Service Center have recently received national, regional, and local awards recognizing their contributions.

Research Center Director Janine Powell received the 2009 Eugene M. Shoemaker Communication Award for her work on the "USGS Managers Meeting Suite of Communication Products." Powell and her team developed several products designed to make a managers' meeting accessible to all USGS employees nationwide by online posting of videos and presentations of key sessions, session summaries, and daily podcasts and blogs during the meeting.

Research Center scientist Karen L. McKee received the USGS Central Region Diversity Award in the individual category for her support of women in science. Besides her years of guiding young scientists at the center, she co-founded and serves as trustee for a private foundation that supports and mentors young scientists. She also founded a new section in the Society of Wetland Scientists, "Women in Wetlands," designed to aid the advancement of women in wetland ecology.

Beth Vairin, Chief of the Publishing Service Center based at the National Wetlands Research Center, was awarded the Department of the Interior's Superior Service Award for her commitment to producing high-quality publications, cultivating creative partnerships, and displaying leadership in creating publishing standards that have improved efficiency and quality on a regional and national level. Vairin also continues to design and present training for USGS authors throughout the nation.

Research Center computer engineer Wayne Wiltz received the Center's Exemplary Service Award, which honors employees who perform above and beyond the normal call of duty. Wiltz is responsible for voice and access control systems for the Center and the adjacent Estuarine Habitats and Coastal Fisheries Center. He was recognized for having spent many nights and weekends repairing phone, surveillance, or access systems damaged by lightning or other natural or manmade disasters. He has also helped several other USGS facilities with phone issues.

Christina Boudreaux, visual information specialist with the Publishing Service Center, received the Research Center's Leading From Any Chair Award for exhibiting leadership and management skills. For some publishing projects, she played the role of moderator, technical expert, creative consultant, printing specialist, and trouble-shooter for computer hardware and software.