Hundreds of Brock employees gathered at Pond Inlet on Thursday, Dec. 12 for the President’s Staff Recognition and Awards Celebration, which recognized outstanding staff as well as employees who have reached significant service milestones in 2024.

During the annual event, Brock President and Vice-Chancellor Lesley Rigg presented the President’s Distinguished Staff Service Award for Outstanding Contributions, the Office of People and Culture Distinguished Staff Service Award for Leadership, and the Brock University Outstanding Team Service Award.

Rigg said Brock is exceptionally lucky to have such a dedicated team that is creative, hardworking and passionate.

“A team that works tirelessly to ensure Brock delivers on its promise of transforming people and reimagining the future,” she said. “I can tell you that when I have the pleasure of meeting our alumni in the community, they invariably want to tell me about the Brock people who made a difference in their lives.”

Rigg also commended employees who reached service milestones of 5, 15, 25 and 35 years.

“Your commitment to the university is unparalleled and your institutional knowledge invaluable,” she said.

Awards presented at the event included:

President’s Distinguished Staff Service Awards for Outstanding Contributions

Four ongoing staff members were recognized for their exemplary service and significant contributions to the working environment:

• Dorothy Levay (BSc ’85), Instructor/Manager, Academic Support, Mathematics and Statistics
• Phil (Fulvio) Boseglav (BSc ’95), Lab Demonstrator, Physics
• Brandy Sokoloski, Administrative Coordinator and Academic Advisor, Applied Disability Studies
• Lori Ann Gomez, Administrative Coordinator, Sociology

 People and Culture Distinguished Staff Service Award for Leadership 

Ethna Bernat, Manager, Academic Advising (Education), was recognized for her care for others and commitment to building community. For more than 25 years, Bernat has worked to enhance student services, create a safe and trusting office space for teamwork and facilitated employee growth at Brock. She is committed to promoting Brock’s transformational university experience, devising strategies for future and current students to learn about the University’s programs.

Brock University Outstanding Team Service Award 

The team recognized for their outstanding contribution, beyond what is normally expected, was the Machine Shop. They were selected for their commitment to enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of research and teaching activities across the University. Their commitment to excellence has been recognized by prestigious research facilities around the world, contributing to Brock’s research reputation.

Members of the Machine Shop include Stephen Renda, Art Reimer, Mitch Sillaste and Nathan Hawkins.

Quarter Century Club  

A new group of employees were inducted into the Quarter Century Club, joining 303 others who had previously reached this key milestone. 20 employees were recognized for reaching 25 years of service at Brock in 2024:

• Stephen Anco, Professor, Mathematics and Statistics
• Michael Ashton, Professor, Psychology
• Ernest Biktimirov, Professor, Goodman School of Business
• Rachael Bujtas (BEd ’19), Administrative Assistant, Recreation and Leisure Studies
• Luciano Della Smirra (BBA ’05), Manager, Telecommunications, Information Technology Services
• Cale Fairchild (BSc ’97, BSc ’03), Systems and Network Administrator, Information Technology Services
• Rocco Forgione, Cleaner, Custodial Operations
• David Gabriel, Professor, Kinesiology
• Atsuko Hashimoto, Professor, Geography and Tourism Studies
• David Hutchison, Professor, Education
• Sheridan Houghten, Professor, Computer Science
• Debbie Inglis, Professor, Biological Sciences
• Russell Johnston, Associate Professor, Communications, Popular Culture and Film
• Monika Lederich, Administrative Assistant, Visual Arts
• Diane Mack, Professor, Kinesiology
• Michelle McGinn, Acting Vice-President, Research
• Barbara Sainty, Professor, Accounting
• Julie Stevens, Professor, Sport Management
• Litsa Tsiani, Professor, Health Sciences
• Brad Warankie, Network Administrator, Information Technology Services

35 years of long-standing service  

Eight people were recognized for reaching 35 years of service at Brock in 2024:

• Kenneth McClelland (BA ’90, MEd ’00, PhD ’06), Trades Helper, Facilities Maintenance
• Anne Adams, Archives Processing Specialist, Brock University Library
• Frank Fueten, Professor, Earth Sciences
• Eugene Kaciak, Professor, Finance, Operations and Information Systems
• Peter Landey, Associate Professor, Music
• Anna Lathrop (BPhEd ’78), Special Advisor, Office of the Provost
• Susan Drake (MEd ’87), Professor, Educational Studies
• Chris Tatarnic (BA ’85), Technical Analyst, Level 3, Information Technology Services

15 years of service  

This year, the event added an acknowledgement of staff members who have reached their 5- and 15- year service milestones. Names for employees celebrating their 5-year service milestone will be posted on the Office of People and Culture SharePoint site.

29 people were recognized for reaching 15 years of service at Brock in 2024:

• Christine Alic (BA ’18), Administrative Assistant, Custodial Operations
• Kate Balint, Operations and Systems Administrator, Co-op, Career, and Experiential Education
• Walid Ben Omrane, Professor, Finance, Operations and Information Systems
• Dave Bouckenooghe, Professor, Organizational Behaviour, Human Resource Management, Entrepreneurship and Ethics
• Renee-Claude Breitenstein, Associate Professor of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures
• Charles Conteh, Professor, Political Science
• Lauren Corman, Associate Professor, Sociology
• Katerina Deliovsky, Associate Professor, Sociology
• Claire Gallop, Administrative Assistant, Political Science
• Elena Genkin (ADMIN ’13, MEd ’16), Graduate Programs and Administration Coordinator, Mathematics and Science
• Lindsay Grifa (BA ’06), Graduate Administrative Coordinator, Psychology
• Stella Han (BEd ’04, MEd ’07), Academic Advisor, Goodman School of Business
• Paul Hoekstra, Horticultural Technician, Grounds Maintenance
• Katerina Koka, Associate Professor, Economics
• Arnie Mcbay (BA ’88, MA ’13), Visual Arts Facilities Coordinator, Visual Arts
• Matthew Melnyk (BA ’07, MA ’08, BEd ’20), Director, Student Recruitment, Registrar’s Office
• Martin Ouellette, Earth Sciences Technician, Earth Sciences
• Colin Parker (BSM ’08), Facilities Supervisor, Recreation, Brock Sports and Recreation
• Janice Peacock, Academic Operations Manager, Office of the Provost
• Usman Raja, Associate Dean, Goodman School of Business
• Monica Rettig, Acting Associate University Librarian, Research, Brock University Library
• Mariek Schmidt, Professor, Earth Sciences
• Margot Swales, Cleaner, Custodial Operations
• Donna Szoke, Associate Professor, Visual Arts
• Jocelyn Titone (BBA ’07), Development Officer, Grants, Foundations and Corporate Partnerships, Development and Donor Relations
• Craig Tokuno, Professor of Kinesiology
• Stephanie Vallentin, Housing Admissions Assistant, Housing Services
• Liette Vasseur, Professor, Biological Sciences
• Hannah Zhang (BAcc ’05, MAcc ’07), Financial Manager, Mathematics and Science

For more information about the nomination process for staff service awards, please visit the Office of People and Culture SharePoint site.