Diane Keim, 2007-2008 Employee of the Year, has worked at ESU #1 in the Finance Department since 1987. Diane is highly esteemed by her colleagues, which is evident in the nominations received recommending her for the Employee of the Year honor. The following are excerpts from those nominations:

Diane gives of herself behind the scenes to make ESU 1 number 1.

She keeps track of the financial workings of the unit and the employees and she always knows how to make each of us smile every month by making sure we get paid on time - even though we’ve messed up on our mileage!

Diane is dedicated to the FISH! Philosophy and demonstrates daily by choosing her attitude, being there, making someone’s day and playing.

She can quickly assess a situation and be there in the best way possible for that coworker by lending a shoulder, helping finalize a grant, getting that phone call made, finding our mistakes or getting that purchase order processed ASAP.

I appreciate a job well done and Diane has daily, monthly and yearly done just that.

Diane is a very dedicated employee. I see firsthand how hard she works—from calculating employee time cards each Monday morning, to finalizing payroll details with Lisa, to assisting several employees with grant coordinator responsibilities.

Working as a grant coordinator, I could not do my job effectively without Diane’s attention to details. After developing the budget, I disseminate the details to her. From that data, Diane creates the accounting codes, submits reimbursement requests through the NE Department of Education Grant Management System (GMS), and orders resources and materials for distribution to our participating districts. In each of these endeavors, she’s thorough and conscientious.

Many additional duties are achieved through Diane’s assistance: monthly ESU board meetings (planning and ordering the meal, as well as room arrangement and set up), All Staff Day set up and theme coordination, assisting Susan Strahm with quarterly Early Childhood mailings, etc. Without Diane’s willingness to help with details such as these, the tasks would take considerably longer and be more tedious for others.

When new initiatives come into play, Diane is interested in participating. When the ESU #1 FISH! learning teams were first implemented, Diane co-facilitated with her office partner, Lisa Salmon. In addition, book studies were formed the fall of 2007 and Diane immediately agreed to participate. Her enthusiasm for ESU sponsored activities can be counted upon.

Diane does her best to serve the employees of ESU #1 with friendliness and patience.

Without Diane, many tasks would not be completed at ESU #1. It is because of her skill that accounting details are in tip-top shape, employees get their paychecks in a timely fashion, and many employees encounter a friendly face or hear a kindly voice each day.

Diane will go where no other ESU bookkeeper will go. At ESU 1, the staff developers and tech trainer realize the importance of writing grants. Often times I write grants with other ESUs. When I am in the process, I constantly hear from colleagues that their ESU cannot be the fiscal agent, because their bookkeepers will not take on another grant. Of course, they are dealing with less than half the number of grants Diane takes on.

Diane’s August and September are a nightmare most of us wouldn’t be able to handle. She runs a tight ship. Our grants are always done correctly. She even catches mistakes made by the state. We have our money when we need it. She works down to the wire with each of us. And to think this is just a small part of her job!

Diane not only has to work with all of us, she also assists and answers questions for all our district administrators and their bookkeepers.

She’s TOP NOTCH!