2008 Woodie Awards
Imagine all the people: The Marshfield Crew
Kelli Schlueter
Issue date: 10/2/06 Section: Features
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Media Credit: Kate MotivaWorking during college years provides extra cash and support from co-workers.
Each day I attend my job as an office assistant, I have a variety of tasks to adhere to. I log data into a computer, file folders into cabinets, make copies and run errands. But do I really know the inner workings of the office?
In the past, I have always brushed it off as just a job to make some extra cash as I work my way through four years of college. I have never before stopped to think about the people who have made a career of out of working in the Purchasing Division of the Office of Business and Financial Affairs (OBFS) in the Marshfield Building.
Located on the west side of campus, a typical day on the third floor of the Marshfield building consists of endless paperwork, business matters and staff meetings. However, there is an overpowering sense of community and belonging present as well. With inside jokes circulating in abundance (I'm even in on them now), the employees of OBFS bring character to an otherwise stolid line of work.
The Purchasing Division of the OBFS plays several different roles. According to their official description this includes, "business processes related to the acquisition of goods and services for the University." Though the description may not sound too exciting, the importance of this line of work for U of I is tremendous. If we didn't have the dedicated contract specialists to serve as a go-between for the University and outside companies, programs, schools, hospitals, etc., then our University would be immensely under-funded, underdeveloped, and even unorganized in the way it deals with outside business matters. The Marshfield team is truly a dedicated group of individuals who devote their time to making sure business matters are in proper order around campus. What's more is that their dedication never stops, even when the 4:45 mark rolls around.
The close-knit community of the Purchasing Office was recently more apparent when the Director of Purchases, Elizabeth Aasen, retired from the University this past summer. A retirement party was held in her honor, celebrating her 30-plus years of dedication to the Purchasing Division. Aasen made a career of aiding the University in business matters and transactions, and her friends and co-workers have rightfully recognized her hard work.
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In the past, I have always brushed it off as just a job to make some extra cash as I work my way through four years of college. I have never before stopped to think about the people who have made a career of out of working in the Purchasing Division of the Office of Business and Financial Affairs (OBFS) in the Marshfield Building.
Located on the west side of campus, a typical day on the third floor of the Marshfield building consists of endless paperwork, business matters and staff meetings. However, there is an overpowering sense of community and belonging present as well. With inside jokes circulating in abundance (I'm even in on them now), the employees of OBFS bring character to an otherwise stolid line of work.
The Purchasing Division of the OBFS plays several different roles. According to their official description this includes, "business processes related to the acquisition of goods and services for the University." Though the description may not sound too exciting, the importance of this line of work for U of I is tremendous. If we didn't have the dedicated contract specialists to serve as a go-between for the University and outside companies, programs, schools, hospitals, etc., then our University would be immensely under-funded, underdeveloped, and even unorganized in the way it deals with outside business matters. The Marshfield team is truly a dedicated group of individuals who devote their time to making sure business matters are in proper order around campus. What's more is that their dedication never stops, even when the 4:45 mark rolls around.
The close-knit community of the Purchasing Office was recently more apparent when the Director of Purchases, Elizabeth Aasen, retired from the University this past summer. A retirement party was held in her honor, celebrating her 30-plus years of dedication to the Purchasing Division. Aasen made a career of aiding the University in business matters and transactions, and her friends and co-workers have rightfully recognized her hard work.
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