We have two 2025 First Quarter Pillar Award winners; Tom Harvell and Brandon Schaneberg!
This quarterly award recognizes employees who display positive behaviors and characteristics as defined in our Dare to Soar standards, values and RCH mission. Employees receiving this award demonstrate these behaviors and characteristics on a consistent basis. Selection for this award recognizes these employees for their outstanding commitment and demonstration of concern, respect, and professionalism.
The Pillar of Excellence Award is a step above the typical ’employee of the month’ model of recognition. In order to receive this award, employees are nominated by a co-worker that fills out a nomination form that must fully illustrate how the employee demonstrates EXCELLENCE IN EACH CATEGORY of our Dare to Soar values. The application that meets the standards of the application as well as the award is chosen by our Employer of Choice team.
See below for Tom & Brandon’s full nomination:
Commitment
Brandon and Tom are always willing to come up and help us in surgery with our facilities as well as our equipment needs. They have taken the time to understand what things are, how they work, and why they are important to us. They take this same open approach with all the departments at RCH going over the top to complete any project they are asked to help with.
Leadership
They are always trying to understand how our equipment works, why its important to our processes, and come up with ways to prevent issues in the future. You can give them a problem or project and they will take the lead to solve or complete it. Give an example of how nominee takes advantage, develops, or supports opportunities for professional growth, leadership and development.
Professionalism
They are accomodating, kind and always ask questions to make sure they understand our issues or needs. Share how nominee creates or supports an environment that encourages cooperation and collaboration.
Teamwork
Brandon and Tom (and all of maintenance) are always willing to come help us in surgery. They help us problem solve issues and understand the importance of keeping our department functioning. This is also how they deal with the rest of the departments and the hospital as a whole. It can be a project to help out one of the Dare to Soar teams or a small department but they will get it done.
Communication
Brandon and Tom frequently asked questions regarding this project and the equipment to ensure everything would work well. They also check-in to make sure they are completing the project correctly and efficiently.
Ownership
They usually have a go-with-the-flow mindset and do their best to get the job done. They always put the best interests of the hospital first.
Innovation
With our sterilizer and equipment issue, Brandon and Tom designed and developed a raised frame for our equipment to sit on inside the sterilizer. This is not something that is sold somewhere or has even been seen anywhere. They took the time to understand our problem, take the appropriate measurements, and even trial the frame as it was being built. For another department, they hand-built a frame for a tv screen and updated a handle for a cart.
Excellence
When surgery purchased a new sterilizer in 2023, it was a huge upgrade for our department, but it left one valuable piece of equipment completely unusable due to sizing changes with the new sterilizer. Brandon and Tom developed and manufactured a solution to make our equipment functional again, which will save time, money, and resources as we are getting busier with our orthopedic service! They understood that the piece of equipment was unusable with our new sterilizer. They also understood that money our department spent was just sitting in a corner and being wasted. Their willingness to step in, see the problem, and develop and execute a solution has saved us valuable time and money
Additional Comments:
Tom and Brandon are great examples of employees who deserve the Pillar of Excellence award. They demonstrate the values of the hospital on a daily basis and always happily work with departments to take care of more than just their maintenance needs. They serve the needs of the maintenance department with their allaround improvement knowledge and skills. They both can and will help any department when called to. They have gone above & beyond from everything to fixing an employee’s tire, buidling a “hay”copter to helping rescue a cat stuck in a manhole. We are so lucky to have them here at Rochelle Community Hospital.