MESSAGE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT/CFO
Message from the Vice President/CFO
Dear ABA Staff Professional,
It has been a whirlwind of a fall semester, and I know many in ABA are looking forward to a well-deserved holiday break. This is the time of year when we celebrate family, both at home, and here at Sacramento State. It is also a time when we are thankful for the opportunities we have, and for our relationships with others. I am personally thankful for the dedicated and hard working staff members in ABA.
Your hard work is being noticed. Several stories in this fall newsletter highlight how ABA has engaged with the local community, improved campus facilities, and supported student success. Members of our family recently helped support the 50th anniversary of the historic visit and speech from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., where a commemorative plaque and tree were installed. Additionally, our own Reprographics Services partnered with the Roberts Family Development Center to produce a booklet of student works created during summer school programs from local grade schools. These are both examples of ABA impacting the lives of both our students, and our community.
Just as ABA is dedicated to delivering to the community, we are dedicated to continuous improvement. Our potential is limited only by our definition of what is possible. That is why I want to call attention to the Lean process improvements our staff have undertaken.
On November 1, ABA held a process improvement workshop that involved both managers and staff, as they collaborated and brainstormed solutions to complex problems. This type of thinking and this type of work will allow us to look at problems in a different light, potentially finding solutions we couldn’t once see.
Part of this renewed focus is an effort to continue to cultivate a culture within ABA where continuous improvement is commonplace. In the coming months, ABA will be championing a new program which will have one to three members of each ABA family become Lean facilitators, trained to take on department processes for areas of improvement.
All of these topics have something in common; they require teamwork. This is why I was so delighted to see everyone at the recent Winter Luncheon held on Tuesday, December 5, where we recognized years of service recipients for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and even 35 years! Events like these help bring everyone together to enjoy each other’s company, while also enjoying a great lunch courtesy of Epicure catering. Special thanks to the START committee who helped make this year’s event extra memorable with a fun photo booth and games commemorating the years our award recipients started their careers at Sac State.
