Travel contract focuses on customersTravel Services is implementing a

new travel management contractwith Total Travel Management. Thisnew vendor will allow Travel Servicesto change from a control organizationto a consultant-based program inorder to bring added value to ourcustomers.

Customer service was a primaryfocus of Travel Services throughoutthe contract process. Focus groupswere conducted with Travel Services’customers to determine whether thetravel program adds value and, if so, to identify customer needs. The newcontract has key performance indicators including measures for responsiveness,error, and traveler satisfaction to ensure continued customer satisfaction.Performance incentives are tied to these measures. The new travel managementcontract also means that the Department of Management and Budget will nolonger review exceptions to the state’s travel policy.

The shift to consulting will mean that Travel Services’ role will be to ensurethat the program adds value and to market this program to state travelers. Thismeans that travelers and administrators will be consulted and new programfeatures will be initiated to meet their needs.

To inform DMB’s customers of the change, travel coordinators were informedin a quarterly meeting. Additionally, smaller meetings were held with departmentsto discuss policies that they identified as needingto be reinforced by travel consultants and throughInternet tools. Web-based training is beingutilized to help familiarize travel coordinatorswith the booking software.

Other areas of DMB working with TravelServices include; Financial Services, who areworking with Travel Services to change paymentmethods; and the Director’s Office, who areassisting in providing marketing expertise topromote the value of the Travel Program.

Travel Services: (left to right) Dave Ancell, director,and Ronda Whiting.

News from the themes

2

Construction of the Niles StatePolice Post/Public Safety Complexbegan June 24 on a partiallywooded, 12-acre site east ofdowntown Niles near the CassCounty line. This facility willcombine the forces of the MichiganState Police, the City of Niles PoliceDepartment, the Niles TownshipPolice Department and the BerrienCounty Sheriff’s Department. Thetotal project cost has beenauthorized by the Legislature at $6.5

million and is scheduled for completion in October 2003. Staff fromInfrastructure Services overseeing the project include Jan Miller, projectdirector, and Bill Kunkel, inspector.

At the request of the Department of Management and Budget, the leadarchitects, Integrated Architecture, along with their consultants VentureArchitects, designed the building following environmentally friendly guidelines.The guidelines were established by the United States Green Building Councilin their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Rating System. Thesystem was established in 1999 for design professionals to use as a benchmarkingtool for measuring the environmental friendliness of the building.

The appearance of the facility was designed to convey the unity betweenthe separate organizations which will inhabit it. In a single facility, each agencycan tap the resources of the others to improve the level of service to the Nilescommunity and south Berrien County. Shared areas and functions will includereception, lobby/waiting, training classrooms, conference rooms, locker rooms,lunchroom, fitness area, mailroom and equipment.

Artistic rendering of the new Niles State Police Post/Public Safety Complex.

Niles State Police post construction beginsIn Brief...

Acquisition Services’Logistics Division hasdeveloped sevenListServs that provideinformation on differentareas of the division.They are: RECORDS-MGT, for RecordsCenter; DMB-MATERIALS-MGT, forMaterials Management;DMB-FEDSURPLUS, forFederal Surplus; STATE-SURPLUS-PUBLIC, forState Surplus; STATE-SURPLUS-AGENCY, forState Surplus (StateEmployees); DMB-FREIGHT-SERVICES, forTransportation Services(freight); DMB-MAIL-DISTRIBUTION, forTransportation Services(mail).

To subscribe to anyor all of the aboveListServs go towww.state.mi.us/l i s t s e r v /subscribe.html

The Federal Surplus Property Program has completed its move to the old StateSurplus building at 3353 N. Martin L. King Jr. Blvd. and is ready to serve the needsof state government.

Current inventory includes office supplies (copy paper, pens, pencils, bind-ers), hardware (nuts, bolts, screws), hand tools (wrenches, pliers, hammers),and winter clothing. Ordering items from Federal Surplus is easier and cheaperthan ordering them from other sources. One advantage is there are no monthlybills to process in MAIN. To place an order, only an index number is need. Call(517) 335-9105 to place an order.

For additional information, subscribe to the Federal Surplus ListServ atwww.state.mi.us/listserv/subscribe.html by selecting DMB-FEDSURPLUS.

Federal Surplus ready to serve government

Infrastructure Ser-vices’ Capital RenewalDivision has movedfrom the second floorof the Mason Building tothe first floor. Infra-structure Services’ Op-erations Division, whichhad temporarily movedto the second floor ofthe Mason Building isnow back on the firstfloor as well.

News from the themes

3

As you know, a newIDP is required at thebeginning of eachp e r f o r m a n c eassessment cycle. YourIDP might change for afew reasons such as ajob or classificationchange, major changesin work assignments, ora change in the nature ofyour job. If none ofthese th ings havehappened since yourlast assessment anddevelopment cycle,your competencies willlikely remain the same.

Remember to discussyour training anddevelopment needswhen you meet withyour supervisor tocreate your new IDP.T r a i n i n g s h o u l db e t a r g e t e d t ocompetencies you andyour supervisor identifyas areas for future skilldevelopment. Use “PartB” to record these plansand include the specificcompetencies that youwill address and specificcourse names fortargeted training orskills enhancementopportunities for yournext review period.

Grace Bonofiglio isiDMB’s CBT columnist.Her column appearsmonthly.

Grace’s CBT Corner:Creating a new IDP

A change is underway inOrganizational Services’s HumanResources Division. The division isstarting to provide human resourceservices to Department ofInformation Technology employees.The services provided includerecruitment, classifications, leaveadministration, labor relations,payroll/transaction processing, timeand attendance processing and HRMNsystem maintenance.

Personnel files are beingtransferred to Human Resources fromall state departments where DIT employees were transferred. In addition tofiles, the division is receiving new staff to deal with the approximately 2,000DIT employees. New Human Resources staff include: Keli Edmunds, transactions;Julie Harris, recruiter; and Mary Withers, leave administrator. In additionJeanette Bekke was promoted to handle DIT transactions and Angie Fuqua ison loan from Department of Corrections to help with the transition.

Policy direction and departmental approvals (hiring, termination, etc.) willremain the responsibility of DIT.

Human Resources’ DIT Team: (left to right, back row)Mary Withers, Julie Harris, Angie Fuqua, (front row)Keli Edmunds, and Jeanette Bekke.

Major changes underway in Human Resources

Over the past few months many Department of Management and Budget officeshave moved. In order to keep DMB’s ID mail moving quickly, Acquisition Service’sLogistics Division asks that all DMB employees include three pieces of vitalinformation on their mail: the person’s name, building location and department/division.

Current office I.D. mail addresses are available at www.michigan.gov/dmb byclicking on Agency Services, then Transportation Services. Under “Lansing Routes

by Department” you will find a list thatincludes departments, offices, and theircurrent addresses. Current out-state IDmail address are also available under“Regional Routes.”

Additionally, when mail does getdirected to an old office location,Logistics asks employees to write thecorrect address on it. This will helpensure that everyone gets their ID mailin a timely manner.

Logistics asks for employees’ help with ID mail

Employee happenings

4

Employee Recognition and Celebration PhotosEmployeeCelebration

Approximately 400employees attendedthe fourth annual em-ployee recognition andcelebration was held Au-gust 28 on the grounds ofthe General Office Build-ing.

Employees who hadreached 30, 35 and 40continuous years of ser-vice were recognized.They included: JosephBarkley, Marilyn Becker,Joan Bosheff, MaryCarrizales, RalphChapman, David Claus,Jose Cortez, PhillipGooder, Sue Horvath,Kevin Lyons, JoyceMacauley, WilliamMinich, William Motz,Arlene Oisten, RudyPulido, Shirley Ragsdale,Daniel Rocha, AnnSchrader, Gary Shray,

Ben Westrate andDelbert Wilson.

For the second year ina row Comp Time, a bandmade up of Departmentof Management and Bud-get employees, providedentertainment. DMBleadership scooped 45gallons of ice cream andserved 450 cookies.

The great weather,good service by theleadership and upbeatmusic provided an en-joyable event to honorDMB’s many dedicatedemployees.

Employee happenings

5

Rashmi Patel, InfrastructureServices, recently passed an exam tobecome a Licensed ProfessionalEngineer. Rashmi works forInfrastructure Services’ Design andConstruction Division and providesmechanical and electricalengineering services.

Patel earned his Bachelor ofScience degree in MechanicalEngineering from The University ofMichigan, Ann Arbor, in 1983.

Rashmi Patel, recently became a Licensed Profes-sional Engineer.

Patel Earns Professional Engineer License

Judy Ferrigan is iDMB’sSafety and Health colum-nist. Her column appearsmonthly.

Safety With Judy:H o u s e k e e p i n g

Most of you prob-ab ly have housecleaning respons i -bilities at home. Butdid you know goodhousekeeping is animportant duty on thejob too? The orderlyarrangement of workareas is vital to thesafety of all workers,regardless of whetherthey work in an officeor in a l abor andtrades setting.

A p p r o x i m a t e l y1 ,000 peop le a rekilled on the job byfalls in the US eachyear. Falls often re-su l t f rom t r ipp ingover loose art ic lesleft in walkways orstairways.

Keep trash, toolsand equipment offthe floor and storedin the proper places.This not only reducestripping hazards, butprotects the equip-ment you use.

It is up to each ofus to hold up our endof the deal. Whenwork areas are in or-der, the whole de-partment is a saferplace to work.

State employees seeking retirement and investment planning informationcan now enjoy one-stop shopping. The Lansing CitiStreet office has relocated tothe Secondary Complex’s General Office Building where Retirement Services islocated. The CitiStreet staff, formerly located in downtown Lansing, handle allof the Deferred Compensation and Defined Contribution Plans participanteducation seminars throughout the state. They also help participants with generalplan information, including forms and brochures, and problem resolution.

Customers should find the new location more convenient, especially if theyhave questions about retirement issues as well. Other pluses for both activeemployees and retirees are free parking and a location near the freeway.

Individuals who have questions about account balances, transfer of funds,or change of salary deferrals, address or beneficiaries should continue to callCitiStreet’s toll-free information line at 800-748-6128. Those with general planquestions can call 517-636-6077 and speak with a local CitiStreet staff memberor arrange an appointment.

New One-Stop Retirement Services

Neal Droste, Infrastructure Services, recentlyearned his Master Electrician License. Droste startedhis career as an electrician through an apprentice-ship program at Michigan State University, andjoined the Department of Management and Budgetin 1994.

In order to earn his Master Electrician LicenseDroste was required to have 12,000 hours of elec-trical experience and to pass a rigorous test. Hesaid it has been a career goal to earn this license,which is the highest an electrician can receive.

Neal Droste recently earned his Mas-ter Electrician License.

Droste Earns Master Electrician License

Employee happenings

iDMB is an electronicnewsletter produced on amonthly basis by Organi-zational Services for theemployees of the Depart-ment of Management andBudget.

If you have questionsor comments please call(517) 335-5283.

Correspondents:

Acquisition Services

Darleen HeimMarilyn BeckerAgency Services

Geneva HawthorneDirector’s Office

Shirley RagsdaleFinancial Services

Denice BallardDorinda DienhartTari TeremiInfrastructureServicesConnie ShutesOrganizationalServicesJeannette BekkeGrace BonofiglioRetirement ServicesRosemary BakerTenant & LandServicesDebbie Sanchez

Columnists:

Grace Bonofiglio

Competency Based TrainingJudy FerriganSafety and Health

Editors:

Tim McCormickSteve Davis

6

For over a year Kris Garrison,Tenant and Land Services, has donatedher time through Refugee Services, anonprofit group that assists displacedrefugees, to help a group of youngmen known as “the Lost Boys.” Duringthe late 1980’s thousands of boys fledwar-torn Sudan. Over the next decadethey were bounced from country tocountry. Many died of starvation,disease, animal attack or were killedduring the civil wars that have rippedapart many East African nations. Afteryears of hardship for the lost boys, theUS agreed to take in 3,500 of them asrefugees.

A group of about 100 of these young men settled in Lansing. The refugees whowere over the age of eighteen, known as “majors,” were placed in apartments andgiven temporary financial assistance. Garrison, her husband and family have spenttheir time with these older boys.

Adjusting to American life as a refugee can be confusing and scary. Garrison hasworked to acclimate the boys to their new way of life: teaching them how to cook,buy groceries, open bank accounts and drive. She has also informally adopted Mawut,a 21 year old with whom she has been working. Mawut is living with the Garrisonswhile he finishes his G.E.D. and works full time.

“I love working with them. These guys have survived hell and are still kind,caring, hard-working people,” says Garrison. “They fully appreciate the things wetake for granted every day. I am so happy to have had the opportunity to get toknow them. I have 25 boys who call me ‘Mom-Kris’ and it just warms my heart.”

Those interested in helping refugees in the Lansing area can call Vince Delgado,volunteer coordinator for Refugee Services at (517) 484-1010.

Garrison opens heart, home to refugees

(Left to right, back row) Peter Dhuor, Jacob Garang,Kris Garrison, Greg Garrison, Abraham Aluel, DanielMayen, Mawut Manyang, (front row) Angelo MayenThiel, Nathaniel Chol, and Angelo Achiec Thiel.

Herb Confer, Infrastruc-ture Services, recently passedan exam to become a Na-tional Institute for Certifica-tion in Engineering Technol-ogy (NICET) II certified tech-nician. Confer works for In-frastructure Services’ Opera-tions Division maintaining lifesafety systems.

Confer Earns Certificate

Herb Confer recently earned hisNICET II certificate