Ronald L. Thomas, Project Manager, ITS Telecommunications received the 2008 President’s Award for Excellence on May 5, 2008.  He has recently been notified that he is to be awarded the 2008 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence. The University is comprised of many dedicated people who work for the common good, but there are a few exceptional staff members that go above and beyond and excel at their profession.  They make the effort to go just a little bit further to make life easier and work enjoyable.  They are the people that you are delighted to see whether on a daily, weekly, monthly or annual basis.  These are the people we need to recognize, reward, and publicize for their fine work and accomplishments. Ron is one of those people. Ron Thomas manages the telecommunications aspect of every project that involves the relocation of staff.  This is a very time consuming, meticulous, detail oriented position that requires many meetings, discussions and personal consulting with divisions, managers and users.  These tasks involve a tremendous amount of coordination with facilities, budget, environmental safety, University code enforcement, telecommunications, vendors, etc. Ron has established wonderful relationships with every department on our three campuses.  In coordinating these projects, he has the knack for lowering the stress levels associated with change by his can-do style. He has successfully completed over 80 projects this past year.  Since 2003, Ron has had the responsibility of overseeing all projects for Telecommunications services in the new construction of Nanofab North and South, Cancer Research Center (East Campus), Warehouse Building, University Hall, Life Sciences, and the Boor Sculpture Studio, as well as overseeing telecommunications services for all building rehabilitations (i.e., Harriman, Husted Hall, Hamilton).  Since 2002 Ron has managed the Summer Giants Camp project where over 150 Giants staff reside on campus for four weeks. This past year Ron was called upon to manage one of the most important projects Telecommunications has undertaken in years--the move to Apogee in providing wired and wireless Internet access for the 7,200 resident students at UA.  This very complex project involved a tremendous amount of coordination.  Ron was voted as MVP on the project and without his efforts, we would not have been ready for Apogee service in August of 2007.  This was in addition to his normal workload! Ron is committed to serving the University; he understands our mission and each day strengthens the ties of our organization to others both within UA and other state agencies. He has shown the type of leadership qualities and work ethic that make an exceptional employee of the University at Albany.