PULLMAN, Wash. — Nicholas Lovrich, director of the Division of Government Studies and Services at Washington State University, received a Governor’s Award for Service and Quality Improvement from Gov. Gary Locke at recent ceremonies in Olympia.
Lovrich was a member of a team of state employees nominated by the Department of Personnel, which developed a contemporary performance evaluation system.
The project is believed to be the first of its kind in governmental organizations. Implemented in June for all state agencies, it dramatically changed satisfaction ratings among employees, according to the nominators.
The award was established to recognize employee teams that make significant efforts in reducing waste, avoiding costs, cutting red tape, and improving efficiency and customer service.
Lovrich and the team were one of six groups recognized and one of 25 teams nominated. Other team members were Gladys Burbank, Federation of State Employees; Karen Durant, Office of Financial Management; Julia Graham, Department of Personnel; Ken Harden, Department of Social and Health Services; Gary Lamberson, Department of Licensing; and Joy St. Germain, Department of Ecology.
Lovrich has been a member of the WSU faculty since 1977.
ar358-98
