WSU employees get recognized

By Communications staff, Washington State University


 More than 500 Washington State University staff members will be recognized for their length of service milestones at a Dec. 5 reception in the Compton Union Building’s Carey Ballroom. To become an annual tradition, the reception is the start of a substantially expanded university Employee Recognition Program, initiated by WSU President V. Lane Rawlins and coordinated by a committee headed by Steve DeSoer, WSU Human Resource Services director. 




The event, open to all employees, begins at 3:30 p.m. with a short program at 4 p.m.

Listed below are three employees to be recognized at the event.



GREG PEARCE,



Senior Scientific Assistant

Dec. 1 will mark the 30th anniversary of Greg Pearce’s career at WSU, where he began as a lab technician II making $7,000 a year. Today, 1975 WSU biochemistry graduate, works as a senior scientific assistant in the very lab in which he began and for the same man who hired him, Bud Ryan.  “Doc Ryan is the brains and I do the lab work,” Pearce said. “We’ve made great discoveries over the years that are in textbooks now. It’s great to know that your work will endure.”  Pearce completed a master’s degree in animal nutrition in 1992. He can be reached at 509.335.4571, pearce@wsu.edu.

PETER GRAY,



Research Technologist II

Peter Gray, research technologist II, will also mark his 30th anniversary Dec. 1. He came to WSU in 1975 after earning a master’s degree from University of Idaho. After 25 years as a research technologist III at WSU, Gray was laid off but rebounded in food science and human nutrition department. Gray noted the expansion of the Pullman campus since he started at WSU. “I’ve seen a lot of buildings come up over the last 30 years,” he said, recalling a time when the Alumni Centre was just an abandoned barn is a state of disrepair. Now it’s completely refurbished.” He can be reached at 509.335.7608, pmgray@wsu.edu.

SINDY ZERBE,



Program Support Supervisor I


Sindy Zerbe, a program support supervisor I at the Compton Union Building, will have more than 20 years of service at WSU behind her as of December. Zerbe said the greatest aspect of her job is that it’s always a challenge. She began at the bottom in 1985 and has performed almost every job available in dining services. Zerbe is most amazed at how campus food service has evolved, placing much more emphasis on service and customer satisfaction. “It was a pretty standard institutional style when I first started. Today, we provide much more modern choices,” she said. Zerbe can be contacted at 509.335.4695, szerbe@wsu.edu.

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