Employees of the Quarter
The Kansas Department of Agriculture recognizes employees whose achievements are significant in scope, effort or impact on department operations or service to its customers, or who go far above and beyond the customer service level expected in the execution of his or her duties which reflects positively on the department or the state. Up to two employees are recognized in this manner in each quarter.
Doug Schemm
Doug Schemm, Environmental Scientist with the Division of Water Resources’ Water Appropriation program, was named employee of the quarter for the quarter ending July 31, 2009.
Schemm was nominated by his supervisor, Will Gilliland, who has since retired.
“Doug has been a key player processing applications for new appropriations of water and applications to change existing water rights that are filed as part of complex projects,” Gilliland said. “In fact, he has taken on processing the most complex sets of applications and brought them to complete, final action.”
Gilliland said he was impressed Schemm’s ability to communicate complex information.
“He does an exceptional job communicating with concerned residents in the areas around the proposed projects. He provides basic information about the geology and hydrology of project areas, and he explains how statutes and regulations influence the permitting process,” he said.
Schemm has been named the Division of Water Resources representative on the geologic mapping advisory committee for the Kansas Geological Survey. He also is the DWR contact person for the Kansas Groundwater Association and has operated an informational booth at their annual meetings.
Schemm says the work her performs helps the department meet its mission in that his “thorough review of any proposed use of water ensures that Kansas’ water resources are properly managed and appropriated.”
He credits his success at his job to being able to work with the public.
“Being a good communicator and a good listener are essential skills for my job,” Schemm said. “It’s also very important to respond to any questions or concerns quickly and with a positive attitude.”
Schemm grew up on a Kansas farm, so he enjoys working for a program that is so important to helping farmers and ranchers deal with water resources. He also enjoys his relationships with his co-workers, who he describes as dedicated and hard working.
“What we do benefits all Kansans because it involves how water is managed in all aspects of our lives, including agricultural, industrial, municipal, recreational, stock watering and domestic uses,” Schemm said.
Schemm has worked for the Kansas Department of Agriculture for six years. Previously, he worked in environmental consulting and was involved in contamination remediation projects and compliance assessments for industrial facilities throughout the United States.
When he’s not working, Schemm says he enjoys being outside and spending time on his hobbies, which include gardening, hunting and fishing.
Steve Spielbusch
Steve Spielbusch, Agricultural Inspector II with the Meat and Poultry Inspection program, was named employee of the quarter for the quarter ending July 31, 2009.
Spielbusch was nominated by his supervisor, Dr. Glenn Riggs.
“Steve is a very dedicated employee and very much a team player,” Riggs said. “He is always current with his assignments and is quick to offer suggestions for improving the program or his own job performance.”
However, it was a storm on May 8 that prompted Riggs to nominate Spielbusch for employee of the quarter.
“As soon as Steve arrived at his first assigned plant, the whole town went dark. Then his wife called him to let him know they were having a significant storm at home. But Steve stayed on the job and started calling plants he inspects to ask if any had storm damage,” Riggs said. “This is typical of Steve—to worry about consumer safety before tending to his own personal concerns.”
Spielbusch says he was just doing his job.
“I am merely part of a team working to monitor and ensure the safety of the public’s food supply,” Spielbusch said.
Spielbusch credits his strong communication skills and his relationship with his co-workers for his success.
“It’s important to be able to go to a variety of plants and work with plant owners to understand and solve various problems,” he said. “Each day presents a different challenge, but I can always depend on the cooperation and help of my co-workers.”
He said it’s important to him that consumers know of the vital services the department provides to ensure food safety, especially the Meat and Poultry Inspection program, because it works as a team and is dedicated to excellence in monitoring food safety.
Spielbusch has worked for the Department of Agriculture for 20 years. Before that, he was co-manager of a farm store for 10 years, and he and his wife successfully ran a locker plant for four years.
Spielbusch and his wife, Diana, will celebrate 39 years of marriage in October 2009. The couple has three sons and one daughter, plus seven grandchildren. In their spare time, they run a cow-calf operation and enjoy country-western dancing, especially two-stepping.
Roxie Valdivia
Roxie Valdivia, Senior Administrative Assistant with the Pesticide and Fertilizer program, was named employee of the quarter for the quarter ending March 31, 2009.
Valdivia was nominated by Katie Howard, director of environmental and lab issues.
“Roxie has many valuable characteristics that make her stand out,” Howard said. “That’s why I nominated her for employee of the quarter.”
In her nomination, Howard pointed out that Roxie is dependable, organized and a team player.
“Roxie stays on top of her many duties and is proactive about anticipating program needs. She always completes her tasks ahead of schedule, and she’s always willing to help out when needed. She is always ready to do what’s needed to ensure the department is successful,” Howard said.
Howard also noted that Valdivia always has a positive attitude.
“She arrives at work with a smile on her face and maintains her positive attitude even when she is really busy. She makes time to say hello and is never bothered by questions and interruptions,” she said.
Howard said she was motivated to nominate Valdivia for employee of the quarter after witnessing her help a walk-in customer on her lunch hour.
“A gentleman brought in a check to pay the fee to license his family’s dairy while everyone in the records center was gone to lunch. The only person around was Roxie, who had her lunch plate in hand. As usual, with a smile, she put down her lunch to lend a hand,” Howard said.
Valdivia says she believes in always being helpful.
“I believe by listening and focusing on a caller’s concerns, whether it’s to listen to them talk about their dislike of pesticides or their belief that pesticides are not being properly used, I help the program achieve its mission to ensure that pesticides are safely handled and used,” Valdivia said.
She attributes her success on the job to her positive, professional attitude and enjoying the people she works with. She has been in state service and with the Kansas Department of Agriculture for 24 years.
When not at work, she spends most of her time her grandchildren; 5-year-old Jalen, 3-year old Raya and 9-month-old Jacob.
Angela Kohls
Angela Kohls, Inspection Supervisor with the Food Safety and Lodging program, was named employee of the quarter for the quarter ending March 31, 2009.
Kohls was nominated for employee of the quarter by Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Constantine Cotsoradis.
Kohls transferred to the Kansas Department of Agriculture from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment when the Department of Agriculture became responsible for restaurant and lodging inspections.
“What impresses me about Angela is her knowledge, her positive attitude and her dedication to food safety,” Cotsoradis said. “In her short time with our department, she has been a valuable source of guidance on food safety issues. Plus, she’s not constrained by an 8 to 5 workday. She’s willing to put in the extra time when it’s needed to get a job done and to ensure the public is protected.”
Kohls supervises food safety inspection staff and answers questions from inspectors, establishment owners and the general public. She also helps review enforcement matters before they are forwarded to the department’s legal section.
“The primary part of our mission is to ensure a safe food supply. By answering questions from staff, the regulated community and the general public, I help educate all of them about proper food safety,” Kohls said.
She attributes her success to her strong communication skills and that she likes that every day brings a new challenge.
Kohls has worked for the Department of Agriculture since 2008, but she has been in state service for 10 years. If you count her years as a food safety inspector with Junction City/Geary County, she has a total 13 years food safety experience.
She recently was elected secretary-treasurer of the Association of Food and Drug Officials.
When she’s not working, Kohls enjoys supporting K-State sports.
“I’m a serious sports nut and a HUGE K-State fan,” Kohls said.
She’s been married to her husband, Craig, for 15 years, and they have an 11-year-old son Joshua.
Samantha Ramskill
Samantha Ramskill, Senior Administrative Assistant in the Records Center, was named employee of the quarter for the quarter ending December 31, 2008.
Ramskill was nominated by her supervisor, Nancy Anderson.
"Samantha transferred to the food safety data entry position just prior to the October transfer of restaurant and lodging licenses. She quickly learned the WinWam inspection software and helped Steve Moris, manager of food safety and lodging, train inspectors in contract county health departments," said Anderson. "She became the main contact for all questions regarding restaurant and lodging licenses, and she did a remarkable job learning the requirements for the licenses so she was able to answer customer questions."
Anderson also noted that Ramskill was the sole data entry person for all food safety licenses, about 18,000 in all, between October 1 and December 1. She also was responsible for chemigation renewals, chemigation equipment operator renewals and all open records requests.
"Samantha handled these extra duties without complaint," Anderson said. "Oftentimes she was overwhelmed, but she maintained a positive attitude and was able to keep the work backlog to a minimum."
Ramskill also is responsible for assigning tasks to inspectors for new facilities.
"By assigning these tasks, I ensure that new facilities are up to code and approved before they are issued a license for food service or lodging," Ramskill said.
Ramskill believes that her ability to communicate helps her most on the job.
"I have good communication skills and try to keep a friendly atmosphere, both on the phone and in person," she said.
What she likes most about her job is working with her co-workers.
"We each have our individual duties, but we team together nicely to help everyone accomplish what needs to be done," she said.
Ramskill started in state service at the Department of Agriculture in 2007. Previously she worked as a cashier, sales associate and receptionist.
In her spare time, which is after she is through working at the Department of Agriculture and a part-time job, she spends as much time as she can with her two nephews, who are 2 years old and 3 months old. She also likes to scrapbook and to watch her brother-in-law compete in demolition derbies in the summer.
Katie Howard
Katie Howard, Environmental-Lab Issues Director, was named employee of the quarter for the quarter ending December 31, 2008.
Howard was nominated by her supervisor, Constantine Cotsoradis.
"During her tenure at the Department of Agriculture, Katie has demonstrated a willingness to accept new and more challenging responsibilities," Cotsoradis said. "She never looked at the duties in her position description as the ceiling, but instead as the starting point."
Cotsoradis offered as an example Howard's reorganization of the lab when she worked there.
"Even though it was not in her position description, she reorganized the lab to make it more efficient," he said.
Cotsoradis also mentioned other challenging projects undertaken by Howard.
"Soon after starting her new position, she was faced with a difficult pesticide issue that required coordinating with KDA staff, EPA, FDA, USDA and industry," he said. "Through her efforts, a potentially devastating situation had a positive outcome."
There also was an IT project she took on despite a heavy workload and not having IT experience. She was the lead on the IT team put together to ensure that a project was completed and that the vendor fulfilled its contract terms.
"I can depend on Katie to do any job I ask of her and be confident that it will get done and done well," Cotsoradis said.
Howard describes her primary job duties as overseeing operation of the Pesticide and Fertilizer, Plant Protection and Weed Control, Agricultural Laboratory programs, and acting as the liaison between those programs and the secretary's office. She says she enjoys the variety her job offers.
"There is always something new going on or a project that needs to be done," Howard said. "I enjoy learning about all the activities the various programs in the agency perform."
She believes that every employee is essential to the agency fulfilling its mission, and she hopes that her work allows others to perform their jobs more effectively and efficiently.
Howard started her state service at the Department of Agriculture in 2002. Previously she worked as a zookeeper, a lab technician and a microbiologist.
She grew up on a hobby farm in Wisconsin and was active in 4-H, especially in the dog and goat project areas. She's lived in Topeka for nearly 10 years. When she's not at work, she enjoys walking her dog, working out, reading, spending time with friends and watching sports.