The UNK Staff Senate Employee Recognition Committee announces Michelle Fleig-Palmer, director of the UNK Dual Career Program, as the Employee of the Month for September 2004. Michelle, who initially served as coordinator for the program, helped initiate the UNK Dual Career program after moving to Kearney with her husband and finding that no services were available to help accompanying partners execute effective job searches and learn about the local job market, either before or after the move to Kearney.
Since developing the program, Michelle has helped more than 160 accompanying partners by providing information, networking opportunities, career coaching and assistance with resumes. Last fall, she reached the highest level of accomplishment when 100 percent of the relocating partners who requested job search assistance from the program secured a job in their field within eight weeks of moving to Kearney.
In addition to helping accompanying partners find career opportunities, she has launched a monthly series of Career Development Workshops, developed a library of career development resources and offered to provide an individual counseling session to UNK employees needing assistance due to job changes.
Michelle has worked with the Dual Career Program on local, national and international levels. An active member of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, she chairs the Workforce Development Committee. In addition, she is involved in the Central Nebraska (Tri-City) Society of Human Resource Managers and the Kearney Business and Professional Women. Last fall, she hosted the United States and Canada Dual Career Teleconference. She also earned the Credentialed Career Master designation from Career Masters Institute in recognition of her achievements related to professional development, writing, public speaking and pro bono work. In February, she had a paper published in the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources Journal titled Meeting the Needs of Dual-Career Couples in Academia, and in April, she was one of two directors in the nation selected to present at the National Conference of Dual Career Program Directors at Purdue University.
Her efforts can be summarized best by the following quote received from an applicant: "I applied to 54 schools and UNK left me with a very positive impression in my initial dealings with the school--probably top three for these matters. The first letter I received from UNK contained a brochure about helping to secure employment for my spouse, which was the earliest any of the 54 mentioned this in such an explicit way. I thought this was great; it shows real foresight." It is due to Michelle's positive influence in many areas, and especially with applicants and their accompanying partners that UNK can continue to have a positive image as an employer of choice. Staff Senate is pleased to recognize Michelle Fleig-Palmer as UNK Employee of the Month for September.