Exceptional Work at ULS - Annual Evaluations

It’s annual evaluation time at ULS.  Each year our management team gets together to discuss the performance of task forces, offices and individuals.  The result is written feedback to staff, (coming in the next couple of weeks) as well as the identification of ways we can improve services to clients.

On the individual side, staff are rated in three categories.  If a staff person is rated “needs improvement” they don’t receive merit compensation.  If the rating is “meeting expectations”, this year the staff person receives $250.00.  If the rating is “exceeding expectations” the merit compensation is $500.00.  Everyone is given some feedback for improvements, but here are some excerpts from those exceeding expectations that tell you why they are being recognized this year.   

Jazmin Torres from our intake unit:  Jazmin really enjoys her job at ULS and it shows.  She is always enthusiastic about her work and brings a positive atmosphere to the office.  She is also willing to re-arrange her schedule to accommodate other’s needs and to take on new assignments.  She is consistently to work on time and stays focused throughout the day.  She also is very courteous to callers. She never complains about difficult clients or other issues that happen.  In all, she has shown her dedication and willingness to focus on client's needs and accomplish the goals of Utah Legal Services.  These efforts are greatly appreciated and worthy of recognition.

We are also delighted to recognize Sue Crisler, public benefits paralegal from the Ogden office.   She’s  earned it.  Our Social Security clients benefited greatly from her dedicated advocacy and commitment to their needs.  Sue goes above and beyond in her willingness to help in all areas of office activity.   Her efforts to secure benefits on behalf of clients prior to hearing are a leading example to the task force.  Sue’s ability to keep an enormous Pub Bens caseload organized and ready for hearings is the single most important reason the Ogden office is able to effectively represent clients and accounts for their high rate of success.   Congratulations on an outstanding year! 

Also recognized this year is Cynthia Mendenhall.  Cynthia transitioned from Ogden to Salt Lake and now to the St. George office this year, making a positive difference at each step.  In addition to her top notch assistance to clients, Cynthia took on the review of best practice standards for the task force this year.  This review of time lines and time tables in all of our domestic cases is the first step in assuring we meet important benchmarks for those clients.  Cynthia managed to take on this work, organize a new caseload in St. George and volunteer to take on the public benefits caseload from Southwest Utah as well.  She’s always looking for a new challenge, and we were pleased to deliver several of them to Cynthia this year. 

Out of the Provo office, we recognize the energy and enthusiasm of Caitlin Bradley.  Caitlin jumped whole-heartedly into a demanding caseload and has become very knowledgeable in a short period of time.  She is sharp as a tack and brings all of her considerable talents to bear for every client she comes into contact with.  She isn’t afraid of thinking outside the box, or knocking holes in the box if it means a better outcome for clients.  Thanks Caitlin, for all of your efforts.

Lori Johnson is our nose to the grindstone, work work work and barely come up for air public benefits paralegal in Salt Lake.  Handling all facets of a very large caseload, Lori is the ultimate, hard working, just get it done public benefits advocate.   She’s also increased her participation in task force activities this year, sharing valuable input and insights.  Her work ethic is worthy of respect and admiration.  Please keep it up Lori.

Alex McBean from our farm worker unit took on a case, in a corner of employment and immigration law we’ve never handled, for over 100 clients, who all had three or more separate cases, who spoke almost no English, but who badly needed assistance.   It would have been the easiest situation in the world to walk away from, but Alex jumped in with both feet instead.  Just that fact alone is worthy of this recognition, but to top it, Alex was successful in getting the Thai trafficking victims T-Visas  and other relief, and now some of those people responsible have been indicted in federal court.  Well done Alex. 

From management this year, we recognize Mike Bulson.   Mike experienced a kind of rebirth as he dove into a new area, consumer law, while at the same time continuing to watch over and lead our public benefits work statewide.  Mike has become a valuable resource in the community as a consumer advocate and maintains his status as the statewide expert on all public benefits matters.  He even still deals with the contracts and reports in that area, keeping our funders happy, and our clients happier.  Many thanks to Mike. 

And thanks to all our staff for your hard work and dedication.  If there is something you need from SSU that will help you better serve clients, please let us know.