ITS proudly recognizes Eric Martin as the August 2023 Employee of the Month.   

Eric, a Systems Portfolio Manager, was nominated by Patrick Wagman, Rehan Tahir, and Aparna Wannakuwatte for his valuable contributions in various Portfolio Management Office (PMO) projects and ITS initiatives. In particular, the nominators recognized Eric’s hands-on involvement in the iGrade project, the UCPath upgrade, Advising CRM, the Google app rationalization and Google Cloud transformation project, the LinkedIn Learning renewal, the PPM tool selection, and the ITS PMO mentorship.  

Using his expertise and project management skills, Eric facilitated the successful completion of the iGrade project. The project involved changes to the iGrade administrative functionality and faculty grade submission. Eric’s project leadership was commended by Portfolio Management Associate Director Rehan Tahir: 

“Eric spearheaded the iGrade project with an expert touch. He navigated the intricacies of administrative changes and faculty grade submissions, showcasing his talent for orchestrating project success.” 

Eric’s dedication to meeting project milestones even under tight timelines is commendable, and was recently demonstrated during both the UCPath PUM upgrade and Lived Name deployment.  

Another project that Eric facilitated is Advising CRM, where he played an instrumental role in bringing a common vision together. Rehan shared: 

“Eric's efforts on Advising CRM and coordinating several advising units, the vendor, and ITS during pre-implementation scoping has been instrumental in bringing a common vision together, which will pay dividends during implementation. Bob Ream from the VPDUE office expressed that Eric's positive contributions [in] leading this project has been fantastic.” 

Patrick Wagman, Associate Director of the Portfolio Management Office, also praised Eric’s diligent work on the Google app rationalization and Google Cloud transformation projects. Furthermore, he added: 

“Aside from his technical skills and project management expertise, Eric is also an excellent communicator and team player. He is always willing to help others and he goes above and beyond to get the job done. He is also a positive force in the workplace, and he creates a fun and productive environment for everyone around him.” 

In addition, both Rehan and Patrick recognized the vital role that Eric played in renewing LinkedIn Learning for UCR. 

“By [assisting in] the renewal of LinkedIn Learning, Eric helped avert [a possible] negative impact to the campus. Eric used his deep institutional knowledge and went beyond his usual scope to play a pivotal role in securing the renewal. [His efforts] helped ensure the service was uninterrupted,” Rehan recounted. 

Eric is also involved in championing a new project management tool and is working through the process of bringing it into the PMO. 

Of all the contributions that his colleagues highlighted, perhaps the most impactful one is the mentorship he provides to his colleagues in the Portfolio Management Office. One of his mentees is Program Manager Aparna Wannakuwatte. 

Aparna described how Eric’s methodological approach in coaching benefited her and other PMO members: 

“Eric has been a mentor for several folks in the PMO and has delivered many successful and complex projects. He has a tailored approach to his coaching, with planned material which covers all aspects of the job. From the outset, he ensures that we ask the right questions and that requirements are captured accurately. When he mentored me, he walked me through this process. He also knows how to prepare the work before he reaches out to the managers for input on the demand and prioritization framework so that meetings are not wasted.” 

Thank you, Eric, for your dedication in providing excellent project management service and mentorship. ITS values your contributions highly. Congratulations on this well-earned achievement!  

Do you have colleagues in mind that deserve to be recognized for their hard work and dedication? Nominate them for one of ITS’ Employee Recognition Programs! 

Staff members can be nominated for Employee of the Month or Team of the Quarter. Use our form to submit your nomination for the next Employee of the Month.