Blog

On March 30, 2015, Steve Paskoff announced Jennifer Hershiser, Marketing Manager, as the 2014 recipient of the annual George H. Kaye award. Since joining ELI in 2010, Jennifer has led ELI’s marketing efforts. Jennifer is known for her willingness to take on additional responsibilities while ensuring her current responsibilities are in line with ELI’s strategic objectives. She proactively manages several key vendor relationships, including product launches and ELI’s website. Jennifer collaborates with our team, which includes our staff, ELI instructors, and clients. She personifies the Kaye award as her candor, courage, and humor are key attributes to her success. Jennifer is well respected and admired for her commitment to our values.
The annual Kaye Award includes a prize to the recipient whose name is added to a plaque prominently displayed in our ELI Learning Center.
Our congratulations go to Jennifer Hershiser as George Kaye’s legacy of strong character and professionalism continue.
A new award to honor the late John H Stafford, COO of ELI, was also presented on March 30, 2015. John passed away unexpectedly on May 11, 2013. John was a seasoned business executive known in the computer consulting and technology business for his level head and calm nature. He was considered a trusted leader by his colleagues and loved by family and friends. John loved his alma mater, Notre Dame, and worked with fellow alumnus in Pittsburgh to raise money for scholarships, so others might experience Notre Dame. He is remembered by a scholarship that bears his name. John was smart, direct, candid, honest, inclusive and cared about people. He spearheaded several technological innovations at ELI to improve our business systems. He had integrity and was devoted to his wife, four children and seven grandchildren.
Steve Paskoff recognized two long tenured ELI team members with the first John Stafford award for Operational Excellence delighting ELI’s clients, KaVonda Kelley and Ken Nantz.
KaVonda Kelley joined ELI in 2000. She is ELI’s Day Training Program Manager. Ken Nantz joined ELI in 2003 and manages Inventory Control and Fulfillment. Over the years, KaVonda and Ken are known for their ability to find solutions to unpredictable logistics problems to ensure our client’s experience is exceptional. They exemplify John Stafford’s calm under pressure problem solving and adapt well to system and process changes. KaVonda and Ken are well respected for vast knowledge of their areas of expertise and are true unsung heroes. They are consistent high performers and will do whatever it takes to complete projects with the least amount of fanfare. KaVonda and Ken are constant sources of institutional knowledge and welcome the opportunity to support their teams in addition to ELI staff, facilitators and clients.
We were honored that Judy Stafford and their daughter Meg and son-in-law Shawn Delfausse, were a part of the award presentation to KaVonda and Ken which includes a prize to the recipients whose names are added to a plaque prominently displayed in our ELI Learning Center. John’s leadership and friendship made a lasting impression on all of us at ELI and we miss his great sense of humor and vision.