TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. -- Motivated, goal oriented and role model are words that describe three of Tobyhanna's top performers.
Branch Chief John Laskowski, Management Analyst Sara Stellatella and Human Resources (HR) Assistant Melissia Canal were selected Tobyhanna Army Depot's Employees of the Quarter for the first quarter of 2017 in supervisor, senior and junior categories, respectively. Laskowski leads the Systems Integration and Support Directorate's Paint Branch. Stellatella works in the Production Management Directorate's Mission Analysis Division. Canal is assigned to the Civilian Personnel Advisor Center's (CPAC) Staffing Advisory Services Division.
Laskowski's leadership style advocates new and innovative ways to accomplish work to meet customer requirements.
"I am humbled by this award, but the real credit goes to the incredible team I am a part of in the branch," said Laskowski. "Our team is constantly improving, suggesting new ideas and always steps up when things need to get done -- this award is a reflection of all their hard work." Laskowski has worked at Tobyhanna for nine years.
The branch chief orchestrates the work performed by 35 employees on two shifts in addition to executing administrative duties. Other responsibilities include maintaining mission metrics, ensuring a safe work environment, expediting production orders through the shop, and balancing fluctuating schedules with countless other daily tasks.
Coworkers applaud the supervisor's willingness to help others and ability to implement change. Laskowski is credited with endorsing internal standard operating procedures for paint processes, an employee action team and a new inspection process. As a result, touch time and rework went down, quality acceptance rates went up and repair cycle time was cut by days.
"His ideas improve processes, fix problems and empower employees," said Wesley Thomas, Support Operations Division chief. "Laskowski sets the example for others to follow."
Laskowski attributes his accomplishments to hard work and the skills and abilities of mentors he's worked with during his career. He is also motivated by his faith, family and warfighters who fight for America's freedom.
Stellatella hit the ground running when she joined the production management team less than a year ago, according to Cynthia Dorosky, Mission Analysis Division chief. She excelled as the Depot Maintenance Interservice Support Agreement (DMISA) coordinating officer while learning her new duties as a management analyst. During this time, Stellatella independently coordinated and conducted 16 DMISA reviews, six command-level interservice workload reviews, and high-level meetings between the depot and interservice customer management. She also hosted five interservice visits.
"In the short time Sara has been in her current position, she has gained the trust and respect of personnel within headquarters and the interservice community," Dorosky said. "Her enthusiasm, can-do attitude and work ethic have set the standard for personnel within the division." Stellatella has worked here for nearly eight years.
On a day-to-day basis Stellatella analyzes data to identify potential benefits and impacts to the organization. Other responsibilities include coordinating formal reviews with various internal and external organizations and serving as the point of contact for the interservice sustainment workload.
If asked, Stellatella will say her success is driven by a natural curiosity and affinity for learning.
"This award encourages me to continue putting forth my best effort, and reminds me to recognize and appreciate the efforts of others," she said. "Experience has taught me that failure can be beneficial if learned from, and to maintain a healthy balance in life," she said.
Anyone who knows Canal would agree she has a way with people. It's not uncommon for coworkers to hear customers or depot employees singing her praises.
"Canal provides excellent customer service with a positive, can-do attitude," said Daphne Cron, HR specialist, CPAC. "She is always willing to stop what she's doing and provide prompt assistance whenever needed."
Greeting customers and answering questions are a small part of Canal's job responsibilities. In addition, she provides clerical support to CPAC, creates and processes requests for personnel action, screens job applications, posts job announcements and helps in-process new employees. Other responsibilities include helping CPAC code non-competitive actions in a timely manner.
For 10 years Canal has sharpened her skills by working with a skilled and diverse group of people at Tobyhanna.
"It's not that difficult to make people happy," Canal said. "Just listen to their needs and follow through on your promises."
CPAC also commended Canal for taking the initiative to provide leadership training to local interns, and making sure they were actively engaged and contributing to the CPAC mission, Cron added.
"Canal is an excellent role model," said Cron. "She goes above and beyond in providing customer service to depot employees, co-workers and potential applicants."
Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna's Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C4ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.
Tobyhanna's unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our Joint Warfighters.
About 3,200 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command's mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.
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