FAWN Wins Davis Productivity Awards
November 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 20, 1998
CONTACT: John Jackson (352) 343-4101, Jim Shonkwiler (352) 392-1347, Steve Eshom (407) 884-2034
GAINESVILLE -- Faculty and staff with the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences has won three Davis Productivity Awards recognizing efforts to improve efficiencies in state government.
An Outstanding Work Group Award, the top award for the university, and a $2,500 prize went to the Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN) team. The team also received the Epsilon Sigma Phi Award at the annual meeting of the Florida Association of Extension Professionals (FAEP) conference in September.
The team created the network at the request of the Florida Agricultural Weather Task Force to fill a gap left when National Weather Service reports for agriculture were cut back. The task force includes the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, Florida Farm Bureau, Florida Citrus Mutual, the Florida Nurserymen and Growers Association, Arapaho Citrus Management Inc., the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Sen. Bob Graham's office and UF/IFAS.
The team's leaders are John Jackson, multi-county citrus agent, Lake County; David Ayers, senior computer support specialist; and Howard Beck, extension specialist, agricultural and biological engineering.
Other members are Fedro Zazueta, Jiannong Xin and Thomas Hintz, Information Technologies; Carl Mesecher, Chuck Woods and Mike Baker, Educational Media and Services; Mary Cilley, Agricultural Education and Communication; Everett Emino, assistant research dean; and James App, assistant extension dean.
"The FAWN team let no obstacle -- real or imagined -- stand in the way," App said. "This model of total commitment to public service contributes to the quality of life for all Floridians."
A Distinguished Work Group Award and a $1,500 prize went to a UF/IFAS team that built a paperless online travel system.
The IFAS team, which worked in cooperation with three members of the State Comptroller's Office, was composed of Pete Kearney, assistant director business systems; Monica Watson, coordinator, business systems; Donna Williamson, senior programmer/analyst; Mae Thomas, senior programmer/analyst; Judy Futch, travel office manager; Vernon Paramenter, assistant director, planning and business affairs; and Jim Shonkwiler, director, planning and business affairs.
A Distinguished Individual Award and a $1,000 prize went to Steve Eshom, Central Florida Research and Education Center, Apopka, for his work in obtaining excess federal property and in developing the site for the center's new facility.
