Med center colleagues show their love for EVS

It was a simple idea — a fun way to celebrate National EVS Week.

No one could’ve predicted the volume of votes both Nebraska Medicine NOW and UNMC Today would receive in a contest for colleagues to nominate their favorite EVS worker.

Tomas Vizcaya-Landaverde and Jim Jewell received the most votes out of more than 500 nominations. Vizcaya-Landaverde, who has worked here nearly five years, won this contest two years ago.

“Our phone was ringing off the hook,” said Paula Nenneman, general manager, Sodexo. “Many staff know their housekeeper by their first name but needed their last name.”

It was no inconvenience for Nenneman, who described herself as a proud momma bear as she saw the comments roll in.

“We are just so incredibly proud of this team,” she says. “It was so nice to see so many of you agreed.”

Nebraska Medicine NOW received 270 comments; UNMC Today received 303 comments — a record for both publications.

“We were thrilled to see these wonderful comments about our team members,” said Paul Turner, director, Sodexo.

Because of the response, EVS managers decided to declare two winners — one from UNMC and one from Nebraska Medicine, each receiving a $50 gift card to Hy-Vee. They also plan to do something special for the top 11 vote getters.

Tomas Vizcaya-Landaverde, who works in the MSB building, was named the winner from UNMC. Jim Jewell, who works in Interventional Radiology, won for Nebraska Medicine.

Managers decided to keep the contest a secret.

“I knew something was going on,” said Martha Carter, associate, EVS.

The Nebraska Medical Center/UNMC employs 263 EVS workers; Bellevue has 25.

They have posted all 573 comments on the bulletin board in the EVS offices for all to read.

See UNMC Today story with comments.

See Nebraska Now story with comments.

A good read, for sure.