It is telling that the first thing Denise Meyer did after learning that she is the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) May Employee of the Month was thank her employees and colleagues.

“I’m surrounded by terrific people,” Meyer, director of UMB Environmental Services (EVS), said during the May 29 videoconference where she was surprised with the award. “I wouldn’t be here or be able to even stand in these shoes and walk this walk without each of you. So I truly appreciate it.”

Elizabeth Main, MPA, director of sustainability and special projects who nominated Meyer for the honor, said when Meyer receives praise, she is quick to recognize others who were involved.

“You are always lifting up others, and this is the opportunity to finally lift up you as well,” Main said during the videoconference, which was attended by almost two dozen people and led by UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS.

Jarrell praised Meyer for living up to the University’s core values and called the meeting the “most emotional call we’ve had for Employee of the Month.”

“It’s simply a testament to how strongly people appreciate your style and your methods and your interaction with people,” Jarrell said. “This meeting takes the cake.”

Meyer has led EVS for about five years, managing more than 200 employees who provide service in the areas of custodial services, grounds and clean campus ambassadors, pest control, moving, recycling, and special events. EVS also manages various contracts for the University such as window washing, landscaping, waste haul removal, and recycling.

“I’ve been watching Denise and her career almost since the day I stepped on campus,” said Dawn M. Rhodes, DBA, chief business and finance officer and senior vice president. “She has continued to grow in her responsibilities and stepped into her leadership role. She’s such a caring leader. I’m just so proud of her.”

Meyer was described by colleagues as a kind, respectful collaborator who advocates for her employees.

“Denise brings enthusiasm, commitment, and heart to all aspects of her work life. She has the stellar communication and interpersonal skills that are extremely needed for our department,” said Priti Wakefield, administrative manager, EVS. “In her short tenure with the department, she has transformed it into a big family, and she is profound about it. She has a deep-rooted spirit of kindness, empathy, and leadership that makes her stand out from others.”

In addition to encouraging her team to attend wellness events, she holds team-building activities such as door decorating contests that align with the University’s core values and has instituted an EVS Employee of the Month program to recognize members of her department. The EVS Employee of the Month receives a certificate, eBoard recognition, and a gift card as well as being featured in the monthly EVS and Facilities & Operations newsletters.

“Focusing on teamwork, collaboration, and well-being are important, not only because some of them align exactly or are some of our core values, but they are all about the staff and them being their best self while at work,” Meyer said. “We need to create a climate, a culture that supports them to be their best self to provide the best service on campus. And when they do that, that supports the mission and vision of UMB overall.

“But it’s the small things that allow the staff to take a break from the monotony, the day-to-day routine, and build on their teamwork to interact with our customers in a different way.”

Main said that despite being one of the largest units, EVS is often one of the most overlooked.

“Denise has put so much of her personal time [and money] into creating a sense of camaraderie and teamwork throughout EVS to ensure that every staff member knows that their contributions are valuable, even if they aren’t always recognized by others at the University,” Main said.

In addition to building morale, Meyer has worked to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of her staff.

“We’ve figured out ways to streamline the work that we do,” Meyer said. “We’ve improved the services that we provide to keep the campus healthy, safe, and clean. Most importantly, we’ve engaged with the people doing the work, tapping into their knowledge and expertise for ideas, for brainstorming, for testing out new battery-operated equipment, testing out new chemicals, new types of floor wax that we put on the floors that has a longer lifespan.”

She has also used innovative ways to emphasize career progress for EVS staff by implementing a career ladder program in the department, creating custodial tech I and II and custodial lead positions.

“That’s afforded an opportunity for career progress and development for entry-level positions, such as our custodians,” she said.

During the videoconference, colleagues repeatedly mentioned that Meyer embodies the University’s core values — Respect and Integrity, Well-Being and Sustainability, Equity and Justice, and Innovation and Discovery.

“The core values are important to me because I want to fully embrace them. I want to embody them to support the mission and vision of UMB and to help shape our culture as a whole,” said Meyer, who starts her EVS meetings by focusing on the core values with an icebreaker activity.

She said Respect and Integrity mean the most to her because “my staff are often faced with challenges from customers feeling like they are — and I don’t feel this way — at the bottom of the barrel sometimes. And that goes back to some just basic level of Respect and Integrity of who we are and why we’re here.”

Meyer, who began her career at the University 15 years ago as a police officer in UMB Police and Public Safety, will receive a certificate, a letter of commendation, and an extra $250 in her next paycheck for the award. She said she is grateful and humbled.

“It’s very emotional for me,” she said. “I’m just kind of speechless about it. I love it, but it is humbling because I don’t like to be in the spotlight. I like to celebrate others more than I do myself. And I often put others ahead and above me, which some will say can be a weakness, but it is truly who I am in the heart.”

Meyer thanked everyone she interacts and collaborates with at UMB and highlighted Rhodes as being a mentor to her.

“She has a lot of knowledge to share, and she is one of the most encouraging leaders that I’ve ever met. And that is truly an inspiration,” Meyer said. “I’ve seen her empower many of us to take that next step or rise above and to continue that progression forward, whether it’s to leadership, whether it’s to trying a new role, whether it’s in personal life. She is the epitome of support and structure and wisdom.”

Meyer said working with so many wonderful people, at the University and in her department in particular, is what she enjoys most about her job.

“The members of Environmental Services are diverse. They are hard workers. They embody a lot of the qualities that I see for myself and I want my son to have when he gets older,” she said. “They’re a pleasure to work with. I’ve learned so much from each and every one of them. I take pride in knowing everybody’s name and just being present with them.

“Being around so many people who are like-minded and are amazing is what brings me back every day.”

—Jen Badie