TECHHELP’S JENNIFER BUEL WINS “UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR” AWARD AT 2023 MEP NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Above, TechHelp Internal Operations Manager, Jennifer Buel (R), receives the “Unsung Hero of the Year” award from NIST MEP Director, Pravina Raghavan. (Photo Courtesy of NIST MEP)
Every workplace probably has a person who is the heart, soul, spirit, and engine of the organization. These individuals may not always hold big titles, earn fat paychecks, or occupy the roomy corner office. They work quietly but diligently to get things done and keep the organization running smoothly. At TechHelp, that person is our Internal Operations Manager, Jennifer Buel. For her superhuman efforts, Jennifer was presented with the “Unsung Hero Award” at the September national gathering of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) in Buffalo, NY.
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes individuals from behind-the-scenes roles, such as marketing, reporting, administrative, and human resources at an MEP Center who have shown exemplary effort in their work.
“What stands out to me is that Jen continuously takes the initiative to generate and implement ideas that lead to noteworthy improvements for our organization,” said TechHelp Executive Director Steve Hatten. “Her efforts significantly enhanced our team’s performance in a number of areas, particularly in creating and managing an effective process for surveying our clients for economic impact. Getting team members to accept change is challenging, but Jen accomplishes this with grace, expertise, and tact, using her persuasiveness to guide our team toward better performance.”
Though Jen has been recognized as an “Unsung Hero” her coworkers and colleagues are singing her praise….
Singing the Praises of Jennifer Buel
“Jennifer has been really improving and working with the TechHelp team and with MEP working groups. She is one of the only Non-Director level people within those groups. The insight and strategy she shows in regards to surveys and how she leads is exemplary. She goes above and beyond.”
"Jennifer Buel, embodies the perseverance and dedication that fuels TechHelp's success in providing outstanding manufacturing services to Idaho clients as an MEP Center. Her unwavering positive attitude and immense drive for constant improvement are a true inspiration to all. Jennifer has taken the lead in developing survey processes and tools that have transformed the way TechHelp does business. With her leadership, TechHelp now generates accurate survey data and actionable feedback that benefits clients and helps identify areas for growth and client engagement. Jennifer's incredible work is a testament to what can be achieved with unwavering strength of spirit and a commitment to excellence.”
“Jennifer has become the point person for all positive changes within TechHelp. She has taken on some big projects and been launched into the Human Resources area. She is the primary person in charge of the overwhelming transition of personnel experienced at the center. This year alone between 50% to 75% of TechHelp staff have had some kind of transitional change. Jennifer has dealt with retirements, promotions, job changes, and more. She has streamlined the process for hiring and navigating the University system and helped improve position descriptions to be marketable and exciting for potential applicants.”
About MEP
The Manufacturing Extension Partnership or MEP is a public-private partnership with Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico dedicated to serving small and medium-sized manufacturers. Last year, MEP Centers interacted with more than 33,500 manufacturers, leading to $18.8 billion in sales, $2.5 billion in cost savings, $6.4 billion in new client investments, and helped create or retain more than 116,700 jobs.
About TechHelp
"Jennifer's profound knowledge of the TechHelp organization is unparalleled, making her an invaluable asset to the team. Her dedication and expertise have an immeasurable impact on the organization's overall effectiveness. It is with great enthusiasm I present Jennifer with this well-deserved recognition.”