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Veronika Czerneda Staff Award Goes to Doug Keller
April 27, 2009
He’s always there to lend a hand, solve a problem or get a project done. Now it’s his turn to be given a hand, a round of applause in fact.
Doug Keller, lab manager in the Department of Chemical Engineering, is this year’s recipient of the Veronika Czerneda Staff Award. The announcement was formally made at the Faculty of Engineering Staff Appreciation Luncheon on April 27.
The Veronika Czerneda Staff Award is an annual recognition for a staff member who has made an outstanding contribution. The award was created in memory of Veronika Czerneda, a dedicated employee of the Faculty of Engineering, who passed away from cancer in July 2000. An endowment was created for the staff award to recognize and remember Veronika’s many years of service.
“I still remember when I first met Veronika,” said Doug. “It would be almost 28 or 29 years ago now. It was in the Senior Sciences Building, now ABB, in the coffee lounge, which was a popular meeting place back then. While we never worked in the same department, our paths crossed many times afterward.”
Doug has been with McMaster for almost 33 years and full-time with the Faculty of Engineering for almost 27 of those years. He began his career in the Faculty of Science and was introduced to Engineering through his work on the McMaster Radium Project (McRaP), a joint initiative with Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Engineering Physics.
He kept getting drawn further into Chemical Engineering after that. In 1982 he joined the McMaster Institute for Polymer Production Technology (MIPPT) and a few years later he started working with the McMaster Centre for Pulp and Paper Research. In 2002 he began spending half his time working for the Department of Chemical Engineering.
“I kept adding bosses,” jokes Doug. “I’m very fortunate to have worked with the people I have. Working on new projects allowed me to meet many different types of people and see how they worked. It has really enriched my appreciation of the world.”
His nomination letter notes that he is “one of the most dedicated, hard-working and improvement-oriented staff members.” That he “demonstrates strong technical capabilities,” “has demonstrated exceptional managerial skills,” “creates a pleasant working environment,” and has a “top-level commitment to the safety and functionality of the Department.”
Some of Doug's more notable projects include the Chemical Engineering renovations that resulted in a redesign of department laboratories and graduate student space to help house the bioengineering program; restructuring of the IT support unit for a number of departments in the Faculty; and implementing the idea of offering tours to high school chemistry classes, which has become a very successful recruitment tool. He also supports faculty and students when running experiments and conducting research, and helps at social functions and student recruiting events.
As recipient of the Veronika Czerneda Staff Award, Doug will have his name added to a permanent Roll of Honour Plaque. He will also receive a Certificate of Award in recognition of his contribution to the Faculty of Engineering and a monetary award valued at $500.
