Building partnerships through collaboration.
Business Services Employee Engagement Hub
Connect, Learn, Grow.
For Employees of Business Services | Division of Finance and Administration
Welcome to Business Services' Employee Engagement Hub, your community-building destination. We know that work is about more than just meetings and deadlines—it’s about connection, growth, and having a little fun! Check out what’s happening.
Updated 11/04/2025
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Say Cheese! Sign Up for Your New Headshot
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Does your UB Directory photo look like it was taken in another decade—or do you not have one at all? You're not alone! Many of us have outdated or missing professional headshots, and Business Services is here to fix that. On Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, Business Services will host an on-campus headshot session in Crofts Hall with UB's professional photographer, Chris Garbin. This is a great opportunity to capture a fresh, UB-brand-approved portrait for your UB Directory profile, LinkedIn page, email signature or other professional materials. Updating your headshot is an easy way to enhance your professional presence online, boost confidence and showcase the pride and polish of our Business Services team. The photographer will be onsite all day, with staff scheduled for individual 15-minute appointments based on availability. The best part? It's completely free for Business Services staff!
Space is limited to just 30 participants, so don’t wait, the form will close on November 1. Sign up early to reserve your session and put your best face forward!
CLOE—Professional Development Series
12 Months of Leadership
Looking to sharpen your leadership skills or get inspired by top local and national voices? The UB School of Management’s Center for Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness (CLOE) is offering a yearlong professional development opportunity through its “12 Months of Leadership” webinar series.
CLOE brings together thought leaders and industry experts to help professionals like you lead with purpose, navigate change, and build stronger teams.
Sessions are held via Zoom are and are open to all UB staff.
Program topics are shared a few weeks before the scheduled event. For more details or to sign up – visit their website at https://management.buffalo.edu/centers/center-for-leadership-global-impact/thought/twelve-months-of-leadership.html
Videos of past presentations are available on YouTube at: https://shorturl.at/PjX9J
Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 12-12:30 p.m.
Who else loves what you love?
Discover colleagues with shared hobbies and interests!
New Beginnings and Fond Farewells 📢
Change is a constant part of our workplace community. New hires bring fresh ideas, colleagues step into new roles and valued team members move on to pursue new goals - all of these transitions shape who we are. Browse the latest updates to connect with new colleagues and celebrate those who have contributed to our success.
Welcome
Will Thoman (Financial Management)
Will joins the Accounts Payable team as a Clerk I. Will supports departments, reviews payment documentation and helps ensure smooth financial operations. Will brings energy and experience in billing, customer service and administrative support from his medical field background. He earned a bachelor's degree in history and German from Franklin & Marshall College. Welcome to UB, Will!
Bethany McNaught (Campus Mail Services)
Meet Bethany, Office Assistant 2 for Stores/Mail in Campus Mail. Bethany brings 17 years of operations, logistics and customer service experience from OfficeMax/Office Depot, where she advanced from sales associate to assistant store manager. Her background includes inventory management, shipment oversight and staff supervision and training. At UB, Bethany will support mail processing, billing, procurement and student staff supervision. Welcome to the team, Bethany!
Jessie Ripley (Campus Mail Services)
We're happy to welcome Jesse Ripley to the Campus Mail team as a Facility Operations Assistant, where they will be delivering mail and packages across UB's three campuses. Jesse has been part of the UB community for over a decade, most recently working with the Grounds Department, where they were known for their reliability, campus knowledge and team-first attitude. With a strong work ethic and deep familiarity with UB's campuses, Jesse is an excellent fit for this role and we're excited to have them join the team!
Rachael Grace (Print Services)
We’re excited to welcome Rachael Grace to the Print Services team as our new Production & Design Specialist. A graduate of Buffalo State with a degree in Graphic Design, Rachael brings hands-on experience from her time working in the Design & Print Center, where they assisted with tasks ranging from layout and large-format printing to vinyl graphics and client communication. Rachel's creativity, technical skill, and attention to detail make them a fantastic addition to the team!
Maria Disorbo (Business Reporting and Systems)
We're excited to welcome Maria Disorbo to the Business Reporting and Systems team as our new Business Analytics and Reporting Analyst. Maria is a proud UB alum with multiple degrees, including a master's in Engineering Science (Data Science) and a master's in Mathematics Education Studies. Maria brings a rich mix of experience from roles across UB and the private sector, including their most recent position as a Systems Data Analyst in UB's Financial Aid Office. With deep skills in SQL, Tableau and data-driven decision-making, Maria will be a great addition to the team.
Taylor Barszcz (Purchasing and Contract Services)
Please join us in welcoming Taylor Barszcz to the Purchasing and Contract Services team as our new Purchasing Assistant. Taylor comes to UB from GEICO, where they worked as a Claims Representative, and brings a strong background in customer service, operations, and leadership. Taylor also has coaching experience with UB’s Women’s Club Soccer team. We’re excited to welcome Taylor to the team and look forward to the energy and perspective they bring to their role!
Kaylen Haimerl (Purchasing and Contract Services)
Please join us in welcoming Kaylen Haimerl to the Purchasing and Contract Services team as a Buyer. Kaylen brings several years of experience in financial operations, most recently supporting special education contracting and budgeting for the Lockport City School District. With a strong background in invoicing, compliance and relationship management, as well as previous leadership roles in customer-focused environments, we're excited to have them on board!
Farewell
Annette Saraceno (Financial Management)
After 22 years of dedicated service to UB, we bid farewell to Annette Saraceno. Her career included 14 years in AP and 8+ years with Campus Mail, with significant contributions to ShopBlue's implementation and success. Known for her kindness, strong work ethic, and compassion, Annette has been an invaluable resource across campus. While we'll miss her positive spirit, we're excited for her next chapter and thank her deeply for her many years of service to the UB community.
Justine Wheeler (Campus Mail)
After a remarkable career, Justine retired from UB, leaving behind a legacy of excellence. Starting at BFI (now Modern Disposal) at age 17, Justine joined UB's Campus Living team in 2013. Her strong work ethic and care for students earned her a promotion to Housing Operations. In 2022, she became Campus Mail's in-house supervisor, where she modernized processes and elevated customer service while managing student staff. Justine's impact has been felt across every department she's touched. We wish her all the best in this well-deserved new chapter!
Kathy Roach (Print Services)
With mixed emotions, we announce Kathy's retirement from Print Services. Joining UB 8½ years ago during our rebranding initiative, Kathy's design and print expertise made her integral to our team's success. Her attention to detail and strong customer relationships helped make Print Services what it is today. Thank you, Kathy, for your incredible work ethic and contributions—we wish you all the best in this exciting next chapter!
Cheri Weber (Purchasing and Contract Services)
After 33 remarkable years, Cheri retired from UB on April 15, 2025. Beginning at UBMicro in 1992, she became vital to technology purchasing across the university, supporting students, faculty, and staff throughout the SUNY system while leading the Technology Procurements team. We thank Cheri for her dedication and True Blue spirit. While we'll miss her presence, we're excited for her well-earned next chapter.
You, your family and your not-so-spooky friends were invited to a special family-friendly and free Community Halloween Night on Oct. 30, 2025, from 5-7 p.m. at 955 Main St., Buffalo, NY 14203, at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. We carved out community organizations with Halloween-themed kids' activities, special prizes for all attendees and dinner and treats for everyone!
We invited everyone to join us for a day of fun as we enjoyed a spooktacular Halloween celebration. We encouraged everyone to get their costumes ready and dress up on Thursday, Oct. 30. Fun activities were planned and prizes were awarded as colleagues brought their best looks and enjoyed some festive fun together.
The ShopBlue 101 training course helps authorized UB faculty and staff learn how to use ShopBlue to order necessary goods and services for university business. Topics include navigating ShopBlue, profile management, all order types and completing form requests. This two-hour course is scheduled monthly via Zoom and in person. Bring a laptop to in-person sessions. Previously presented on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025.
Part of our Tuesdays With Business Reporting and Systems series
SIRI (Strategic Information Reporting Initiative) is UB's online reporting tool that brings important university data into one place. Staff can view reports and dashboards related to finance, HR, enrollment and more, depending on their role. Because supervisors provide access tailored to your job responsibilities, everyone's view of SIRI looks different—but the goal remains the same: to make it easier to find, understand and use data in your daily work.
Our presenter will give a high-level overview of SIRI and walk you through what the system looks like and how it works. You'll see examples of reports and dashboards, learn how staff across UB use them and discover how SIRI could support your work. This introduction provides a firsthand look at the tool and a foundation for using it effectively. Previoulsy presented on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
Part of our Tuesdays With Business Reporting and Systems series
Utilizing AI in Your Daily Job: This presentation highlighted how to use basic AI features in your everyday job. Highlights included showing off Microsoft Copilot and AI features in Zoom. Previously presented on July 15 and 22, 2025. View the slides.
Presented by Susan O'Rourke (Student Engagement), this presentation examined how generational differences affect workplace dynamics. To request a copy of the slides, please email Mike Koziej.
Watch Ed Brodka from UB's Career Design Center as he explained how to enhance your LinkedIn profile. Originally recorded on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
Related Downloads
Empathy and AI might seem like opposites—one deeply human, the other distinctly technological. But what if AI could enable empathy at scale? In an era defined by declining enrollment and rising expectations for personalized, trust-driven engagement, higher education leaders urgently need to rethink their approach. Enter Conversation Intelligence, an emerging and essential technology that helps institutions foster trust-driven, meaningful connections in a way that traditional tools like CRMs simply cannot. Originally recorded on Wednesday, February 26, 2025..
Contact
Michael Koziej
Director, Business Services Employee Engagement
420 Crofts Hall
716-645-0289
📧 koziej@buffalo.edu