The University of Georgia Griffin campus recently named Tyler Brannon and Elizabeth Laney as the 2025 Classified Employees of the Year. The designation was made at the 36th Annual Employee Recognition Ceremony held on March 25 at UGA Griffin.
The Employee of the Year award is presented to classified personnel who have made the most significant impact on the programs at the UGA Griffin Campus. This is reflected through their superior job knowledge and performance, work attitude, initiative, dependability, and time management. To become a nominee, each individual is selected by his or her unit and must have been a full-time employee on campus for three consecutive years. After all nominations are submitted, the award recipients are determined by a committee of their peers.
This year, seven employees of UGA Griffin were nominated for the Classified Employee of the Year Award- Tyler Brannon, Field Research Services; Chris Hardin, Entomology; Elizabeth Laney, Office of the Assistant Provost and Campus Director; Amy Mann, Center for Food Safety; Jodiee Sherouse, Finance and Administration; Steve Sutton, Crop and Soil Sciences; and Chris Tatum, Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit.
Tyler Brannon
Tyler Brannin has been with Field Research Services for over 12 years and currently serves as the Farm Manager for the Bledsoe Farm. In this role, he is in charge of overseeing land preparation, planting, crop cultivation and management, and harvesting research and non-research cropland. He also handles the maintenance of the facilities and equipment, irrigation setups and needs as well as scheduling research plot areas for faculty and research technicians on campus.
Brannon is described as someone who has a good skillset and work ethic and is always willing to help out when additional assistance is needed. John Gassett, Research Station Superintendent, noted Brannon has made a positive impact in the efforts of agricultural research at the Bledsoe Farm and throughout the department. He added that he works well with others as well as on his own to take care of whatever needed arises. Gassett stated, “Mr. Brannon is service oriented and his character and commitment to helping others is a model for the type of service Field Research Services is based upon.”
Elizabeth Laney
Elizabeth Laney is an Administrative Specialist in the Assistant Provost and Campus Director’s Office, a position she has held since 2016. She handles the day to day tasks for the Campus Director’s Office which includes managing meetings with constituencies both internal and external to campus, coordinating campus-wide communications from the Director’s Office including public safety directives as well as coordinating media activities to promote campus programs, research and events through our local radio station.
Laney is described as someone with great instincts and one who is always willing to lend an ear, brainstorm solutions to any issue that arises or just share a laugh with those she encounters. Dr. Jeffrey Dean stated Laney is the most effective admin he has ever had the pleasure of working with. “Business in the Director’s Office typically runs on the brink of chaos and Elizabeth is the glue that holds everything together when the wheels are about to fly off.”
In addition to the awards, the ceremony featured a Program Highlight, which showcases a different area of research or extension on campus each year. This year the Center for Urban Agriculture was featured. Center Director, Bethany Harris, spoke to the crowd about what the center does, how professionals can be involved through trainings and events and goals for the future.
Mike Toews, Assistant Dean for UGA Tifton campus, served as the keynote speaker for the awards ceremony. He spoke to the crowd about the importance of being a positive influence on not only those who work for you, but those who work with you as well.
“New jobs and experiences are who make us the people that we are. It is how we relate to the people around us that sets the course for how those folks are going to treat their peers and subordinates for the rest of their careers,” said Towes. “The more astute of you will find that every job is an opportunity to be the change that you want to see in the world.”
Towes congratulated the nominees for being just that and helping to make the Griffin campus the great place that it is.
Jeffrey Dean, Assistant Provost and Campus Director for UGA Griffin, congratulated all the honorees on their nominations. He discussed the many advances and in research done in labs on campus, as well as the multitudes of visitors who have come through the gates for community events, would not have been possible without also the great work of those nominated and the other employees on campus.
“None of this would happen without the hard work and all of the effort of the staff on this campus,” said Dean. “So, let me just say it again- thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Finally, the ceremony also recognized those receiving their Meritorious Service Awards. The awards were presented to faculty and staff who have served the campus for 10, 15, 20, 25 and 35 years.
Years of Service Award Winners
10 Years
Dario Chavez, Horticulture; Xiangyu Deng, Center for Food Safety; Brendan Hunt, Entomology; Rachel Itle, Horticulture; Somer Rowe, Crop and Soil Sciences; Kelly Stritt, Facilities Management Division; Brian Vermeer, Crop and Soil Sciences.
15 Years
Bochra Bahri, Plant Pathology; Bobby Goss, Food Science and Technology; Mussie Habteselassie, Crop and Soil Sciences; Babu Srinivasan, Entomology.
20 Years
Donna Brown, Finance and Administration; John Cruickshank, Library; David Mann, Center for Food Safety.
25 Years
Robby Beck, Horticulture; Daniel Evans, Crop and Soil Sciences; VJ Mantripragada, Crop and Soil Sciences.
35 Years
Jule-Lynne Macie, Northwest District Extension.
