An ordinary need was met in an extraordinary manner when Tracy Henson volunteered to help the Bureau of Community Health and Wellness during a period of staff shortages in 2012.
Henson is a senior office support assistant for the Wise Woman program at the Bureau of Cancer and Chronic Disease Control.
What Henson brought with her to the sister bureau was "an approach towards internal customer service that should serve as a model to all clerical staff," said Jeanne Ruth, who nominated Henson for State Employee of the Month.
While also maintaining her support to the Wise Woman program, Henson took on more than answering the phones for the bureau temporarily without a clerical staff.
She cleaned up the clerical space, where visitors first enter the bureau, which had become an informal holding zone for documents needing filing.
Henson took the time to learn a new computer program to assist with budgets and spreadsheets.
All the while, she was organizing and preparing the space for the incoming clerical staff.
"The essential work of the bureau flowed smoothly," Ruth said. "Every minute of every day found Tracy exhibiting a welcoming environment, a smile and a "what can I do for you' atmosphere."
The Missouri State Employee of the Month is selected by the State Employee of the Month Selection Committee from among nominations submitted by the 16 state departments and some elected offices. The six committee members also are members of the State Training Advisory Council.