University Business Consulting

Silke Vrouletis is May Employee of the Month

Colleen Rich — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 17:43:05 +0000

Silke Vrouletis is May Employee of the Month Colleen Rich Tue, 04/30/2024 - 13:43

Silke Vrouletis, a senior consultant in University Business Consulting, has been an integral part of the business consulting team at ��AV since November 2021. She has been awarded May Employee of the Month for her unwavering work ethic, creative problem-solving skills, and commitment to high standards.

May Employee of the Month Silke Vrouletis with President Washington. Photo by Ayman Rashad/Office of University Branding

“Silke Vrouletis is an outstanding contributor to University Business Consulting, her Mason clients, and to Mason as a whole,” said Whitney Owen, executive director of University Business Consulting. “She has been an integral part of several high-impact and strategic initiatives for the university, including planning and celebrating Mason's 50th anniversary. Silke approaches all her work with a tremendous work ethic, pride in her work and the outcome, and holding herself to the utmost quality standards.”

Pamela Promisel, consultant manager in University Business Consulting, said that Vrouletis is able to make connections between disparate pieces of information to help her solve problems in new and innovative ways. “She is always thinking about how something can be done better, more efficiently, or in some cases whether it should be done at all.”

Vrouletis plays a key role with the university’s Mental Health and Well Being Task Force. “I am impressed with her can-do attitude combined with her ability to think outside the box in achieving our collective goals,” said Nance Lucas, executive director and chief well-being officer at the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being in University Life. “She gives unselfishly of herself on our team and has taken ownership of our group's fate and successes. It's unusual for one person to be fully adept at both managing relationships and complex tasks, which Silke does exceptionally well.”

Rachel Wernicke, associate dean and chief mental health officer of University Life, has also worked closely with Vrouletis on the Mental Health and Well-Being Task Force. “I have observed her to be a dedicated, talented, and thoughtful consultant. She has the ability to think strategically about the larger vision and goals for the task force and to track all of the details of this large project,” Wernicke said. “She also works to ensure that the task force members are engaged and understand their purpose and helps them to accomplish their tasks.”

How did you come to Mason:

I was in the midst of the online Master of Professional Studies Program in Industrial-Organizational Psychology here at Mason, when my husband and I discussed relocating from Southwest Virginia. At that point I was working for Virginia Tech in their advancement division. As I loved working in higher education and I had become familiar with Mason through my program, I looked for opportunities to work within Mason. As a result, I applied to various positions in Northern Virginia and received two job offers from Mason within a couple of days from each other. I was extremely excited for the opportunities and decided to join University Business Consulting and Capital Strategy and Planning as an administrative assistant/analyst. Since then, I have had the fortune to be promoted to consultant and senior consultant, working on various strategic initiatives, and providing strategy and project support.

Best day on the job:

The best day is when one of my clients/colleagues tells me that the work I had done or insights I have provided are useful and helped them or made their day just a tiny bit easier. Process efficiency while taking individuals and their work ability/skills/perspective into consideration is what I love to do. Being able to listen to them and transform a problem into a solution that is workable for them makes any workday less “work” but rather joyful.

What do you like best about working at Mason:

Mason is such an innovative and aspiring university. I enjoy immensely that no day is like the other. I might receive a new project or challenge any given day that allows me to utilize my creativity and problem-solving skills that ultimately will support a person, a unit, a department, or a whole division. I am extremely grateful for the autonomy and support I receive on a daily basis from my peers, my supervisor, my department head, and senior leadership.

What do you like to do when you’re not working:

When I am not working, I love to spend my time in the kitchen developing new recipes, either sweet or savory, being inspired by cultures across the world and what we can find at any given moment at farmer’s markets. When not doing that, you will find me either hiking and spending time in nature, or with my nose buried in a book. And as my coworkers will point out, I might just be doing a big jigsaw puzzle with 2,000-3,000 pieces.

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Meet the Mason Nation: John Tyree

Sarah Holland — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 19:16:52 +0000

Meet the Mason Nation: John Tyree Sarah Holland Thu, 07/20/2023 - 15:16

John Tyree

Job: Consultant, University Business Consulting

John Tyree is a two-time Mason alum and current staff member in University Business Consulting. Photo provided.

John Tyree is one of Mason’s University Business Consulting (UBC) consultants. The university launched UBC in 2020 to help Mason offices reach their goals through increased efficiency, data insights, and capitalizing on opportunities for innovation. Tyree started working at Mason in 2019, but his connection to the Mason Nation dates back to 2010 when he started working on his bachelor’s degree in information systems and operations management. Since then, he has added an MBA and a graduate certificate in business analytics to his resume.

Understanding the ‘WHY’. After graduating from Mason with a BS in in 2013, Tyree returned to Mason as an IT manager. He was inspired to pursue his MBA to, “better understand the ‘why’ of business processes I was supporting as an IT professional. I am able to use the business skills I learned to approach challenges from a higher strategic level.” The move to business consulting, in tandem with his completion of the MBA program, was an opportunity to “round out my business acumen. I’m able to better see how departments interconnect and serve a common mission. And the skills I gained through the MBA program—such as identifying deficiencies in processes and creating improvements—have served me well in my role as a consultant for the university.”

Lessons abroad. The MBA program allowed Tyree to expand his horizons not only through a new career path, but also through experiences abroad. “The most memorable class I took in the MBA program was the Global Residency course,” he said. “We traveled to Singapore to learn from various businesses about operating in a global market. We were able to talk with senior leadership and learn the similarities and key differences about conducting business in different parts of the world.” Tyree and his fellow students also had the opportunity to take guided tours and attend cultural dinners to learn about the country. “The whole experience was a great way to bond with my cohort as well as obtain a global prospective as I continue my business career,” Tyree said.

Part of the process. In his work with UBC, Tyree has the opportunity to see how processes and departments function across the university and, using his expertise in business analytics, he helps them find more efficient and effective ways of operating. “My work is focused on gathering and synthesizing information for our clients so they can make informed decisions on improving departmental organization and efficiencies,” he said. “I do this through various means including executive reports, data analysis and visualization, benchmarking, and general project management.”

Helping Mason succeed. “Consulting” is a broad term, encompassing everything from project management to data visualizations to business planning. Some of UBC's projects include implementing the university's new Strategic Direction and designing key performance indicators (KPIs) and dashboards to measure its progress; coordinating with multiple offices to design, implement, and manage the university's COVID-19 response; and saving the university $1.7M in transportation costs by analyzing shuttle ridership post-pandemic. And at no cost to Mason units—yes, this service is complimentary!—this work is critical to supporting Mason’s mission and helping others do the same.

Macy the golden doodle showing off her Patriot pride. Photo provided.

Puppy love. Tyree is an avid outdoorsman. From roads and trails to rivers and lakes, he cycles and kayaks through state and national parks. And while the great outdoors holds a special place in his heart, his one-year-old golden doodle is his greatest treasure. Macy, named after Mason, walks around her namesake campus with Tyree. “She gets to greet lots of students,” Tyree said, which bodes well for her future application to Mason in approximately two to three years (which is 16 to 24 in dog years!).

Patriots brave and bold! With two Mason degrees and an ongoing career at the university, it’s no wonder that Tyree bleeds green and gold. Over a decade since he began his journey at Mason, Tyree still loves to cheer on Mason basketball. "I've been attending games since 2010. I still root for the green and gold at EagleBank Arena any chance I get!”

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Off the Clock: Pam Promisel, Mounted Patrol volunteer with the National Park Service

Lauren Reuscher — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 19:26:25 +0000

Off the Clock: Pam Promisel, Mounted Patrol volunteer with the National Park Service Lauren Reuscher Wed, 10/05/2022 - 15:26

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Life is much more than time spent on the clock. In this series, we highlight the unique hobbies and volunteer activities of Mason's talented faculty and staff.

Pam Promisel works in the University Business Consulting office at ��AV. Outside of work, she views the world from a different vantage point: horseback. As a Mounted Patrol volunteer with the National Park Service, Promisel serves in a unique role at Manassas National Battlefield Park.

Promisel started riding horses when she was eight years old, and she continued riding as an adult with additional lessons and training. One of her fellow riders told her about the small and exclusive group of National Park Service Mounted Patrol volunteers at Manassas National Battlefield Park. Promisel has been honored to serve with this group since 2010.

Pam Promisel atop Ginny at Manassas National Battlefield Park. Photo courtesy of National Park Service

What are your responsibilities as a Mounted Patrol volunteer?

We patrol over 40 miles of trails at the park, engaging with visitors and enforcing park rules. The mounted patrols and horses are ambassadors for the park. People love to interact with the horses. We’ve been told many times that we made someone’s day.

We also train, exercise, and care for the horses. The Mounted Patrol program is part of the park’s law enforcement unit. Horses are flight animals and tend to flee when they see or hear something new. Police horses need to be trained to trust their rider in these situations.

What was the selection process to serve as Mounted Patrol volunteer?

Mounted Patrol volunteers must be proficient in riding a variety of horses and riding on trails in varied conditions. Potential volunteers are evaluated in a riding test and through initial trail rides. The program typically has more interested participants than available spots.

How do you help care for the horses at the park?

The National Park Service rangers typically do the daily feeding, but we also feed the horses, and clean the water troughs and fields, clean the equipment after every ride, and sometimes help during visits from the vet or farrier (horseshoer).

Pam Promisel with Bogey, a horse who has since retired from the program. Photo provided

How often do you serve on patrol?

One day a week—typically Saturday, but sometimes Sunday. We ride year-round in all types of weather. I actually love riding in the snow. If I can get there, I’ll ride!

What have been your most memorable experiences in this volunteer role?

A real bucket list memory has been riding in the Mounted Police Week ride through Washington, D.C. It is amazing to ride one of dozens of horses parading down the streets of our nation’s capital. We go by the monuments and the White House; I have pictures of myself on horseback with these icons in the background.

Participating in the North American Police Equestrian Council training and competition in Ohio this September was also an amazing experience. The horse I rode, Mississippi Mist (Misty), had never traveled to an event like that before, and she was incredible, bringing home lots of ribbons and trophies. I will always remember that experience.

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Silke Vrouletis is May Employee of the Month

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