Hanson named June’s Civil Service Employee of the Month

Wayne Hanson, supervisor of electrical services for Facilities and Services, has been named South Dakota State University’s Civil Service Employee of the Month for June.

He will be honored from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, in the Facilities and Services building, room 110, with a program starting at 4 p.m.

Hanson has worked at SDSU since February 2012 and now serves as SDSU’s lead electrician.

Dave Law, director of project management and engineering at Facilities and Services, called Hanson a true servant leader who frequently goes the extra mile and always has a positive attitude.

He cited a cold snap and blizzard conditions that, along with the holiday, closed campus Dec. 23-25. Hanson and other Facilities and Service employees were on campus during the closure, with Hanson putting in some of the longest hours.

“Wayne was called in due to power issues caused by a failed transformer on campus, and while his focus is electrical, he did so much more during those few days. … In between coordinating with Brookings Municipal Utilities on the repairs, he made himself available to assist with other work, including being outside in the frigid blizzard conditions,” Law said.

“This example reflects his dedication and mentality year-round. Anytime I have a question, need some advice or need assistance from Wayne, he answers the call, often even meeting with me on a moment’s notice,” Law added.

Whether it is elevators, fire alarms, lighting or generators, Hanson is a valuable resource for keeping all things electrical operating and fixing what isn’t, said Colin Gaalswyk, senior mechanical engineer for Facilities and Services.

“Wayne responds to campus emergencies and is part of the solution to get things safely operational again. His coordination within Facilities and Services ensures successful outcomes for daily activities and internal projects,” Gaalswyk said.

Hanson’s efforts ensure faculty, staff, students and the visiting public have an accessible and functioning campus, he added.

Barry Mielke, associate vice president for Facilities and Services, said Hanson is a very competent electrician with a can-do attitude. Mielke also praised Hanson’s work during the December 2022 blizzard and immediately after the May 2022 derecho.

“During the aftermath from the derecho, Wayne’s knowledge was critical as we looked for creative ways to temporarily power freezers and other essential equipment. Wayne kept a calm demeanor and a sense of humor as we had him and his team running around campus solving issues,” Mielke said.

“Another example was in December, when a transformer failed during some extremely cold weather. Again, Wayne stepped up and helped figure out the problem and stayed on campus as it was fixed in some extremely cold weather conditions,” he added.

Bryan Bisson, associate director for student life building services, praised Hanson’s quality service and work.

“He is professional when engaging with customers and very willing to provide quality service. … Wayne has been someone who I can depend on when issues arise and I need help solving them. His expertise is always welcome,” Bisson said.

Hanson and his wife, Beth, have two grown children, Ryan (Annie) and Jill, and three grandchildren, Hyde, Laney and Dash.

All SDSU Employee of the Month selections are determined through a nomination process by the Civil Service Advisory Council. Each civil service employee of the month receives an appreciation monetary gift from the F.O. Butler Foundation. The trustees of the foundation recognize the importance of civil service employees and take this opportunity to thank them for their exemplary service.