ISU-Meridian’s Dorys De La Paz takes university’s top 2010 customer service honor

Dorys De La Paz greets you with a smile when you walk in the front door of ISU’s Meridian Health Science Center. She’s willing to help faculty, staff and students at a moment’s notice. Her colleagues call her “awesome and amazing.”

And for her efforts, De La Paz, an office specialist II, has been named the 2010 ISU Cares Customer Service Provider of the Year.

“I am incredibly surprised,” she said, moments after ISU President Arthur Vailas presented her with an honorary plaque and check for $1,000.

The president, Vice President for Finance and Administration James Fletcher and ISU Cares Coordinator Stacey Marshall made a special trip from Pocatello to ISU-Meridian to present the award Jan. 14.

De La Paz, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Albertson College—now the College of Idaho—has worked at ISU since 2007.

ISU Meridian’s Wes Lewis, a video instruction manager for the College of Pharmacy, was presented with the ISU Cares “Spot” Award for December and received a $15 Visa card. The university awards several “Spot” awards each month to employees who demonstrate exceptional customer service. 

The ISU CARES Initiative was started in 2009 to encourage exemplary customer service in all facets of the university. Since the program’s inception, 900 employees have attended two-hour customer-service workshops, according to Marshall.