Employee of the Month - September 2024
Michael Harris, Painter
Beach Building Services
Awarded Thursday, September 12, 2024, at Friendship Walk. This was the first in-person ceremony since February 2020! Michael was joined by President Jane Close Conoley, Vice President Scott Apel, Associate Beach Building Services (BBS) Vice President Mark Zakhour, BBS colleagues, College of Business Associate Dean Jasmine Yur-Austin, and Michael’s wife, Marti.
Michael Harris, painter, was celebrated as September’s Employee of the Month for providing “exceptional support during an incident that occurred in the College of Business (COB).” By chance, Michael was working at the COB on the morning of July 30, 2024, when one of the elevators in the COB jolted and became stuck on the second floor, trapping Associate Dean Jasmine Yur-Austin, inside. Dr. Yur-Austin, “understandably distressed,” called out for help. Lindsey Sarver, coordinator of Intern Programs in the COB Student Center for Professional Development, was attempting to access the elevator from the first floor, heard the commotion, and sprang into action.
Michael Harris, painter, was celebrated as September’s Employee of the Month for providing “exceptional support during an incident that occurred in the College of Business (COB).” By chance, Michael was working at the COB on the morning of July 30, 2024, when one of the elevators in the COB jolted and became stuck on the second floor, trapping Associate Dean Jasmine Yur-Austin, inside. Dr. Yur-Austin, “understandably distressed,” called out for help. Lindsey Sarver, coordinator of Intern Programs in the COB Student Center for Professional Development, was attempting to access the elevator from the first floor, heard the commotion, and sprang into action.
“Michael’s attentiveness and dedication to maintaining a safe environment until the police arrived were crucial. With the support of his efforts, Dr. Yur-Austin was able to exit the elevator safely once the doors were opened,” noted Shayleen Fay, head of the COB Student Center Professional Development in the College of Business, and Lindsey Sarver, coordinator of Intern Programs, who jointly submitted a Best of the Beach for Michael.
Dr. Yur-Austin later shared her perspective: “I expected a normal workday at COB, but it quickly turned into a frightening experience when I got stuck in the elevator. The elevator jolted abruptly, and the doors wouldn’t open. Fortunately, Mr. Michael Harris responded quickly and arrived to assist, ensuring I was unharmed, though still shaken. He asked me to describe when the jolt occurred so he could provide that information to guide future maintenance. Additionally, he showed me how to use the emergency call system, which gave me more confidence about using the elevator in the future.”
Michael describes himself as a second-generation painter, painting for 36 years, and is a “Master Journeyman.” He started painting custom houses with his father’s company, moved on to other commercial work at stadiums, malls, racetracks, etc., and then to San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station for fifteen years until they closed. After that, he came to CSULB to join the projects team.
Michael further supports his CSULB colleagues as a Teamsters (Unit 6) union steward, which serves the campus’s skilled trades. Michael shared that he enjoys raising a 7-year-old daughter, Freya, with his wife, Marti, as well as swimming, Parent Teacher Association involvement, camping, video games, being a Renaissance fair Puritan, and is a master at telling bad “dad” jokes. He and his family have several beloved pets, including rabbit (Bongo), a handful of goldfish (Ponyo, Pearl, Pumpkin and Tim), and a baby bearded dragon lizard (Elliot). He added, “I have enjoyed the weather, mixture of people and variety of food available here my whole life.”