The Human Resources & Training team at the University of Virginia’s Division of Facilities Management received a Human Resource Excellence Award from the Charlottesville chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management for its 2013 Leadership Forum, “HR Boot Camp: Back to Basics.” The award was presented Sept. 10 at the chapter’s annual conference.

“The ‘HR Boot Camp: Back to Basics’ program was organized and designed by the Facilities Management Office of HR&T to provide vital and applicable HR and supervisory guidance appropriate to the Facilities Management workforce and the University community,” the office’s director, Rebecca Leinen, said. “Because the Leadership Forum attendees have diverse backgrounds, educational accomplishments ranging from Ph.D.s to GEDs, and work experience ranging from 40 years to four years, this program had to be applicable and relevant to the perspective held by each one attending.

“To meet that challenge, the HR&T team designed high-quality, professional training presented by staff from University Human Resources and Equal Opportunity Programs in a fast-paced program that appealed to the range of attendees who wanted usable information on a number of important and changing topics.”

According to the feedback from completed surveys,  attendees appreciated the department’s investment in training that would help to make their jobs easier by providing them with current information about key areas.

Of the eight nominations the local chapter received, only two were selected to receive awards this year. The other award was presented to WorkSource Enterprises, a private, not-for-profit organization, for its work in helping to find jobs for disabled individuals in the Charlottesville community.

Approximately 100 local human resource professionals attended the annual conference at the Farmington Country Club.