Community

The Office of Information Technology team is comprised of talented, passionate and hard working individuals. We pride ourselves on providing exceptional service and being collaborative and trustworthy partners. This page offers examples of how we come together to grow as a team, celebrate as an organization and contribute throughout the university community.

2024 - 2025 staff excellence award winner

Congratulations to Brian Roberts (left), OIT's Manager of Technology Training and Communication, for winning a 2024 - 2025 CMU Staff Excellence Award. He was honored, in good company, on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. Brian is pictured with CMU President Neil MacKinnon.

Portrait of Brian Roberts holding his award alongside CMU President Neil MacKinnon. Brian is in a tan jacket and blue shirt and Mackinnon in a dark suit with light pinstripes.

2025-2026 student employee scholarships

Thanks to the generosity and continued support of OIT staff members and other donors, the OIT Student Employee Scholarship Fund provided scholarships to two of our terrific student teammates for the 2025-2026 academic year. Hasanain and Brian may have been the big winners this year but we greatly appreciate ALL of our OIT student employees and the many contributions and great work that they do for OIT and CMU. We truly couldn't do what we do without each and every OIT student employee. Thank You!

Miles presents a scholarship award letter to Hasanain while standing in front of a sign that reads Every major has one place in common... HERE.

Hasanain Raza (right) accepts a scholarship award letter from Miles VonDoloski, an OIT Technology Manager and Hasanain's supervisor.

Ashley presents a scholarship award letter to Brian while standing in front of the CONNECT CMU sign.

Brian Vorac accepts a scholarship award letter from Ashley Reihl, the manager of CONNECT CMU.

MainStage 2025

Nine hard working OIT staff members spent three high energy hours meeting and greeting students during MainStage 2025, an annual event targeted at new students. The nearly 700 students who made their way through our tents left with valuable information about the numerous technologies and resources available to them through OIT and CONNECT CMU, as well as some branded photo booth strips, pens, chip clips, koozies, keychains, and stickers.

Group photo of nine staff in front of our tents.

OIT was well represented by a hard working team of students and professional staff members.

Three staff members pose for a photo under the tent.

Sanjana, Ashley, and Siva representing CONNECT CMU.

A staff member speaks with students interested in CONNECT services.

Siva answers questions and shares information with students.

We Do friendship

Two students and a cat pose in the photobooth.

These two students were feline fine about posing in the photobooth.

A view of the CONNECT and OIT tents with lots of students walking by.

The CONNECT and OIT tents were easy to spot along the busy street full of students.

A view from the back of the tent toward the street full of students.

Siva enjoys a moment of down time amidst the busy afternoon.

Mark McDonald - Impact Award

The now retired Executive Director of Infrastructure, Mark McDonald, wore a lot of hats throughout his 39 years working at CMU. In August of 2025, in recognition of the incredibly positive impact along the way, he was bestowed the first ever Impact Award.

Comments and memories shared by former members of Mark’s teams included big and small things that he did to make CMU a special place to study, work, and grow. He was a visionary leader who will long be remembered as someone who provided students opportunities to obtain employment while taking classes that led to valuable real-world experience, had a great sense of humor, was a willing listener and guide, and steadfastly supported his team.

Mark’s fingerprints are spread across OIT and CMU in ways that cannot be easily measured. We were fortunate to have him on the team for as long as we did.

Happy retirement, Mark.

Mark McDonald holds up his award while addressing the audience.

Mark McDonald speaks from the heart after accepting his Impact Award.

Mark addresses Jim while Brian looks on.

Mark McDonald shares some kind words about and with his former boss, Jim Bujaki.

Mark raises his hands in an attempt to get the crowd to stop clapping for him as he returns to his seat.

Ever humble, Mark attempts to lessen the applause he so well deserves as he returns to his seat, award in hand.

A group of coworkers talk in under the pavilion.

Mark shares some quality time with his former teammates before lunch. At this point, he had no idea he was going to receive an award.

2025 Summer Kickball Game

Division, competition, and trash talking aren’t things that are normally thought of as good things within an organization. One recent afternoon, we made an exception and hosted, played, and enjoyed the first-ever OIT staff kickball game. After a lot of laughs, good natured ribbing, and friendly competition, the Blue Screen of Death team bested Control Alt Defeat and took home the trophy for the next 12 months.

The Blue Screen of Death team poses with their trophy.

Blue Screen of Death were the victors.

The kicker makes contact and heads toward first base while fans look on.

Aubrey rockets the ball into the field while her adoring fans look on.

The kicker runs toward first while the third base player fields the ball.

Rose attempts to field the ball while Miles races towards first base and Tim toward home plate.

The first basemen attempts to beat a runner to the bag.

Eric and Rose race to first base at Tim and Brian look on.

A player races toward home from third base.

Miles turns on the afterburners running from third base to home plate.

Players scurry around the field during play.

Jason assesses his options while fielding a ball.

A kicker launches a ball high into the air from home plate.

Drew launches the ball high and far.

A player drills the ball back at the pitcher.

Tim launches one right up the middle.

A runner and three defensive players race toward second base.

Where's the base!?!? Someone literally stole second! Is he safe or out?

The first base player and runner meet at the bag.

Chaos ensues at first base.

The kicker watches his ball fall into the arms of a defender.

Brian enjoys a moment of hope before Derek catches his kicked ball.

2025 OIT summer picnic and Standing Ovation Awards

The afternoon of Thursday, August 7th seemed like as good a day as any to celebrate the immense amount of hard work the OIT team has done throughout the past year. Colleagues enjoyed a meal, presentations, activities, and quality time together in a local park.

For the third consecutive year, we recognized three colleagues worthy of a Standing Ovation, as well as everyone who was nominated. These awards carry a lot of weight because nominations come from within the organization. It is teammates showing respect and appreciation for each other.

Past winners review and score each nomination to identify the best of the best. Recipients are recognized for performing their job with excellence, serving people well, demonstrating great communication skills, being courageous and effective, speaking well of CMU, and modeling CMU’s core values of inclusiveness and respect.

Derek Leib, Greg Hanley, and Mike Molter pose with their 2025 Standing Ovation Awards.

Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, Jim Bujaki, presents a Standing Ovation Award to Derek Leib.

Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, Jim Bujaki, presents a Standing Ovation Award to Mike Molter.

Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, Jim Bujaki, presents a Standing Ovation Award to Greg Hanley.

Jim Bujaki laughs during his presentation to staff.

Jim laughs at his own joke while addressing his team. Rumor has it, team members did too.

Jennifer, Rose, Dan, and Ryan talking, hopefully not about work.

Three colleagues talking at a picnic table.

Becky, Jerry, and Ben share some time together.

Wide shot of many staff enjoying lunch under a park pavilion.

Staff enjoying lunch together.

Two staff members share a laugh together.

Don and Jason catching up before lunch.

Trivia champs!

Shout out to the OIT staff members, their partners, and guests who split into two teams and competed in the “Are you smarter than a 5th grader?” format trivia contest at The Cabin recently.

Good news, we are! Our teams took first and second place. Special thanks to the OIT Event Team who plan and host staff engagement activities throughout the year.

Group photo of OIT staff, partners, and guests after winning a trivia contest.

2025 ERPsim Competition

OIT staff members once again contributed to the success of the annual ERPsim Competition in numerous ways, including, but not limited to, network preparation, hardware and software readiness, on-site technical support and coaching/mentoring of student competitors. With thousands of dollars of scholarship money on the line, things need to run smoothly, and OIT is always up the challenge.

Twenty years, two colleges, one mission

Tim Gramza smiles for a professional headshot and wears a mauve shirt with a dark blue tie. He stands against a gray background.

How fortunate are we to have a colleague as amazing as Tim on our team? As Director of Technology for CBA and CLASS, CMU alum Tim Gramza helps shape the student experience—just like OIT did for him.

Tim's Story

Photo of hundreds of students working on laptops at tables spread across a field house floor.

Hundreds of students competed for thousands of dollars in scholarship funds.

Students sit at a table and work on laptops while their advisor looks on.

OIT Security Analyst Alex Abbot (far right) acted as a mentor and coach to one of the student teams.

Photo of faculty, students, and guests standing shoulder to shoulder on the stage.

OIT Executive Director of Academic and Research Computing and College of Business faculty member Ben Andera (front row, second from the left) served as a mentor and coach to a team.

2025 winter event

As is tradition, the OIT team gathered for an afternoon of food and fun to recognize and celebrate all the great work the team continues to do across the university community. Activities included axe throwing, cornhole, video games, ping pong and more.

The OIT staff seated at tables listening to the CIO's speech.

OIT staff members gather and listen to remarks from the Chief Information Officer.

Tim takes aim at the target.

Staff members play and watch a video game on a big screen

Video games on the big screen were a big hit.

Two OIT staff members wait to throw cornhole bags.

Lori and Emma easily covered the distance on the cornhole lane.

Two staff members play ping pong while others throw axes and visit at tables in the background.

Denise and Ashley bringing the heat on the ping pong table.

2025 Centralis Scholarship competition

OIT was happy to support the CMU Admissions and Honors teams as they hosted the annual Centralis Scholarship competition on two Saturdays in January. With nearly 400 students spread over two buildings, competing for thousands of dollars in scholarship funding, it was imperative that all technology was working properly. Our team of full-time and student staff members took care of business!

Seven OIT team members pose for a group selfie in Grawn Hall.

Student appreciation outing

OIT Security Analyst Alex Abbott treated his Security Operations Center student teammates to an evening at a local reindeer farm in December.

A group of students and their supervisor smile for the camera while on an evening gathering a local reindeer farm.

Alex (far right), his wife, and student crew enjoy some warm drinks on a cold day.

A group of students and their supervisor pose for a photo with Santa a local reindeer farm.

The Security Operations Center team with Santa.

Annual Business Professionals of America day at CMU

Each year, OIT team members provide on-site technical support to hundreds of high school students, teachers and judges from across Michigan who descend upon the College of Business Administration’s Grawn Hall for the regional Business Professionals of America day. The event uses nearly every classroom, lab and common space to facilitate competitions, presentations, consultations and more, each equipped with a wide variety of technology. Participants also bring plenty of gadgets of their own to connect and use. OIT staff, some who participated in this or similar events while in high school, take great pride in providing the best possible experience to participants.

Three smiling OIT team members pause to take a selfie while overlooking the Grawn Hall atrium during the annual Business Professionals of America day.

Tim Gramza, James York, and Gary Lane pause for a selfie from high above the Grawn Hall atrium while supporting the 224 Business Professionals of America day event.

Wide angle photo of Grawn Hall atrium during the 2024 Business Professionals of America day. Participants are seated and standing.

The Grawn Hall atrium is used for large presentations and small group meetings throughout the 2024 Business Professionals of America day at CMU.

Teachers and CMU Faculty huddled around a laptop in the hallway of Grawn Hall.

High school teachers and CMU faculty members collaborating during the 2024 Business Professionals of American day at CMU.

Students seated at tables and on benches in the hallway of Grawn Hall, some using laptops and cell phones.

High school students from across Michigan prepare for competitions and presentations during the 2024 Business Professionals of America day at CMU.

Students seated at tables in the atrium of Grawn Hall.

2024 Business Professionals of America students meet and prepare for various competitions and presentations.

Assisting with recruitment efforts

A group of high school students, each with an interest in Information Technology, recently visited campus for an Admissions presentation and tour. Five OIT team members met with the group to share information about the expansiveness of OIT at CMU, their job duties and answered questions. We look forward to having the students on campus, and maybe working with us, in the near future.

OIT team members present to and interact with local high school students as part of a campus orientation and tour.

2023-2024 CMU staff excellence award winners

Congratulations to OIT team members Ben Andera (left) and Jim duPuis on being nominated for and winning a 2023-2024 CMU Staff Excellence Award. We are proud to have you on the OIT team. Thanks for being excellent!

Split screen photo of Ben wearing a black suite, white shirt, and black tie and Jim wearing a maroon and gold CMU polo shirt with the OIT logo on the chest.

Back to school Bluetooth speaker giveaway

As part of the lead up to and kickoff of the Fall 2024 semester, students who visited it.cmich.edu/orientation were given the opportunity to register to win a Bluetooth speaker. The URL is shared with potential and incoming students and their parents and supporters during recruiting and orientation events throughout the year. Our communication manager also regularly posts to official CMU social media channels. Congratulations to the winners!

Ayesha, a graduate student from India, was happy to win. She plans to use the speaker to listen to music when not studying for her Information Systems courses.

Carl will be using the speaker while exercising and cleaning his house. He is a senior from Gladwin, MI majoring in Human Resource Management.

Tyler, a senior from Grand Blanc, MI majoring in Information Technology, can be found listening to Fleetwood Mac on his new speaker.

MainStage 2024

MainStage is an annual event hosted by the Office of Student Activities and Involvement. Thousands of students converge in the center of campus on the Sunday before classes begin to learn more about student organizations, greek life, clubs and campus departments. OIT team members enjoy interacting with students, sharing important information about Technology at CMU, and offer an opportunity to sign up for CONNECT CMU services. Our photo booth is always a big hit.

Four OIT staff members stand behind a table under a tailgate tent. Each is wearing CMU shirts.

Nicole, Ashley, Jessie, and Miles are set up and ready to greet students at MainStage 2024.

An OIT staff member talks with a student under a tent. The student is standing next to a bike and wearing a bike helmet and a blue shirt.

Jessie shares CONNECT CMU services with a student.

Four OIT staff members converse with a student under a tent.

A student gets answers to their question from OIT team members.

Three OIT staff members encourage passersby to stop into the OIT photo booth. Staff are standing in front of the tent with booth in the background.

Ashley, Miles, and Rose welcome students into the photo booth while Brian works the camera in the background.

Two students pose in the photo booth while a staff member works the equipment.

Gary gets a couple of students set up in the photo booth.

2024 OIT summer picnic and Standing Ovation Awards

Despite Mother Nature's best attempt to thwart our fun, OIT staff gathered for an afternoon of food, drink, awards, a dessert competition and conversation with colleagues. This annual event happens in August and is a terrific way to celebrate everyone's hard work throughout the Summer months right before the Fall semester begins.

Standing Ovation Award winners are bestowed via colleague nominations to recognize OIT staff who perform their job with excellence, serve people well, demonstrate great communication skills, are courageous and effective, speak well of CMU and model CMU's core values of inclusiveness and respect.

Jennifer Stilwell, Troy Bongard, and Jason Kiley pose with their 2024 Standing Ovation Awards. Congratulations!

OIT staff seated at picnic tables and walking around a wooden park pavilion.

OIT staff gathered for the annual picnic at McDonald Park in Mt. Pleasant, MI.

OIT staff seated at a picnic table looking into the camera and smiling.

OIT staff gathered for the annual picnic at McDonald Park in Mt. Pleasant, MI.

An OIT staff member in a white shirt demonstrates the Apple Vision Pro device for a colleague who is earing a read shirt.

Scott demonstrates an Apple Vision Pro device for Ludhiya during the 2024 OIT Staff Picnic.

2024-2025 student employee scholarships

The Office of Information Technology is fortunate and proud to provide jobs to more than 100 student employees. They contribute in countless ways, and we appreciate their effort as much as they benefit the hands-on experience. We truly couldn't do what we do without them. Each year, OIT staff members contribute to a student employee scholarship fund. If you're interested in joining our team, check out the employment opportunities page.

Andrew (left) is presented with his scholarship award letter by Derek (right). The two are standing in front of a wall with one of the CMU logos on it.

Andrew accepts his scholarship award letter from Derek, Assistant Director of the OIT Help Desk.

Jared accepts his scholarship award letter from Ashley, Manager of CONNECT CMU.

2024 winter event

What better way to beat the mid-winter blues than a day of fun with friends? Each February, our team gathers together to hear from the leadership team, celebrate accomplishments, and enjoy an activity. This year, it was bowling. While some valiant efforts were put forth, we've all chosen to keep our day jobs.

Wide angle photo of OIT staff talking and bowling at Riverwood.

OIT staff members enjoy an afternoon of bowling.

Kelly and Ben pose for a photo at Riverwood. Kelly is wearing a maroon and gold CMU polo shirt and Ben a tan dress shirt.

Longtime friends and colleagues Kelly and Ben were all smiles at the alley.

Kurt and Greg share a laugh while watching colleagues bowl at Riverwood.

Kurt and Greg share a laugh while waiting for their turn to roll.

Nicole and Ashley pose for a photo at Riverwood. Both are wearing CMU apparel.

Nicole and Ashley, always smiling.

A good time was had by all.

2023 OIT summer picnic and Standing Ovation Awards

As is tradition, the OIT team gathered for an afternoon in McDonald Park to enjoy time together. Staff enjoyed a great meal, ice cream and yard and card games. Following a robust nomination and review process, the first ever OIT Standing Ovation Awards were bestowed upon three incredible colleagues. These peer to peer awards recognize OIT staff who perform their job with excellence, serve people well, demonstrate great communication skills, are courageous and effective, speak well of CMU and model CMU's core values of inclusiveness and respect.

Shaun Holmes, Chris Zamplas, and James York pose with their 2023 Standing Ovation Awards.

The CIO of OIT at CMU hands a glass award to a staff member.

Chris Zamplas accepts his Standing Ovation Award from Jim Bujaki, Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer.

OIT team members enjoy time together at McDonald Park in Mt. Pleasant, MI.

Four OIT staff members share a laugh while playing a card game.

Roy, Jeremiah, Tim, and Adam enjoy some laughs while playing a card game.