Trish Schlobohm has been named the University of Illinois Springfield Employee of the Month for March 2023. She is the business incubation program coordinator at Innovate Springfield.
Schlobohm’s nominator said she “cannot begin to express how dedicated Trish is, how impressive her performance is, and what an absolute asset she is to the Innovate Springfield and University of Illinois community.”
Since joining Innovate Springfield in 2019, she has become a certified Co.Starters facilitator and she co-facilitates the program, which is now offered for credit for UIS students. In 2021, she founded her own food fermentation concept called Schlo-foods and is selling her products alongside the members that Innovate Springfield serves at the local farmer's market.
“She is quick to impart her wisdom and experience on others who are also just starting out, making her a truly unique asset in this space,” said her nominator.
More recently, Schlobohm has stepped up to help to cover open positions and work responsibilities at Innovate Springfield.
“Trish recently went above and beyond her job duties by presenting in front of a large audience at the Center for State Policy and Leadership showcase event. She showed the audience all the exciting things going on at Innovate Springfield,” said Bruce Sommer, her supervisor. “All these things are not part of her job description, but opportunities of which she took advantage to advance our work, the UIS brand and her career.”
Sommer adds that she is always very courteous, responsive and supportive of the requests she receives from Innovate Springfield stakeholders.
“Trish is one of the most encouraging, welcoming and professional people I have worked with at UIS,” Sommer said. “It is obvious she enjoys her job and helping our members, UIS students, faculty and staff, as well as members of the public. She demonstrates this every day engaging with members and the public who walk into our building.”
Schlobohm is known for being “extremely dependable” and is always prepared and well-organized for any meeting or event she is leading or coordinating.
“She is driven by detail, doesn’t forget anything and always executes on a very high level,” Sommer said. “I have yet to experience her not coming through on anything she said she would. Trish is always a step ahead of me with great preparation, follow-through and all-around execution.”