The Division of Information Technology (DoIT) is thrilled to announce that Dave Souder has been awarded the Fall 2025 DoIT Gritty Award! This recognition celebrates Dave's exceptional professionalism, technical expertise, and continuous delivery of outstanding service in the face of rapidly evolving obstacles.
Duty Beyond Campus
Dave recently provided extraordinary support to the President's Office for a leadership retreat at a downtown hotel, aiding in a high-profile virtual meeting. The event brought together approximately a dozen senior university leaders, participating both in person and remotely, and required a flawless technical experience under less than ideal conditions.
Preparation for this event went far beyond standard support. Dave made multiple early-morning trips downtown, meeting with event organizers and hotel staff to scout out the facility, assess connectivity options, and determine the best combination of camera and audio equipment. The meeting space presented had significant limitations, containing only a TV and not having any wired internet connection available.
Excellence Under Pressure
Undeterred, Dave worked diligently to identify the most reliable wireless connection option, conducting multiple test calls with AV staff to ensure stability and performance.
He coordinated closely with the President's Office, DoIT staff responsible for laptop preparation, hotel administration, and hotel IT, successfully bringing together many moving parts into a single, seamless solution.
Once the meeting was underway, access to the room was restricted to attendees only, as the information being discussed was confidential. Even so, Dave continued to monitor the event remotely using Webex Control Hub, verifying that the connection remained stable and that the meeting proceeded smoothly from start to finish.
Less than 15 minutes after returning, Dave was already back out the door, immediately assisting users with another live Webex meeting.
Dave's willingness to provide professional, high-quality service in a challenging environment, outside of normal working hours and location, demonstrates a level of dedication that embodies the spirit of the DoIT Gritty Award.
We are proud to recognize Dave for this work and commitment to excellence. Congratulations, Dave, and a huge thank you for going above and beyond!
About the DoIT Gritty Award
The Gritty Award is in recognition of outstanding work within the Division and beyond. Full-time DoIT employees, DoIT student employees, and teams are eligible to be nominated for going above and beyond! Anyone in DoIT can nominate someone for the Gritty by completing this short Gritty Nomination Form.
The DoIT Community & The DoIT Gritty Committee
Erica D'Eramo
Ada Crutchfield
Andrew Shebest
Anthony Finneran
Carlos McKinney
Daniel Loftus
Dave Souder
David Toothe
Debbie Michaels
Dondre Hatef
Josh Abrams
Khalil Alston
Matt Baker
Nick Beech
Peter Ariev