Photo by Christina VanHorn,
UNH Human Resources

It's all too easy to take for granted things like telephones and computers working on a daily basis. Unfortunately, they don't just work magically. Fortunately, the University of New Hampshire has people like Tina Sbrizza who can almost make it appear as though they do.

Undoubtedly, ten-year UNH veteran Tina Sbrizza is multitalented. Along with her daily duties as the university's Lead Information Support Assistant in CIS Telecom, Tina is an independent single mother of two, avid home re-modeler and gardener whose friends and relatives would describe as the charismatic life of the party. "My personal interests are mainly fulfilling the needs and special activities for my kids and making sure they have everything," noted Sbrizza, "I have always been a very independent person from the day I graduated high school."

It was this autonomous attitude and drive to succeed that initially landed Sbrizza a Data Analyst position with UNH in 1997 and has since propelled her up the telecommunications ladder to a supervisor's role as team leader of three great team players. "The staff has always been so friendly. Everyone seems to have that 'lighten up' look. It's important to have fun at work too! While discussing her Telecom team, Sbrizza recalled an anecdote from when she was first hired: "I was filling in for a person going on maternity leave. Right after I accepted the position I found out I was pregnant. This was funny in a way, but long-awaited for me too. So I was happily excited: new job, new baby!" Most didn't know me well at the time, but were there at the hospital when I had my second child. I have made great friends here at UNH."

Such a team-oriented mentality is imperative in a department responsible for overseeing the collective telecommunications needs of customers from all UNH walks of life: students, staff, faculty, and outside contractors and subcontractors brought in to perform campus building renovations. With certain months peaking higher than others, the email account Sbrizza's staff maintains receives an average of 8,500 messages annually, all of which must be responded to in a timely manner. Additionally, she and her team assist administrative customers in their needs for voice and data telecommunication changes around campus, while providing accurate billing. "We interpret our customer's emailed request to generate the work orders for our technicians so they can complete the physical work, which my team also uses to set up the initial billing in the University's system for departments that meet policy guidelines," she says. "The average annual work order opened/closed is 1600, with months sometimes peaking close to 200 in June, August and January." She has often worked with news media and White House personnel at conventions held at the University. She and her team also regularly monitor the internet and video billing for our Granite State Distance Learning customers.

She acknowledges how important interpersonal skills are. "We need to maintain current and accurate information on a wide array of telephone and network services including the technical understanding of the equipment in order to assist customers and ensure accurate delivery of telecommunications services." Sbrizza says, adding that her staff assists in the development of work order policy and procedures within the Telecom Management staff.

Even amidst such a busy environment, the ever-outgoing Sbrizza has no trouble enjoying her work surroundings. "I look forward to seeing the students and their parents at various orientations around campus," she says, discussing the importance of Back to School Weekend for CIS and most departments around campus. "Even in just walking around, talking to them and being friendly, we're always asking for and getting their point of view on how we can improve service. We stay connected, because the students have great ideas!"

In particular, the nineteen-year Rochester resident stays connected with her three older sisters despite their geographical differences. "We have a special bond with the Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood," she remarks. "We've all established our own Ya-Ya name, and treasure special moments with each other. Each present on holidays must be bought in groups of four." Sbrizza, whose assigned Ya-Ya name is 'Queen Crescent Moon', has allegedly been labeled "the whining one" by her siblings, but vehemently claims otherwise. "Not anymore. I'm QCM, so it doesn't matter anymore."

Perhaps the most telling characteristic of Tina Sbrizza's personality is her undeniable ability to persevere through challenges. Working straight out of high school as a file clerk at Boston's Shawmut Bank, she took advantage of internal growth and worked her way up, adhering to advice from an old boss, whom she calls "my first professional mentor." "I was always told that things don't come easy, and you have to work hard for success," she remembers, recalling how she originally moved to New Hampshire in 1987 and commuted for three years until the birth of her oldest child. "Then the commute became too stressful. He was in day care for sometimes ten to eleven hours a day. I took a break and did family day care up until he was six. But I really missed working, getting up and having a place to go, socialize and move on. I knew technology was changing. I needed to go back to work. I noticed a job in the Sunday paper and it was a replica of what my job was in Boston, with the added benefit of an education. I knew the job was mine so I called and applied."

Ever since, UNH's Telecom department has been graced with a fun, good-humored and hard-working individual doubling as a proud parent and homeowner. "I am a single parent now and still going strong," added the mother of fifteen-year old Joe and eight-year old Leann. "I'm very independent, but I'll keep looking for 'Mr. Right' to complete the circle. I own a beautiful home that I love to remodel. I have great ideas. I enjoy being at home in my garden, or the pool or beach somewhere. I'm interested in landscape design, and maybe someday I'll take a class on it." At that, she paused to add a final thought: "I'm also very interested in red wine…Another sister thing!"