Rhonda Gominiak, receiving the Saletta award from President Stephen H. Kolison Jr.
Rhonda Gominiak, who helped put the Administrative Awards for Outstanding Service at SUNY Fredonia back on track after they were derailed in 2020 by the COVID pandemic, has received the 2024 Barbara Saletta Meritorious Service Award.
A member of the secretarial/clerical staff receives the Saletta award in recognition of outstanding service, as well as creativity and resourcefulness, demonstrated team effort, personal integrity, leadership and enthusiasm. It was established in honor of Barbara “Barbie” Saletta, formerly a Secretary 1 in Information Technology.
Ms. Gominiak is an Administrative Assistant II in the Division of Finance and Administration and in her 10th year at SUNY Fredonia. She initially served four years as an Administrative Assistant 1 in Student Accounts followed by two years as a Program Aide in the Office of Field Experiences before joining Finance and Administration in 2020.
It was Gominiak who coordinated the returning path for 2021 Administrative Awards for Outstanding Service as well as the 2020 awards that were not announced or awarded. She arranged awards ceremonies held either in-person or via Zoom, thus allowing winners to be recognized by their peers as outstanding employees.
A willingness to learn signaled that Gominiak didn’t shy away from taking on new tasks or learning new computer programs. She was willing to put in the time to grasp the information and utilize it properly, while additionally helping others in need of more guidance. That was the case with the rollout of the FREDmart eProcurement service that allows authorized faculty and staff to order goods and services.
“Rhonda is a ‘go-to’ person as colleagues have realized that if they want something done, Rhonda can make it happen with her organizational skills and honest comments,” said Associate Vice President for Finance and Administration Judy Langworthy, who nominated Gominiak for the Saletta award.
Gominiak attends campus events and volunteers on committees, such as the State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA) campaign, campus COVID testing, Jaggaer Improvement, and Special Needs Seating at Commencement. She also takes a proactive role to introduce new hires to employees and include them in on- and off-campus activities.
A resident of Perrysburg, NY, Gominiak is also a SUNY Fredonia alumnus, receiving a B.S. in Business Administration in 1990.
The Barbara Saletta Meritorious Service Award was established by Tom and Diane Everett, Ace Everett and Sue Enberg – Ms. Saletta’s brothers and sisters – through the Fredonia College Foundation, to carry on her legacy.
