Table of Contents
- The Changemakers of 2024
- The Legacy Digital Workplace Leaders of 2024
- Workplace Technology Communication Leaders of 2024
The digital employee experience (DEX) is critical to business outcomes. It impacts every employee's productivity, experience at work, and engagement levels, which all directly contribute to company performance.
The BrainStorm Stormies Awards celebrated the innovators and professionals who are forging better ways for employees to engage with technology. These awards spotlight the individuals and programs driving exceptional digital employee experiences in their organizations.
In this post, we’re highlighting the innovative digital employee experience leaders recognized at this year’s 2024 Stormies Award Ceremony.
Don't miss part 1 of the Stormies Presents celebrating the excellent Digital Employee Experience programs this year.
The Changemakers of 2024
A Gallup study found that 66% of IT projects fail, often due to poor project management. Transforming technology, processes, or behaviors at the organizational level is no small feat. It requires careful planning, strong leadership, and careful execution.
The Changemakers, honored at the Stormies DEX Awards, are professionals who have successfully managed complex changes, driving organization-wide transformation. These leaders have mastered change management and reshaped how entire companies learn and grow.
Let’s highlight two of this year’s inspiring Stormies award recipients:
Kevin Caine - Progressive Insurance: Champion of learning culture
Kevin and his team have transformed the learning culture at Progressive Insurance. Thanks to Kevin and his team's work, Progressive hasn't missed a beat transitioning to a mostly remote culture and hasn't had to give up a culture of learning in the process. The team relied on in-person technology events to promote BrainStorm and drive usage, but when Covid hit, they reimagined what training could look like at Progressive. They leveraged the event tool within BrainStorm to drive registration among employees for learning events and employee events of all types at Progressive.
From virtual Excel tutorials to lunchtime yoga sessions and even “Dad Joke Hour,” Kevin’s team turned BrainStorm into a hub for all types of employee engagement events. The event tool within BrainStorm became a key driver of registrations, amassing hundreds of thousands of sign-ups each year.
Thanks to Kevin, Progressive Insurance has not only adapted to a remote work environment but has also cultivated a culture of continuous learning and connection. Kevin’s impact goes beyond technology adoption—he’s contributed to a positive, engaging workplace culture.
Richard Hayes - Indiana University Health: Empowering employees through self-help
Richard Hayes has been a driving force behind positive change at IU Health, reducing support tickets and empowering employees to rely on self-help tools. His approach is strategic and tailored to specific user needs, collaborating with different departments to ensure every initiative aligns with organizational goals.
In healthcare, where frontline workers have unique demands compared to office staff, Richard customized content and communication strategies to suit both audiences. He emphasizes quality over quantity, ensuring employees are not just using tools but using them effectively.
Through Richard’s encouragement, department leaders have embraced BrainStorm to create campaigns and initiatives that promote continuous learning and organizational growth. Richard’s focus on meaningful, relevant experiences has made him a true changemaker at IU Health.
Legacy digital workplace leaders of 2024
Transforming legacy technology for modern enterprise needs is no easy task. Digital workplace leaders manage more than IT systems—they reimagine how technology can empower employees, foster innovation, and drive organizational growth.
The Legacy Digital Workplace Leader Award honors individuals who excel in digital workplace management. These recipients are disruptive thought leaders and innovative solution-builders who elevate software adoption and the overall digital employee experience.
Let’s celebrate three exceptional digital workplace leaders who are making a lasting impact.
Lalja Hammons – Fairfax County: Scaling technology training and transitions
With more than 16,000 employees across hundreds of disciplines and work locations too numerous count, OD&T team works to reduce the need for in-person training in order to most effectively and efficiently meet the technical and software application training needs of employees at all levels of the organization. Lalja has orchestrated training plans to transition users to new technology, further adopt existing ones, and continually leverage healthy digital workplace habits. Lalja aligns training plans in BrainStorm and other resources to the county's strategic plan drivers, themes and desired outcomes.
Lalja's impact on technology initiatives at Fairfax County can be experienced throughout the entire organization. She inspires innovation by promoting new technology among employees, and she drives sustainability through increasing utilization of existing tools. She also encourages lifelong learning by designing specific learning plans on various topics and functionality and encourages employees to enhance their skills to impact them professionally and personally.
Eli Wood – Edward Jones: Turning technology into a business growth lever
Eli has made a tremendous impact at Edward Jones transforming IT from a cost center into a growth lever for the business. Eli’s team is recognized across the business for the transformative impact they make on employees' productivity and collaboration at Edward Jones.
Eli has aligned the vision for IT across departments and has successfully scaled efforts and led numerous technology transitions and deployments. He and his team leverage regular campaigns to drive awareness of technology initiatives that have reached thousands of users at Edward Jones, resulting in year-over-year growth in impact.
Additionally, Eli worked to integrate end user resources by connecting BrainStorm via APIs to Edward Jones new Enterprise Search Tools.
Lauren Rhoads – National Beef Association – Evolving the digital workplace
For the past six years, Lauren Rhoads has been leading transformative initiatives at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), shifting Microsoft SharePoint from a platform once met with strong opposition to one embraced across the organization. Through her dedication and strategic approach, SharePoint continues to evolve into a fundamental tool that enhances collaboration and efficiency.
Lauren develops and manages training programs such as SharePoint Essentials I and II, SharePoint Essentials for Site Owners, and the SharePoint Masterclass: Advanced Training for Elite Users. These initiatives ensure consistent proficiency among staff while providing opportunities for deeper learning.
Maximizing existing resources, Lauren efficiently incorporates BrainStorm training videos while creating tailored content specific to NCBA’s needs. She offers flexible, on-demand learning, sets realistic goals, introduces custom completion badges, and proactively follows up with staff to ensure training is completed. These strategies ensure effective skill development, driving a positive shift in how SharePoint is perceived and used.
Lauren’s commitment to fostering a dynamic learning environment continues to transform how SharePoint is utilized at NCBA, contributing to a more collaborative and efficient work culture and significantly supporting the organization’s growth.
Digital workplace communication leaders of 2024
Well-executed communication strategies drives workplace technology transformation. Innovative leaders know this and leverage these strategies to drive technology adoption within their organizations.
The Digital Employee Experience Communication Leader Award recognizes professionals who have mastered the art of communication to increase software adoption and drive productivity.
These leaders have deployed creative campaigns and strategies that elevate the digital experience for employees, making them more efficient, engaged, and collaborative. Let's spotlight two professionals who have made a remarkable impact in their organizations.
Libby Taylor - Agilent Technologies: Leading with a multi-channel approach
Libby’s innovative multi-channel communication strategy has significantly enhanced the digital employee experience at Agilent Technologies. Her approach to campaign planning and execution ensures that employees are not only aware of new tools but excited to adopt them.
Libby meticulously plans the entire adoption journey, from testing platforms and understanding the end-user experience to defining educational goals and hosting live events. Her leadership has resulted in higher employee engagement and technology adoption, making her a key driver of Agilent’s digital transformation.
Collaboration is central to Libby’s success. By working with departments across the organization, she leverages multiple communication channels—from intranet articles and newsletters to marketing emails and engaging live events in QuickHelp. Her efforts have captured the attention of leadership and driven widespread adoption of technology initiatives.
We’re thrilled to celebrate Libby’s incredible contributions to Agilent Technologies and her role in creating a more engaged, tech-savvy workforce.
Sherry Salek - Sarcan Recycling: Fostering collaboration through innovative communication
Sherry has revolutionized the digital landscape at Sarcan Recycling by implementing effective end-user communication strategies that have positively impacted every department. Her innovative approach has sparked widespread interest in new software tools and significantly boosted productivity across the organization.
Sherry’s strength lies in her ability to break down silos. By collaborating with IT and other departments, she ensures that technology training and adoption initiatives are communicated clearly and effectively. Her work has not only increased adoption but also improved efficiency and collaboration among teams.
To keep the momentum going, Sherry shares regular quick tips and the monthly Productivity Plan, providing employees with practical, actionable advice on maximizing their use of digital tools. These communications have created a culture of continuous learning and efficiency at Sarcan.
Let’s celebrate Sherry’s outstanding leadership and the unified digital experience she’s created at Sarcan Recycling!
If you’re influencing your organization’s digital employee experience, it's your time to shine. The Stormies Digital Employee Experience Awards are a chance to celebrate and showcase the groundbreaking work happening in your workplace. Start planning for next year and take your place among these incredible innovators!
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