See past WIZ Award recipients here.
Congratulations to our WIZ (Working in the Zone) Award Recipients for the third quarter of 2024!
We received 50 nominations for excellent work by PCCLD employees from co-workers, managers and patrons. Kudos to our PCCLD employees! Out of all the nominations received, the Steering Committee selected 5 individuals to receive the WIZ Award for this quarter. We asked each of the recipients some questions in order to get to know them a little better.
Please take a few minutes to read each WIZ Award spotlight and to congratulate each of the WIZ Award recipients!
Nathaniel Petrov
Nathaniel has served at the library district for almost 17 years! Nate is currently serving as a Customer Service Representative in the User Services department at Rawlings and is acknowledged for being kind, respectful and very knowledgeable! Nate has been nominated for consistently going above and beyond for customers everyday. Nate provides amazing customer service and is very supportive of everyone on his team. Nate can always be relied on in any situation which is an excellent quality! Nate is nominated for Engaging Customers leading to the key result of increased Library Visits. Congratulations Nathaniel!
What do you like best about working at the Library District?
I enjoy working at the User Services desk on the second Floor at Rawlings because I get to meet all kinds of different people.
What book do you really connect with, or what book are you reading right now?
I'm currently reading The Last Dream by Pedro Almodovar. He's one of my favorite filmmakers and a wonderful writer.
What is one of your favorite local Pueblo places to eat (we love to discover new places!)?
El Nopal. I love their potato enchiladas.
Who is one of your favorite bands or musical artists?
I'm currently obsessed with the Australian band Amyl and The Sniffers.
If a genie gave you a wish what would you wish for?
It sounds cliché, but world peace.
What is one of your favorite sweet treats?
Peanut M&Ms.
What book should not have been made into a movie and why?
The Never Ending Story II. That film knows what it did.
What is one of your favorite hobbies?
Film. I am besotted with film.
If you could wake up tomorrow with a brand-new skill, what would it be?
The ability to speak another language. I don't have an ear for learning a new language.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I was born in Colorado. But maybe most people know that.
Ciara Kehoe
Ciara joined the library district in March of 2020, on March 16th, 3 days after the district closed for Covid! Ciara has been with PCCLD for almost 5 years now and currently serves as Youth Librarian with a Teen focus in the User Services department at the Rawlings library. Ciara is recognized for their community work in preparation for Idea Con and works diligently to consistently communicate with local members of the community. Ciara is appreciate for creating trust between the library and our community partners. Ciara’s creativity shown as they created Banned Book trading cards for branches to use in their teen programs. This task took a lot of time and patience and helped facilitate great discussions. Ciara is nominated for Engaging Customers leading to the key result of increased Program Attendance. Congratulations Ciara!
Photo: A recent photo of me, at Dia with a
picture of my dad.
Photo: This photo probably isn't quite appropriate but I think it's funny -- me and my brothers with Spiderman... I was at an age when my mother must have begged me to put on a dress!
What do you like best about working at the Library District?
My co-workers are amazing, thoughtful, and kind. Also, I love the teens who come to Rawlings. They are bright, wise, always growing, and never fail to improve my Tuesdays.
What book do you really connect with, or what book are you reading right now?
At the moment, I am reading two YA novels -- one by A.S. King – I am hoping to read all of hers, and the debut of a friend of mine, Sawyer Lovett. I have a couple of favorite books… most are old and were out of print for quite a while before being brought back into print by a lovely wee publisher in Illinois. Two novels: The Third Policeman by Flann O’Brien and Zoo, or Letters Not About Love by Viktor Shklovsky. In nonfiction, Andrew Solomon’s The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression.
What is one of your favorite local Pueblo places to eat (we love to discover new places!)?
The Cutting Board at Fuel and Iron – Pueblo’s only vegan restaurant.
Who is one of your favorite bands or musical artists?
My taste runs ALMOST the gamut. Some favorites recently: Pissed Jeans, Nick Cave, The Slits, Sharon Jones, INXS, The Dead Milkmen, Prince, Outkast, John Prine, The Clash, Immortal Technique…
If a genie gave you a wish what would you wish for?
To buy and own the house my grandfather built for my mum and her siblings in Droum, on the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland. It is a simple house on a bay, surrounded by farms. It means so much to my mum and her siblings, and I’d love to offer it for use to the entire Horgan family.
What is one of your favorite sweet treats?
Anything homemade and vegan. Like peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. Yum.
What book should not have been made into a movie and why?
This one is hard for me… none of my favorite books get made into movies. But I’d have to say The Great Gatsby. Sure, it makes from some great visuals, etc. But the book is too subtle for mainstream filmmakers…
What is one of your favorite hobbies?
People-watching.
If you could wake up tomorrow with a brand-new skill, what would it be?
Speaking, understanding, reading, and writing Spanish fluently.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I played semi-professional soccer (as an amateur – I couldn’t even ride the bus, I had to drive everywhere on my own) before the women’s pro league was founded in the U.S.
Alyssa Vargas-Lopez
Alyssa joined the library district as Museum Administrator in February of 2023. Alyssa’s enthusiasm and positivity has made a big impact within the library district! Alyssa is nominated for working to get the photo exhibit/contest back into the Library and has been more than helpful in finding a suitable space and time for this wonderful event. Alyssa is also nominated for her hard work in preparing for Idea Con. Alyssa plans ahead and brings innovation and creativity to the table. Alyssa also makes a positive impact on patrons and is recognized for jumping in to help a patron in the Makerspace even though she was in the middle of doing something else. Also, Alyssa is recognized for being kind. Kindness certainly goes a long way and Alyssa embodies kindness with co-workers and patrons alike. Alyssa is nominated for Engaging Customers and Empowering Innovation leading to the key result of increased Program Attendance.
Congratulations Alyssa!
What do you like best about working at the Library District?
I like that I can be a lifelong learner in my role at the district. Everyday looks different and has its own unique challenges, but I get to learn about different approaches to programming, do research on a variety of topics, and get to know more about my community on a daily basis.
What book do you really connect with, or what book are you reading right now?
To Selena, With Love by Chris Pérez
What is one of your favorite local Pueblo places to eat (we love to discover new places!)?
Mill Stop
Who is one of your favorite bands or musical artists?
Sabrina Carpenter
If a genie gave you a wish what would you wish for?
I would wish for the genie to wipe my student loans, and/or provide universal quality healthcare.
What is one of your favorite sweet treats?
Strawberry Shortcake
What book should not have been made into a movie and why?
Wicked...If you don't know the storyline this is your SPOILER ALERT. I love the musical, but the musical changed so many important aspects of the story that I was hoping the movie would bring back and from what I have seen they didn't. For instance, there IS NOT a love triangle between Fiyero, Elphaba, and Galinda. Fiyero's origin story is that he is a prince betrothed to another and he falls for Elphaba resulting in their affair. While the book can be erotic, it can also be romantic. My favorite quote from the book is "Yero my hero," said by Elphaba. Simple, but sweet! While I will be watching the movie when it comes out, I will forever be bitter about it.
What is one of your favorite hobbies?
Playing board games
If you could wake up tomorrow with a brand-new skill, what would it be?
To play the violin
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I have worked with 3 Smithsonian Museums/Institutions: National Portrait Gallery, National Museum of American History, and the Smithsonian Latino Center. 2018 was the year that I worked at the National Portrait Gallery and this was the same year that the Obama portraits were unveiled. One of the most exciting parts of working there was that I was able to create programming about their portraits!
Jill Kleven
Jill has been with PCCLD since 2011 but took a short hiatus from May of 2022 to January of 2023. We are glad Jill decided to return to the district! Jill currently serves as Director of Technical Services. Jill is acknowledged for her amazing leadership and for providing support and advocacy for staff and colleagues. Jill is also recognized for being very easy to work with and for having a huge heart! Jill and the Technical Services team work behind the scenes and often do not receive the appreciation that is so deserved, but one patron expressed that the Technical Services team with Jill at the helm should be acknowledged for the hard work they do! Jill is nominated for Engaging Customers and Celebrating Others leading to the key result of increased Circulation. Congratulations Jill
What do you like best about working at the Library District?
I love all of the different personalities of my coworkers and also getting to work on special projects where I feel like we're really helping the community.
What is one of your favorite local Pueblo places to eat (we love to discover new places!)?
I love Blue Ocean, which is a sushi restaurant on the Riverwalk.
Who is one of your favorite bands or musical artists?
I love One Republic and they are actually from Colorado Springs.
What is one of your favorite hobbies?
Something I love doing and spend a lot of time doing is going to my kid’s baseball games and swim meets. I also enjoy hiking a lot.
If you could wake up tomorrow with a brand-new skill, what would it be?
I wish I could wake up tomorrow and know how to swim!
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I really, really hate olives!
Thad Stelter
Thad has been with PCCLD for 11 years and 11 months! Thad currently serves as Program and Outreach Specialist II in the User Services department at the Rawlings library. Thad is recognized for always going above and beyond for his coworkers and library patrons. Whenever help is needed, Thad enthusiastically jumps in and is so appreciated by his team! Thad is consistently acknowledged for helping patrons with computers and technology. Thad is also admired for giving fun-facts and tips relative to technology. Thad is nominated for Engaging Customers and Empowering Innovation leading to the key result of increased Digital Use. Congratulations Thad!
What do you like best about working at the Library District?
I have seen a lot of personal growth in myself over the past 12 years. Have been a part of a lot of change. Sometimes difficult, but it has always served as a great learning and growth experience.
What book do you really connect with, or what book are you reading right now?
Lord of the Rings. The journey has always been one of my favorite things.
What is one of your favorite local Pueblo places to eat (we love to discover new places!)?
Mi Ranchito by the City Park Golf Course.
Who is one of your favorite bands or musical artists?
The Beatles, (And All of Their Solo Stuff) The Grateful Dead
If a genie gave you a wish what would you wish for?
Land for goats, alpacas, chicken, etc.
What is one of your favorite sweet treats?
These days, none. I stopped eating sugar, but that and other things have helped me lose 100 lbs. over the past year.
What book should not have been made into a movie and why?
I can’t think of any that I don’t like, so here are five that I liked a lot (off the top of my head)
No Country for No Men
Crazy Rich Asians
The Shining
The Searchers
Blackkklansman
What is one of your favorite hobbies?
4 of my favorites:
Fishing, Listening to Vinyl Records, Play Guitar, Tie Dye
If you could wake up tomorrow with a brand-new skill, what would it be?
I wish I was better with my handyman skills. I know enough to get myself into trouble. HAHA!
What is something most people don’t know about you?
My appendix ruptured when I was 16. Fun times.