2nd Quarter Silver BEAR Awards recipients go ‘above and beyond’ to bring about solutions for customers

Barrios Technology’s culture of going above and beyond to meet the needs of our customers is reflected in the 2023 2^nd Quarter Silver BEAR (Barrios Employee Award and Recognition) Awards. The five recipients – Josh Anderson, Jenna Contenta, Ashley Howell, Amber Menin and Smythe Mullikin – are examples of a resilient work ethic that prioritizes being proactive and thinking out of the box to bring about solutions for our customers.

Josh Anderson (left), an Information Technology Manager on the Consolidated Program Support Services (CPSS) Project Coordination (PC) contract supporting the Science and Technology (ST) organization, has been recognized for his expertise and successful IT support of several high-level events held at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, AL. His customers have commended his efficiency, proactivity and the way he goes ‘above and beyond’ in providing support. Josh was invited to speak at one of the high-level events he supported – the MSFC Summer 2023 Intern Program – to provide guidance and support to the interns, which was recognized by the Office of Chief Information Officer (OCIO).

As an Orion Configuration and Data Management (CDM) Specialist on HSFTIC, Jennifer (Jenna) Contenta (right center) consistently goes above and beyond to deliver for her team, her customers, and Barrios, both in her professional capacity and as a volunteer serving as a JSC Building 17 fire warden and a member of the Barrios Employee Relations Committee (ERC).

When the Orion Program Office requested a large amount of data from the CDM team to support an audit on short notice, Jenna stepped up to provide additional after-hours and weekend support. Working with team management, she helped verify the requested records and successfully delivered them to the Program Office prior to the audit, exceeding the customer’s expectations. Jenna’s strong work ethic and commitment to high quality outputs are evident in everything she does.

Ashley Howell (left), Requirement Development Coordinator on the Human Space Flight Technical Integration Contract (HSFTIC), is the heart and soul of the Gateway Requirements Development Team and is always learning new skills and testing new tools to find improvements and efficiencies for the team.

She works closely with our NASA requirements development lead and has the ability to ascertain what the customer is really saying, and then delivering on that.  In addition, she is a mentor to new team members and assists them to learn the ropes and become productive team members.

As Project Coordinator on the CPSS PC contract, Amber Menin (right center) is a key player in the MSFC Test Lab (ET), which leads the charge for Engineering relative to new work partnerships and methodology. With the Test Lab undergoing changes, Amber has been the linchpin that keeps priorities on track by working schedules, creating presentations, managing risks, facilitating technical exchanges, and coordinating investment tracking, as well as many other tasks associated with keeping multiple Test Lab customers happy. Her daily contribution to the functionality of the office has been incredible and she works diligently to keep the Lab focused on the priorities and is always ready to offer up solutions as needed. Amber may be an unsung hero in the office, but she is a team player and a huge asset to the team.

Smythe Mullikin (left center), Visiting Vehicle Engineer on HSFTIC, receives his award for developing an innovative new tool to reconcile disposal data. Since his first internship with Barrios, Smythe has been a team player and continually goes above and beyond for his co-workers, teammates, and customers. His leadership skills are apparent and are exemplified through holding himself responsible for the success of his team members.

The BEAR Awards Program recognizes superior performance and outstanding support of customer and company goals. Each quarter, outstanding employees are selected to receive the Silver Award. Silver award winners automatically qualify for the annual Gold award, which is presented at an annual awards and recognition reception.