Engineering team presents supervisor Paul Kerl with a homemade plaque praising his calm, competent leadership
April 5, 2024
minute read time
In many office settings, it’s unordinary for employees to surprise their boss with a homemade gift to show their appreciation. But Paul Kerl is no ordinary leader.
Kerl is the office manager for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Legacy Management Field Support Center (LMFSC) in Grand Junction, Colorado. He was meeting with other LM managers recently when his entire staff suddenly entered the room, all wearing big smiles. LM Engineer Jalena Dayvault dedicated a playfully designed plaque to Kerl on behalf of the team, bestowing him with the honorary title of Gold Star Boss.
The gift from Kerl’s Team Blackjack was decorated with the ace of diamonds and the jack of spades.
“My wonderful team completely surprised me,” Kerl said. “One of the greatest joys as a supervisor is acknowledging and formally recognizing the hard work, dedication, milestones, and many accomplishments of the team. They really turned the tables on me this time.”
Paul is the supervisory general engineer for Team Blackjack – known organizationally as LM-21 – which handles projects under the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA) and Nevada Offsites (NVOS). The work is intense, and requires hypervigilance from everyone on Kerl’s team.
In such an environment, some bosses might unwillingly pass their tension along to their staff. That’s just not Paul Kerl’s style, Dayvault said.
“You always have a smile on your face, which has an instant calming effect,” she said. “This keeps us focused and productive.”
Kerl’s staff said his trust in them makes them a great team. They appreciate his compassion and stability. He has a rare talent for guiding gently, but with strength. And the confidence he shows in them is contagious.
“There’s always an expectation that things will be good,” Jalena said.
In their letter, the team quoted business leader and inspirational speaker Simon Sinek: “Leadership is not a rank or position to be attained. Leadership is a service to be given.” Those are qualities Kerl models day in and day out, they said.
“It is obvious that you care while making sure our mission gets accomplished,” the team wrote. “Your constant promotion of fellowship among our team has allowed us to learn more about each other, and ourselves, and created some lasting memories.”
After the surprise, Paul proudly posted a photo of the homemade card on his personal Facebook page.
“Every once in a while people do random acts of kindness that are truly humbling,” he wrote. “Words cannot express how much I enjoy working with them day in and day out in supporting our mission. #weareteamblackjack.”