2022 Penny Crane Award Recipient – Melissa Bauer

I met John Bucher (Oberlin College, HOF 2002, Penny Crane also 2002) in 2001 when he presented a workshop to my team on Customer Service. He praised the SIGUCCS organization and recommend that I attend. I took his advice and my first SIGUCCS conference was in 2002 in Providence, RI. On the shuttle to the hotel, I met Lynnell Lacy (HOF 2009), a seasoned conference attendee, who told me “if you want to make the most out of your conference experience, you need to get involved! We always need volunteers.” When I expressed my doubts about getting involved, she said “Don’t worry, we’ll having you running a conference in no time at all!” Sure enough, eight years later, I did just that.

SIGUCCS has been a significant part of my life for a long time. Professionally and personally. I’ve made so many professional connections that were invaluable to successes I’ve had in my career. The networking opportunities, not only at the conferences but with the many other opportunities that SIGUCCS provides with email lists, social media groups, mentoring, online seminars and even social events continue to provide invaluable wisdom in this ever-changing world of technology. I have met some of my dearest friends through SIGUCCS that as we retire and move on other phases of my life, these friendships will continue.

I am deeply honored to be the 2022 recipient of the Penny Crane Award and join the ranks of people I’ve looked up to and admired throughout my association with SIGUCCS through the years.

Personal: married, 2 children. Looking forward to my first grandchild. I enjoy traveling, reading, paper and fabric crafts and spending time with my family.