Employee Relations, Compensation & Employment Director (Human Resources) Layton Brooks has been awarded the Winter 2025 B+F Bravo Award.
"Layton exemplifies the very best of Business and Finance,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Interim Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance Anne Barnes. “His integrity, collaboration, and commitment to enhancing the workplace experience are integral to UNL’s success. The Bravo Award reflects the meaningful impact he makes every day."
Business and Finance staff can be nominated for the B+F Bravo Award by demonstrating significant impact to Business + Finance units and/or UNL more broadly by exemplifying the department’s six values and principles: Trust and Integrity, Collaboration, Stewardship, Invest in Our People, Deliver Clear and Consistent Service and Communication & Drive Forward-thinking Solutions.
Brooks’ nominator said this regarding the commitment to the B+F Values and Principles, “Layton handles the most complex and high-risk HR situations with a calm and confident approach, quickly earning trust and de-escalating difficult situations. His primary focus is to do things in the right way, and he works tirelessly to find fair solutions for all parties involved. As a skilled listener, Layton ensures that all voices are heard...Layton’s commitment to improving processes, finding creative solutions and supporting both employees and supervisors makes him a highly valued asset to our institution.”
Brooks’ nominator added, “I have worked with a significant number of employee relations professionals over the years and can honestly say that Layton has the strongest skill set of anyone I have ever encountered. Customers feel heard by Layton in a way employees and supervisors don’t often experience in these tense situations. His ability to calm down a situation and instill trust is truly unique and unprecedented.”
Up to two awards are handed out annually. One is handed out in July and one in December. Nominations submitted December – May are considered for the July award, and nominations submitted June – November are considered for the December award.
Nominations for the award to be handed out in the Summer of 2026 are now open at: https://bf.unl.edu/bf-bravo-nomination-form/
B+F Bravo Award Winter 2025 Nominees (alpha order by last name)
Todd Bates, Custodial Services
Brooke Beyer, Business and Finance Business Center
Layton Brooks, Human Resources
Matt Brockhoff, Student Accounts
Brian Dieterman, Landscape Services
Kyla Gorji, Human Resources
Angela Greise, Fleet Management
Jerri Harner, Human Resources
Lisa Hilzer, Bursar
Edward Kearney, Inventory, Moving and Asset Management
Jon-Michael McDaniel, University Police
Johnny Montoya, Building Systems Maintenance
Stephanie Ninneman, Accounting
Brian Reetz, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance
Lacey Rohe, Financial Services
Abby Schletzbaum, University Police
Dana Abu Swailem, Financial Systems
Dave Tallon, Husker Energy & Power
Brandy Tuttle, Custodial Services
Susan Wendling, Human Resources