Willie Santiago Selected for Exempt Employee of the Quarter

Willie Santiago, Concert Coordinator in the Department of Music, has been selected as the Exempt Employee of the Quarter for October-December of 2020. Willie began his career at UMBC in June 2016.

Willie was nominated by Linda Dusman, Professor and Chair, of the Department of Music.  Linda says, “Willie has been an outstanding concert coordinator.  The music coordinator was a brand new position created when the Music Department moved to the new Performing Arts and Humanities Building.   We had no processes in place and Willie created all our policies and procedures for scheduling, back of house stage management, box office, and website marketing of our events—over 125 concerts a year. Willie mastered all the complex technologies required for the Earl and Danielle Linehan Concert Hall and Music Box, and created a course for our music majors to learn effective concert management skills so they could compete for internships and employment in this area.  He is the liaison for any external concert presenters who contract to use the Linehan Concert Hall, and in every case these professionals have commented to me that Willie’s customer service has been exemplary. His position requires working late at night and on weekends with all sorts of odd unpredictable hours. Willie has never once called in sick, and has never been late. He is the most reliable employee I have ever worked with in 30 years in higher education.”

One of the major tasks that Willie does is facilitating concert production. Linda continues, “I feel confident saying that if not for Willie’s hard work and dedication, UMBC’s reputation as a wonderful place for musicians to perform would not be what it is. His attention to details, making both students and professional performers comfortable in the knowledge that all the details related to correct stage set up, correct use of our expensive instruments (including concert grand pianos worth $150,000), and the correct and safe use of the many technologies now employed in producing concerts make our concerts shine. We represent UMBC publicly in every concert we produce, and Willie’s attitude and professionalism contribute significantly to UMBC’s reputation in the region.”

Linda finally mentions Willie’s artistry. “Willie continues to work as a free-lance professional flutist and continues his education in flute performance by attending summer workshops during his vacation leave. In this way he is a great example to our students of continuing to develop as a musician while being fully employed in an arts administration field.”

Willie graciously received his award and was honored to be selected as the Exempt Employee of the Quarter.