By Fred Sgambati (’83)

Technology can be confounding and difficult to understand and appreciate for many people. Those with the training and willingness to share their knowledge, however, have the skills to unlock its powers and invariably end up holding a special place in the hearts of anyone who relies on technology to get the job done.

Brad George, recently retired Manager of Hardware Services at Acadia, is one of those people. Over a 30-year career at Acadia, Brad’s patience and outstanding service distinguished him among his peers, going above and beyond with confidence, kindness and always a smile. He was quick to respond with insight and action and for this reason, and many others, the Acadia Alumni Association is delighted to recognize him as the 2024 recipient of the Outstanding University Service Award.

Brad began his career at Acadia as a technician and later became a supervisor. He is unfailingly thoughtful and polite and went out of his way – literally – to deliver top service to employees experiencing technical issues. During the pandemic, for instance, Brad drove to an employee’s house with a new keyboard and mouse. He asked another employee who needed a phone repaired to hang it on their door. He swung by, picked it up, had it repaired and drove it back. He was certainly one of Acadia’s quiet heroes.

Also during the pandemic, employees transitioned to working from home, transitioned back to the office, and others continue to have a hybrid working relationship. Through all these transitions, Brad and his colleagues in Technology Service were there with a positive attitude, great advice, and remarkable customer service.

Easygoing and affable, Brad made staff, faculty, and students feel important, no matter how small the job. He never made anyone feel incompetent or bothersomee never, and demonstrated amazing patience when sharing new technical knowledge with others. The Acadia community is better for Brad’s steadfast presence and outstanding work ethic.

The Acadia Alumni Outstanding University Service Award is given in recognition of a staff member who has had a significant positive impact on Acadia. Brad has done just that for more than three decades.

Alumni Association President Christine Luckasavitch (’11) says, “Acadia’s culture is predicated on a spirit of kindness and willingness to help in any situation. Brad George is the epitome of this kind of service above self. He puts people first, values relationships, and supports in the best way possible those who are not necessarily familiar with technology or are perhaps intimidated by it. He makes the difficult seem easy and inspires confidence while outlining best practices and reasonable options. He’s a testament to what Acadia is all about, and the Alumni Association is honoured to celebrate him as this year’s Outstanding University Service Award recipient.”