Inside Campus Partners

Virginia Coleman
February 2004

Virginia Coleman
Micrographics Coordinator

Virginia Coleman, Micrographics Coordinator for Campus Partners, “loves people.” However, during most of her 11 years here, she has been working in an out-of-the way micrographics room, where she rarely sees other employees. This isolation has not stopped Virginia from being a “people person.” She simply channels her concern for others into doing the best job possible. Caring about others motivates her to make sure all the items she films are straight, legible, and indexed so they form a useful archive and can be retrieved easily. Keeping good track of her filmed records saves other staff, customers, and borrowers from needless stress and inefficiency.

Virginia has a demanding, one-of-a-kind position here. She has three major areas of responsibility in micrographics and a machine or two that goes along with each major duty. She films all borrower forms, converted loans documents, new loan documents, prom notes, and work from our Customer Service and Customer Support units. Usually she films an average of about 3,000 documents a day. This film is sent out for processing. Next, she must index the documents, which means keying in roll numbers, dates, and line numbers so the documents can be retrieved later. Then Virginia inputs their locations into System III. Her other major duty is retrieving microfilmed documents for staff who are researching loan information. If staff members find they need a specific document, they look up the loan on System III, where they find document locator information. They send their request to Virginia, where they form a list called the “queue.” Then, Virginia retrieves, prints, and sends the document to the person making the request.

Virginia was already an experienced micrographics operator when she came here. Her former employers demanded perfection and she brought this work ethic along with her to our company. “I take pride in my work and in efficiency,” states Virginia. She is efficient, but always takes time to listen to the needs of other staff and responds to emergency requests for documents. “I want them to know that when they come to Virginia, Virginia will take care of them,” she says with conviction. She has the highest regard for her co-workers calling them a “great bunch to work with.” She never wants to let them down because then they will be letting down our customers and their borrowers.

Outside of work, she is involved in many community activities. Earlier this year, she was named “Daughter Elk of the Year” for her 24 years of service with the Elk’s club and other community service organizations. Her activities include serving as president of the local organization as well as the state chapter. She is also a member of the Usher Board, women’s auxiliary, and kitchen committee at her church. In addition, she is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and has held many leadership positions with the group. She is also a member of the Household of Ruth, National Council of Negro Women, and NAACP.

Despite all her good works, Virginia does not believe in all work and no play, and loves to read, listen to music, and dance. Regrettably, she says that she does not get to dance as much as she used to.

Virginia grew up in Winston-Salem in a family with seven children. As the second oldest, Virginia learned responsibility in caring for her younger siblings. Virginia also has a grown daughter, Carmelita, who is a social worker for our local county Department of Social Services, continuing the family tradition of community service.

Although she has always lived in Winston-Salem, she has traveled extensively, particularly to national meetings of her service clubs. This has given her the chance to visit places like Chicago, New York City, and Detroit. She has also vacationed in Florida and the Bahamas. Her long time dream is to visit Japan or China because she is very interested in Asian culture. Although Virginia works alone in an isolated room, she is far from a hermit. She funnels her energy into helping others both at work and in the community and preparing for her next trip or project.