During her career at UT, Cathy spearheaded significant changes in numerous business areas, changing business processes and software systems alike. Cathy worked in such areas as Payroll, Library Services and Resource Development, with her ultimate success coming in the two-time award winning project, Project Information Quest (IQ).

Seeing the need for post-training professional development for new Information Analysts, Cathy conceived and implemented the Analyst Apprentice program, which has overseen the career development of hundreds of training program graduates to strengthen the traits of disciplined, analytical thinking and reinforce the standards expected of a systems analyst in the University community.

[Not exactly so, says Chuck:] I proposed the analyst apprenticeship program to Terry Dolan, and Jim Zweiner was the first Apprentice. Cathy Lester and Pam Curttright then put together the SY 101 course. Cathy and Randy Ebeling worked with OHR to formalize completion of the apprenticeship as criteria for promotion to Systems Analyst. I then began development of criteria for promotion to senior analysts. I write this, and somebody else can find the right place to put it in the history. Cathy and I were friends from our days as students in Linguistics. There was a year, (1987? [It was 1988]) when Robbie in his cheapness had Cathy and me sharing a hotel room at the Software Ag conference in Nashville. Our spouses knew each other and we had all played 42 together, and this arrangement was not a problem. Before the Analyst Apprentice Program, there was no guaranteed path forward from the Entry level Computer Programmer. Once could only advance if an Analyst position came open. The Analyst Apprenticeship program, with the HR approval, provided a pathway for reclassification without the need for a new opening.

After her untimely death in October 2006, many people and groups Cathy had worked with over the years wanted a way to honor her impact on administrative information technology. An endowment at UT was created in her memory, with the proceeds dedicated to awarding individuals who display the qualities Cathy valued and exemplified. See The Cathy Lester IT Excellence Award's website for more information about the award, and about the impact Cathy had on the IT@UT community.