Facilities
QUARTERConnection
4 ISSUE 1
P a g e 5/1/2013
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Facilities Connection
Employee Awards
Inside This Issue
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Message from FS Management
Introduction to Facilities Connection
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Employee Awards
Welcome to the FIRST issue of Facilities Connection- a newsletter specifically
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Department Profile
for Facilities Services employees.
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Upcoming Summer Projects
The purpose of Facilities Connection is to provide specialized information the
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Employee Profile
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Safety/HR Corner
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Birthdays and Anniversaries
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Upcoming Events
department to help develop a better informed workforce, to foster a greater
sense of community, and to help YOU say connected!
Each quarter you will receive an issue of Facilities Connection. In each issue
there will be information on projects, employee awards and birthdays, safety
tips, University updates, and more.
Message from FS Management
A big thank you to everyone for making it another successful school year! We accomplished a lot of projects and the
one major, on-going project Rhoades Science Center project which is on schedule to be completed by July 1, 2013. I
would like to give special thanks to the staff, faculty, and students who helped with the relocation of the offices in the
Rhoades Science Center.
We are in the process of finishing up Performance Appraisals for the year. The appraisals have been going well and we
have received a lot of positive feedback on the new process. I feel that the new forms are more valuable and
productive—these forms are going to be a key tool for pay increases in the future.
With the late spring we have steered clear of another flood, but the cold weather has complicated other areas of our
operation, the most noticeable being that we will not be able to plant flowers until late May. The weather has also
caused some issues with spring sports making us get a little creative in how we run things. Thank you to those who
helped set up the softball diamond on the football field—the softball games were a success. This type of work and
dedication shows our department at its best.
As you are aware, the legislative session is still on-going and at this time we are unsure of what funds we will receive for
projects in the next biennium. We will keep you updated on the progress.
Recently, we have been experimenting with different lighting fixtures on campus. We have identified McFarland 1st and
2nd floors and Foss hallway and lobbies as areas that we will be installing new LED can lights once school is out for this
semester. We will also be working on exterior lighting across campus.
I am looking forward to receiving a great budget from the legislature so we can continue to make the needed
improvements on campus.
-Ron
Facilities Connection
Safety/Human Resources Corner
This summer the Facilities Services department will be offering a week long
training session for all FS employees. The summer training session is
scheduled for June 17, 2013-June 21, 2013.
If you have any suggestions on training topics, please contact Jessica by
May 15th.
Topics included in the training:
• Facilities Services Department Procedures
• Safety (Safe Operating Procedures, Hazard Communication
Program)
• Stress Management & Productivity
• Customer Service
• Computer Training (from Microsoft Office to Email)
• Overcoming Bias in the Workplace
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At the end of the week we will have a potluck picnic to celebrate a
successful week and the start to another successful year.
*Please note that this training is REQUIRED for all Facilities Services
employees.
Department Profile: Business Office
The VCSU Business Office is closely linked with the Facilities Services
department. Both of the departments are under the supervisions of the Vice
President for Business Affairs.
The Business Office is comprised of the following employees:
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Doug Dawes, VP for Business Affairs
Kimberly Bomstad, Controller
Erica Bunn, Accounting Assistant
Diana Wilmes, Accounts Payable/Receipting Specialist
Derek Hughes, Director of Human Resources
Lacey Undem, Payroll Accountant,/Grants Manager
Katie Sather, Accounts Receivable Specialist
Nikki Hanson, Payroll Assistant
The Business Office assists the Facilities Services department with:
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Purchase card payments and payment for other goods and
services (through the RFP process)
Monitoring department assets
Assisting with the “Summer Surplus Sale”
Payroll/Benefits
State Fleet billing
Collecting parking payments
Assisting with employee relations
Providing mail services
The Business Office is also in charge of student accounts, grants,
interdepartmental billing, budget reports, and more!
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Tentative Schedule:
Summer Session 2013
6/17:
6/18:
6/18:
6/20:
6/21:
6/21:
Facilities Updates
9am-12pm
The Balancing Act:
Productivity and Stress
9:30am-12pm
Would YOU do Business
with YOU? (customer
service)
1pm-3pm
Overcoming Bias in the
Workplace
1:30pm-3pm
Computer Help
All Day (come as needed)
Picnic Potluck/
June Bday Celebration
12pm-1pm
Upcoming Summer
Projects
Summer is right around the corner
and the Facilities department is
gearing up for the many projects we
have planned. Here is an overview
of what will be taking place over the
next couple months:
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Renovation of McCarthy 1st
floor bathrooms
Cleaning and repairing
rooms in the residence halls
Refinishing the gym floor at
the Bubble
Painting and new lighting for
the Clock Tower
New stair treads on the
McFarland 1st floor stairs
Completion of the CAGE
remodel at the Bubble
Lighting upgrades in Foss
and McFarland
Repair plumbing and install
ceiling tile at the Bookstore
Landscaping in front of the
main entrance of McFarland
COMPLETION OF THE
RHOADES SCIENCE CENTER
PROJECT!
Facilities Connection
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Employee Profile: Phyllis McDonough
Phyllis is the newest member of the Facilities Services department. She was
hired in May of 2012 and has completed a successful first year. Phyllis
works as the night Building Services employee in the Student Center.
Before coming to VCSU she worked as a nurse’s aide at Maryvale for ten
years. She’s been enjoying the work here, her evening shifts means she
gets to see a lot of the activities that happen on campus.
The last weekend in April, Phyllis and Kevin got out to fish, and Phyllis got
her first catch of the year. It was a sucker so she had to throw it back, but it
was still great to get out in the beautiful weather.
In her spare time Phyllis likes to crotchet, garden, and take care of their
animals. The McDonough’s have a silver lab that is two years old but still
believes he’s a puppy.
We’re very pleased to have Phyllis in our department!
Department Awards
“Difference Is Me”
Jacob Ell (Grounds/Landscaping) was nominated for the “Difference is Me”
Award in March. Vitaliano Figueroa, VP for Student Affairs nominated
Jacob. In his nomination, Vitaliano stated, “Jacob has done an outstanding
job with the 'presentation' of the campus. His efforts at VCSU help provide a
terrific first impression for our prospective students, alumni, students, faculty
and staff."
“Employee of the Quarter”
An excerpt from the article that will be featured in the upcoming Hotline:
“Rick Clark was nominated and received the award for his tireless (and
seemingly never-ending) work in Rhoades, which has been greatly
heightened by the construction there. Moving labs, classrooms, and faculty
offices; cleaning up after the construction crews and the snow and mud
they’ve tracked in; dealing with the dust and grime of the construction site—
all of this Rick has taken in stride and handled with his typical calm and
pleasant demeanor.”
L to R: V. Figueroa, E. Tufte, J.
Ell, R. Clark, J. Frerich, D. Dawes
Congratulations to both Jacob and Rick!
L to R: M. Dahlberg, D. Dawes,
R. Clark, S. Shirley, V. Figueroa
Facilities Connection
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Quarterly Birthdays
April
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April:
Ray Nelson
Apr. 8
Rose Berger
Apr. 28
May:
Randy Jess
May 21
Michelle Hoyt
May 25
Emma Hoskisson
May 29
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May
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Tilmer Gienger
June 15
KO Bolstad
June 17
Fred Charnetzki
June 30
Upcoming Events
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Employee Recognition Dinner
May 3
Commencement
May 11
Student Employee Contracts begin
May 13
May Birthday Celebration
May 24
Holiday
May 27
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Summer Training Session
June 17-21
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Department Picnic &
June Birthday Celebration
June 21
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Right: Ray
and Rose
celebrating
their April
Birthdays.
Left: Group
photo!
Helping
Doug, Everett
and Loren
celebrate
their March
birthdays.