Bill Elvey, Associate Vice Chancellor
Now that the students have returned and temperatures have moderated, I wanted to thank all of you for your hard work during the summer months to make sure that the University is ready for another academic year. Whether building and maintaining the University’s building and grounds, ensuring the health and safety the campus environment, providing efficient ways to move people and vehicles around campus, or planning for the campus of the future—you all playa key role in supporting the smooth and efficient functioning of the University.
This has also been a season of change in other ways here at FP&M. As many of you already know, I have decided to leave the University and pursue a great opportunity as the Senior Vice President of Children’s Healthcare System in Dallas, Texas. During this transition, Margaret Tennessen will serve as interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning & Management. She will ensure that this transition process will be as seamless as possible while the University searches for a permanent replacement.
After nearly 25 years of service, Faramarz Vakili has left the Physical Plant and retired from the University. Faramarz was the driving force behind a number of improvements, including the successful implementation of an energy and resource conservation program that both met and exceeded its program goals. We wish him well in his future endeavors. As a result of this and other changes, the Physical Plant is moving forward with an interim management plan that both accounts for the future of this position and the operations of the entire department.
As with any large organization, departures are often balanced by new arrivals and promotions. Brent Lloyd has been named Director of the Space Management Office, succeeding Doug Rose who retired in April 2016. Brent is extremely well-suited to be successful as the new director and I am pleased that he has agreed to continue serving FP&M in his new role. We also recently welcomed Laurent Heller as the new Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration. VCFA Heller has hit the ground running and has already focused his attention on a number of key facility- and planning- related issues on campus.
Lastly, I would like to reiterate Rob Lamppa’s message on page 2. We have done a great deal to revitalize the “Culture of Safety” at FP&M during my time here. Please continue to be mindful about your own safety and that of those around you as you move about campus and perform your work.
Thank you for all that you do to provide excellence in facilities and services to our university community.