It is an exciting time for the Services team within FP&M’s Physical Plant! The unit has added new positions and expanded quite a bit over the last year, allowing FP&M to better serve the campus community and provide more support for current employees. They also help FP&M support its strategic priorities to build, develop and maintain a skilled workforce; support safety as a value; and deliver exceptional customer service.
New hires in these new positions include:
Martin Flannigan (Waste & Recycling Crew Lead): Martin helps oversee waste and recycling operations in the field. His responsibilities include coordinating waste removal, ensuring proper recycling practices, and maintaining cleanliness across campus facilities. His role collaborates with the team to optimize efficiency, provide training, and support staff.
Scott Henderson (Campus Services Supervisor): Scott supervises part of campus services, including window washing, departmental move requests, department event setups, cleanup/removals and lighting recycling. He estimates and schedules activities and is involved in maintenance, logistics, and safety. His role ensures efficient operations and a positive environment for students, faculty, and visitors.
Erin Lewerenz, left, and Gloria Ruiz Cervantes, right, (Administrative Assistant II): Erin and Gloria provide extended coverage for administrative support with overlap for backup. Erin works from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and Gloria’s shift is from 12 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This arrangement ensures administrative support is available during all three shifts, enhancing the department’s responsiveness.
Brian Petri (Second Shift West Program Manager): Brian’s primary responsibility is managing the second shift custodial services on the west side of campus. He coordinates cleaning schedules, ensures a clean and safe environment in university buildings, and manages the staff, ensuring their efficiency and productivity.
Anton Slobounov (Grounds Training Specialist): Anton oversees updating, designing, and delivering position-specific technology and hands-on training for Grounds staff with a focus on onboarding new employees. He also inspects, maintains and repairs specialized Grounds equipment and assists with construction, design and operational maintenance as needed.
Jacy Whitehead (Services Training Manager): Jacy oversees Services training. Her role involves developing training programs, ensuring staff efficiency, and coordinating training — including new employee orientation, technical skills and safety training.
A common theme among these new hires is that each person provides additional support and/or backup for positions already within the teams.
“I am very excited about this growth because it allows us to continue to build a team that provides more and more support for one another and campus,” said Ellen Agnew, Director of Physical Plant Services.
These additions allow supervisors managing large teams to split those responsibilities with another person. Adding these positions allows for more one-on-one time with managers and employees, quicker service response, coverage over more hours of the day, and backup during vacations and sick time.
“We want to continue to make this a great place to work and always be looking at how we can improve our quality of service,” Agnew said. “Building our team in this way allows us to do that.”