dispatch - university of illinois urbana-champaign

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN • OCTOBER 2014 • VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 5

The Dispatch is published by the Facilities & Services Customer Relations & Communications Department for Facilities & Services’ employees: Julie Herman, editor & writer; Laura Adams, graphic design. Questions, ideas, and comments should be directed to: [email protected]. For internal use only.

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F&S CONTINUING TO MAKE PROGRESS TOWARD CCFD GOALWith the 2014 Campus Charitable Fund Drive (CCFD) halfway complete, F&S has raised $14,667, 32 percent of its goal of $45,426.

Six percent of F&S employees have donated thus far. Safety and Compliance staff lead the way with 77 percent of their staff participating in the campaign so far.

“There are many people who desperately need our help,” Roland White, F&S CCFD chairman said. “I am so grateful to work at Facilities & Services and have the opportunity to provide support and to witness the generosity of my co-work-ers. Your donations make a real difference in the lives of others. If you haven’t do-nated yet, please consider doing so.”

Due to campus regulations, cash dona-tions can no longer be accepted at any CCFD events, so employees are en-couraged to contribute through payroll deduction, or they can write checks. Donations can be made online at www.ccfd.illinois.edu/give. Paper donation forms can be picked up at CCFD info stations located through-out F&S buildings.

The F&S CCFD committee has issued the $1 challenge to help F&S meet its goal, something it has not done the past two years.

“If every employee were to give just $1 per week, or increase their donation by $1 per week, it would mean nearly $60,000 going to help people in our community, country, and world,” White said.

The CCFD committee will host a picnic lunch Oct. 21 as part of the F&S annual Homecoming week kickball tournament. Lunch will be served from 12:00-1:00 p.m. at the kickball fields and in the PPSB west hallway.

Service Office Supervisor Jerry Dinnin (left) and CCFD Unit Leader Angela King hand out Krispy Kreme doughnuts to employees as they come to work on the first day of the CCFD campaign Sept. 15.

CCFD information was distributed at the annual Big Breakfast served in the PPSB west hallway Sept. 26.

Saturdays in the fall may not always end with a “W” for the Orange and Blue faithful, but during the Oct. 25 Homecoming football game, Illini fans can help their school win another kind of competition.

On that day, the university will participate in the Game Day Recycling Challenge. Influenced by the Illinois Climate Action Plan, the idea behind the challenge is to encourage fans to minimize waste and increase the school’s diversion rate (the percentage of trash, which would have gone to a landfill, diverted to recycling and

RECYCLING CHALLENGE SET FOR HOMECOMING FOOTBALL GAME

The 2014 F&S annual golf outing included more than 100 players, page 3.

FACILITIES & SERVICESDISPATCH

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(Recycling Challenge from page 1)

composting) by creating a competition between colleges and universities across the country.

Overall, 71 schools will take part in the challenge, including eight from the Big Ten. National and/or Conference awards will be given in the categories of Diversion Rate, Total Recycling, Lowest Waste Generation, Greenhouse Gas Reduction, and Organics Reduction.

Recycling containers will be available both inside Memorial Stadium and in the main tailgate lot, although the competition only will take into account trash from inside the stadium.

This is the first time the university has run a recycling challenge on a foot-ball game day. In February, it ran a similar campaign, that one sponsored by Recyclemania, during an Illinois-Nebraska basketball game.

“The Illinois-Nebraska game was our first participation in Recyclemania, diverting 31.5 percent (of waste) from landfills,” said Bart Bartels, sustainabil-ity outreach specialist for the Illinois Sustainability Technology Center. “We learned a great deal from that event and made adjustments for the Game Day Recycling Challenge.”

For instance, the option to compost waste wasn’t available at the basketball event, but it will be an option for both fans and vendors at the football game.

February’s event and the upcoming Game Day Challenge are the first recy-cling events of their kind at Illinois, but Bartels said the hope is to expand the ef-fort to all football games next year.

Several F&S divisions and employees were involved in creating and coordinat-ing the Game Day Challenge, including Tracy Osby from the Waste Transfer Station and Director of Sustainability Morgan Johnston.

Bartels said the basketball recycling event allowed the involved groups, including F&S, to learn a lot and has them excited about the prospects of fu-ture events.

“The previous event was a success be-cause it was the beginning, the base-line to measure future events against,” Bartels said. “We had over 100 motivat-ed volunteers that wanted to do every-thing within their power to increase the landfill diversion rate. For the football game, we will have 250 volunteers andthe ability to capture much more materi-al. That’s the kind of progress I like to see.”

SAFETY TOOL BOX TALKIf you value your personal safety and that of your co-workers, you understand why the EPP/Safety Program is so important. The F&S EPP/Safety Program, created in 2006, provides proactive ways to help reduce the number and severity of workplace injuries. The program utilizes training, coaching, risk assessment, and consultation to promote on-the-job safety. Through regular interaction with the Executive Management Team, the EPP/Safety Steering Committee advises senior management on issues relating to the safety and health of F&S employees. EPP trainers also help facilitate safety training and are good sources of information. See any member of the EPP/Safety Steering Team with questions: Joe Ash, Wayne Bugaj, Dana Gillon, Julius Hufmeyer, Jim Marriott, Ryan Perry, and Mark Barcus. For more information on the EPP/Safety Program, access the full Toolbox Talk on line at http://www.fs.illinois.edu/services/safety-and-compliance/employee-safety-health/employee-protection

EPP Safety Tool Box Talks (STBT) are brief safety

training sessions presenting Occupational Safety

and Health Administration (OSHA) instruction,

jobsite hazard training, and general safety

awareness. The STBT is one of many steps in

achieving safety awareness and compliance at

Richard Herring, early day shift BSW, was nominated by Connie Kilman and several other College of ACES employees.

SEPTEMBER MVP

After reviewing the results of the 2013 F&S Employees Survey, four Employee Focus Teams were cre-ated to address the major themes identified. A list of final recom-mendations from these groups is now available on the F&S employ-ee website and will be posted on bulletin boards throughout F&S. The recommendations have been organized by group and prioritized by their ability to be implemented. The status of these recommenda-tions will be regularly updated and shared with all F&S employees.

FOCUS TEAM RECOMMENDATIONS

Employee Protection Process

to all who participated in the 4th Annual F&S Golf Outing!

Thanks

DISPATCH • OCTOBER 2014 • 3


LORI BEESON Senior Facilities Planner for Campus Information Technolo-gies and Educational Services (CITES)

CUSTOMER PROFILE

Describe your responsibilities. I plan space, design, and project manage construction and remodels for CITES locations. My main responsibility is cre-ating a comfortable, working space for CITES staff and visitors. Daily, I manage

building maintenance issues at the Digital Computer Laboratory (DCL) and assist with persistent issues at CITES’ five other staff loca-tions. I am also the CITES event coordinator and assist with planning internal and campus events such as the IT Professionals Forum, the Webmasters Forum, IT Manager Development Program training, the CITES annual holiday party, and the CITES picnic.

Tell me about your experience working with F&S. I have close contact with many F&S groups on a regular basis. I rely heavily on F&S zone managers; working with them to accom-plish our goals of improving CITES spaces on campus. Neal Silver, Tim Eckstein, and Greg Moen have assisted many times with improv-ing the quality of space for students and staff. I also work continually with the furniture installation carpenters, temperature control workers, BSWs, refrigeration workers, sheet metal personnel, lock shop employees, up-holstery staff, the painters, and the sign shop. I have had very positive experiences with the crews. F&S is full of dedicated employees who make my job run smoothly.

Can you describe a specific problem you faced that F&S helped solve? There have

been many issues throughout the years that F&S has helped solved. Dean Henson and Ken Buenting have been instrumen-tal in supplying the resources to repair damaged HVAC systems, dock lifts, and neglected spaces and buildings. DCL is prone to flooding for various reasons, and F&S responds with people and resources each time, so that the CITES staff is mini-mally impacted.

What are some suggestions to improve the working relationship with F&S? Continued communication is the best way to improve any relationship. I believe that adding zone managers was the best initia-tive from F&S, as well as adding the Cus-tomer Forums. Communication from F&S to facilities personnel has been improved greatly.

Any additional comments? My respon-sibilities are multi-faceted, and I depend on F&S to handle the issues that arise on a daily basis in a timely manner. I appreciate the relationships with F&S that have been formed and look forward to continuing to solve facilities issues alongside F&S.

Whatever F&S builds, the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) destroys. That’s not typically how a strong relationship works, but for these two units, that dynamic fits.

“We actually put things together in differ-ent configurations to kind of mimic apart-ments and high-rises, elevator shafts, and stuff like that (so IFSI can work on vari-ous rescue techniques),” said Ironworkers Foreman Dan Hiner. “And then we repair everything they break.”

The Ironworkers Shop has worked on numerous projects for IFSI over the years, from building various props to making windows, doors and even frameworks of mock-buildings. The work done by F&S iron workers and brick masons makes up a huge part of IFSI’s training campus.

IFSI is responsible for training firefighters throughout the state, with nearly 10,000 students passing through the institute’s campus each year. Parts of their training exercises typically require props or mock items. IFSI turns to F&S for construction of these props. (continued above right)

F&S HELPS FIRE SERVICE INSTITUTEWITH PATH OF DESTRUCTION

Brick masons Steve Griswold (left) and Eric Quinley work on constructing concrete pillars for use in Illinois Fire Service Institute training exercises.


Ironworkers aren’t the only trades peo-ple who have built a relationship with IFSI. The brick masons are responsible for repair work as well, which is critical for IFSI’s structures.

“They play a major role in the assess-ment and repair of our masonry burn buildings,” said Brian Brauer, associate director of IFSI. “With the exception of the campus’ kiln, I can’t think of (any other) structures that are consistently

exposed to the elements as well as ex-treme heat. (Foreman) Bruce (Rodgers) and his crew are an integral part of keeping our facilities operational.”

Brick masons are also responsible for building props of their own, like the wall insets IFSI requested in September. Workers built 40 insets – small concrete pillars – which the institute placed in one of its buildings. Training classes were then required to smash the insets to enter the building.

“Their preventive maintenance and repair work on our buildings is mission-critical to IFSI’s success,” Brauer said.

The Garage & Car Pool is another shop that has a relationship with IFSI. The garage maintains nearly 100 pieces of “rolling stock,” which the institute uses in its training programs, including fire apparatus, SUVs, tractors and trailers.

Sixth Street is getting a makeover – for the short-term anyway.

Construction began Sept. 22 on a mid-block crosswalk on Sixth Street between the Business Instructional Facility (BIF) and Wohlers Hall.

Headed by Engineering & Transportation Services (ETS), the College of Business, Campus Parking, and regional partners of the Champaign Urbana Urbanized Area Transportation Study (CUUATS), the crosswalk is part of a trial program to emphasize pedes-trian safety on campus. The trial will run through November.

“We explored various solutions, includ-ing closing the street to vehicular traf-fic,” said Roland White, manager of the project for ETS. “However, there were concerns by public safety about emer-gency access needs up and down the route. A crosswalk was determined to be the best alternative to explore.”

White says this location, which is about 120 feet south of the intersection of Sixth and Gregory Drive, was chosen for the trial program because the College of Business had concerns over the safety of its students and professors, many of whom cross the street between BIF and Wohlers on a regular basis.

The crosswalk has another benefit as well, White explained: It isn’t perma-nent.

“We’re painting a median and putting bolt-down traffic delineators instead of building a median,” he said. “We’re put-ting an asphalt ramp on the west side,

F&S CROSSING PATHS WITH SEVERAL GROUPS TO IMPROVE SAFETY

instead of building a permanent con-crete ramp,” with the idea being, if the trial does not achieve its desired results, the road can be easily restored to its original condition.

During the trial, CUUATS will be responsible for keeping track of traffic and pedestrian counts through the area, comparing those to pre-trial counts, while ETS will be using a camera locat-ed on Wohlers to actually observe how people handle the new crosswalk.

“(CUUATS’ work) is counting vehicles, but then there’s just observing behavior,” White said, “sort of a more objective vs. subjective analysis – what are we seeing? Actually talking to users and getting their feedback will also be helpful.”

Along with ETS, two other F&S shops are involved in the project. The Sign shop produced signs for the trial cross-walk and the Laborers shop helped with the installation of those signs. Additionally, White said communicat-ing about the cross walk has been vital to making sure the right groups of people learned about the upcoming trial before it started.

At the end of November, ETS will work with CUUATS to determine the next step. Future options include decommis-sion of the crosswalk, installation of a permanent walk, or modification of the current program.

To increase pedestrian safety, Engineering & Transportation Services has installed a trial crosswalk between the Business Instructional Facility and Wohlers Hall.


FURNITURE REPAIR SHOP STRIVING FOR PERFECTION

In a world where things are more easily replaced than fixed, repairing broken objects is not always at the top of the list. But to the four members of the Furniture Repair Shop, restoration is an artist’s work.

“Everybody who works in here is at least a third-generation furniture restorer,” said Furniture Repair Foreman Tracy Collom.

Every worker in the Furniture Repair shop, from Collom to TJ Hicks, Richard Dorsett and Dave Mannon, has been working in furniture restoration since he was a teenager, and that’s the kind of experience that isn’t easy to find when an opening occurs, according to Collom.

“We’re in between a craftsman and an artist,” Collum said. “When it comes to touching up the top of a conference table, stuff like that, there’s not many of us who this kind of thing anymore.”

That kind of high-quality experience is what leads directly to high-quality work, Collom said, calling it a “perfection down” approach. Workers begin their assignments assuming their products should be perfect. As a result, Furniture Repair is consistently rated highly on customer satisfaction reviews, and, Collom says, plenty of those customers continue to come back, even if there are other options.

The shop has seen a shift in the past 15 years, moving from an almost-yearly production of furniture, mostly dormi-tory, to more repair and maintenance, as well as production of other materials, like acoustic tiles and safety curtains for laboratories. In fact, the greatest number of work orders the shop gets now is for window-blind restoration. But Collom

says that hasn’t made the shop any less busy, since he tries to make sure he and his staff have at least six months of proj-ects set up at any given time. Collom believes that for Furniture Repair to be a successful shop, he has to be willing to work as much for his employees as they work for him.

Shop Spotlight

NEW FOREMEN NAMED

Two veteran F&S employees were promot-ed to foreman roles in September.

Andy Burnett (left) has been named the foreman of the Mill Shop, replacing Bill Jones. Burnett has 14 years of experience in the Mill Shop and has served as the interim foreman since Jones’ retirement in June.

Lou Spitz (lower left) was selected as the foreman of the Steam Distribution Shop replacing Joe Roberts, who retired in May. Spitz has 26 years of experience in the Steam Distribution shop, including four as Steam Distribution sub-foreman.

Dave Mannon is one of four employees in the Furniture Repair shop.

In addition to fixing furniture, the Furniture Repair receives many work orders for window-blind restoration.


(Pats on the Back continued from page 7)

DRIVERS IMPRESSIVEDan Miller (automotive sub-foreman), Fleet OperationsJohn Burke (driver), Fleet OperationsTodd Heleine (driver), Fleet OperationsJoe Wallis (driver), Fleet OperationsThanks so much to you and all of your crew for the excellent job in providing transportation to our visitors. Many of them told us how impressed they were with the friendliness and helpfulness of the drivers.

Jeri CarleyOffice of Engineering Advancement

EDUCATION BUILDING WORK COMPLIMENTED

Ron Johnson (BSW), Building MaintenanceJosh Potts (BSW), Building MaintenanceI would like to compliment the work being done by the BSWs working in the Education Building. I have received numerous compliments from the occupants of the building.

Tammy Collins, facilities managerCollege of Education

OFFICES HAVE NEVER LOOKED CLEANERRichard Herring (BSW), Building MaintenanceConnie Kilman (BSW), Building MaintenanceSean Mahannah (BSW), Building MaintenanceI just want to let you know how exceptionally pleased we are with Richard, Connie, and Sean, our building service workers in the ACES Library, Information and Alumni Center. Our offices have never looked cleaner, and after we mentioned we had no hot water, and haven’t had for years, their action got it fixed for us right away! You cannot imagine how much something like “hot water” can mean to people! ACES LIAC is a beautiful building; it is good to have people who care taking care of it.

Liza Vaughn, administrative assistantCollege of ACES

BSWs COURTEOUS, HELPFUL

Rick Welling (BSW), Building MaintenanceZach King (BSW), Building MaintenanceI have received several compliments on how much nicer the offices and restrooms look since the change in the cleaning schedule. They have also said the workers are courteous and helpful. Overall I am hearing and experiencing good things with this new crew and schedule.

Margret Chambers, administrative assistantIllinois State Geological Survey

SMALL THINGS APPRECIATED

Sandra Bartha (BSW), Building MaintenanceThings here in the 104 office have been great. When I came in early and caught Sandra cleaning up, she went so far as to ask if the scents she was using bothered us. Those small things are certainly appreciated. Sandra also responded quickly to our request to get a recycling bin in our kitchenette, and she is always personable.

Karen Nichols, assistant to the headDepartment of Recreation, Sport and Tourism

OBSTACLES OVERCOME AT WOMEN’S RESOURCES CENTER

Kevin Mackey (BSW), Building MaintenanceKevin worked as the night BSW for the Women’s Resources Center. This summer Diversity Ed personnel moved out of our space. I spent the summer cleaning out the rooms, in general making it difficult to effectively and efficiently clean the Women’s Resources center. Despite these obstacles, Kevin kept our offices clean. He left notes so that we could communicate about what needed to be removed and what stayed in our space. I appreciate the work Kevin did to maintain a clean environment for our office.

Joan Wingo, office assistantWomen’s Resources Center

FLOORS LOOK AMAZING

Danny Ennis (BSW), Building MaintenanceRon Cooper (BSW), Building MaintenanceWe are amazed at how great out floor looks. Thank you to the floor crew that stripped and waxed our floor. It looks awesome. We really appreciate it.

Erin BauerIllinois State Water Survey

VET MED HAPPY WITH CHANGEMarci Brown (BSW), Building MaintenanceSherry Tanner (BSW), Building MaintenanceJeff Graner (BSW), Building MaintenanceI just wanted to let you know that I think the schedule change to “days” for the BSW’s is going quite well. Marci, Sherry, and Jeff are all doing a great job and I’ve received comments about how friendly all three are. This morning our Pathobiology Department head, Dr. Kuhlenschmidt, stopped by to tell me that Sherry is an excellent worker and doing a great job. He was very positive about the change and is pleased with the results.

Karen Edwards, facilities & design directorVeterinary Medicine

SEPTEMBER 2014 NEW HIRES

Renee Wiley – construction project coordinator – Operations, Maintenance & Alterations

Timothy Mininger – construction project coordinator – Operations, Maintenance & AlterationsTravis Molitor – director of stores and receiving – Shared Administrative ServicesEric Tempel – construction laborer – Operations, Maintenance & AlterationsKevin Huebschman – academic hourly – Customer Relations & CommunicationsGrant Colella – project manager – Capital ProgramsMelody Dodd – mailing supervisor – StoresRonald McDade – carpenter – MaintenanceMatthew Logsdon – electrician – Retro commissioningJeremy Johnson – electrician – Retro commissioningMarcus Albert – electrician – Preventative MaintenanceDavid Lansford –electrician – Direct Digital Controls

Dustin Hammerschmidt –electrician – Direct Digital ControlsMichael Friedman –electrician – High VoltageThomas Elliot –technology associate – Information Technology

STUDENTS

Ronald Hill – Engineering & Transportation Services

William Ballentine – Engineering & Transportation ServicesZackary Herder – Engineering & Transportation Services

RETIREES None

TRANSFERS

Mike Stilger is now a project manager in Capital Planning. He moved from Customer Relations & Communications, where he was the Division of Responsibility coordinator.

Todd Hearn, formerly graphic design manager for Facilities Information Resources, has moved to the same position in Customer Relations & Communications.


PATS ON THE BACK

(continued on page 7)

HELP WITH C-SPAN BUS IMPORTANT

Paul Jensen (interim public functions supervisor), Building OperationsStacy DeLorenzo (transportation demand management), Engineering & TransportationEdward Burdette (foreman), Building OperationsKevin Clements (BSW), Building OperationsThank you all for helping with the logistics of the C-SPAN bus. The students seemed to really enjoy it and the C-SPAN staff said a lot of them came through. These things are only possible because you make it so.

Heather Tucker, director of communicationsCollege of Media

BSWs COMPLIMENTED FOR WORK

Shelby Eisenhauer (BSW), Building MaintenanceCharlene Farney (BSW), Building MaintenanceKyle Frederick (BSW), Building MaintenanceLarry Powell (BSW), Building MaintenanceBud Quarles (BSW), Building MaintenanceJust wanted to drop you a note to let you know that I think you are doing a great job! I have really enjoyed seeing you all and have appreciated all your hard work. You are all very pleasant.

Janelle Sander, senior library specialistUndergraduate Library

THANKS FOR PARTNERSHIP AT ECE

Craig Grant (associate director), Campus Code Compliance and Fire Safety Your partnership in helping resolve this situation and continued support throughout the whole design and construction process has been MUCH appreciated.

Carolina Lopez, director of operationsSmithGroupJJR

DIA APPRECIATES CLEANING IN LOCKERROOMSandra Bartha (BSW), Building MaintenanceJayson Oskard (BSW), Building MaintenanceKenny Hunt (BSW), Building MaintenanceGary Treatch (BSW), Building MaintenanceThe DIA staffs who work in Huff have been very pleased since the change (to early mornings BSWs). We appreciate the attention to detail in the building.

Kathy Hug, assistant athletic directorDivision of Intercollegiate Athletics

F&S staff assisted the College of Media with logistics during the C-SPAN bus’s visit to the University of Illinois Quad in September.

LAW LIBRARY STAFF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Luis Rojas (BSW), Building MaintenanceMel Kocher (BSW), Building MaintenanceRon Johnson (BSW), Building MaintenanceI just wanted to let you know that the library staff is very pleased with the building service workers! We can all really tell a difference in the library.

Talisa Bracy, business and human resources coordinatorLaw Library

BEST SERVICE EVERLamar Adams (BSW), Building MaintenanceI have an office in the Armory, Room 352, which I have had for five or six years and wanted to let you know that Lamar has kept my office cleaner than anyone ever before. In fact, I also think the men’s restroom on the third floor has also never been cleaner. He has done a fantastic job.

Ryan Hendrickson, visiting professorDepartment of Political Science

PUBLIC FUNCTIONS STAFF PRAISED

Paul Jensen (interim public functions supervisor), Building OperationsDelbert Ketteman (BSW), Building OperationsKevin Clements (BSW), Building OperationsI just wanted to thank you and your staff for setting up everything for the Business Study Abroad Fair yesterday. Your staff, Kevin and the others, did a great job. I imagine it is sometimes difficult to work in situations where people are giving conflicting directions and making changes on the fly. Your guys were very patient, very

professional and very polite. I appreciate the work they did and the efficient, professional manner in which they carried it out.

Dan Anderson, associate director for international programsCollege of Business

UNDERGRADUATE LIBRARY, TUNNEL SPARKLE

Peggy Malohn (BSW), Building MaintenanceLyle Hawk (BSW), Building MaintenanceShelby Eisenhauer (BSW), Building MaintenanceBob Deremiah (BSW), Building MaintenancePeggy, Lyle, Shelby, and Bob have done an amazing job of cleaning, sparkling, and shining up the UGL and the tunnel. They are friendly and aim to please.

Madeline Gibson, senior library specialistUndergraduate Library

With all the changes going on in and around the UGL, it has been so nice to come in to work to a clean environment on the lower level where all the UGL staff had to move to during the construction. We have two of the best Building Service workers. Peggy and Lyle are doing a fantastic job in keeping the bathrooms, floors, windows, stairs, and tables spotless and fresh. Not only do they do a fantastic job cleaning, they always greet us with a smiling face and a pleasant good morning. It has been good being able to get to know them and actually see who keeps this place spotless.

Bernita Brownlee, senior library specialistUndergraduate Library

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