Facilities

Author: Facilities Communication

Turning “Trash” into Treasure: Diverting Surplus Property from the Waste Stream

 

Since the arrival of Steve Pulis, F&CO Purchasing Manager, in 2017, George Mason University has earned over $1M in surplus property sales. As a result, the university is now ranked at number 7 among other higher education state agencies for total surplus sales through GovDeals in Virginia. 

When the university’s offices and departments declare surplus, F&CO staff members from Central Receiving store the items in the warehouse on the Fairfax campus. The items are free to internal departments and other state agencies. Surplus items are also auctioned via GovDeals.

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Flexible Work Policy Reminder

This is a reminder to follow the below flexible/telework guidance in case of snow/weather closures. For further questions regarding the Emergency Closing, refer to the George Mason Inclement Weather/Emergency Closings policy.

Supervisors are encouraged to be flexible with employees and allow additional telework days during inclement weather OR allow for unscheduled leave to be taken.

Telework Closure Guideline Reminders

Telework eligible employees with a current telework agreement:

  • Are REQUIRED to work or take leave during a closure - even if the closure is NOT on their normal telework day.
  • During a delayed opening/early closure, telework eligible employees, with a current telework agreement, are REQUIRED to work a full schedule
    • Delayed opening: Telework in the morning before coming to campus if they are scheduled to be on campus that day. Planned telework should continue as scheduled.
    • Early Closure: Telework in the afternoon after leaving campus if they are scheduled to be on campus that day. Planned telework should continue as scheduled.

Non-designated, Telework Eligible employees without Telework Agreements:

  • With supervisor approval, are expected to telework, provided they have the necessary tools at the home location to meet system security standards for telework.
    • If they cannot perform work at home, should use University Leave for closures or delayed openings.
Flexible Work Policy - University Policy 2202

Flexible Work includes full-time telework/remote work, hybrid telework, compressed schedules or flextime options.

  • The employee or supervisor may terminate an existing Flexible/Telework Work Agreement at any time.
  • Flexible work duties will be arranged so as to neither alter the essential job responsibilities nor to compromise the level of service provided to the customer, either by the employee or the department.
  • Flexible work arrangements work best when they contribute positively to employees’ work/life balance, while not negatively impacting their productivity and availability.
  • Failure to follow policies, rules and practices may result in termination of the arrangement and/or disciplinary action.
Telework Policy - FAQs

Telework is only considered successful if there is NO drop in productivity, responsiveness, or availability during the telework day.

  • The goal is to create a win-win situation that effectively balances the needs of the department and its employees
  • Supervisors need to assess the impact of Flexible Work arrangements on their department’s continuity of operations, customer service, and goals when making scheduling decisions.
  • Employees are expected to attend all scheduled meetings, respond to emails, and be available via phone (Teams) during telework hours the same as they would during a day in the office.
    • If an employee is unreachable during their telework hours, or does not attend scheduled meetings, they may be written up as "no-call-no-show.
  • Telework is NOT a substitute for taking leave, but may help reduce the amount of leave an employee needs to take.
    • For example, if an employee needs to leave early to pick their child up from school, they might need to take leave starting at 2pm if they were in the office, but wouldn’t need to take leave until 3pm if they are teleworking. This saves the employee an hour of leave and gains the department an extra hour of productivity.
  • Telework is NOT suitable when acting as primary child-care.
    • Employees are encouraged to work directly with their supervisors to take unscheduled leave if they are unable to fulfill job responsibilities and meet business unit needs during the university closure.
  • All Telework eligible employees should take their laptop home every day - you never know when inclement weather is coming.

February 2025 George Mason Employee of the Month: Kenneth “Kenny” Darby

Congratulations to Kenneth "Kenny" Darby, Senior Events Manager, for being recognized as the George Mason University February 2025 Employee of the Month! Since joining the team in 2017, Darby has played a vital role in seamlessly managing high-profile events, demonstrating his strong commitment, empathy, and incredible attention to detail.

As highlighted by his colleagues, Darby’s unwavering dedication and customer service skills have earned him the trust to ensure the success of our events. “Kenny is the role model for how customer service should be provided at this university.” Said Alison Price, Director of Operations, Law and Economics Center.

“Kenny has become an invaluable asset at Mason Square,” said Frank Strike, VP of Facilities & Campus Operations. “He provides excellent customer service, and his attention to detail allows him to seamlessly integrate multiple complex tasks to deliver an exceptional experience to all stakeholders. His dedication and commitment to excellence is an inspiration to his colleagues and enhances Mason's reputation.”

Click here for the full story!

February 2025 Facilities Employee of the Month – Kevin Jones

Congratulations to Kevin Jones, F&CO Condition Assessment Inspector, on being recognized as the February 2025 Employee of the Month! Jones was nominated by Tim Weber, F&CO Condition Assessment Program Manager. 

Not only is Jones incredibly committed to his role, but he also fosters an environment of collaboration and teamwork, showing his pride for individual and team successes. By creating a space where his colleagues feel encouraged to contribute ideas and solutions, Jones is able to elevate the department by significantly boosting team performance and morale. 

Aside from his exceptional leadership skills, Jones has also excelled in the following areas: 

  • Being a vital contributor in the effort of updating the Facilities Asset Database. Because of his efforts, F&CO can better maintain and repair installed equipment and provide more accurate and detailed planning for future maintenance projects. 
  • Developed the scope-of-work manual for the university's annual asphalt and concrete projects cataloged deficiencies and ensured accuracy while never compromising quality and safety.

Most of all, Jones exemplifies our core values of “integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement.” His approach to identifying critical maintenance needs reflects his commitment to the long-term sustainability of our university. 

“Kevin Jones has made a remarkable impact through his technical skills and his ability to foster a collaborative and excellent working environment.” Said Weber. “He is a true asset to our team, and I wholeheartedly recommend him for Employee of the Month.”  

Interested in submitting a GMU Facilities Employee of the Month nomination? Check out the new process here! 

George Mason University Earns 2024 Recycling Excellence Award

George Mason University has received the 2024 Recycling Excellence Award for contributing over 300 tons of recycled paper with vendor International Paper (IP).

As a partner since July 2021, IP has played an integral role in assisting George Mason University with its recycling efforts. On average, our Waste and Recycling team is able to produce 23 cardboard and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic bales to be picked up every two weeks by IP. In addition to cardboard and plastic, our team is also able to fill about 10 - 14 gaylords (a type of heavy-duty box used for shipping and storing bulk materials) of mixed and shredded paper that has been recycled by the George Mason community.

January 2025 Facilities Employee of the Month – Marylou Holly

Congratulations to Marylou Holly, Senior Applications Analyst, on being recognized as the January 2025 Employee of the Month! Holly was nominated by James Paul Ewing, IT Systems Specialist.

Holly has an “outstanding work ethic, exceptional customer service, and consistently positive attitude”, is incredibly helpful, and is always willing to assist her colleagues. She also has an impressive technical ability to work with various complex programs including e-Builder, and the implications setup of AE.

“She is an exemplary steward to George Mason University and sets the bar high for all of us to aspire.” Said Ewing. “Marylou demonstrates a strong commitment to her responsibilities, effectively managing tasks and deadlines.”

Because of her constantly exceeding expectations and inspiring those around her, Marylou Holly has shown to be an incredible asset not only to F&CO, but to George Mason University as a whole.

Interested in submitting a GMU Facilities Employee of the Month nomination? Check out the new process here!

Thank You for a Successful 2024

On behalf of myself and our leadership team, thank you for your incredible hard work throughout the year. Without you, this division wouldn't be able to keep our campus thriving. 

Special thanks to all those involved in planning and making sure our winter party was a success!

Culture Champion Committee (C3) Members: 

  • Kevin Brim 
  • Emeka Ezidinma 
  • Jennifer Gantt 
  • Amy Millman 
  • Amanda Parnell 
  • Dennis Petterson II 
  • Donna Tressler 
  • Angel Washington 

Culture Champion Committee (C3) Facilitator: 

  • Ben Auger 

Party Set Up/Food Support: 

  • Tad Drerenberger 
  • Lou Robinson
  • Chris Thorpe
  • Shawn Brent
  • Chris Brown
  • Dwain Wise-Spain
  • Jody Robinson
  • Greg Farley
  • Keith Wallace
  • Jeromy BolerJeromy Boler
  • Jason Johnson
  • Mike Sisk

Gift Bags: 

  • Ronda Hetterson
  • Kundayi Kudzayi Gamuchirayi Senderayi 
  • Melanie Joya 
  • Yvette Del Gallo 

IT Support: 

  • Chris Freas 
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Winners! 2024 Facilities & Campus Operations Team Member Awards

Facilities & Campus Operations (F&CO) is launching annual awards to celebrate many of our exceptional team members within this division.

F&CO leadership and the Culture Champion Committee have partnered on this initiative and are excited to present the annual awards listed below.  All F&CO team members, and those outside the division, are encouraged to nominate their peers.

Team Member Awards These awards recognize people by their co-workers and peers who has demonstrated dedication, collaboration, contribution, and perseverance within their department or team. This person demonstrates a sense of care for those they interact with as well as a seriousness to their role and responsibilities.

  • Facilities Management Operations
    • James Gentry, Building Automation Tech, Facilities Management
    • Christine Powell, Construction Superintendent, Facilities Management
    • Karim El Mekhfioui, General Maintenance Tech II, Facilities Management
  • Facilities Services
    • Roy Barrett, Lead Automotive Technician, Facilities Management
  • Regional Campuses
    • Donna Tressler, Associate Director of Admin, Regional Campuses - SciTech
  • Business Services and Facilities Administration
    • Ariel Sierra, Manager, Communications & Marketing
  • Planning, Design, and Construction and Asset Management
    • Nicholas Valadez, Senior Project Manager, PD&C
  • Janitorial Services
    • Claudia Flores, Housekeeping Supervisor, Facilities Management
  • Wage Employees of the Year
    • Michael Sisk, Warehouse and General Services
    • Lynn Ruffa, University Sustainability
    • Richard Nash, Mason Square
    • Audrey Kwakye, Administrator, Communications & Marketing

Supervisor of the Year

  • Olga O'Brien, General Manager, Freedom Center

Culture Champion of the Year

  • Danny Castillo, General Maintenance Tech II, Facilities Management

Employee of the Year

  • Ronnie Williams, Building Automation Technician, Facilities Management

Special Initiative / Project Team:  Asset Essentials/Origins

  • Angel Washington, Manager, Operations & Customer Service, Facilities Management
  • Breton Leach, FCAP Inspector, Asset Management
  • Chris Brown, Assistant Director, Maintenance Operations, Facilities Management
  • Chris Freas, Director, Facilities IT
  • Dwain Wise-Spain, Assistant Director, Maintenance Operations, Facilities Management
  • Kevin Jones, ICAP Inspector, Asset Management
  • Marylou Holly, Senior Systems Application Analyst, Facilities IT
  • Michael Lay, Facilities Services Manager, Facilities Management
  • Shawn Brent, Zone Manager, Maintenance Operations, Facilities Management
  • Tim Weber, FCAP Program Manager, Asset Management
  • Wardah Rashid, Facilities Data Analyst, Facilities IT

 

This year, F&CO had over 180 nominations for awards.  Check out some of the kudos from the nominations below.

December 2024 Facilities Employee of the Month – Tim Hockenberry

Congratulations to Tim Hockenberry, FCO General Maintenance Technician, SciTech Campus, for being recognized as the December 2024 Employee of the Month! Hockenberry has been nominated by Ronnie Wells, F&CO Zone 2 Manager..

During the Fall ‘24 semester, Hockenberry’s quick thinking and decisive action prevented a potential emergency in identifying and isolating a gas leak in Colgan Hall on the SciTech Campus. “Tim’s actions not only safeguarded the building and its occupants but also demonstrated his commitment to maintaining a safe environment for everyone.” Said Wells.

Due to his thorough understanding of safety protocol and his excellent ability to remain calm, Hockenberry was able to effectively demonstrate his commencement to maintaining a safe environment for everyone.

Interested in submitting a GMU Facilities Employee of the Month nomination? Check out the new process here!

All Together Different – Facilities Spotlight: Maggie Accardo

Meet Maggie Accardo, Lead Signmaker, here at George Mason University’s Facilities department. Accardo’s work is evident in the interior and exterior signage found across George Mason’s campuses, helping students, staff, faculty, alumni, and visitors to safely navigate the university.

Facilities All Together Different Campaign

The George Mason Facilities & Campus Operation's Culture Champion Committee (C3) strives to ensure all Facilities employees are heard and feel a sense of belonging, inclusion, and recognition.  Check out the videos here!