Facilities

Author: Facilities Communication

May 2023 Facilities Employee of the Month – Arnell Burke

 

Celebrating Arnell Burke as the May 2023 Employee of the Month

Arnell Burke, General Maintenance Technician III, was recognized as the May 2023 Facilities Employee of the Month! Burke was nominated by Jose (Ray) Lopez, Zone 3 Supervisor, Facilities Management. “It is a great honor for me to nominate Arnell Burke as the Facilities Employee of the Month. Having worked up-close with Arnell, I can say with certainty that he is always going the extra mile to do his job. Whatever it takes to finish a task, even if it means ordering some parts, Arnell will do that to customer’s satisfaction,” said Lopez.

According to Lopez, the Mason Facilities team member always ensures to complete work orders in a timely manner, collaborating effectively with management. He is a valuable resource to Zone 3 and is always willing to train new employees and take on leadership roles within the department! “When the supervisor is on vacation, Arnell takes over the supervisory roles and handles those responsibilities admirably!” Burke’s recognition as Employee of The Month is well-deserved.

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

Outstanding Achievement Awards 2023 Recipients

Mason Human Resources is excited to announce the recipients of the 2023 Outstanding Achievement Awards! In a year where we received a record number of nominations, we want to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of our Mason community and encourage you to continue to focus on faculty and staff appreciation, recognition, and engagement as we “thrive together."

Congratulations to our Facilities Management award winners!

Exceptional Support Award
Erich Miller, Facilities Management

Goldie and Dianne Hattery Award for Excellence
Man-Shik Lim, Facilities Management

Susie Mueller is Mason’s 2023 Sustainability Hero!

 

Congratulations to Susie Mueller, Mason's 2023 Sustainability Hero!

My Mason working career started as a work study student for the School of Art (2008); while I was working on my BIS in Wellness Studies. I was then hired full time for the Front Desk. Working with artists changed my life. Artists see the world in a big picture, creative way, and they inspired me to do the same.

My MAIS is in Consciousness and Transformation. I was privileged enough to be one of the first graduate students at the Center of Consciousness and Transformation (CCT), which has since morphed into the Center for Well Being. The courses I took encouraged me to look deeply within myself to find my passion and my purpose in life. What I found by going inward was my deep love for nature and that I wanted to be a steward of the Earth.

All roads lead to my current position at Smithsonian Mason School of Conservation (SMSC) in Front Royal. SMSC is located on the 32,000-acre endangered species site owned by the Smithsonian Zoo. Mason and Smithsonian teamed up to create a unique program where conservation students can interact daily with nature. I am privileged to be a part of this wonderful program which focuses being mindful of our impact on the planet.

Susie Mueller

Arboretum Tree Planting

Student volunteers work with University Sustainability to plant trees on the Fairfax Campus. photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

 

In celebration of Earth Week, Mason’s Arboretum Board hosted a community tree planting event at Peterson Hall on Thursday, April 20, 2023. Student volunteers came together to help plant flowering, dogwood trees (Cornus florida), which are native to the region and aid local wildlife and pollinators.  

The trees and supplies for the event were donated by Facilities Management’s Grounds Department in support of the Arboretum’s mission: “To cultivate curiosity, education, and wellbeing through stewardship of its trees, gardens, and other natural spaces.”    

Certified Arborist and Grounds Program Manager, Erich Miller, led the event while teaching students about the arboretum collection and the benefits that tree cover provides to Mason’s campuses. The new trees were planted along University Drive and are visible by the greater community to enjoy.  

This event helps uphold the accreditation of the George Mason University Arboretum - a collection of trees and woody plants, which can be spotted on Mason’s campuses with labeled signs that include scannable barcodes to its online catalogue. 

The event aligned with the second anniversary of the arboretum’s accreditation, which was certified on Earth Day, April 22, 2021.  Since then, the arboretum board - which consists of Facilities staff, campus faculty, and student arboretum interns - meets semesterly to discuss the maintenance of the arboretum collection and to plan engagement events for the campus community.  
 
You can support future tree planting events at Mason by donating or giving your time to help. Reach out to learn more at [email protected].    

Story: Sarah D'Alexander
Photo Credit: Evan Cantwell

Patriot Pathbreaker Awards

Outstanding Achievement Award Ceremony. photo by Creative Services

The following Mason Square employees were nominated and selected for the Patriot Pathbreaker Award in recognition of their collaborative work to activate and promote the Mason Square plaza programming:

Colin Stucki – Facilities/Mason Square Admin Unit
Kenny Darby – Facilities/Mason Square Admin Unit
Molly Duke – Facilities/Mason Square Admin Unit
Sara Hawes – Facilities/Mason Square Admin Unit
Melissa Thierry – University Life Mason Square
Sophie Gorshenin – University Life Mason Square
Cathy Pinskey – Facilities
Toni Andrews – Community and Government Relations

The pathbreakers were recently featured in Mason's, "These pathbreaking teams give a new look and feel to Mason’s public spaces" article. Learn more.

The Shape of Water: A Collaborative Sustainable Art Installation

Audit volunteer sorting through recycling bags to capture all plastics to support the creation of an art installation. Photo by: Cristian Torres/Strategic Communications/George Mason University

Multiple waste audits and a campus clean-up conducted at George Mason University by Mason Facilities, Student Government, and University Sustainability contributed an estimated 1,555 single-use plastic items, weighing 58.4 pounds to Celia Ledón’s The Shape of Water installation, visible at the Reach (Welcome Pavilion) in the Kennedy Center from March 22 – April 23, 2023. Ledón’s installation was “created from plastic waste, draw[ing] inspiration from the female figure as a personification of mythological deities associated with water,” according to the official page on the Kennedy Center’s website. 

You may have contributed to Ledon’s installation if you disposed of a single-use plastic item at the Fairfax Campus any time before March 14! Students and staff members collected single-use plastics during a Maintain Mason campus clean-up event and three separate waste audits. All items were collected, sorted, and bagged for Ledón to use in the creation of her installation.  

The Maintain Mason campus clean-up event was hosted by Student Government on March 3, 2023. During this event, Colin McAulay, Chair of University Services for Student Government, led volunteers who collected a total of 65 pounds of litter outside of the Johnson Center, the HUB, and the Student Union Building I on the Fairfax Campus. Volunteers contributed 30 single-use plastic items to the installation. 

Three volunteer waste audits were organized by Mason Facilites and University Sustainability to check waste streams for appropriate disposal of items on March 3, 10, and 14. During a waste audit, each waste stream – trash, compost, and recycling – is sorted item-by-item to verify correct disposal. If the compost or one of the recycling streams is too contaminated – as low as an 11% contamination rate – then the entire load is rejected and disposed of in the trash! Mason Patriots can help the university on its zero waste journey by appropriately disposing of their waste using this guidance.  

The three audits contributed more than 1,500 single-use plastic items Ledón’s installation. Audits provide valuable data to inform and support ongoing waste bin standardization efforts. The audits highlighted the importance of standard messaging at the bin and the need to co-locate trash, recycling, and compost waste streams to improve access.  

The results of the compost waste stream audit of the Bigbelly and Max-R zero waste station pilots in partnership with Mason Dining at the Northern Neck Starbucks location were impressive – a very low volume of single-use plastics contamination. The hard work of Starbucks Northern Neck and Mason Dining staff was reflected in the very high percentage of appropriate disposal, more than 90%!  

Once all the single-use plastics were sorted and bagged, a Mason alum James Clark (Biology ‘14), currently a master's student at George Washington University, picked up the single-use plastics and transported them to the Kennedy Center where they were made available for Ledón to use.  

The single-use plastics collected at George Mason University are now incorporated into Ledón’s The Shape of Water installation, visible at the Reach (Welcome Pavilion) in the Kennedy Center from March 22 – April 23, 2023.  

None of the single-use plastics would be featured in Ledón’s installation without the commitment and support of Kevin Brim, Supervisor for Recycle/Waste Management, Facilities. Brim provided expert guidance about the complexities of Mason’s waste system, efficiently navigated administrative processes, and created opportunities for participation from students and staff while ensuring safety. He ensured all volunteers and staff had appropriate equipment to safely complete the waste audits.  

“I enjoy supporting the zero waste goals of the university by working collaboratively with students and staff to host educational and impactful waste audits and campus clean-ups,” said Brim. 

Mason Facilities and University Sustainability continue to lead efforts to advance Mason towards the goal of becoming a zero waste university. Ongoing efforts from the Mason Sustainability Council’s Circular Economy and Zero Waste Task Force, co-led by Amber Saxton, University Sustainability, and Pascal Petter, Operations and Business Services, include the multi-year phase out and replacement of all single-use plastics and polystyrene with more sustainable alternatives, the ‘buy less, buy better’ initiative, improvements to Mason’s waste system, and alignment with Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Executive Order 17.   

Colleen Regan, Zero Waste Specialist with University Sustainability, led the three audits and is actively engaged in ongoing efforts to make Mason a zero waste university as a member of the Mason Sustainability Council’s Circular Economy and Zero Waste Task Force. To become a zero waste university, Mason will need to divert at least 90% of all waste generated away from the trash by reusing, repurposing, composting, or recycling.  

“Contributing to Ledón’s installation highlights Mason's ongoing single-use plastics and polystyrene elimination," said Regan. “Waste audits are hands-on, educational, and provide us with crucial information to make data-driven decisions to improve our university waste system." 

University Sustainability is a proud member of the DC Coalition of Higher Education for the Environment, Resilience, and Sustainability (DC CHEERS). DC CHEERS members who contributed to Ledón’s installation, including Mason, are featured on this StoryMap. DC CHEERS is a network of representatives from DC area universities guided by a shared vision of a sustainable and inclusive future that share knowledge and resources to advance institutional sustainability while collaborating and partnering on events, initiatives, and collaborations that harness the diverse expertise of its members.   
 
The efforts of the following individuals who are not featured in this article were also essential to this successful initiative: Kwame Adomako, recycling worker, Facilities Waste Management and Recycling; Shawn Andrews, recycling worker, Facilities Waste Management and Recycling; Ben Auger, sustainability engagement coordinator, University Sustainability; Josh Pittman, recycling worker, Facilities Waste Management and Recycling; Ky Tran, a current Environment and Sustainability Studies student; Nakki Watanabe, a current Environment and Sustainability Studies student, completing a joint internship with University Sustainability and Facilities Waste and Recycling department; and Student Government’s Colin McAulay and Sebastian Silvestro as well as all the Maintain Mason volunteers.  

Story Credit: Benjamin Auger and Colleen Regan
Photo Credit: Cristian Torres

 

April 2023 Facilities Employee of the Month – Stewart D. Tolentino

 

Celebrating Stewart D. Tolentino as the April 2023 Employee of the Month

Stewart Tolentino, a Structural Trades Technician for Facilities Management, was recognized as April 2023 Facilities Employee of the Month. Tolentino was nominated by Jerry (Jay) Lang, Zone 6 Supervisor. "It [was] my pleasure to nominate Stewart Tolentino for Employee of the Month. Having had the fortune to work with Stewart for almost fifteen years, almost ten in the Utilities Trade Shop and then in the Carpentry Shop, he has shown a vast knowledge of both Trades, as well as professionalism," said Lang. "Having knowledge of one trade is good but to excel in two trades is unique."

According to Lang, The team member's trades knowledge and professionalism has helped the Facilities Department maintain its high standards and mission goals. He goes above and beyond the job to support Mason Facilities in meeting Mason's mission. Ensuring follow-up and education of job-related processes with customers, Tolentino's customer satisfaction skills are top tier.

"Another example of Stewart’s professionalism and work ethic was on display recently when, a call came in about a door that wasn’t working properly, possible entrapment; Stewart cut his lunch time short to accompany me and help fix the door and made the area safe and secure - something that enhances Facilities service to the University," said Lang.

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

Mason’s Iconic Cherry Blossoms and Arboretum

The George Mason University Arboretum was established in 2015, earned ArbNet Level II accreditation in 2021, and is distributed across 900+ acres of the university’s campus sites in Northern Virginia. Erich Miller, the Grounds Program Manager for Mason’s Facilities Management department, was recently featured in Mason's, "In the Pink: Mason’s Cherry Tree Grove turns 30" article - discussing the origin of our university's infamous cherry blossom trees and Mason's Arboretum! Learn more.

Earth Month 2023: Volunteering Opportunities

Calling the Mason Community – April is Earth Month! 

University Sustainability hosts events, activities, and initiatives all month long.  These activities are not just available for students, but staff and faculty as well.  Mason’s professional team members’ welfare, network, and engagement are a priority.  In order to support everyone’s well-being and sense of community, Human Resources and University Sustainability have partnered to offer exciting, sustainable opportunities for service.  

All Mason Community members can sign up for unlimited volunteer shifts through the University Sustainability Volunteer Portal.

There are more than 70 volunteer opportunities to make a sustainable impact during Earth Month! 

Here are a few highlights you can select from! 

Northern Neck Starbucks Compost Pilot – Waste Audit with University Sustainability 
  • Friday, April 7, from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. at the Northern Neck Starbucks 
Greenhouse and Gardens Program Perennial Planting at the Forensic Science Research and Training Laboratory in Manassas with University Sustainability 
  • Friday, April 7, from 12 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the Forensic Science Research and Training Laboratory in Manassas 
Maintain Mason Campus Clean Ups with Student Government 
  • Friday, April 7, from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. Meet at the Student Involvement Office in the HUB. 
  • Friday, April 14, from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. Meet at the Student Involvement Office in the HUB. 
  • Friday, April 21, from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. Meet at the Student Involvement Office in the HUB.  
  • Friday, April 28, from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. Meet at the Student Involvement Office in the HUB.  
Weigh the Waste with Student Government and Mason Dining 
  • Tuesday, April 18, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Southside Dish Return 
  • Wednesday, April 19, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Ike’s Dish Return 
  • Thursday, April 20, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Globe’s Dish Return 
Bike to Mason with Parking and Transportation  
  • Tuesday, April 18, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Colgan Hall’s Front Patio on the SciTech Campus 
  • Wednesday, April 19, from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. on the Van Metre Plaza at Mason Square 
  • Thursday, April 20, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Fairfax Campus 
Bike Counts with Parking and Transportation  
  • Thursday, April 26, from 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Meet at the HUB Lobby.  
  • Friday, April 27, from 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Meet at the HUB Lobby.  
Residence Hall Waste Audits with University Sustainability 
  • Tuesday, April 18, from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. at the Presidents Park Residence Hall 
  • Wednesday, April 19, from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. at the Potomac Heights Residence Hall 
Greenhouse and Gardens Program Internationally-Themed Cooking Event with University Sustainability 
  • Wednesday, April 19, from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. in the Sculpture Studio on mason’s Fairfax Campus 

Register for unlimited volunteer opportunities!

Budding Scientist Monitors Mason’s Iconic Cherry Blossoms

Mason graduate student’s Cherry Blossom Monitoring research uses Mason as a living lab to assess how climate change affects the bloom date of cherry blossom trees on the Fairfax campus.  

Over the last year, Graduate Student, Jamie Roth, has been leading an interdisciplinary research project alongside faculty members in the Department of Statistics – Dr. Jonathan Auerbach and Dr. David Kepplinger, as well as Dr. Daniel Hanley from the Biology Department. 

Roth designed this project as a long-term opportunity to teach Mason students to collect, process, analyze, and communicate about data using resources available on campus. The long-term data will reflect how Mason’s local ecosystem responds to the effects of climate change and create a visible marker for an otherwise invisible impact. By having students collect and analyze data on the bloom date of the cherry blossom trees at Mason Pond, (part of their coursework in STAT490 and STAT634) and integrating it with Mason’s local meteorological data, variations can be tracked over time to build a more accurate model for the bloom date of the cherry blossom trees at Mason.  

To implement this project, Roth received funding from University Sustainability’s Patriot Green Fund – a grant from Mason Facilities that allows the campus community to develop infrastructure solutions that reduce Mason’s environmental impact as well as student research projects that explore sustainability topics in the region. 

With this support, the project team worked collaboratively with Mason Facilities Project Manager, Nick Valadez, to determine the best locations to mount trail cameras and a weather station in order to monitor the cherry blossoms over time. This was key to the project because even a minor variation in the microclimate can affect phenological events, like bloom times. Once determined, Abu Monjer, Project Manager in Facilities Management, supported the installations in time for the project to launch for this year’s blooms.   

“This project has been a great opportunity for me to tie together local climate data to the flora on the Mason campus and hopefully lay groundwork for future environmental projects,” said Roth. 
 
This research builds on the international Cherry Blossom Prediction Competition, which Auerbach and Kepplinger help organize. This competition assembles data on the peak bloom date of cherry trees all over the world, from Kyoto, Japan to Vancouver, B.C, and this project will bring Mason into this global arena, ensuring our ecosystem is represented.  

This initiative serves as a pilot project for the Institute for a Sustainable Earth’s Mason Living Labs Initiative, which is designed to encourage and support students, faculty, and staff to pose questions, experiment, gather data, monitor changes, and propose novel solutions to a range of sustainability challenges associated with the George Mason University campus environment and its socio-environmental systems.  Learn more about the Living Labs initiative and the Cherry Blossom Monitoring project during the virtual event launch on April 12, 2023 at 2 PM.  

Story Credit: Sarah D'alexander