Virginia Tech Facilities Managers' Development Group : A Synergistic Approach

1. Virginia Tech Facilities Managers' Development Group: A Synergistic Approach Dawn Maxey, Facilities Services Manager Virginia Bioinformatics Institute Lylah Shelor, ISB Facilities Manager Information Technology FMDG at Virginia Tech: A Synergestic Approach

2. What is FMDG? The Virginia Tech Facilities Managers’ Development Group is a leadership group comprised of representatives from university departments and units, tasked with addressing specific concerns of and facilitating communication among facilities management personnel FMDG at Virginia Tech: A Synergestic Approach

3. Background • Established in January 2005 • No formal position classification for facilities managers at Virginia Tech • Recognized need to pool resources in identify solutions to facilities related issues • Effort to avoid duplication of efforts by tapping into existing resources FMDG at Virginia Tech: A Synergestic Approach

4. Objectives • To identify and promote opportunities for professional development through enhanced coordination and communication between campus-wide facilities management staffs. • To provide a network that enables facilities managers to obtain knowledge and skills to improve efficiencies through a synergistic effort. FMDG at Virginia Tech: A Synergestic Approach

5. FMDG’s Role Within the University • Virginia Tech’s tri-part mission: instruction, research, and public service • Motto: Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) • Mission of facilities at Virginia Tech: to provide safe, functional facilities, utilities, grounds and transportation services so that members of the Virginia Tech community can perform their various missions in an environment of excellence FMDG at Virginia Tech: A Synergestic Approach

6. Education, Training, and Personal Development • Sponsoring programs of general interest to facilities managers and their staffs • Inviting guest speakers to present topics of mutual interest in the area of facilities management • Providing opportunities for specialized training and problem solving discussions for such topics as OSHA compliance; disaster recovery and emergency action plans; security; working well with contractors; improving purchasing processes; enhancing space planning efforts; and identifying effective approaches to maintenance FMDG at Virginia Tech: A Synergestic Approach

7. Education, Training, and Personal Development • Providing information that enables facilities managers to better understand policies, procedures and processes required in maintaining campus facilities • Identifying opportunities to share resources, expert knowledge and skills from different areas of campus and affiliated organizations • Providing mentors for new facilities managers and like personnel • Providing opportunities for affiliation with professional organizations FMDG at Virginia Tech: A Synergestic Approach

8. Membership • Available to facility managers employed at Virginia Tech and those that have a formal association with the university • Managerial versus trades responsibility • Currently 30+ members FMDG at Virginia Tech: A Synergestic Approach

9. Benefits of Membership • Mentorship for new facilities managers and those with similar responsibilities • Learning tours of university-wide facilities as well as other facilities within the university community • Information to enable facilities managers to better understand policies, procedures, and processes required in maintaining university facilities • Shared resources, expert knowledge and skills from different areas of university and affiliated organizations FMDG at Virginia Tech: A Synergestic Approach

10. Resources Available • FMDG website providing valuable facilities-related resources Training and professional development opportunities • FMDG’s exclusive library with more than 90 facilities-related books available for loan, including 86 published by APPA • Listserv access for FMDG members to exchange information and share ideas, as well as receive public awareness notifications that affect Virginia Tech facilities • Affiliation with APPA, and associate membership complements of the assistant vice president for Facilities FMDG at Virginia Tech: A Synergestic Approach

11. Collaborative Efforts • Environmental Health and Safety • Purchasing • VT Police Department • Capital Design and Construction • Other Professional Development Groups • VT Laboratory Employee Professional Development Network • Roanoke Higher Education Center FMDG at Virginia Tech: A Synergestic Approach

12. Community Involvement • PM ALTESS • “The Information Gateway for the Army and DoD Acquisition Community” • Roanoke Higher Education Center • "Dedicated to expanding the educational opportunities of the people in the Greater Roanoke Region" FMDG at Virginia Tech: A Synergestic Approach

13. Support from the Top “Leadership sees the group having an integral part in the advancement and improvement of facilities management operations at the university. The existing teamwork of the FMDG illustrates very well the dedication of the staff to the university… Further, the group’s objective to identify and promote opportunities for members’ professional development ties directly to one of the university’s core values identified in the university’s Strategic Plan: promoting personal and professional growth.” --James Hyatt, Executive VP and Chief Operations Officer FMDG at Virginia Tech: A Synergestic Approach

14. Recognition as Team Players “Facilities managers are crucial players in Virginia Tech’s quest to achieve Top 30 research status…state-of-the-art building designs will not produce the desired results without the enthusiastic participation of the facilities managers.” -- Bruce Ferguson Director of Design Services FMDG at Virginia Tech: A Synergestic Approach

15. Where Do We Go From Here? • Need for increased membership/ participation • Continued success • Membership Surveys • Marketing efforts • Staying proactive in the University • Keeping abreast of new challenges FMDG at Virginia Tech: A Synergestic Approach

16. For more information on FMDG and its programs, please visit our website at www.fmdg.org.vt.edu Thank you for joining us today! FMDG at Virginia Tech: A Synergestic Approach