Volume XII, Issue 1 Steam Plant Receives Exceptional Team Award operations run smoothly during the colder months.” The steam plant runs twenty- four hours a day to ensure an adequate supply of steam heat and hot water to buildings on the Knoxville campus and at the Institute for Agriculture. Ford said this kind of responsibility comes with a certain level of commitment from the crews at the plant. “There are some sacrifices involved when running this kind of operation,” Ford said, “but we are proud to do what it takes to keep campus warm.” Many Facilities Services teams are recognized for their continued The responsibility of keeping routinely go beyond the call of dedication to the ongoing steam steam running throughout campus duty in performing their jobs. plant conversion project, their presents some challenges. Once To honor these employees, the diligent work during a recent such instance came on January department recently instituted its cold snap, and their exemplary 8, when pressure dropped Exceptional Team Award. commitment to the day-to-day significantly in a natural gas line Each month a Facilities Services operations of the plant. that runs to the plant. team is recognized for going “I don’t think people realize To counteract the drop in beyond expectations and how much work we have to pressure, workers acted rapidly demonstrating an exceptional do,” said Darryl Ford, general to bring boilers back online. commitment to the university’s superintendent of the steam Their quick actions ensured that mission. plant. “Not all of our work comes steam continued to be delivered The first recipients of the award in the wintertime. There is a lot of properly throughout campus. program are the members of the cleaning and maintenance work Steam Plant team. The employees that is done during the summer so STEAM PLANT continued on Page 6 Landscape Academy Page 2 Big Orange Family Page 10 Security Training Page 15 New Facilities Building Page 4 New Recycling Dropoff Page 12 Top 50 Green School Page 16 Employee of the Month Page 6 Policies & Awards Page 13 Fragrance Sensitivity Page 16 Retirements Page 6 EHS Program Page 14 New ZM Initiatives Page 17 Recycling Challenge Page 7 Phishing Attacks Page 14 Holiday Party Photos Page 18 Archibus Update Page 8 New Employees Page 15 2014 Award Recipients Page 19 Customer Comments Page 9 New Positions Page 15 Birthdays Page 20 The Facilitator Page 1 Facilities Services University Launches with Landscape Academy “Setting up each employee to succeed” – that is the mission of the Facilities Services University, a comprehensive level 300 courses include Tree, training program designed to Shrub, Groundcover, and Weed give employees the training Identification, Tree Pruning, and they need to get the job done Landscape Bed Maintenance. right, improve what they already know, and teach new While the content for levels skills where necessary. 400-600 has not been completed yet, it will continue Enrollment in Facilities Services consistency in information to increase in density and will University starts on the first day and training passed on to encourage employees to push of employment and continues each employee,” said Training themselves a bit as they work throughout the employee’s Coordinator Keisha Gracius. to gain state certifications tenure with the department. The University program and attend hands-on training Landscape Academy is the first includes six levels of classes, sessions, both on and off branch to be created and taught 100-600. The first threecampus. under the Facilities Services levels will be provided for all “We are excited about University umbrella and employees, while the finalthe potential benefits of Facilities Services Employee three will be optional for this program,” Keisha said. Training & Development those interested in further “Employees will consistently have worked closely with the education. Level 100 will be get the tools needed to be Landscape Services team to identical for every unit and will successful, productivity will create a program suitable for include orientation information rise, new employees will be their unit. regarding UT policies. mentored and trained by The Training team has also Beginning with level 200, the experts in their field, there will partnered with the Facilities courses will differ and cater be increased customer service Services Communications & to the individual units. 200 and customer satisfaction, Public Relations office and UT level courses will contain basic and the program will be linked Creative Communications to information new employees to career ladders so there design graphic identities for the should know within the first will be clearly defined paths program. month of employment, specific that employees can follow to achieve their goals. This newly designed and to their branch of Facilities incorporated training program Services. “With the help and dedication will ultimately be introduced in For example, Landscape level of leaders in each area this every unit with a program that 200 contains courses such program will flourish and is custom-made to support as Shop Vision and Goals, become something great!” their work. Safety (Personal and Public), “It is an exciting process Special Events, and Recycling. because this gives us the Beginning with level 300, Check out comments from opportunity to create a more courses will become slightly Landscape Instructors & uniformed training program in more in depth and contain more each area, which will promote details. Landscape Academy Mentors on Page 3! Check out the Facilities Services Web site! fs.utk.edu The Facilitator Page 2 LANDSCAPE ACADEMY INSTRUCTORS LANDSCAPE SERVICES MENTORS: We asked the Landscape Academy Instructors to We asked the new Landscape Services Mentors give us some of their thoughts about the newly to give us some of their thoughts about the new launched program… Landscape Services Mentor Program… Joel Rummage, Landscape Foreman: Forrest Easterly, Landscape Aide I: “I am really looking forward to it. I like “It will be beneficial because the program training and being able to take an active will help employees become familiar with role in it. It’s great to challenge yourself campus because it’s so big, and all of the and try something new. routes of who to see when you have ques- “This academy will be beneficial because everyone will tions or help.” have the same base of skill and information. It’s like a start to the beginning.” Steve Kerley, Landscape Aide II: “I volunteered to help the new guys. They Dennis McGhee, Supervisor I: need to know the real thing, what to ex- “I volunteered so I can help give accurate pect and help get them prepared.” information to the new hires. “It will help greatly to give information to new hires before they get started. We do so much, it can be easy for someone to get lost and Mark Mercier, Landscape Aide I: rushed. It will help them see the job differently and not “As I’ve worked here, out on the field and just be thrown in.” in the office, one thing I’ve noticed is that the guys aren’t vocally appreciated a lot. I Kim Gregg, Landscape Supervisor I: saw the program as a cool way to get one “I think the program will be great to help on one time and take time to invest in teach the ones who don’t know stuff, so them and be able to first hand tell them that they are they get proper training and everyone is and their work is appreciated. on the same page.” “The personal touch and interaction especially for labor- intense jobs helps make things more comfortable, helps encourage guys and shows that they are really Keith Scott, Landscape Foreman: appreciated.” “It will be beneficial because foremen won’t have to take the time out of their day to train people on the job. A new Robert Bryant, Landscape Aide II: trained employee will be on the same page “I volunteered so I can help the new guys as everyone else once they do go out on feel welcome.” the job. Foremen and other employees will be on the same page, the program will put us in the right direc- tion.” Scott McCormick, Landscape Evan Atchley, Landscape Aide I: Supervisor I: “With my background teaching martial “I volunteered because I love to teach! arts, I’ve been in a leadership position “It will definitely help because it’ll get a before. uniform standard for landscape, and will “I find it fun to help teach others and be help make campus look beautiful.” a positive role model that someone could look up to when they need help or guidance, that’s why Jacob Capp, Landscape Supervisor I: I volunteered.” “The landscape academy will help show people who don’t understand, help improve skills, ultimately making better employees.” The Facilitator Page 3 Update on New Facilities Services Building Construction continues on all sections of the new Facilities Services Building at 2000 Sutherland Avenue. Sections 1 & 2 (see Figure 2) have received new concrete foundations throughout, as well as grafted steel base plates at their high-bay columns. Segments of concrete perimeter walls have been replaced, additional steel members are being welded on, and metal decking is being installed on the roof. Sections 3 and 5 are awaiting paint repair and new additional steel. Section 5’s concrete slab will soon be broken up to make way for a new concrete slab. In Sections 1-3 & 5, the structural steel’s primer coat (in white) was applied improperly; widespread corrective action is required. Depending upon the extent of what is required (which is still being determined), this will delay the completion of the building to at least Spring 2016. We will keep you updated on the new estimated completion date.