Q: How did you transition to a role in Facilities Management?
Back then, the campus population was much smaller without all the summer programs. Instead of laying people off, the University would give us a chance to work in the building trades — what was then known as Plant Operations — for the summer. I spent my first summer in the paint shop. When I returned to Dining Services, I actually got a promotion the following year, moving up to cook in 1984. But I went back to painting for a second summer. When that summer ended, my supervisor told me they were looking for a full-time painter and urged me to apply, and I got the position.
As each new opportunity became available, I decided to take it. Even though I still love to cook and I do a lot of cooking at home now, I made the call to move into the trades permanently. Going into the operations and trades side of the house wasn’t something I was originally prepared for, but when the opportunity presented itself, I realized it offered me an entirely new path. I just saw so much opportunity and different avenues of work. I knew I could move in a lot of different directions.
Q: The move into the trades quickly led you to take on management roles. How did Brown create those opportunities for professional growth over the years?
That focus on learning new skills is exactly why I came to Brown. I knew they encouraged professional development and wanted people to continuously improve themselves, and that’s exactly what it’s been like for me working here.
My entire career here has been built on the foundation of learning from highly qualified people and taking advantage of every opportunity that arose. Whether it’s career education, self-improvement programs offered through human resources, or the ability to attend conferences related to my field, I have never found a vacancy in any way to improve myself personally or what I do here at Brown.
Q: What does your typical day look like?
My job is quite broad and falls into a few key areas. My primary responsibility is managing preventive maintenance programs across campus. That could include scheduling and performing annual or semi-annual inspections of roof systems, overhead doors or automated shade and lightning systems. I monitor and maintain the building envelopes, which covers everything from windows and siding to masonry and wood cladding, addressing deficiencies and scheduling repairs. I run minor renovation projects around campus. If a department needs to build a new office, modify an existing space or install new equipment, up to a certain dollar threshold, I am tasked with managing those projects from start to finish.
When there’s an event like a pipe break or flooding that damages multiple floors of a building, I step in after the water remediation is complete to manage structural damage and repair.
Q: What’s something people should know about working at Brown?
The most important thing to know is that Brown has a real sense of community. You can feel a sense of belonging here, and people are genuinely appreciative of the work you do. When you talk to someone who works at Brown, you can hear it in their voice — there’s a shared understanding that this is a great organization to work for. That sense of community is my biggest takeaway: I have always found this to be a great work environment.
Q: What has your career at Brown meant in terms of your ability to build a life beyond your day job?
Two main things have been invaluable. First, the University provided me incredible support on a personal level. Some years ago, I had a health issue and my superiors and the University were extremely supportive during my recovery. They worked with me and my specific needs, giving me the latitude to make decisions that were best for me at the time. For the University to support me in that manner and that my job was secure was huge. It removed the stress of worrying and allowed me to focus entirely on getting better.
Second, I was able to take full advantage of Brown’s Tuition Aid Program. The program was incredible because it helped shoulder the financial burden of college tuition. Both of my sons benefited: my older son attended Wentworth Institute of Technology and then Boston College for grad school, and my younger son pursued his interest in culinary arts at Johnson and Wales, where he trained to become a chef.
Q: What do you like most about working at Brown?
The best part about working at Brown is the opportunity for personal and educational growth. If you want to pursue something, the University will support you. Beyond that, the cultural diversity here is incredible — meeting people from all over the world is, in itself, an opportunity I don’t think many people get to experience, and Brown has certainly brought that to me. And I love that every day brings something new to learn or someone new to meet, and that constant sense of discovery has kept me engaged and grateful to be part of this community.