Customer Comments

Udall Center Door Locks

Dear FM Keydesk Team,

I just wanted to thank each and every one of your team for changing our locks so quickly. Unfortunately I can't remember everyones names who I spoke with on the phone as I'm not the smartest person in the world, but they were very patient with me and made the process very easy.

When Jim Murch came to assess and fix the problem, his professionalism was beyond reproach. He and his team were the pinnacle of efficiency and courteousness.

I understand that you probably get many mails like this when doing these tasks, so I apologize for clogging your mailboxes, but I just wanted to say thank you.

Rakim Soobratty
Udall Center

Electricians - Jose and Shain

Hi Chris,

Systems Control recently had unanticipated electrical challenges at our UACares fundraising event. Jose and Shain went above and beyond to assist us including carrying heavy items to sections of the building that were not affected by the power outage, and testing lines to make sure we didn't overload breakers. The event was a success due in large part to Jose and Shane's help.

I can't thank them enough for their determination to get things done quickly and their positive and friendly approach.

Please thank them for us.

Best,
PRis and the Systems Control Team

UARA LUNCHEON - OCT. 22

Hi, Steve,

I just wanted to thank you for a very successful luncheon last week. On behalf of UARA, we were quite pleased and grateful for the fine job you did.

Trudy arrived early, only to find the tables set up with the tablecloths, and flowers already delivered. The room looked very elegant, and there was plenty of room to move around even with 90 people attending. Wilma Wildcat made a surprise appearance, so that was fun. The A/V was a breeze, never before was it so easy to work with....all in all, it was a fabulous event, with good memories.

With appreciation,

Jane Dugas
UARA Luncheon Coordinator

Carmen

Chris,

I have worked in the Comm building for 5 years, and during this time, Carmen has always and consistently presented herself in a professional manner. She always has a smile on her face, she will engage in appropriate conversations and her uniform is always neat and clean.

Carmen take pride in her work, she goes above and beyond what is expected of her. When she waxes our floors, so they are so clean and shiny, we hesitate to walk on them. She has an extraordinary work ethic, I see her wiping down surfaces in offices, wiping up spots on our windows and shining our water fountain. I have even noticed that people from other buildings, have walked over to our building to use our restroom, and then return to their building.

In my personal office, my carpets are always vacuumed and she give us notice when she is preparing to clean the carpets.

Overall, Carmen is well liked and highly regarded in our building. She is honest and trustworthy in her actions and because of this the tenants of this building feel safe and comfortable with her entering our spaces when we are not her.

Carmen is always busy, moving around and I don't see her resting or taking breaks. I can not say enough positive things about Carmen, her work ethic or the high quality of her work.

respectfully submitted

Kimberley Young
Business Manager, Sr.
Dept's of Communication and Linguistics

Great Job

Good morning,

I would like to express how thankful I am for the job Ronald and his co-worker David did in installing the carpet in one of our suites here in our department, they did an Awesome job!!! I also want to say they were very patient in this process as we had some difficulty in getting my co-workers to agree on a scheduled time, which wasn't easy and they were very patient as we tried to get it all coordinated.



Thank you,

Lisa Gutierrez
Department of Psychiatry

Tremendous Employee

Hello,

I am emailing as I wanted to share that Rob Koniecki has helped our department with various projects over the last 1-2 months and has been tremendous. Rob has been fantastic to work with and we truly appreciate everything he has helped with, as well as, he has been willing to work around other things we have going on. Also another employee in our department had high remarks about Rob as he helped install a standing desk for her and make adjustments that were needed.

Thank you!

Jessica Reed
Executive Assistant
Department of Emergency Medicine

Major Kudos!

Dear Mr. Kopach,

I want to offer my sincere thanks and gratitude for you staff!

This summer we had many renovations occurring in the Department of Computer Science in the Gould-Simpson building. I will be the first to admit the need came at the last minute based on space we had inherited and the need to make room for new faculty.

Your team, led by Project Manager Charlie Boyd, has been nothing but awesome! Truly. They have always been honest about when they will be here, when they can be available, checked in on priorities, and ensured that we are 100% satisfied before they leave.

I don't know all of the folks that have been here (and still are!) working with us but I want to give a shout out to those I have personally met and worked with.

Charlie Boyd - This is the second time I have had the pleasure of working with him and you could not have a better person representing you. He is here, he checks in, he helps move the furniture when only one other person is here, and he does it all with a smile. Working with Charlie is a true pleasure.

Ronald Stokan - I have never met someone who strives so hard to provide the most outstanding customer service. He offers samples, suggestions, never hesitates to take a phone call, and doesn't bat an eye when a request is incredibly specific! Ronald is the consummate professional. I recall the first time I worked with him last summer. He stopped by because he wondered why he hadn't been called about the flooring and he saw that work had stalled on the project. He immediately called Charlie and folks were back right away working. He definitely goes above and beyond.

David from the Paint Shop - He is fantastic! We have a faculty member that is quite particular about aesthetic and David didn't blink an eye. He took the information, found the EXACT paint, and made it happen. He always provides such helpful suggestions for color and his team gets things done quickly and beautifully!

> David Wilson and William Canizales - Wonderful, honest, humble individuals. We scheduled some moving work for the week before the semester began without thinking about the implications of that. We had been told it would be done on a certain day and then they came in person to let me know that they may not be able to follow-through with the promised date because of other pressing work on campus. They took time out of their busy schedules to deliver this in person because they didn't want to let us down. Then, they over-delivered! They were able to identify two folks to come for short blocks of time to help us move and get everything in place before the semester began. They are AWESOME!

Brad - I'm afraid I don't know Brad's last name but I do know he is the hardest working person I know. Brad has been the primary mover working with us and we always request him because he is such an outstanding professional. He is always here early, he finds out what needs to be done, prioritizes, organizes, and implements very quickly. Without Brad, we would not have all the faculty office moved, spaces available for renovation, or all of the whiteboards hung! Brad is often here solo and he never complains - he gets the work done quickly and efficiently.

Your team has worked with us so much this summer we feel like they are part of our Department staff. They have done so with patience, perseverance, and a smile - never complaining. I'm having my house remodeled right now and I would give anything to have this team because I know that it will be done on time, with pride in the work, and a smile throughout!

It has been a true pleasure working with all of them and I look forward to the opportunity to continue to do so on the many projects I know we will have in the future.

Thank you,

Bridget

******************************************************************
Bridget Radcliff
Manager, Academic Services and Student Support Department of Computer
Science University of Arizona Gould-Simpson 901

Kudos to Facilities

Hello Mr. Kopach,

My name is Ari and I work here at Lunar and Planetary Lab for HiRISE, part of NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. I am the media and public outreach person for HiRISE.

I just recently commissioned some custom tables to be made by the Carpenter's Shop for our lobby that were delivered today. They are absolutely beautiful. They are stunning. Objects d'art comes to mind. They are exactly what I requested from the shop, having met with Bill Canizales and Dave Wilson at various points. I also had the pleasure of working with Ron Ramsey, David Ramirez, Julio Quintero, and Greg Vasquez who all made these tables a reality. All extraordinarily professional.

It is extremely important for me that people get recognized for their work. While I've sent a note of thanks to Dave, Bill, and the others, I need to make sure that a higher up such as yourself knows how appreciative I am for their professionalism and the astonishing quality of work that they did for us. Facilities is often overlooked by people at the University; I can gratefully tell you that is not the case with us at HiRISE.

I am loathed to even put anything on these tables, but if you happen to pass by the Sonett Building (#63), feel free to take a look at their handiwork.

With much appreciation,

Ari Espinoza
HiRISE

Exemplary FM Maintenance Services Employees

Dear Mr. Kopach:

I wanted to send you this letter of appreciation to highlight our experiences with some of your exemplary Facilities Management Maintenance Services employees. Recently, we underwent a renovation of our office space to accommodate new staff and faculty moving in and to remove pre-existing modular furniture that was no longer functional.

Our experience with these staff members was truly exceptional. They were wonderful and enjoyable to work with, they finished each stage of the remodel well in advance of their estimated deadlines and the quality of their work was beyond reproach. We remained in our offices during the remodel and they worked with us so seamlessly that we did not experience any inconvenience or interruption in our daily operations. Your team demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to excellence and customer service that went well beyond our expectations.

All of our staff collectively wanted to provide commendation to these individuals, as they truly deserve the praise. I am sure that there were many other critical team members involved in this process but the individuals we worked with directly include Jack Cravo, Cesar Guirado, and Nicholas Ortega.

Thank you for providing us with such exceptional service.

Sincerely,

Sydney Rice, MD
Associate Professor
Division Chief, Genetics and Developmental Pediatrics
Director, Arizona LEND Program

Excellent Service

Dear Randy:

I would like to formally thank you and your staff for excellent service, particularly regarding the unexpected transmission problems while doing recent field work in northern Nevada. Thankfully the transmission issue was nothing more than a rock wedged in the linkages, but I very much appreciate your availability over the holiday weekend and immediate follow-up with the Chevy dealer as soon as they opened following Memorial Day.

As you know, we in Geosciences and particularly in the Lowell Program in Economic Geology make heavy use of Motor Pool's fleet of 4WD carryalls. They are essential for our field-based research, for graduate education, and for our field-based professional short courses, all of which require robust off-road capacity. Because of the rugged terrain where we work, we can be quite hard on the vehicles – tires and bodies alike. WE appreciate your team working with us to find the best compromise between what is possible to obtain and the dirt and rock friendly equipment that we need. Ideally, we would like to have off-road tires, a minimum of extraneous plastic parts to damage, and gearing suited to very rough or steep roads (i.e., low range). To date, apart from tire and mainly cosmetic damage we've had little else to concern us. I'm particularly grateful for this given our collective responsibility to safety for all concerned – we don't leave a vehicle stranded in remote terrain..

Thank you again for your recent hope, and for Motor Pool's long-standing exemplary service. WE look forward to using vehicles many times over the coming months.

Sincerely yours,

Mark D. Barton
Professor of Geosciences
Associate Director, Lowell Institute
for Mineral Resources

Thank You

To Moving Services for their assistance with the Peace Corps Fair & Symposium.


From the Graduate College








 

Outstanding Employee

Dear Cecilia,

I am writing to bring to your attention the outstanding nature of Maria Alvarado and the service she provides in the Marshall Building. As the building manager, I have the occasion to work closely with Maria on a fairly regular basis and I see her on a daily basis. We have developed a team sentiment in the pride, care and appearance of the Marshall Building.

I usually arrive around 7 am and Maria is already hard at work on her project(s) for the day. She is always eager to get the public areas cleaned and ready before the students and faculty start arriving. She is sensitive to exams and holidays, including Spring Break and summer, and she frequently uses those times for special projects. Although she has a schedule and a routine, Maria makes herself available to help with the unexpected spill, extra trash, or surprise event that comes up. I also know that on certain days, she has worked efficiently to finish the Marshall Building in order to work in other campus buildings, as needed.

In addition, Maria has advised me of building maintenance needs, suspicious activity, lost-found items, and etc. that she encounters as she performs her duties. I appreciate her help with those things since I spend much of my day in an office, not out and around the building. Maria is always cheerful, friendly, and respectful. She is well-received by faculty, students, and staff.

On behalf of all of the Marshal Building occupants and guests, thank you for providing such high quality standards and service with regard to custodial services. We are very fortunate to have an employee like Maria Alvarado in our building and to be under your care!

Appreciatively,

Martha Castleberry
Building Manager

Facilities Help

Good afternoon Mr. Kopach,

I thought I would let you know that Abraham and Fernando were here taking care of us this afternoon and I really appreciate their wonderful attitude and help. They made things a lot brighter for us, literally and also with their wonderful attitudes and help. It always makes it so much easier for us when customer service is given with a smile.


Have a good afternoon!

Lucy Valenzuela
Administrative Associate
Dean's Office
College of Optical Sciences

Outstanding Employee

Dear Cecilia,

I am writing to bring to your attention the outstanding employee, Gladis Tolsa, and the service she provides in the Marshall Building. As the building manager, I have the occasion to work closely with Gladis and I see her on a regular basis. We have developed a team sentiment in the pride, care and appearance of the Marshall Building.

Gladis is one of the most enthusiastic people I know! She is always cheerful, friendly, and respectful. She is an excellent worker and she is well-received by faculty, students, and staff. She works hard to get the public areas cleaned and ready before the students and faculty start arriving in the mornings. She is sensitive to exams and holidays, including Spring Break and summer, and she frequently uses those times for special projects. Although Gladis has a schedule and a routine, she makes herself available to help with the unexpected spill, extra trash, or surprise event that comes up. I also know she has worked efficiently to finish her work in the Marshall Building in order to work in other campus buildings.

In addition, Gladis has advised me of building maintenance needs, suspicious activity, lost-found items, and etc. that she encounters as she performs her duties. I appreciate her help with those things since I spend much of my day in an office, not out and around the building.

On behalf of all of the Marshal Building occupants and guests, thank you for providing such high quality standards and service with regard to custodial services. We are incredibly fortunate to have an employee like Gladis Tolsa in our building and to be under your care!

Appreciatively,

Martha Castleberry
Building Manager

Renovations To The Faculty Center

As the newly elected Chair of the Faculty, I recently requested renovations be made at our office building at the above address. We moved furniture, had a flat-screen monitor installed, and removed a white board that was hiding termite damage to a wall in my office. Lots of touching up was required.

In order to accomplish what we wanted, four different entities of Facilities Management were assigned to come out and perform work; HVAC, Electrical, Carpentry and Painting and Patching. Each estimator and workman showed up in a timely manner to perform their job, and they all did their jobs very well. Thanks to you and your teams for carrying out this project so efficiently.

Lynn Nadel
Chair of the Faculty

Praise for Grounds Crew near Douglass and Social Sciences

Dear Mr. Santiago -

I am a graduate student in the Sociology Department, and have a profound and ongoing appreciation for the beauty of this campus. The grounds are so well kept, in fact, that it's easy to forget how much work is required to make it look so natural.

As I was returning to my desk from lunch today, I stopped to thank some of the groundskeepers near my building. They were in the middle of their work, and very politely and modestly acknowledged my compliments.

I want to formally thank those members of your facilities staff: Audie, Nick, Chris, Eddie, Eric, and the rest of your crew, who make the loveliness of our campus appear so effortless.

Warm regards,
Laureen

Laureen K. O'Brien
Ph. D. Candidate
Instructor
School of Sociology

Steward Observatory, N204, Suite Upgrade

Dear Mr. Kopach,

My name is Michelle Cournoyer and I work in the Academic/Departmental Office of Steward Observatory. A couple of weeks ago, several of your people painted and re-carpeted our office suite, which is located just off of the main lobby.

Even before the project began, Charlie Boyd and Ronald Stokan came to discuss the project with me -- what they were going to do, what we needed to do before they get started, how long they expected the job to last, etc. Ronald also came by with carpet and border samples and David Ramirez stopped by with paint color samples. They not only came over once, but in some cases, two and three times to find out if we needed more boxes, needed any help or had any questions. And that was before the project started.

When it did begin, on Monday, March 16, 2015, the painters (Doug and Barbara) and Charlie were already in the suite, working away, when I arrived at 7:00 a.m. Within a half hour of that, Peppy, Caesar and Marcos, from the Carpentry Shop, were there to move all the heavy furniture. They all worked quickly and professionally and by 9:30, they had the entire suite (front and back room) emptied out. They also had to take apart two desks, that had extensions, and remove a partition that divides the front room/office.

Meanwhile Doug and Barbara worked diligently away and were so efficient, that they finished painting the entire suite by Tuesday mid afternoon! And it came out beautifully, I might add. They did a fantastic and meticulous job and we love their professional paint job and the dark blue accents they did on the columns of the walls!

Tuesday afternoon Ronald met with me and told me that they would begin replacing the carpet on Wednesday morning. Sure enough, I walked into the office at 7:00 a.m., and Ronald and Charlie were already there! Ronald and his assistant, Mark, jumped into action and had that 1993 carpet torn out of the suite within hours, then swept and cleaned the floor, and immediately began installing the new carpet squares and borders. Things moved along so quickly that Ronald told me they'd probably be finished with the front office before the end of the day and that we could move back in on Thursday morning. Originally they were thinking we'd move back in by Friday afternoon. So that was a bonus!

Once again, I walked into the office Thursday morning, at 7:00 a.m., and there's Charlie, Ronald and Mark already there before me. Ronald and Mark were finishing up with the back room and within half an hour, there came Peppy, Caesar and Marcos to move all the big furniture back into the office. By 9:30 a.m. the furniture was moved back in and Peppy had put back together two desks and was finishing up on re-installing the partition. Both Ronald and Charlie came by to see me and asked me if everything looked all right, if I needed anything else and they had already given me their business cards in case I needed to contact them. Ronald even came by again on Friday morning to ask me if I needed anything.

I have to admit that I never expected the job to go so smoothly and so quickly and that I am extremely pleased with the turnout. As I mentioned in my first sentence, the office suite is the Academic/Departmental Office, located right off of the main lobby and is the first point of contact for any visitors, faculty, students, etc. It now has a beautiful face lift, which it sorely needed.

I am also very impressed by the quality of the workmanship with both the painters and carpet installers, the quickness and care that the movers took with our furniture and the coordination of the whole project by Charlie. Even though nobody likes to move, they all made it easier than I could ever have imagined.

On behalf of myself, my staff and our Director, Buell Jannuzi, I want to thank your staff for a job very well done, and express my gratitude and appreciation to each and every one of them (Charlie, Ronald, Mark, David, Doug, Barbara, Peppy, Caesar and Marcus) for making our front office look so awesome.

All the best.

Michelle

Instant Response, Plans In The Works

Hi Mark,

Thanks so much for the (almost) instant response to our phone call yesterday afternoon about bringing humidification to the Fine Print Viewing Room (room 201B) in CCP. This morning, Ray Vargas brought over Nick from Plumbing Shop & Tony from Sheet Metal Shop to look at the situation. They've already made a short-term plan and a long-term plan for dealing with the issue. This is great service! We are looking forward to a solution we've been seeking for quite a while.

Thanks again.

Steve Llewellyn
Assistant Director for Facilities Management and Planning
Center for Creative Photography

Compliments

David,

I want to send compliments to the carpenter shop. We had Gary Hagen dismantle, move and reinstall an office today in the College of Education, Room 214. He responded quickly to the request and was a delight to work with. The job was well done! Thank you!

Mary Werner
Program Coordinator
Offices of Communications and Outreach
College of Education

Award for Excellence - Victoria Molina

Custodian
Facilities Management
Nominated by: Dierdre Belle-Oudry

Victoria Molina is always there when you need her. In her four years with Facilities Management, she has managed to make a good impression all across campus.

She is praised for her organization and her customer service skills. "Victoria understands the importance of first impressions and how that impacts our customers," comments her supervisor Paula Santos. "Victoria is always ready to meet the customer's needs by boing above and beyond to ensure that her areas are always in pristine condition."

Victoria manages the high traffic areas of the Koffler building, which sees thousands of students and a 300-seat lecture hall. She also deals with the many types of chemicals and equipment found in the many laboratories in that building. She is praised for her gracious attitude and her work ethic. Manager Deirdre Belle­ Oudry states that "Victoria is always on the move; I have never seen her idle. And yet she is always pleasant regardless of how busy she is."

Victoria also serves as the safety representative for Custodial Services Team 107 on the FM Safety Committee. This allows her to introduce safety hazards to the committee as well as serve as the liaison back to her team.

"Her attitude towards her role at the UA is reflective in the positive and productive atmosphere that surrounds her which inspires her peers to excel. I often see her mentoring her peers with words of encouragement and support to enable them to reach their full job potential," said, Laura Lustro, Administrative Associate. "Her performing by example is a good motivational tool and an example of the willingness to go the extra mile."

Team Award for Excellence

In recognition of outstanding contributions toward the University's mission and goals, the Facilities Management Locksmith Shop & Key Desk staff were awarded the 2014 Team Award for Excellence.

Excellence often comes out in stressful situations. Their dedication to be the best no matter what kind of pressure they are under is one of the many reasons that the Locksmith Shop and Key Desk Team has been awarded the Team Award for Excellence.

Lauded for their team strengths of communication, efficiency and quality, the Locksmith Shop and Key Desk Team provides service for the entire University community. The team provides excellent customer service while ensuring that departments and college remain in compliance with University policy. They provide security, safety and accountability to University property and assets. Monica Blancarte, Program Coordinator Senior, states that it is "their amazing attitude that makes working with them so enjoyable. Not one person has ever told me no. My deadline may sound crazy but they work with me to make it happen."

Key control can be a daunting and complex issue. The Locksmith Shop and Key Desk not only maintain an admirable level of quality control; they do it with customer service that goes above and beyond the standard. This team is to be commended for their caring, workmanship and excellent attitude.

Thank You

Dear Ron,

On behalf of all of us at the Center for Health Outcomes and PharmacoEconomic Research (The HOPE Center), thank you for your management of the painting project of the entire suite of offices and open areas.

Martin and Dan have been exceptional. Their work has been efficient and professional; they are friendly and personable; they are flexible and accommodating, going beyond the parameters of their specific task.

All of us are grateful for the fresh new look. Thank you.


Kind regards,
Ida Jo Gates, Program Coordinator
College of Pharmacy

Pride and Hard Work

I would like to thank Francisco "Chico" Guzman and his Athletics Crew for the amazing job they did in maintaining the softball and track fields. The attention to detail that is demonstrated in the pictures attached is a reflection of the pride and hard work our Grounds Athletics' Crew puts into our campus.

Thanks to the folks cleaning carpets at Ed North

Dear Mr. Rocha,

I would like to thank the folks who were on the carpet cleaning crew at Ed North on Wednesday (1/29) evening. I teach a 4:30-7:00PM class in a conference room in the Education North building. I learned that the carpets in the area of the conference room were scheduled to be cleaned during my class and I was quite worried that this would be disruptive. The class is a distance learning class and we are connected via Polycom with another site. Noise levels can be quite problematic. I was really worried about teaching with any background noise from cleaning the carpet.

It turns out that I had no need to worry. The carpet cleaning crew arrived and laid out all of their hoses, but this was done very unobtrusively. I knew they were in the building because I was worried about this, but once I recognized they were present, I did not notice them. They proceeded to work to get the area ready for cleaning, but were very quiet. They did not start the machines for cleaning until my class finished. When I stopped them to thank them for being so unnoticeable, they explained that learning came first at the university and that they valued my teaching and course time and would not do anything to disrupt my course. I was so thankful.

I wish that I had asked for names, because these folks really should be commended for finding ways for all of us to do our work.

Thank you to you and the folks who work with you!



Sincerely,

Marcy Wood
Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education
Teaching and Teacher Education Program
Department of Teaching, Learning, and Sociocultural Studies
College of Education

Appreciation of FM Support to CCP for ABOR Meeting on Nov 22

Hi Chris Kopach,

I am writing to express our appreciation of FM efforts in working with the Center for Creative Photography, building 103, to make the ABOR meeting held at our facility on Nov 22 such a great success! Prior to the event, Electrical Shop made our two-story atrium lobby (room 100) shine by replacing many halogen bulbs and fixtures. They also made sure all the lights in the Auditorium (room 108) were fully functional so that President Hart could make her Never Settle presentation, which included several videos. Custodial supplied extra recycle bins for the morning snacks and kept the building looking good inside. Grounds did the same on the exterior, power washing the windows and sidewalks around the whole building and sprucing up the north entry door area for Regents using the north-side parking lot 3039. Special Events Set Up staff brought in tables and chairs to transform our Print Viewing Room (room 201) into a breakfast room for ABOR in the morning, and then do a quick changeover to a different configuration for the ABOR lunch/executive session in the afternoon.

Of course, FM played a major role the morning of the event, as one of our front entry doors was smashed in, with broken glass all over the lobby. While we were only one of several buildings on campus to experience such vandalism on that Friday morning, Carpentry Shop was able to quickly install plywood in the broken door and cover it up with black vinyl mere minutes before President Hart was due to arrive through these doors. The Carpenter Shop Leads & Supervisor really saved the day! Thanks again for all your efforts; it was a lot of work, but well worth it to present the CCP and the University in such a successful light.



Steve Llewellyn
Assistant Director for Facilities Management and Planning
Center for Creative Photography

Condition of the Grounds

Hello,

This is really a fan letter. I was on my way to the library at lunchtime and saw some of the crew planting pansies and snapdragons out front. I stopped and asked a question about irrigation. One of the crew, I didn't get his name, called someone in irrigation on his cell and let me talk with him and I got a lot of helpful information. (That same crew member gave me the card with contact information for making comments, for which I was grateful. I've always wondered how I might do that.) Above and beyond.

I told him that I've often felt grateful to you all as I've walked here and there on the campus. It's beautiful but not just that, it's cared for. I really appreciate that and I've been trying to wake my students up to it!

We are going through demanding times but you couldn't tell it from the condition of the grounds. That really helps lift the spirits.



Thanks, everyone

John Warnock
Professor
Department of English

Thanks and Gratitude

Dear Dave,

I wanted to let you know what a great job your staff did—in record time—to repair an outside door to one of our offices In the Faculty Office Building 220, Room 114, on October 1. This door had been a problem for months now and I don't know why we waited so long to call in a ticket! Not only was it slamming shut HARD, but if someone had caught a hand in it…a finger would have been cut off. (Well, maybe not, but this door was ferocious.) As it turns out, we didn't realize that it was also leaking fluid down the door and it was discovered that several other doors in this building were in the same condition. We send a shout out to Ted Vasquez and Mark for arriving quickly, diagnosing the problem, and returning in short order with the proper parts to repair it. I later saw them in the building repairing the other doors. This really could have been a safety issue for our staff.

I know you are one proud supervisor to have such skilled, dedicated employees working for Facilities Management and taking care of the rest of us on a daily basis! (In particular, I speak on behalf of the female staff here in the DEM who don't have the skills and/or tools to accomplish such feats.) Please extend our thanks and gratitude to Ted and Mark!

Sincerely,

Paulette Z. Pierce
Coordinator, Faculty Affairs & Web Content
Department of Emergency Medicine

McClelland restroom upgrades

Chris Kopach, Plumbing Shop, Carpenter Shop

At our recent back-to-school gathering I asked Eller faculty and staff if they would like to sign a thank-you note recognizing the fantastic improvements that you accomplished this summer in the McClelland Hall restrooms. Everyone said "yes" and I had to go back to my office to make more sheets so they all would have a chance to sign. Everyone is here – advisors, professors young and old, our deans and former deans.



We appreciate the improvements so much.  And please know that we appreciate everything you manage to do for our building.  We work hard to instill a sense of professionalism and pride in our students.  A building that matches our aspirations is a big help.

Merrilee Holmes

Letter of Commendation for Charles R. Boyd

Dear Chris,

Permit me to take just a few moments to tell you about a Facilities Management employee I've had the pleasure working with over many years: Charles R. Boyd. Charlie was the project manager on dozens of jobs with the School of Anthropology. Through each interaction he consistently built an extraordinary collegial working relationship with me as well as the other participants. He actively listens to our needs, questions, and concerns and responds professionally, appropriately and, with kindness.

Every time Charlie visits our offices he walks in with a big smile and an engaging personality that lightens any situation. Additionally, when he is our project manager he checks with us on a regular basis, keeping us apprised of any progress.

While I am the Building Manager for Haury, the Geronimo 3rd floor, and the University Indian Ruins; I am no building expert. I know nothing about tools or understand the details to renovate space; thus, my expertise is sorely limited. While I am ignorant, Charlie doesn't treat me that way. I've had experiences with other individuals who assume I understand what they are talking about or explain things to me using a condescending tone. Charlie treats his customers with kindness even when they ask him the same questions over and over again. He is patient and demonstrates that he truly cares to provide the most professional and thorough service. He is truly the best example of how Facilities Management should partner with their customers.

I did notice an improvement of customer service not too long after you assume your current position and responsibilities and am very grateful that you are instilling in your employees a positive way to deal with customers. While your employees' customer relations have improved overall; however, Charlie didn't need to make any adjustments because he was already providing the best customer service.

Charlie is an excellent ambassador for Facilities Management. Here's an example of how Charlie makes FM look good: In early July I submitted a request for estimate to install a projector on a ceiling in a departmental classroom that may require the fabrication of a mount. This was submitted to FM because I received some poor direction from our IT unit. The estimator came out and provided an estimate on August 1st to "modify existing projector bracket and reinstall." We funded it on August 6th and I didn't hear any more about it so I called FM on August 13th to find out when FM would complete the job. Charlie was sent over to determine what should be done. That's when I learned that FM does not install projectors in classrooms. No one told me that. In fact, my IT unit is the one who told me that FM would install the projector. As soon as Charlie realized that I was getting the run around from several different parties he jumped in and was able to apply his skills and get the job done.

On your website the FM vision is listed as "to achieve customer satisfaction and employee excellence. We value accountability, communication, sustainability, cooperation, education, fairness and trust." Those are excellent goals and values. Charlie Boyd is the epitome of those. I really appreciate his service to our unit and look forward to working with him again.

Thank you for taking your time to read my letter.

Best regards,

Norma Maynard
Manager of Administration

Thank You

Hi Rick,

Just wanted to thank you and your crew for trimming the tree outside of the ORCR building this morning. Your response time from the time I placed the order yesterday was amazing. It is very much appreciated!

Kathy Lang
Executive Assistant
Office for the Responsible Conduct of Research

Thank You

A Thank You Card to Custodian, Norma Chacon from the Medical Students.



...for the million little ways you make a difference.




 

Letter of Commendation for Ms. Lumjuan Jospeh

Dear Mr. Rocha,

I am writing to you to commend your custodial employee Ms. Lumjuan Joseph. Ms. Joseph is consistently providing high quality custodial services for the employees of the University of Arizona Cancer Center, specifically our group on the second floor of the building, and we are deeply grateful for her professionalism and dedication. Not only does she work very hard to keep our areas clean and presentable, she also completes her work with a smile. Her pleasant demeanor and her helpful attitude make our jobs a little easier because we know we don't have to worry about our offices and other facilities. She arrives at work very early to insure that her areas of responsibility are kept clean, presentable and ready for business
In summary, I think Lumjuan Joseph exemplifies what we value most in University employees and I want to recognize and draw attention to this outstanding employee. Frankly, I think she is simply amazing! Today is my last day at the Cancer Center and I will definitely miss her and her professionalism.

Please feel free to contact me if you should have any questions. Thank you for the opportunity to draw attention to one of our exceptional UA employees!

Patricia Markel
Coordinator, Personnel Affairs
UACC Personnel Office

Park Ave/2nd Street Lava Rock Wall Reconstruction

Historic Preservation Advisory Committee:

The reconstruction of the historic lava rock wall at the corner of Park Avenue and 2nd Street has been completed, and looks great. If you have not already seen it, be sure to stop by the next time you are in the area. Our thanks to Chris Kopach and the team of FM masons for their craftsmanship and a job well done! The corner is already functioning better than before, and is a fine enhancement to the look and safety of the area.

Edward F. Galda, AICP
Campus Planner
Planning, Design & Construction














 

Slonaker house

Dear Chris,

I am writing to commend Rick Lower and his team for the great work that they did in Slonaker house.
Not only did the crawl space get cleaned up on Wednesday night, but the repairs were completed on Thursday by midafternoon. The plumbers were quiet and respectful of our work environment, took their responsibility seriously, and worked hard to get the plumbing back in working order. Rick personally went around the building and talked with staff when the job was complete. He thanked us for our cooperation, but the thanks should all be coming from us. We really appreciate the support and expertise that was directed our way and are so grateful for the minimal disruption of our work. The end of the semester is incredibly busy so we really are grateful that the break was repaired.

Again, on behalf of everyone in Honors, faculty, staff and our fabulous students, thank you SO MUCH!.

Patricia MacCorquodale, Ph.D.
Dean, The Honors College

BRL Renovation Project

Rodger,

I would like to thank you for assigning Vincent Natale to the BRL renovation project we completed in January.

I have never been involved with a renovation before. Vincent was fantastic. He never made me feel like I had no idea of what I was doing and extremely supportive throughout the entire process. Vincent thorough explained everything and allowed me to focus more on decisions affecting the outcome. He kept me well apprised of the status of the activities taking place. When I had questions that did not fall under his prevue, he assisted me in determining the person I did need to speak with.

He was always very professional. I don't feel as if I could have had a better person to manage this renovation.

Please thank Vincent for the wonderful job he did.

Carolyn Wargaski
Manager Financial Operations, Dept of Surgery
Biomedical Research Lab

Thank you for excellent support

Dear Mr. Zaino-

I would like to commend Keith Steiner for his excellent work in support of this year's Tucson Festival of Books.

As an employee of the UA College of Science, my role at the Festival this year was to manage the Main Stage tent in Science City. Keith was our electrical/sound system support person (he performed the same role with the Science Café tent). He is one of the nicest, most capable people I've had the pleasure to work with at UA and a tremendous ambassador for UA Facilities Management.

He was on time, diligent, paid extraordinary attention to detail, and literally left no stone unturned. As a result, our tent ran smoothly during the whole festival and the content and speakers were enjoyed by many festival-goers. He and I even brainstormed how to improve the sound set-up for the Geosciences volcano demo on Sunday afternoon and were able to make that piece better too.

I have had the pleasure of working with Keith for two years in a row, and I hope we get to do this together for many more years to come. Please pass my compliments on to him and any in his chain of command you feel should know about this.

Sincerely,
Matthew J. Adamson
Education and Outreach
Biosphere 2

Motor Pool

Dear Chris,

I understand the UA motor pool reports to you? I am sure you get plenty of complaints, but I wanted to let you know about some GOOD WORK as well.

I've worked at several universities, and I have never, ever had a motor pool be as easy to use as ours. Wow!

You make the reservation. You walk in. Everything is ready. It's all good to go. The keys are there. You sign. You're done! I wish Avis and Hertz were this good. You bring the car back? You don't even have to fill it up! They do it for you AND it's cheaper. Double wow!

I'd have to confess I don't know all of the folks who work there by name yet, but every time I come in they are polite, professional, even funny. The one person I do know by name, Randy Livingston, has been superb.

Anyway, just wanted you to hear from one very happy customer. Please extend my thanks to all the hardworking folks over there.

Thanks!
J.C Mutchler
Executive Director and Vice President
Executive Office of the President

Motor Pool Appreciation

Hello Mr. Kopach and Mr. White,

I would like to take a few minutes to let someone in upper management know what a good job the staff at the motor pool are doing. I work in the Department of Geosciences and we use vehicles from the motor pool frequently. My experiences this past weekend demonstrate what an excellent job they do.

I arrive Saturday morning with my TA's to pick up the two passenger vans and suburban that are to be used for student field trips on Saturday and Sunday. I arrive to find that my departmental office staff forgot to inform me that the motor pool did not have two passenger vans available for that weekend. Lucky for me there was a cancellation and the employee at the desk with out missing a beat assigned that van for us and we were not delayed in the least.

I needed my personal vehicle Saturday night, so I returned a passenger van to the motor pool parking lot. When I returned Sunday morning I discovered that someone had returned a university vehicle carelessly blocking half of the vehicles parked there, including my van. I had students arriving for the field trip in less than an hour. I called David Reiber and explained the situation. He personally drove down and helped me with the situation. I was able to run the field trip at the scheduled time due to his speedy arrival.

These experiences are the norm and not the exception. Randy Livingstone has rescued me several times when I have been stranded due to a vehicle issue while I am far from Tucson. I don't think we say thank you enough nor let people know what a great job they are doing.

Thank you, I couldn't do my job nearly as easily without the folks at the motor pool.

Ross Waldrip
Research Specialist
Department of Geosciences

Jim Murch

Dan,

Locksmith employee Jim Murch has been helping to install a new latch/locking system in the Bursar's Office for the Financial Services Office. I'm not sure if you are his supervisor (please forward to the correct supervisor if you are not), but I wanted to tell you that he has been a pleasure to work with. He has a great attitude, is extremely timely with his responses, and has been very helpful. He provided great customer service, and FSO appreciates him.

Thank you!

Iris Budinoff | Administrative Associate
Administration and Customer Service
Financial Services Office

Thank you for a job well done!

Hi Dan,

Please extend a Thank You for a job well done to Don and your lock shop team! Yesterday an order was submitted to rekey CE 30; within 40 minutes of submitting that order, Jennifer called to let me know Don will contact me. Don did call shortly after, presented the plan of action, which at that point was order a Medeco cylinder and install it within a week. However, Don was able to refurbish a used cylinder and installed it today.

This is, indeed, customer service at its best.

My thanks,
Patricia O. Elias
Business Manager
College of Engineering

Note of Appreciation

Chris,
I want to tell you how much the LBTO unit appreciated the efforts of Ron Stokan in arranging for the carpet replacement in the hallways of our area on the fifth floor of the Steward Observatory building. He communicated well and frequently, gave us options for flooring but also a primary suggestion with quite good taste, and made very clear to us the plan for his crew's work. I personally avoided the place over last weekend while they were actually working, but I can tell you that the result looks great, the seams with carpeted offices are tight and straight, the new baseboard stripping is neat, and there is not a trace of stray glue. They left the jobsite clean and looking good, and did their work on time according to plan. I can't ask for better project management than that, and I wanted to let you know that Ron and his crew did very well by us.

All the best,
Richard Green
Director
Large Binocular Telescope Observatory

"Swank"

Dear Tom, Ron, Danny, and Greg,
I write to send a big thank-you to all of you and your teams for the wonderful transformation on my office from the 1970's period to 2012 in the space of two weeks last month. Your good eye, expert skills, attention to detail, and commitment to quality are responsible for the beautiful environment I am working in now. I am thoroughly enjoying the open design, the cool color scheme, and the rich wood finish, and the combination is attracking oooh's and aaah's from everyone who comes to meet with me. The most recent word uttered by a vistor was "Swank!"

Thank you so much for your hard work and fine workmanship.

With best regards,
Leslie P. Tolbert, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President for Research

Recent Work Completed

To Whom it May Concern,
My name is Didi Johnson, and I function as Dr. Wolk's Laboratory and Contract Manager. For the past 2 days, Fred B and John V have been working diligently to complete a work order converting some electrical outlets for our lab in the Keating Bldg on the 3rd floor.

They completed the work quickly, efficiently and exceptionally carefully being that much of the work was in and around extremely sensitive equipment. They were very communicative with me regarding what their plans were to complete the work and not disrupt the experiments that would be occurring or harming the equipment installed in the location. Their work and service was exceptional!!

Best regards,
Didi

Thank You!!!

We greatly appreciate the painting of the wall in the law school south lobby. Not only is it beautiful, but it was also done exactly when you said it would be. And the desk is centered on the wall as we had requested.

Many thanks for excellent work!!!
Bonnie Schlichting
Administrative Associate
James E. Rogers College of Law

How Green the Grass Grows!

I wanted to tell you that the grass on the Mall is looking greener and lusher than it has in years. I thought it might never recover from the Student Union construction and the football parking, but it has! Perhaps this is owing in part to the efforts and effects of Merlin Organics compost tea? I have been very pleased to be able to tell co-workers, fellow citizens and visitors to campus that the Mall is fertilized with organic materials. Considering how large the surface is, how much water passes through the eco-system of the lawn, and how many people and animals appreciate the grass, there is a huge potential impact of the choice you made to use an organic product. It makes me proud and happy that you did so. I have rolled in, run over and walked on the mall for over forty years. It is a glorious public space.

Thank you for caring for it so well.
Gretchen Gibbs

Feedback on Electrical Services

Hello, Just want to let you know that the service we received from Jose and Cindy (outside lighting) was outstanding. Cindy came by numerous times to ensure all lighting issues were resolved, inside the building as well as outside. Thanks for the outstanding work.

Stephanie Spease
Administrative Support Assistant
National Weather Service

BRAVO!

I'm wrapping up a very successful PAC12 recreation director meeting held here at UA the past few days. We had 11 schools represented, our national association executive staff attended, and we had visits by several sponsors and a PAC12 network representative. All of the attendees had the opportunity to both tour the recreation center and use it for a few workouts. The universal opinion was . . . . "BRAVO"! The facility looked fantastic. There was great interest in the new painting, tying together of various color schemes with the new color choices, and awe in the level of cleanliness. Many of the directors saw the facility prior to the expansion. They were duly impressed with new and renovated spaces. I wanted to thank you and all of the Facilities Management staff who have been working hard to get the facility in top shape. It really is quite impressive as a facility and the level of maintenance, upkeep and cleanliness enhances the experience even more. I really appreciate being able to have regular meetings with you and I feel that our respective staff work very well together to create a positive relationship all around. This is clearly visible in the final product.

Thank you!
Lynn Zwaagstra
Director, Campus Recreation

Merry Christmas!

I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas! You have a great department..... I would also like to say THANK YOU to your Grounds & Labor staff that planted the flowers in our flower boxes. The planters look beautiful and your staff does a great job keeping it beautiful.


Thanks again and Happy New Year.
Kathy Welch
UITS Building Manager

FM McKale Memorial Center Setup Team

Chris and Others, I just read this on Lo Que Pasa, Kudos to the entire team who made this historic visit possible. We had to take off the next morning for some family business back east. I remember many thoughts as we traveled that day. I was so impressed with our UA family and what it meant to people all over the country to create a venue for grieving and healing after that tragic day in January. Best. M The Facilities Management McKale Memorial Center Setup Team is one of this year's honorees. The team came together to prepare McKale Memorial Center and Arizona Stadium for President Barack Obama's visit to campus in January, completing work that would normally take three days in less than 48 hours. From preparing the floor to installing lighting and stages to providing the cable hookup for the event, the team worked into the night with a "whatever-it-takes attitude," according to nominator Chris Kopach, Facilities Management director. Obama spoke at the UA's "Together We Thrive" event, which drew thousands to campus to honor the victims of the tragic Jan. 8 shooting in Tucson.

Yours in safety,
Mark J. Grushka, M.S., CSP