- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Employees Express Commitment to Making Campus Clean and Beautiful for New School Year

John Hill — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 12:41:04 +0000

Members of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s IT Services department volunteered their time to help make campus more beautiful just in time for the return of students for the fall 2021 semester.�� About 20 employees from IT Services spent the morning of Friday, Aug. 20, working with Facilities Management employees to clean up the grounds in front of Ross Hall, Dickinson Hall, Cooper Fountain, and the Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences. “Facilities Management helped a great deal,” said Tim Stoddard, director of operations for IT Services. “They provided us with water, gloves, tools, and garbage bags. It was a great success, and I’m so proud of all of our folks for the effort they put in doing that kind of work.” Campus beautification is an important aspect of campus life. It creates a pleasant environment for students and employees and helps attract new students to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “Campus grounds are the first thing prospective students and their parents see when they visit campus,” said Kindle Holderby, assistant vice chancellor of enrollment management. “When a university is well maintained and has eye-catching landscaping, it not only raises the interest level of the school, but it also creates an environment that more students flock to.” As students and employees return to campus, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is committed to creating spaces that encourage people to enjoy the outdoor areas around campus as spaces for leisure, fellowship, and learning.�� This fall, Chancellor Christina Drale also commended the Facilities Management employees for volunteering extra time to landscape the area in front of Starbucks. These are just two examples of projects that show ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s renewed commitment to campus beautification with many more projects planned for the future. You can also make a donation toward campus beautification projects at this website.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock staff members volunteer their time to help landscape and cleanup parts of campus. Photo by Ben Krain.

Earning bachelor’s degree puts ��Vlog��ý Little Rock employee one step closer to fulfilling childhood dream

John Hill — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 18:14:33 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock employee has completed her bachelor’s degree and is one step closer to fulfilling her childhood goal of becoming an advocate for the elderly. Cadence Baize, an administrative analyst in the Facilities Management office at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, will graduate this month with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and minor in sociology. A native of New York City, Baize said she is thrilled to complete her college degree after previously attending colleges in New York and Wyoming after she graduated from Aquinas High School in 1992. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock is not the first college I’ve attended, but it has become my home, not just with my job but as a student. It’s basically my home to me in every way,” Baize said. “I am happy to be graduating. It feels satisfying that I am finally done. I’ve been pursuing this off and on for a very long time. It’s great to see an end to this where I have checked it off my list.” She is also celebrating the fact that she will graduate during the same academic year as her son, Aaron Garcia, who will graduate from eStem High School in May 2021. “I think my son is happy that I am graduating,” Baize said. “I think he definitely wants me to do it before he enters college. I think he appreciates that I am pursuing this, and I have persisted with my goals.” At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Baize is an active member of Staff Senate and the Golf FEST Tournament, which provides scholarships for Facilities Management employees. She is a past recipient of the Facilities Management Scholarship, and her co-workers are impressed by her hard work and dedication to her education. “Cadence is a wonderful, hardworking, invaluable member of the Facilities Management team,” said David Millay, associate vice chancellor of facilities management. “I am so proud of her for pursuing her degree, and I know we will all benefit from her diligence. As well as handling her day-to-day workload and her classwork, she provides tremendous support of our scholarship tournament, our annual holiday luncheon, and serves on many committees. Cadence personifies the concept inherent in our scholarship program and I know she will go on to a wonderful career.” Now that she’s completed her undergraduate degree, Baize has no plans to slow down her academic pursuits and has applied for the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology in the spring 2021 semester. The Gerontology Program focuses not only on skills needed to work with aging individuals and their families but also with the greater social issues that impact older adults. Following the graduate certificate, Baize plans to complete the Master of Social Work program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and become a social worker that advocates for the elderly. “I’ve always felt drawn to the elderly, a connection I guess you would say,” Baize said. “Even as a child, I would go to nursing homes and sit and talk to the elderly. I’m drawn toward making sure they are living the best life that they can. I care that they have all the opportunities that they should. That matters to me.” Baize is most thankful for her fellow Facilities Management employees, who have helped her achieve her dream of a college degree. “Here in my department at Facilities Management, it’s been an amazing experience,” Baize said. “Everyone is supportive and encourages you to advance yourself and to grow. That is something you don’t find everywhere. In their own way, everyone here has been so encouraging like David Millay and Shanna Fitzgerald. Everyone encourages you to pursue your education and to move up. I would have to say this department in general has been that.”

Facilities Management holds its Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament

John Hill — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 17:22:23 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Facilities Management office will hold its annual Facilities Education Scholarship Golf Fest at Pleasant Valley Country Club Oct. 26. All proceeds from the golf tournament will go toward a scholarship for Facilities Management employees who are pursuing a college degree at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. This year marks 10 years since the scholarship was created to support growth and educational opportunities for Facilities Management employees. To register, go to this link. For more information, email golffest@ualr.edu.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Facilities Management staff creates PPE kits for students, employees

John Hill — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 20:50:53 +0000

The Facilities Management employees are hard at work putting together Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits for the students, staff, and faculty at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. “A lot of the effort has come from the custodial staff,” said Sandra Vail, director of operations and services. “Facilities Management wants to help keep all of us safe and healthy. We are happy to create these kits for our campus family.” The kits contain hand sanitizer, face masks, and a digital thermometer. Much of the hand sanitizer is coming from a donation the university received from Peach Layne earlier in the summer. It has truly been a team effort that takes all hands on deck. Four people can work on the assembly line while maintaining social distance guidelines. When Cadence Baize, administrative analyst, is not working on the assembly line, she’s often cutting elastic string for face masks while she is participating in virtual meetings at her desk. “We are putting in our best for this effort,” Baize said. “Kendrick Raino even came up with an idea where we can cut multiple strings at a time. We are pulling all of our resources to get the job done.” Facilities Management plans to assemble 9,000 kits before the start of the fall semester on Aug. 24. Kits will be distributed to students during Move-in Week and in stations around campus during the first week of school. Employees will receive their kits from their supervisors. “It takes all of us to complete a project like this,” said Vince Rodgers, director of EHS and chemical hygiene. “Everyone comes together to help from the big things to the small.” In the upper right photo, Facilities Management employees Cadence Baize (left), Vince Rodgers (middle), and Sandra Vail (right) assemble PPE kits for students and employees at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Facilities Management Employees Keep Campus Up and Running

John Hill — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 15:54:46 +0000

While the COVID-19 pandemic has left most faculty, staff, and students working and learning from home, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Facilities Management (FM) crew have been bravely coming to work every day since a quiet campus became reality.�� “While the future of our university remains uncertain, we continue to repair, renovate, and construct, secure in the knowledge that our campus leaders will guide us through this pandemic emerging a stronger and more versatile community,” said David Millay, assistant vice chancellor of Facilities Management. Considered essential personnel, Facilities Management staff members have been working hard to clean and sanitize for the safety of the campus community. Dedicated FM staffers have been busy deep cleaning unoccupied campus spaces, sanitizing and sealing spaces against unnecessary use, installing pass through mailboxes, and upgrading the recycling bin distribution, just to name a few. “Our Facilities Management team has really risen to the occasion during this pandemic time to assure ‘their’ campus remains in great condition,” said Steve McClellan, vice chancellor for finance and administration. “While they also have kids at home, elderly to care for, and the same personal anxieties the rest of us are all dealing with, they continue showing up in very high percentages daily with an unfettered drive so that when ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is ready to reopen, we all will return to maintained grounds, clean and safe facilities, and will see evidence of continued construction projects. This has required a lot of retraining and juggling and hasn’t been easy. I have been in this business 35 years and have never ever been this proud of and for people I work with.”

Leslie Hutchins and Dale Fonville review plans for installing pass-through mailboxes at Mail Services.

FM employees have proved to be innovative and resourceful during the pandemic. One example stems from how they faced a shortage of hand sanitizer, which has become one of the most highly coveted and hard-to-get items around the country. ��Vlog��ý Little employees took a proactive approach and made their own supply for the campus community. The FM team then produced DIY office sanitizer kits and distributed them across campus. “We have all had to adjust the way we work by practicing social distancing, wearing masks, meeting virtually, and helping with tasks we normally don’t do,” said Leslie Hutchins, director of FM planning and capital construction. “I am proud of our team for stepping up to the challenge.” Building maintenance has also continued without a hiccup, with projects like a new roof, ceiling, and lighting in the Center for Performing Arts, the replacement of the digital marquee, and upgrades to the exterior of the Donaghey Student Center. The much anticipated Starbucks overlooking Cooper Fountain is on track to be finished in August. “Facilities Management staff have reported to campus every day during this pandemic because they are considered ‘essential,’” said Sandra Vail, director of FM operations and services. “They not only ensure that the campus buildings and grounds are maintained properly but provide on-going sanitization.”�� Despite less foot traffic on campus, it’s business as usual when it comes to maintaining buildings and grounds. “With 60 buildings amounting to nearly 3 million gross square feet, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus represents a sizable state asset,” Millay said. “Maintenance crews respond daily, not to mention weekend and night emergency call-ins to keep building systems operating properly and to safeguard occupants.”

Frank Hill Jr. cleaning and sanitizing in Dickinson Hall.

Millay recalled an incident in which FM crew members showed their hard work and dedication in responding quickly and efficiently to an incident in the Science Lab Building. “In one recent event in our Science Lab building, the main electrical breaker which feeds the entire building faltered and failed,” Millay said. “The loss of power jeopardized all other building systems that heat, cool, ventilate, and light the structure, but more importantly jeopardized the ongoing research. Electrical crews led by Ian Hadden, director of energy management services, Mike Seamon, assistant director, and Geoff Owens, electric shop supervisor, worked non-stop to determine the cause of failure and ultimately replace the main breaker. This is just one example of the daily efforts put forth by these teams to keep our buildings safe and secure.” Reduced energy consumption and utility costs continue to be a hallmark of Facilities Management. Led by Ian Hadden, director of energy management services, the employees continuously seek ways to save the university money during the pandemic. By making smart decisions like closing the parking garage, setting unoccupied temperature settings in buildings, and turning off lights in all unoccupied areas, the energy management employees have reduced its utility budget by $400,000. “I’ve been very proud, but not surprised, of the response of our Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical and BAS/Engineering staff,” Hadden said. “They have looked for opportunities to tackle the backlog of work where possible and focus on preventative maintenance over reactive responses. The BAS/Engineering team has done a great job seeking and finding ways to reduce our utility costs. These are great folks to work with.”

Peach Layne donates nearly 4,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

John Hill — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 21:30:15 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock received a helping hand from in the form of a large donation of hand sanitizer that will help keep the faculty, staff, and students healthy when they return to campus this fall.�� “We are so thankful that we are able to give back to our local community,” said Rachael Oberste, founder and CEO of Peach Layne. “These times are so difficult and challenging to navigate. COVID-19 cases for the state of Arkansas are very densely populated in central Arkansas. We see the need to help ��Vlog��ý Little Rock because the university touches a lot of lives. We are happy and grateful that we were in a position to help.”�� Oberste and Sarah Massimo co-founded Peach Layne, a wholesaler and manufacturer of retail products, five months ago in Little Rock. Oberste and her sister Becca Bailey, who serves as Peach Layne’s director of logistics and operations, wanted to help the university after talking with Bailey’s wife, Maggie Strange, associate athletic director and senior woman administrator for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Athletics. Oberste and Bailey are granddaughters of Dr. Howard Ashley Ted Bailey Jr., a longtime supporter of higher education and a pioneering physician.

Michael Seamon, assistant director of operations in facilities management, unloads a donation of hand sanitizer from Peach Layne.

“This thoughtful donation of hand sanitizer will contribute to the health and safety of our campus community,” said Christian O’Neal, vice chancellor for university advancement. “We are so thankful to Peach Layne for being a good corporate community partner who is looking out for our ��Vlog��ý Little Rock family. We are delighted that third-generation members of the Bailey family are continuing their family’s support of higher education in Arkansas.” The donation contains 3,780 4-ounce bottles of hand sanitizer with a retail value of approximately $18,880. The hand sanitizer will be distributed to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students and employees to help keep them safe during the 2020-21 school year. “Hand sanitizer in any size or quantity is a much sought after commodity today,” said David Millay, associate vice chancellor of facilities management. “This wonderful donation of nearly 4,000 personal sized bottles will go a long way towards keeping our campus community safe!” In the upper right photo, sisters Becca Bailey and Rachael Oberste of Peach Layne donated nearly 4,000 spray bottles of hand sanitizer to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Photo by Ben Krain.

In midst of hand sanitizer shortage, Facilities Management staff make their own

John Hill — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 19:16:44 +0000

With hand sanitizer being one of the highly coveted and hard-to-get items around the country, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Office of Facilities Management has taken a proactive approach and has begun making their own supply for the campus community. “We were all concerned about the availability of hand sanitizers for the university and foresaw the possibility that it might be an issue,” said Vince Rodgers, director of EHS and chemical hygiene. “Our boss recommended we look into how to make hand sanitizer. We decided to just pull the trigger while the ingredients are still readily available.” Facilities Management staff anticipated a run on hand sanitizers and ordered ingredients so they could make their own in a pinch. As suspected, a supply order for hand sanitizers fell through so staff members got busy. Facilities Management staff who participated in making the hand sanitizers include Rodgers, Sandra Vail, director of Facilities Management operations and services, Leslie Hutchins, director of planning and capital construction, and Cadence Baize, administrative assistant.

Leslie Hutchins holds a bottle of the hand sanitizer made by Facilities Management staff.

The 140 bottles of hand sanitizer were made with two-thirds isopropyl alcohol 99 percent and one-third triple Lanolin Aloe Vera lotion. Bottles of hand sanitizer have been delivered to the open offices on campus and have been placed in cleaning sanitizing kits Facilities Management staff are delivering to computer and research labs around campus. “There are a lot of YouTube videos that show you how to make your own hand sanitizer,” Vail said. “It’s just a matter of getting the supplies that you need. We have the equipment and supplies ready to make more if the campus needs it.” In the upper right photo, Sandra Vail, left, and Vince Rodgers, right, transport the hand sanitizers made by Facilities Management for use on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock honors Seamon, Lott, and Hoover as Staff Achievement Award winners

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 01 May 2019 13:15:29 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Staff Senate honored three of its staff members for excellence in the areas of service to the university, community service, and personal growth. Each winner will receive a $1,000 prize. Michael Seamon, assistant director of operations in facilities management, received the Ben Fry Service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Award. He was joined by Wanda Hoover, assistant dean for external relations in the William H. Bowen School of Law, who won the Staff Achievement Award for Community Service, as well as Ann Marie Lott, interpreter and transcriber coordinator for the Disability Resource Center and recipient of the Staff Achievement Award for Personal Growth. “In 1989, the university initiated an awards and recognition program to honor staff members who have brought recognition to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock through personal growth, service to the university, and service to the community,” Staff Senate President Angie Faller said. “These awards give the campus community an opportunity to recognize the work, dedication, and passion of our staff.” More info about the Staff Achievement Award winners:

Michael Seamon

Seamon began his career at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock on June 12, 1978, and will soon celebrate his 41st anniversary with the university. His colleagues describe him as the “go-to guy” for anything to do with mechanical, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical systems on campus.

Staff Senate President Angie Faller (right) presents the Ben Fry Community Service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Award to Michael Seamon. Photo by Ben Krain.

He joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock immediately after high school and has worked as a tradesman, on-call mechanical staffer, and shop supervisor before moving into his current role of assistant director of operations. Seamon is the first responder for storm recovery and clean-up efforts and leads the snow and ice removal crew. Last year, he was honored with the Facilities Management VIP Award. “Throughout the years, Mike has consistently gone above and beyond to serve the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community,” David Millay and Sandra Vail of Facilities Management wrote in their nomination letter. “Mike has never failed to respond to calls for help no matter the time or day. Mike’s commitment to ��Vlog��ý little Rock is unequaled and unparalleled.”

Wanda Hoover

Hoover is actively engaged in the community and belongs to many civic organizations in Arkansas. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership and as membership engagement chair of the Rotary Club of Little Rock. In 2018, she was recognized as the Rotary Club’s Person of Action. Last year, she joined the City of Little Rock’s Arts and Culture Commission, which she will chair in 2020. “Wanda is an outstanding staff member, deserving of recognition for her service to the community,” Ashley Nipp, alumni and development associate at Bowen, wrote in her nomination letter. “She is an exemplary leader who gives tirelessly of her time, energy, and resources.” Hoover is also a member of the Arkansas Women’s Leadership Forum, Association of Fundraising Professionals, and an active sustainer of the Junior League of Little Rock. In addition to her civic involvement, she serves as the program chair for the Arkansas Women’s Executive Forum and has been selected to serve as president of the forum next year.

Ann Marie Lott

As an American Sign Language/English interpreter, Lott has dedicated much of her time to the growth and development of the interpreter population in Arkansas. At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, she is an active ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Sign Language Klub and mentors students enrolled in the Interpreter Education program. “Working at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has afforded Ann Marie the opportunity to be close to the main pool of new and enthusiastic students in the field of interpreting, and you can always find Ann Marie in the mix with the group,” Ashley Beaty, staff interpreter with Disability Resource Center, wrote in her nomination letter. “She is always offering time to students to help them to foster growth and improve skills.” In the community, Lott chairs the professional development committee of the Arkansas Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and is currently planning its conference, and she is an active member of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.

Finalists for Staff Achievement Awards announced

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 20:07:47 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Staff Senate has announced the eight finalists for the 2019 Staff Achievement Awards.�� A $1,000 cash award is given to the top staff member in each of three categories: Ben Fry Service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, community service, and personal growth. The winners will be announced at the Staff Awards Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 26, in the Schueck, McCarty, Lexicon Inc. Auditorium in the College of Engineering and Information Technology. “The staff members are a vital part of the success of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” said Staff Senate President Angie Faller. “The finalists for the Staff Achievement Awards highlight our staff members’ incredible commitment to the university and community through hard work, service, and dedication.” The winners of the Staff Senate Scholarship and Jerry Crittenden Employee Book Scholarship also will be announced during the awards ceremony. Staff members who are celebrating work anniversaries, have graduated in the past year, and retiring also will be recognized. Members of the university and community are encouraged to attend the awards ceremony and reception to celebrate the achievements of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock staff members and to wear ��Vlog��ý Little Rock colors and apparel to show school spirit. For more information, contact Angie Faller at 501-916-5905 or amfaller@ualr.edu. The finalists include: Ben Fry Service to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��John Evans, associate athletic director for facilities and events, Little Rock Athletics
��Shannon Kardiak, administrative specialist, Department of Sociology and Anthropology
��Michael Seamon, assistant director of operations, Facilities Management

Community Service

��Ashley Beaty, staff interpreter, Disability Resource Center
��Wanda Hoover, assistant dean for external relations, William H. Bowen School of Law
��Kelly Rigby, administrative projects coordinator, William H. Bowen School of Law

Personal Growth

��Ann Marie Lott, interpreter/transcriber coordinator, Disability Resource Center
��Freta Rogers-Mason, information technology coordinator, Ottenheimer Library

��Vlog��ý Little Rock staff members earn Certified Educational Facilities Professional credential

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 20 Aug 2018 13:41:45 +0000

Two staff members from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Facilities Management office have received the Certified Educational Facilities Professional credential from.�� Leslie Hutchins, assistant director of Facilities Management planning and capital construction, and Ian Hadden, director of energy management, earned the certification on July 23. The credential validates the unique knowledge and competency required of an accomplished professional in the educational facilities field and incorporates advanced training in planning, design and construction, daily operations, and general management. APPA’s Certified Educational Facilities Professional credential is the only certification that demonstrates the recipient’s qualifications for educational facilities management and their dedication to the educational facilities profession, according to John Morris, chair of APPAs’ Board for Educational Facilities Professionals Certification. “Credentialing is important, not just to show that you are qualified, but also to show that you have enough dedication in your role to make the effort to earn a professional certification,” Morris said. “Quite often that says more about an individual than the certification itself. By obtaining and maintaining this credential, recipients will further assure forward-thinking relevancy and mastery of the best management practices related to educational facilities.” APPA promotes leadership in educational facilities for professionals seeking to build their careers, transform their institutions, and elevate the value and recognition of facilities in education. APPA provides members the opportunity to explore trends, issues, and best practices in educational facilities through research, publications, professional development and credentialing. Formerly the Association of Physical Plant Administrators, APPA is the association of choice for 5,200 educational facilities professionals at more than 1,500 learning institutions throughout the United States, Canada, and abroad.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Employees Express Commitment to Making Campus Clean and Beautiful for New School Year

Earning bachelor’s degree puts ����Vlog��ý Little Rock employee one step closer to fulfilling childhood dream

Facilities Management holds its Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Facilities Management staff creates PPE kits for students, employees

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Facilities Management Employees Keep Campus Up and Running

Peach Layne donates nearly 4,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to ����Vlog��ý Little Rock