Learn more by reading the FM Weekly introduction and updates to the FM Leadership Academy below.
2023 20 January – FM Weekly Issue 169 – Spring 2023 FM Leadership Academy English / español

Older communications:

English –
FM Weekly Communication July 21, 2021 – Issue 128
FM Weekly Communication September 17, 2021 – Issue 134
FM Weekly Communication 23 AUGUST 2022 – Issue 162 (Continued Postponement of FM Leadership Academy)

español –
Comunicación Semanal de FM – 21 de julio de 2021 – Edición 128
Comunicación Semanal de FM – 17 de septiembre de 2021 – Edición 134
Comunicación Semanal de FM – 23 AGOSTO 2022 – Edición 162 (La Academia de Liderazgo de FM Sigue Postpuesta)

Application – Spring 2023 Session

Applications were accepted January 23, 2023 through February 6, 2023 for the spring session.

Interested participants describe what interests them about the FM Leadership Academy, what they hope to gain from it, and how it will benefit their career goals. Remember to include first and last name, phone and email, FM section and current supervisor name, using the form below.

• English Application
• Spanish Application (la solicitud en español)

Who can apply?

• Full-time FM State Classified and Administrative Professional employees who have been in their position for a year or more.
• State Classified employees must have a satisfactory review of 2 or above.
• Administrative Professional employees must have a review of 3 or above.
• Anyone at any level of their career in all of the FM sections and groups may apply.
• Supervisor approval is required, indicated through a signature on the one-page application.
• Spanish translation services available, if needed.

Applications are submitted via email or in person at the HR/Personnel Office in Facilities Management North.

Contact Information 

FM Leadership Academy Coordinator:
Karin Rees, 970-556-3985 or Karin.Rees@colostate.edu

FM Human Resources/Personnel Office:
Michelle Tate, 970-491-0323 or Michelle.Tate@colostate.edu
Kathy Brady, 491-0317 or kathleen.brady@colostate.edu

Schedule

• FM Leadership Academy Spring 2023 begins March 6 and concludes end of May 2023.
• Classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
• Participants attend classes during work hours. No overtime needed. 

Curriculum/Classes

Classes will be attended during work hours.  No overtime needed. Classes are once a week during 4-hour blocks of time. There will be a variety of instruction styles in a classroom setting with time for practical discussion with the FM experts and participation from the class is an expectation. Spanish translation for classes will be available.

Examples of classes in the academy are:

• Developing Charge Rates
• Performance Management
• Maintenance and Operations of Building Systems
• Construction Project Management

Presenter Bios for the FM Leadership Academy

Tom Satterly, FM AVP Office

Tom currently serves as Associate Vice President for Facilities Management at Colorado State University. His experience includes 30 years of progressive operational management expertise and 10 years in higher education across a broad range of facility disciplines including planning, design and construction, operations and maintenance, utilities, sustainability, safety and fiscal management. Tom is a registered Professional Engineer with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering and a MBA degree.

Connie Schunter, FM Accounting & Finance

Connie Schunter has been with Facilities Management for fifteen years, with several roles in a variety of accounting areas, which has helped her gain great experience in CSU, and FM accounting procedures.  She served as work lead and Accounting Supervisor for Remodel & Construction Services, for eleven years and then three years as the Utility Accountant.  Currently she is an Area Accountant for overhead units, Outdoor Services, Building Services, and leases.  Connie has attended the APPA Supervisor’s Toolkit Training and earned her Supervisor Development Certification at CSU. She holds a bachelor’s in Early Education with a concentration in Business Management.  

Michelle Tate, FM Human Resources

Michelle Tate has 20+ years of Human Resources experience in higher education and serves as the Assistant Director for FM’s Human Resources.  She oversees all areas of HR including, compensation, job classification, training and organizational development, employee relations and performance management.  Michelle holds a BS in Human Resource Management, and an MBA degree.  Before working in Facilities Management, she worked in main HR’s Employment office where she became the Employment Manager.  Prior to that, she worked in the Human Resources and health care industry for both private sector and the military.  She served eight years in the United States Air Force, and is a Desert Storm Veteran.

Kathy Brady, FM Human Resources

Kathy Brady has been with Facilities Management for almost fourteen years.  She worked in the FM Payroll/Personnel Office as an Accounting Tech II, and then worked as a Project Accountant for Remodel and Construction Services for two years.  She returned to the FM Payroll/Personnel section where she currently serves as section supervisor.  Kathy has completed and is certified in the CSU Supervisor Development Program. She holds an AA in Liberal Arts, a BA in English Literature, and held a State of California K-12 Teaching Credential with specialization in Remedial Reading.

Patrick Thai, FM Human Resources

Patrick Thai is an Accounting Technician III with the Facilities Personnel/Payroll office, and the department’s primary point of contact for Time Clock Plus issues and Family Medical Leave.  He started with Facilities in December 2016, immediately upon graduating from CSU with a BS in Business (Accounting concentration.) While attending CSU as a student, he was also a student finance intern for CSU CVMBS. He was a transfer student to CSU, coming from Front Range Community College where he earned an AA in Business. Prior to this, he served as an Infantryman in the US Army, as well as a defense contractor. He has spent a total of three years in Iraq and eight months in Afghanistan.

Tracey Abel, FM Engineering & Capital Construction

Tracy Abel serves as the Supervisor of Capital Construction in Facilities Management.  Tracey owned and operated her own business in residential interior design and as a commercial window covering sub-contractor for 15 years before moving to Fort Collins. She has been with CSU for the past 14 years.  In her supervisory role for the past 3 ½+ years, she has had oversite of over the Capital Project Manager Team, including Contracts Manager with over $565M in capital projects. In addition, Tracey is the liaison/ owner representative for the Private-Public Partnerships (P3).   

Outside of CSU, Tracey serves on the board of Ripple Intent. This is a non-profit organization, which works to bring the issues of design and construction to the forefront and find solutions in how to make the industry stronger through soft skills; subcontractor strengthening andoutreach; and connection for all diverse backgrounds and skill sets.

Carol Dollard, FM Engineering & Capital Construction

Carol Dollard is an Energy Engineer in Facilities Management and co-chair of the President’s Sustainability Commission.  In her 22+ years at CSU, she has helped manage the university’s utility systems, helped make university operations more sustainable, and helped report sustainability metrics.  These efforts include: 21 PV installations totaling over 6,800 kW (with 21 more underway) and $15+ millions of energy and water efficiency projects; overseeing the campus domestic water system as the Operator in Responsible Charge; leading a team that conducts the University’s annual greenhouse gas inventory and produces biannual updates to the CSU Climate Action Plan; and working with a PSC team that conducts the STARS reporting every three years.

Mike Rush, FM Capital Design & Contracting

Mike Rush serves the state of Colorado as the Office of the State Architect Delegate for Capital Design and Construction Procurement, Controlled Maintenance, Code Compliance and Contract Administration and is the University Architect and Chief Building Official for Colorado State University. Mike also teaches development planning through the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the construction management department. Mike was a framing carpenter and contractor early in his career and was able to attend classes as a non-traditional student and graduate with a degree in architecture from Kansas State University. Mike became a licensed architect in 1999 and certified building official in 2010. Mike is currently wrapping up an advanced degree in construction management from CSU and plans to graduate in December.

Shelly Carroll, FM Capital Design & Contracting

Shelly Carroll has a BS in Civil Engineering and an MS in Economics.  As an officer in the Air Force, she worked as a Facility Manager for a research laboratory at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, OH.  She later worked as a construction project manager at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, and after coming to Colorado, she was employed as a Facility Manager by the Weld County School District.  She has been responsible for program plans and capital project approvals since starting with CSU in 2007.  During that time, the university has been involved in the largest building expansion since the 1960s with projects ranging from dormitories and a new stadium to research and classroom buildings.

Megan Gaston, FM Capital Design & Contracting

Megan Gaston is a member of the Planning, Design and Construction Team whose responsibilities include programming, conceptual modeling and design of proposed buildings as an Intern Staff Architect; management of the Colorado State University (CSU) Building Department as an International Code Council (ICC) Certified Building Official and management of the Colorado State University Facilities Planning, Design and Construction Standards.

Megan has worked at CSU full-time since 2016 and previously as a student from 2011-2013. Megan has a Bachelor’s of Architecture from the University of Oregon and a Master’s of Science in Construction Management and Sustainable Building from Colorado State University

Becca Mueller, FM Capital Design & Contracting

Becca Mueller is a member of the Planning, Design and Construction Team, whose primary role is within the CSU Building Department. As an International Code Council (ICC) certified Permit Technician and multi-trade Plans Examiner, Becca’s responsibilities include reviewing construction drawings for code compliance, issuing permits, and coordinating the construction inspection process.

Additionally, Becca is also responsible for facilitating and administering the maintenance of the CSU Facilities Planning, Design and Construction Standards.

Becca has worked for the Building Department in full-time capacity since mid-2019. Prior to working in the Building Department, Becca was a Program Manager for the Facilities Management (FM) AVP’s Office from 2013-2019 and was a student employee in the FM Utility Services group from 2010-2012. Becca is a CSU alum with a BA in English.

David Hansen, FM Campus Planning

David Hansen has been working in the field of Landscape Architecture for twenty-four years and specifically university campuses for the last 17.  Landscape Architecture requires one to wear many hats and have the ability to blend systems of environmental sciences, civil engineering, and design into a sustainable outcome.  These outcomes can be found throughout CSU’s campuses with the intent of creating memorable spaces that the community can positively engage with.  Another significant strength of David’s lies in physical planning as it relates to multi-modal transportation on a campus that is busting at the seams with bicycles.  As an avid cyclist, he appreciates the need to implement safe infrastructure for modes other than cars to navigate the campus and the greater community.  David is a Registered Landscape Architect in Colorado, a LEED Accredited Professional, and has received certification from DBIA.

Sandy Sheahan, FM Operations

Sandy Sheahan is the Associate Director of Operations overseeing all aspects of FM Operations and Maintenance including Building Services, Customer Services/Work Control, Logistics, Outdoor Services, Trades Maintenance, and Utilities.  Sandy has over 30 years of experience in operations and brings a wide-range of knowledge.  She completed the APPA Leadership Institute and looks forward to sharing her operational knowledge throughout the FM Leadership Academy.

Trent Wolf, FM Operations

Trent Wolf is an experienced maintenance, construction and service professional with 34 years in construction and building trades. He served in a 4-year apprenticeship program and upon completion worked in the sheet metal / HVACR industry as a journeyman, foreman, and superintendent for 11 years.  Noteworthy projects include, Denver International Airport, Warren Air Force Base, Fort Carson Space Command Center, and the Air Force Academy, Federal Center in Lakewood Colorado, and almost every major hospital in the metro area.  Trent started his own HVACR business providing maintenance and service on numerous commercial properties across the Denver metro area. In 2012, he transitioned into higher education taking a position at the Colorado School of Mines as the HVAC Supervisor where he established a preventive maintenance program that streamlined and documented processes, and ultimately improve system reliability. He also served as a Project Coordinator and Commissioning Agent at Mines for new construction projects and remodels / expansions.  As well, he supervised the Fire Safety and Building Audit teams. In June of 2021, Trent transitioned into the role of Trades Manager at Colorado State University.

Gwen Cooper, FM Operations

Gwen Cooper has worked at CSU for five years both as a Buyer and now the Manager for the Facilities Warehouse Team. Past experience includes: Outside/Inside Sales, Industrial Gearing, and Motor Sales for ten years; Air Cargo Logistics Domestic and International for sixteen years.

Gene Ellis, FM Operations

Gene Ellis is a graduate of CSU with a mechanical engineering degree, and holds a professional engineering license, is a certified water operator, and has twenty-three years of experience in institutional infrastructure.  Gene started his career at the Heating Plant as a meter technician.  He has served as Utility Services Manager for twelve years.

Ken Vergo, FM Operations

Ken Vergo has been working for CSU for 23 years. He served 6 years in Navy as a Machinist Mate working on steam equipment on two aircraft carriers and a submarine tender. After getting out of the Navy, he joined Facilities Management as one of the central plant’s boiler and chiller operator. In 2008, he became the plant supervisor. Ken is married with twin daughters heading into high school and a step-daughter that graduated from CSU this year.

Rodney Gillespie, FM Operations

Rodney Gillespie has over 20 years of experience within Outdoor Services. He began his career at CSU as a temporary hourly employee on the Sports Turf crew and quickly transitioned into the state classified system when a position opened.  He has progressively taken on more responsibilities and was promoted to supervisor of the Grounds Maintenance Zone crews in 2007. In 2016, Rodney became manager of Outdoor Services where he oversees both Grounds and General Services/Heavy Equipment.  Over the course of his career, Rodney has been a part of budget reductions and difficult times. Yet he has seen many program improvements and successes as the campus has grown into the thriving community it is today.

Dan Kozlowski, FM Remodel & Construction Services

Dan Kozlowski is the Assistant Director for Remodel and Construction Services. As Manager of RCS, Dan oversees a variety of major/minor renovation work ranging from carpet/paint projects to full scale renovations and construction projects. Dan started working with CSU while completing his Bachelor’s Degree as a student technician for Telecommunications.  After years of working with a general contractor on custom and log homes, then owning a painting/renovation company, Dan joined the FM team in 2008.  Dan has worked as a Structural Trades II & III, and a Project Manager prior to becoming Manager of Remodel and Construction Services in 2018. 

Ben Burkley, FM IT

I’ve been in the IT industry since 2006 and have worked for FM since 2013, I specialize in web and database programming.  My preferred role is to work exclusively on back-end systems and servers including server-to-server integrations field device integrations and web development to accommodate those tasks as well as others.

Shelby White, FM IT

I am a Business Systems Administrator and I have been with Facilities Management for about 3 years. I have been working in higher ed for 5+ years and have an Assoicates degree in Computer Information Systems and a degree in Business Administration. I help to maintain the IWMS system (AiM), support the use of the GO apps, and develop new workflows within the RamWorks system.

Kenda Weigang, Environmental Health Services