Highlights from this issue:
Dear ERAPPA Colleagues,
Winding down and gearing up! The summer is winding down and ERAPPA members along with their national and international colleagues are gearing up to welcome the Class of 2028 and begin the celebrations for the Class of 2025. Indeed, happy times for all.
Occasionally happiness is not realized, often due to insufficient planning and communication. Summers for all educational institutions, from K-12 to Major Research universities, are never dull when it comes to construction, refreshing existing buildings and systems, and for hosting summer programs. Competition for space to work and play is fierce, and with a need to maximize time and money, many facilities personnel are often stretched to the limit.
Meeting expectations can be largely managed by early planning and frequent communication. Without these two ingredients, campus communities cannot be productive and content. Early planning can occur years in advance, as early as when construction plans are revealed. With any capital project, there will be disruptions to daily routines. When a community member knows there may be an interruption in their day, they can adjust. However, lack of notice causes frustration when the professor’s class is already underway, or the conference and events summer rental suddenly, and unexpectedly, is without water due to a water main tie-in.
Every campus activity is viewed as important to the community member involved, and therefore should be viewed with equal importance, be it teaching, capital improvements, an ancillary operation, or a social/community activity. However, without solid and frequent communication of potential interruption, failure and frustrations will emerge.
Successful institutions overcome these frustrations with various forms of planning and communication. With lessons learned from this and previous summers, what process improvement will your institution be working on to increase communication and hopefully increase peacefulness in the face of chaos?
Please consider sharing your story by contributing to the November 2024 edition of the ERAPPA newsletter. Send your story to Jason Sawyer, VP for Technology and Communications (VPTC@ERAPPA.ORG)
Patty Smith ERAPPA President Director of Facilities Cabrini University
Greetings ERAPPA Institutional and Business Partner Members!
While summer may be a quieter time on some campuses, and a time to step away to recharge, it has been a flurry of activity for ERAPPA scholarships.
Registration scholarships for the September 29 – October 2 ERAPPA Annual Conference in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, were awarded in June on a first come – first basis. With the generosity of conference sponsors, there were a total of 20 scholarships to be awarded to Institutional members this year! As has been practice, ten ERAPPA Ambassador scholarships, covering a full conference registration for first-time attendees, were awarded. Unique to this year were 10 additional scholarships; five Foundation scholarships covering conference registration for second-time conference attendees, directly funded by Business Partner sponsorships, and five Capstone scholarships to any Institutional attendee, covering a full conference registration and three nights of lodging at the conference hotel were also awarded. Recipients were:
Recipient Chapter Institution
Stephen Pittman
Hedi Rahmat
Rajendra N. Shah
Nicholas Hill
Ryan Ferrantelli
Marc Cormier
Joseph Westbrook
Vanessa Brow
Chris Protesto
James R Burcham
Delaware Valley Swarthmore college
Ontario Colleges Humber College
New Jersey
Montclair State University
Southern New England Thayer Academy
New York Binghamton University
Atlantic Provinces
New York
Atlantic Provinces
Université de Moncton
SUNY Cortland
Mount Saint Vincent University
Delaware Valley Villanova
Maryland-DC
University Of Maryland at College Park
Recipient Chapter Institution
Douglas Eppley
Mike Fitzgerald
Meghan McCarthy
Ryan Walker
Gussie Bing
Keystone Saint Vincent College
New Jersey
New York
Atlantic Provinces
New Jersey
Rutgers University
SUNY Binghamton University
Mount Saint Vincent University
Princeton University
Capstone
Recipient Chapter
Institution
Melissa Phillips Keystone Penn State University
Cheryl DeLorey
Jason Lewis
Colleen McArthur
Melissa Johnston
Atlantic Provinces Mount Saint Vincent University
Delaware Valley Swarthmore College
Ontario Colleges Algonquin College
Ontario Colleges Algonquin College
Congratulations to all scholarship recipients and thank you to our sponsors!
The Applications for ERAPPA scholarships to APPA U, January 6-9, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas, close on August 16. These generous scholarships cover tuition, travel, and lodging for either the APPA Leadership Academy or Institute for Facilities Management. There is no better way to prepare yourself for promotion or to sharpen your technical and leadership skills than to join your FM colleagues from around the world at APPA U.
“This was my 4th and final track of the Leadership Academy, and this opportunity provided me skills, specifically skills that were focused on higher education facilities management, that I would not have received at my local institution. With the busy pace of Facilities Management there is little wiggle room to work on and learn tools that will make us successful leaders. It is essential for new leaders to learn as they will be the ones bringing our facilities organizations into the future.”
Melissa Bergeron, Assistant Director of Operational Services, University of Massachusetts
ERAPPA scholarship applications to APPA U can be found on the ERAPPA.org website Scholarships webpage
Active membership continues to be the heartbeat of our organization. Please contact your educational institution partners, involve them in chapter meetings, and expose them to our organization's benefits.
Andy Feick VP for Member & Community Engagement Swarthmore College
APPA President & Chief Executive Officer Update
By Jessica Abbott
On July 23rd, the APPA Board of Directors announced that Lalit Agarwal has been chosen as the association’s next President and Chief Executive Officer. Lalit currently serves as the Vice President of Energy Management & Sustainability at EnergyCAP, an energy management & sustainability software solutions company.
Before joining EnergyCAP, Lalit worked for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for more than 20 years, where he served in various leadership roles, including Executive Director of University Operations, which equipped him with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing educational facilities organizations. In addition, he has participated in several key volunteer roles within APPA, demonstrating his dedication to the higher education facilities landscape and professional associations. Lalit will assume the position of APPA President and CEO in early September.
It was a privilege and honor to serve as a Co-Chair for this Search Committee. At the onset, this task seemed quite daunting, but the expertise of Opus Partners guiding the process and the participation of a diverse and engaged Search Committee quickly changed that feeling. It was an unforgettable experience to be a part of the group leading this charge and it was heartwarming to see how the members of the Search Committee collaborated and were so open to the feedback and comments of others. This experience reinforced the magic of APPA and its membership and why we are all so passionate about this organization. The future of APPA is looking so bright!
Please introduce yourself to Lalit while attending the 2024 ERAPPA Annual Conference in Valley Forge, PA.
ERAPPA Hall of Resources
Business Partners
The 2024 ERAPPA Annual Conference is approaching quickly! Exhibitor tables are selling fast, only 6 left! Make sure you sign up today. The conference takes place September 29th through October 2nd, 2024, and includes an exciting array of educational and networking programs that draw upon our theme, “Lead to Inspire” while enjoying the historic backdrop of Valley Forge National Historic Park.
Leslie Whitby
ERAPPA VP Business Partner Committee
ERAPPA 2024 Co-Chair
The Hall of Resources is a terrific opportunity to educate ERAPPA attendees about your company’s products and services or talk about your latest campus project. As a Business Partner Exhibitor, your company’s representatives will have access to all the educational sessions of this exceptional conference, as well as multiple opportunities to network, interact, and gain valuable face time with decision makers.
Reasons to Exhibit at ERAPPA 2024
• Learn more about what other regional business partners are doing to support their higher education clients.
• Demonstrate your firm’s support for APPA, the foremost organization for higher education facilities professionals.
• Connect with decision makers representing institutions from throughout the region.
• Leverage full conference registration, included for all exhibitors and sponsors, to attend a wide array of educational sessions as well as the Plenary and Keynote presentations.
REGISTRATION
The 2024 ERAPPA Annual Conference is approaching quickly, make your plans today! Early bird registration rate ends August 16th .
In addition to educational tracks on topics like “Sustainability and Innovation” and “Organizational Leadership,” and the many opportunities to socialize and network, attendees have the opportunity to participate in optional activities:
• The pre-conference Supervisor’s Toolkit has been specifically designed to meet the needs of the facilities management professional; it is not so much a teaching program as a development process, designed to help supervisors realize both personal and professional growth. Training starts Saturday September 28th at 9am and continues through to Tuesday October 1st, allowing participants to attend all meals and major events throughout the conference. Learn more about the program here.
[https://www.appa.org/professional-development/supervisors-toolkit/]
• A special tribute to our longtime colleague, Glenn Smith, will bring the ERAPPA community together in a meaningful way. See article below.
Reasons to Attend ERAPPA 2024
• Choose from an array of our 19 AIA CEU-approved learning sessions.
• Hear from Plenary speaker Valerie Smith, President of Swarthmore College.
• Share current challenges with peers to gain perspective from their lessons learned.
• Develop your professional network for future collaboration.
• Explore a region rich with college and university campuses of all types.
Message from the ERAPPA President
From the exciting keynote and plenary speakers to a wide array of educational sessions, there is something for everyone at ERAPPA 2024! I have long relied on each year’s regional conference to learn how other institutions are approaching the same challenges I face every day. I very much appreciate and value my ERAPPA network. There is more uncertainty in higher education than ever before, which makes it that much more important for us all to come together as a community to learn and to share. I hope to see you there!
Patty Smith ERAPPA President
Visit the ERAPPA 2024 website for details www.erappa2024.org
What’s in store for the ERAPPA 24 Monday Night Networking Event?
The Monday Night Networking Event at the Annual ERAPPA Conference is intended to be a time to have extra fun, continue networking in a casual, fun atmosphere with your peers and business partner supporters, and in this case, to try our hand at being a kid again!! The event is being held at Arnolds, conveniently located near Valley Forge. Be prepared to race go-karts, shoot some billiards, bowl some strikes, and indulge yourself with some ice cream or cotton candy (really, I won’t tell).
Tickets are still available at $75 per person. Hosted by ERAPPA, from 6 pm - 10 pm will have food, beverages, and entertainment to enjoy.
Only ERAPPA attendees will be allowed at this event.
Transportation to and from the
Valley Forge Casino and Resort will be provided.
Arnold’s Entertainment Center is one of the largest INDOOR family fun centers in America. It features infamous all-electric Go Karts, Laser Tag, Bowling, Bumper Cars, Bounce Zone, High Rise Ropes Course, Black Light Mini Golf, Kiddie Rides, and more than 100 Arcade Games!
See you at the Monday Night Networking Event.
Patty Smith ERAPPA President
Glenn Smith Inspirational APPA Leader
A special tribute for Glenn Smith will bring the ERAPPA community together in a meaningful way at the conference. Andy Feick (Swarthmore College), ERAPPA VP for Membership, encourages attendees to participate: "Few people have had an impact on APPA and ERAPPA like Glenn Smith. Glenn's career of service culminated in his APPA presidency and his retirement as Facilities Director at Bryn Mawr College.”
Please join Glenn’s family and friends to celebrate his memory at our breakfast the morning of Sunday, September 29th from 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM. Visit the ERAPPA 2024 website for details.
Glenn Smith passed away in 2020 after serving as APPA’s President in 2013-14. Glenn worked for 19 years as the Senior Facilities Officer at Bryn Mawr College. Glenn grew up in New York State, received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic University, and then served 24 years in the U.S. Navy with the Naval Civil Engineers Corps.
A devoted husband and father of four, Glenn was equally devoted to the APPA community, serving as ERAPPA’s 2007 President, APPA’s Vice President for Professional Development, and Dean of the Leadership Academy track one. Glenn was bestowed ERAPPA’s highest award in 2014, the Norman H Bedell Award. He earned the APPA Fellow designation in 2015, received the APPA Meritorious Service Award in 2016, and in 2019-20 served on APPA’s Governance Task Force with other APPA Fellows, to assess and recommend improvements to APPA’s Board structure. That is what he envisioned himself doing in retirement, serving the APPA community in the leadership training capacity.
Known for his energy and passion, Glenn was always the consummate gentleman demonstrating that rare blend of humility, strength, humor, and quiet confidence.
Lander Medlin, APPA Executive Vice President said; “He will not be forgotten. His memory and legacy will live on in the many, many lives he touched.”
Mary Vosevich, Past APPA President, said it best; “Glenn was a true leader, colleague, and friend. I have no words to express my feelings. May Glenn’s memory be eternal.”
Tribute to E. Lander Medlin
