Sandler Family campus evolves
Glenn Saucier is well prepared to implement the Campus renovations
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e wasn’t in the picture in 2004 when the Sandler Family Campus opened, but it’s fallen to Glenn Saucier, the facility’s director since 2007, to not just oversee the elaborate reconfiguring of the space, but the construction itself. “I’m acting as the general contractor too, which will add to the significant savings that the community is seeking,” says Saucier. As facilities manager of the Sandler Family Campus, Saucier will repeat the role he played just three years ago when he managed the reconstruction of existing space for the relocation of the JFS PAM program. He will hire and monitor the subcontractors throughout the nearly year-long building process that is soon to be underway. “It all started with the community decision to bring Jewish Family Service onto the main campus,” says Saucier, whose office desk and floor are covered with multiple site plans, provided by architects Tymoff+Moss in Norfolk. “Even though JFS has about 13,000 feet of office space in their current building, we determined along with Betty Ann Levin and her staff, that 9,000 would be adequate to meet their needs and even have room for some expansion.” Saucier’s goal is to make the most efficient use of all areas on the Campus, while still meeting the missions of the agencies. “Everyone’s been involved because
Glenn Saucier examines plans in his office.
executive vice-president. “It is a tribute to his abilities that many of these services, which were once contracted with New parking spaces outside vendors, are now to be added all performed in-house to far end at great savings to the of education wing community.” to enhance privacy Crews are already access for JFS clients. preparing to move doors and walls to accommodate HAT Konikoff Center for Learning and the Strelitz Early Childhood Education Center, which “Our agencies are working together better than ever today, must have their spaces ready by the time and that frankly has allowed us to go through this process school reopens in late summer. All this will occur while the Simon Family JCC Camp in the most expeditious manner possible.” will go on as normal with only minor alter—Bobby Copeland, chairman of Campaign ations. The entire redevelopment should to build the Sandler Campus in 2005 be done by next April, when JFS and the Freda H. Gordon Hospice and Palliative privacy for JFS clients. Workmen will install when the Sandler Family Campus position Care staffs relocate from Grayson Road. “We believe the proceeds from the sale a new elevator for JFS, as well as two food came along. “This is a great job because of pantries and dozens of new walls, electric a wonderful staff and the lay and profes- of that still very new building, coupled outlets, cabinets, doors and other furnish- sional people with whom I work who care with other savings we realize, will more ings. “Everyone has had to be very open so deeply for the organizations they serve,” than pay for the construction,” says Bobby Copeland, who was instrumental in the minded and willing to give a little to help says Saucier. “Glenn is a consummate professional design and construction of the Campus a the entire community,” says Miles Leon, outgoing president of the United Jewish who is extremely talented in a wide range of decade ago and is fully supportive of the areas and whose primary responsibilities at work today’s leadership is doing to make Federation of Tidewater, “and they have.” Glenn Saucier’s ability to supervise the the Sandler Family Campus include ongo- more efficient use of all space. “Our agenprocess personally ing maintenance, security, landscaping, cies are working together better than ever comes from years food service and housekeeping,” says Harry today,” says Copeland, “and that frankly of experience in Graber, UJFT and Sandler Family Campus, has allowed us to go through this process in the most expeditious manner possible. The synergies that co-location has produced are numerous and will only grow over time. Ten years from now, we may adjust again, but for now, I think the plan we have is solid.” Putting that plan into action is Saucier’s mission, and for the next 10 months or so, he will be here, there and everywhere on Corporate Woods Drive, ensuring that the next generation for the Sandler Family Campus will be even better than its first. everyone’s being impacted in some way,” says Saucier, who has had to become the ultimate diplomat among a host of Campus clients, listening to the concerns of everyone from teachers to caseworkers to executives, and then consulting with the architects and lay leadership to refine the space allocations accordingly. Noticeable refinements will be the addition of an attractive new entrance at the far end of the north wing, shaded fencing and the renovation of two of six tennis courts on the property and some other under-utilized parcels into 99 parking places, all to protect
facility management, starting at Water Country USA outside Williamsburg, where at age 26, he was in charge of operations. Saucier was on the ground floor of the creation of a Disney theme park in Indonesia, held positions in Chile and Orlando and was managing a health and fitness center for Sentara in his native Hampton
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Renovation plans for the Campus.
jewishnewsva.org | June 8, 2015 | Jewish News | 23