Cheers Archive
Summer 2019
Collaboration in Construction
Rachel Prinkey, project manager, wrote to Andrew Gutberlet, Jeff Kokoskie and Bob Puzak with a shoutout to members of their staffs: "
The Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) contractor discovered during demo of the trickling filters that the local landfills would only accept a limited number of trucks per day of the aggregate fill. This could have resulted in an extensive delay or a costly logistics change to the WRF project.
Mike Brown connected with Travis Scanlan on an emerging geotechnical issues discovered at the Ag Digester project. They were facing extensive costs with the need to truck in fill.
Joe Swanderski and Garry Beck stepped in quickly to develop a plan to reuse aggregate.
Steve Weyandt responded and certified the material as clean fill.
The foundation for this success was set by the ingenuity of Dave Swisher . He had already explored the opportunity for reuse of the aggregate with DEP and had the necessary approvals in place. It did not appear that timing would work but the unforeseen sub grade issues at the Ag Digestor project made this a good investment.
The speed and efficiency of this work, impacting multiple mobilized crews, was impressive. Their willingness to reach across divisions and project sites collaboratively made the difference. Contractor Haskell and Mascaro are also to be commended for their participation. More than 50 truck loads of fill have been delivered with another 50 anticipated as demo continues.
This work avoided delay at the WRF project, returned six figures of tipping fees held in the WRF contingency, and offset unforeseen contingency costs at the Ag Digestor project. I am extremely grateful for their ability to think outside the box and work dynamically with other crews and contractors. Their commitment to do the right thing for our projects is clear and I wanted to pass on my respect for the work they do."
Excellent Service
Rob Gavlock, facilities supervisor, passed along kudos for excellent work. "I wanted to pass along some names of tech service employees that have been recognized by the building occupants when I was walking through as providing excellent service recently –
Pasquerilla Spiritual Center – Mark Wayne Fisher, Amy Wheeler and Melinda Kling – (As a team, they have been outstanding)
Music – Lynn Daughenbaugh"
Timely and Committed Support
Derek Leonard, Facilities Project Coordinator, wrote, "Big thanks to the OPP Wastewater Services crew for their timely and committed support of draining the Outdoor pool so repairs could begin as planned and the overall project schedule could be maintained. After a series of unplanned surprises, that entire crew stepped up as a team to help get the job done! That team consisted of Gene Shields, Dan Rudy, Nick Allison, James Kyle and Lee Palmer.
A special thanks goes out to Lee Palmer who really stepped up to the plate and was instrumental in making final arrangements to remove the green sludge after a pump had clogged. His quick and decisive action brings great credit upon himself and the Wastewater Services crew. They exemplify what it means to be a team and it was a pleasure working with them. Big thanks to Garry Beck, too. "
Standout Work
Don Wallace, chilled water supervisor, wrote to thank Mike Saupp. "Thank you to Mike Saupp for always doing an outstanding job waxing all of the floors, hallways, etc. at the West Campus Chiller Plant. He does great work!"
"One Team"
Sam Bertolino, manager of design services, wrote in support of several OPP employees who came together to help a coworker. "Several OPP folks volunteered to help build a new house for Sherri Ebeling. Sherri is a compliance specialist in Design Services. Last year Sherri's house burned down; her house was a total loss - fortunately nobody was injured.
Mike Rupert, Pete Caporuscio, Rich Manning, Jim Rohan, and Mark Gates helped build Sherri a new home and provided building code and engineering expertise. Together, and individually, they demonstrate Penn State's "Community" value as well as the "One Team" spirit of OPP. Sherri and her family moved into her new house in June 2019."
Spring 2019
Chambers Building Custodial
The College of Education's Dean's Office wrote to OPP regarding the Chambers Building custodial staff. "We want to highlight one staff member in particular, Josh Barndt. This weekend he went above and beyond for the college as we prepared for a very important event. Without hesitation, Josh worked vigorously and helped us in more was than we can count!"
Locksmith on the Move
Elizabeth Kearns, director of Housing and Food Services, wrote to OPP regarding Nick Pollick. "We really appreciate all that Nick was able to accomplish during his visit to Abington and Brandywine. Thank you so much for working with Christie and trying this new approach. Nick was able to repin all the operational doors in both residence halls. This really sets us up for success for the finishing of our key project this summer once the students move out."
Thank You from the Pets
Sherry Pinamonti, facilities specialist, wrote to thank all those who donated to the Pet Pantry. "The Faith Centre Pet Pantry of State College would like to thank the OPP Events Committee, administration, staff, and technicians for all of your support and generous contributions during the pet food drive in February. The donations were much appreciated and the support we receied was overwhelming. Thank you!"
Timely Assistance
Linda Buonanno, senior associate director, facilities and operations for Department of Campus Recreation, wrote to OPP to express gratitude for efforts to help reopen the White Building following a fire. "I wanted to take a moment to thank Environmental Health & Safety, Area 4 and Planning for assisting Campus Recreation in reopening the White Building to recreational activities on Monday, Feb. 25. More than 2,000 students, faculty, and staff utilize the facility on a daily basis and your timely assistance and support will enable them to resume their typical activities. Campus Recreation appreciates your assistance in navigating the challenges that result from a fire and assisting us in the days to come. Thank you on behalf of our members."
Clean Sidewalks
Jenn Leipold, administrative support coordinator with Graduate Enrollment Services, wrote to OPP to thank Greg Corbin for his good work and dedication. "Wednesday, FEb. 13 was an icy day for the sidewalks across campus and keeping the sidewalks clear of ice is a never-ending task. The sidewalks right outside the Kern Building were 100% ice free because of Greg. Greg had salted the sidewalks and had removed any ice, which made entering the building a safe environment for staff, faculty and students. Both sides of the Kern Building were in remarkable condition. I want to express my gratitude for a job well done."
Dedication Even in Bad Weather
Paul Moser, superintendent of Steam Services, wrote to thank the crews responsible for snow and ice removal. "I just made my way across campus and Penn State's roads and walkways look fantastic. With the rain and sleet continuing longer than folks expected, this was a hard storm to keep up with. Kudos to everyone who worked through the night and are still out there."
Great Service
Aliana Steinbugl, associate director for access and security, wrote to OPP to thank the Lock Shop. "I wanted to send a HUGE thank you to Andrew, Dave and Sam for their work in installing the emergency cores at our residence hall tonight. In just under three hours, the 189 rooms affected by the missing key were secured again. The team worked very well together, showed professionalism to the residents, and were a large part of the successful response in this event. I sincerely thank them for the service they provide to our residents and HFS. Thanks also to John for pulling the team together."
Above and Beyond
Dave Manos, assistant director for housing, wrote to OPP to thank everyone for going above and beyond during the cold weather spell. "I cannot thank the OPP team enough for everything you have done for us over the last two weeks. Numerous technicians willing to do a 24-hour fire watch for five days, the response to initial sprinkler line breaks all over the place, supervisors doing whatever it takes, and numerous technicians, custodians, service desk workers, and many others. I cannot thank all of you enough. As best as I can tell, you went way above the call of duty and with such great attitudes."
Fall 2018
Cores and Keys
Christie Kocher, HFS access and security specialist, wrote to OPP regarding a project for Harrisburg Nittany Village. "I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated all the work that went into the Harrisburg Nittany Village buildings cores and keys. This was a huge job and I couldn't have asked for a better outcome from the Lock Shop, despite the challenges we had getting the product in on time. Nick Pollick took the lead on this project, that normally would have taken a couple of weeks with almost 500 cores and 1,000 keys, and they were delivered to me today, in 9 days. Nick truly was a delight to work with and very helpful. He was very patient with my several phone calls a day and together we created a system that I am excited to share with the Commonwealth campuses for any upcoming projects."
A Beautiful Planter
Susan Wiedemer, associate controller, wrote to OPP regarding a planter on the golf course. "Thanks so much for having the planter on the golf course side of North Atherton and Park Avenue intersection decorated for the winter season to match the planter on the Nittany Lion Inn corner. It looks great and I'm glad that busy corner has some color rather than being an empty planter."
Quieting the Radiator
Beth Bintrim, a parent of a Penn State student, wrote to thank OPP for work they did in a residence hall. "My daughter, Sylvia, had put in a Fixit request because a radiator outside her dorm room on the second floor of Simmons Hall was making a lot of noise. Whoever manages the Fixit system replied that her request would be passed onto Physical Plant. The radiator seems to have been fixed and is now silent. We are grateful and wanted thank those responsible."
Stopping the Leak
Arkie Tromm, housing assistant manager at West Halls, wrote to OPP regarding the work done to fix the Mckee gutter leak. "I just wanted to say a word of thanks to the crew who worked on the Mckee gutter leak. We had water coming in three rooms and there was no way to contain the leak. Mark Fisher, Todd Dobson, Chad Smith and Jon Harr worked hard tracing down the source of the leak and then repairing the problem. Too often we complain about things and seldom hear praise. I would like to praise these folks. It was not a pleasant day to work outside, with the wet, cold conditions, not to mention the snow/slush filled gutters that needed repaired. The next day they were back to check on their work. A job well done. Thank you!"
Tower Terrace Appreciation
H. Edward Black, president of H. Edward Black & Associates and David Cavanaugh, president of Land Concepts, wrote on behalf of the College of Arts & Architecture Alumni Society Board of Directors regarding the "Tower Terrace." "We are writing to express our appreciation to University and Office of Physical Plant leadership for the process that has resulted in the space we now know as the 'Tower Terrace' adjacent to the Stuckeman Family Building.
"Allowing faculty, students, and alumni design professionals to have a voice in how the water tower project on the north end of campus proceeded was, no doubt, a daunting proposition. The project could have gone ahead as originally planned, and we would have a functioning water tower. However, because you were open to a 'creative intervention,' what we have today is far more than a functional solution to a water storage problem. We have a space that is embraced by students, faculty, staff and alumni as a place to study or to gather, a place that in its own way contributes to the community of arts and design faculty and students whose days, and often evenings, are spent nearby.
"As alumni, we have enjoyed the use of the Tower Terrace as a site for a summer dinner for our alumni group, and we hosted our Blue and White Alumni Tailgate in this space in 2018. We plan to do the same in 2019. It has been utilized by the College for the Dean's new student welcome, and for the pre-commencement reception. The lighting design, conceived by faculty in the theatre technology area, makes the space a beacon in the evening hours and extends its use all the more.
"Most great innovation in life involves a shift in perspective, and we simply wanted to thank those engaged in the decision-making process for your willingness to entertain some amount of design disruption towards what we as alumni view as a very positive end result."
Homecoming Collaboration
Pritha Sandell, operations captain for Penn State Homecoming, wrote to OPP and Derek Leonard to share thanks for all the help during Homecoming Week. "I wanted to personally thank you for all the work that you and the rest of Penn State OPP put in to all of our events. Homecoming Week, and especially the parade, would not have been possible without you. It was a pleasure working with you."
OPP's 1st Annual Holiday Bazaar: A Success!
Norma Stull, facilities specialist, wrote to thank Rebecca Perret and the OPP Events Committee for hosting the bazaar. "Thank you for all your hard work organization the Holiday Bazaar! You did an excellent job of being flexible and accommodating for all vendors involved."
Amanda Brown wrote to thank Rebecca Perret for a job well done with the bazaar. "Thank you for all the time and effort you put into the event. I appreciate you allowing me to participate. It was so nice."
Ken Vasko, facilities specialist, wrote to thank Rebecca Perret and the Events Committee for hosting the bazaar. "I just wanted to thank you and your team for putting on such an excellent event. The set-up, the volunteers, the food made this a pleasurable event for all of the vendors. I'm already getting ready for next year!"
Christina Gatehouse, human resources strategic partner, wrote in regarding the bazaar. "Great job to all who planned, prepared, and worked to make the holiday bazaar at OPP a great success. It was amazing to talk to so many talented employees/family members. Congrats on a great day!"
Living United
Becky Cunningham from the Arc of Centre County wrote to OPP to thank the volunteers during the United Way Day of Caring. "On behalf of The Arc of Centre County, we thank you for graciously supporting Day of Caring 2018! The Arc was grateful to be the beneficiary of your volunteerism and appreciate that you "Lived United." The Arc and its Board of Directors thanks you!"
Keeping Things Comfortable
Glorie Josephs, facilities coordinator, wrote to thank OPP for temperature control. "Thank you for your help coordinating with the HVAC team. Hintz's temperatures for the Alumni Council meeting were perfect. Everything was comfortable and all we happy. You are all appreciated!"
Thanks for the Assistance
Brian Bittner, director of Emergency Management, wrote to thank OPP's Garage Services for their assistance. "Many thanks for providing assistance on moving the Spring Township UTV on Friday, Oct. 5. As you may have heard, it was a successful search. Thank you for all the help."
Going Above and Beyond
Mike Uchneat, facilities representative, wrote to OPP regarding the help from Brent Cowher and his team. "Thank you guys for your recent help in getting W-239B prepped for the new microscope. You and your team have always been great to work with, but you definitely went above and beyond in getting that room ready. We did not give you enough time, and I think at times what we asked for was not as clear as it should have been. Todd Jordan, Josh Peacock, and Adam Steele all jumped right on things as soon as I could get them the right information. They stayed in touch with me and took care of everything on what I would consider short notice. Thanks to all!"
Thank You, Landscape!
Mary Sorenson, executive director of the Centre County Historical Society at the Centre Furnace Mansion, wrote to OPP to thank Brian Phiel and his landscape team for their work during the United Way Day of Caring. "Thank you so much for all of the work that was done at the Centre Furnace Mansion today! Corby Fetterolf and the arborist crew really got a ton of needed trimming done and the horticulture team was awesome.
"Thank you also for the donation of mulch and compost.
"We cannot begin to thank you enough for the impact this has on our ability to keep up with this important site. We really appreciate it."
Grateful for the Help with "My Backyard" Service Project
Donna Meyer, director of Student Programs with Schreyer Honors College, wrote to OPP to thank numerous individuals, including Tom Flynn, for their help putting on the annual "My Backyard" Service Project. "There are no words to express how grateful WE ARE for your commitment of time and expertise to this year’s 'My BackYard' service project. Your flexibility and commitment to rescheduling the event on a new date for Schreyer Scholars helped create a unique and memorable learning experience for our newest Scholars and their friends.
"We so appreciate the collaborative spirit of the Office of the Physical Plant and each of the respective staff noted below who prepared the site projects and mentored the almost 50 Schreyer Scholar volunteer participants throughout the day:
Old Main Lawn: Brian Phiel, Curtis Runyan, Adam Craw, Jeff Korman
Nautilus Garden Understory: Derek Kalp, Dan Frechen, Sharon Corl
Arboretum: Mike Toolan
"This project is a success because of your commitment to identifying sites and resources! Thank you. It has been a joy working with each of you again."
Restroom Catastrophes
Brad Wagner, facilities specialist, wrote to OPP regarding the efforts of Area 4. "I just wanted to give a shout out to Area 4 and the great job they do. We had a main sewage drain clog in the restrooms on the first floor in the HUB. Needless to say, it made a huge mess in a busy very restroom. I called Tim Petterman from area 4 an explained that we needed a plumber immediately. He sent Isaac Lauck and Jeff McCloskey over right away and they unclogged the main drain and had the restrooms up and running. I can't express how lucky we are to have Area 4 serve our building."
Customer Service Kudos
Amy Stover, financial assistant and facilities coordinator, wrote to OPP regarding Darren Dixon. "I am just writing to say how much I appreciate the customer service he offers our department. When I put in a work order, I never have to look up the status to know if it was completed or not. He always stops in to give me a brief update. I actually requested this service on an OPP survey once. Thank you!"
Impressive Tailgate Cleanup
Peter Rohrer wrote in regarding the state of the tailgating fields the morning after the first game of the season. "We meet friends at the Waffle Shop on North Atherton for Sunday breakfast on football weekends. Our trip there took us past where all the tailgating had taken place yesterday. Unless you knew there was a game yesterday, you could not tell by the state of the tailgating area. WOW. What great job completed so quickly. Very impressed. Well done."
Summer 2018
Note of Appreciation
Betty Blair, administrative support assistant, College of Liberal Arts, wrote in regarding Alan Shaffer and Luke Christine, as well as all of the Area 2 crew members. "Just to a note to let you know how thorough, accommodating, and helpful Alan has been during the installation of the benches in 502 and getting everything hooked up again. Even the installers mentioned how easy he was to work with. Luke has also been extremely helpful in dealing with the neverending AC issues in the building. These two guys are the first to come to mind today as they have been in Carpenter a lot lately, but long story short, all the Area 2 guys are the best and I appreciate all they do to support us."
New Signs
Chris Arbutina, undergraduate recruitment and engagement coordinator, wrote to OPP to thank Kelly Harris for the new signs and Ashley Dutrow and Jon Daulby for their efforts hanging them up. "The signs out of the Center for Student Advising and Engagement and the Office for Diversity and Inclusion in Henderson look geat! Everyone in the Center, in the D&I Office and the assistant dean for Undegraduate Education is very happy with how these turned out. Thank you for working with us on them!"
Picture Worthy Painting
Glorie Josephs, facilities coordinator for Executive Administration, wrote to thank Wade Fetterolf, Paul Cox, Scott Smith, Dave Nyman, the Labor Crew and Landscaping for their work. "Beautiful job on the University House's new wood fence! It's picture worthy. We appreciate the craftmanship."
Custodial Compliments
Eric Boyer, assistant director of the High Pressure Combustion Lab, wrote to OPP to thank Penny Grove for her efforts during a roof leak. "We have a recurring roof leak near a work bench, and from the look of things it must have shifted to dripping directly onto the bench and some electronics with this latest heavy rain. When I came in this morning, I noticed that the custodian had shifted the buckets/tubs we had out to appropriate locations to catch the drips, and covered the sensitive equipment on the bench with garbage bags to protect it. That was greatly appreciated, and likely prevented damage and a potential shock/fire hazard.
"I'm sure you hear about it when someone screws up, so I wanted to make sure I said something when someone did a good job."
Maintenance Week at MSC
Sarah Eichfeld, facilities coordinator, wrote to thank Area 6 and all others in OPP for helping out during maintenance week at MSC. "I know there was a large amount of work accomplished in a short time that helps to keep MSC running. MRI greatly appreciates all of the planning and effort to have the week run as smoothly as it does. The researchers here understand that this helps to minimize any major shutdowns during the year that could impact their research and keeps the facilities at MSC running reliably. Two of our major user facilities here in MSC (MCL and the cleanroom) run 24/7 all year long (except on maintenance week) and I know they greatly appreciated all the lighting work in the cleanroom and MCL greatly benefited from the electrical work with replacement of the breaker in the panel for their premiere microscope. It truly made an impact."
Help with Moving
Ruth Weber, executive director of OVPR Operations, wrote to OPP to thank a crew for helping with a move to the Navy Yard. "I just wanted to send a note of recognition and appreciation for Nadine Davitt, Tim Smeltzer, Scott Shoemaker, Bryan Packer, Ron Petrosky, and John Boatman for organizing a very large move and set up of work spaces at the Philadelphia Navy Yard for me. They were willing to take an entire floor of cubicles apart, sort, store, transport and reassemble the pieces from University Park to Philadelphia, saving my unit tens of thousands in new furniture purchases. They also let me take 4 days for the installation out of their usual schedule. They all went above and beyond my expectations, and are currently working on a similar arrangement to Behrend for another one of my groups."
Compliments
The OPP Blood Drive collected 36 units yesterday, the highest since 2010! The American Red Cross said, "It couldn’t of happen at a better time with the need so great. Thank you to all that made the time to make this happen!"
Heide Port wrote to OPP to say, "A special thanks to Hilary Stewart and Tyler Kibe for stepping up and helping during a water leak in the Director’s office at the Palmer Museum of Art on July 13th. They realized the urgency of the situation and helped provide the necessary equipment for the OPP staff who arrived to locate the issue and stood by throughout the day to help with the clean-up, brought fans to help with the drying process and helped dry books. Thank you for your help. It was much appreciated."
Kathy Swearingen wrote to OPP regarding Lois DeLosa. "I just wanted to let you know that we are extremely pleased in Lois’ work and how she is always willing to go out of her way to help us out. You have a great team!"
Beth Clark wrote in to OPP, "Just a quick note of kudos and, more importantly, THANKS to Jeremy Lingle for helping to restore cooling to my office this week. The fan motor in my office unit fried during the hottest stretch of the year so far (of course, right?!?), as well as the busiest stretch of the year (fiscal year-end)...so I was sweating for multiple reasons last week!Jeremy got a new one ordered right away and installed yesterday. When I got in this morning, it was a very comfortable, dry 71 degrees in my office (down from a humid high of 81). He was very pleasant and professional and I am eternally grateful!"
A Beautiful Landscape
Julie Hoenisch, a Penn State alum and future Penn State parent, wrote to OPP complimenting the campus landscape. "Also, I wanted to send my complements on the beautiful grounds of the campus. It's wonderful to be sending my daughter to live in such a beautiful place...a place I loved too when I attended in the late 80s! Thank you for providing that for her!"
Blood Drive Update
Todd Farrell wrote in regarding the Blood Drive. "Actually, we collected 34 units, which was 12 units over the goal!! Wow!! THANK You!! You guys are collecting an average of at least 30 units per drive, times 5 drives a year, so yes, you guys are averaging about 150 a year! Thank you!! Please send my thanks to all in OPP for their support. In the meeting I had yesterday in Baltimore, they mentioned how big of a deficit we are experiencing in regards to meeting the supply needs of the 2,600 hospitals we serve. So the fact this drive went so well and went over 12 units over is awesome and so very needed!!"
Labor Crew Thank You
Holly Sterner from Educational Equity would like to thank the labor crew. "I just wanted to say that Buzz (Buck Petrosky), Marty Koleno and John Boatman helped with a move in Grange yesterday and they were fabulous! These guys were hardworking and so very accommodating. thanks!!"
Congratulations Lan!
Lan Conrad, administrative support assistant, completed and passed her citizenship on May 18th to become an American citizen!
Compliments to Custodial
Corie McCall, administrative support assistant in Procurement Services, wrote to OPP to share compliments of Curt Yoder's custodial efforts. "Curt worked on our kitchen floor and women's bathroom floor to strip and rewax. He did an excellent job. He has such a great attitude and seems to care about the job at hand. The floor was pretty rough and he worked hard to complete it before employees arrived in the morning. We appreciated this as we only have one restroom. It is a pleasure to have him keeping things tidy at Procurement Services."
OPP Safety Award
Scott Henninger, John Mauro and Libby Kupp wrote in as members of the Materials Safety Awareness Organization (safety committee for MatSE Department) to recognize Mel Gianopoulos. "Mel is an important and integral part of the laboratory safety program in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the Steidle Building at University Park. She contributes to the safety culture in our labs by keeping her eyes open and noting problems as she goes about her job on a daily basis. She documents problems by taking photographs and sending them to the members of the safety committee, as well as discussing any issues she notes with us. She has alerted us to spills, improper disposal of glassware and contaminated gloves and improperly stored supplies/equipment which were blocking egress. Mel goes above and beyond just noting issues, however, and proactively works with researchers to educate them and help them solve barriers to their adoption of safe lab practices. She makes suggestions to prevent safety problems, such as signage posted near glass waste containers with proper disposal procedures and provided feedback on new safety initiatives.
"Mel’s contributions to the safety culture in the labs in Steidle Building are significant."
Thank You for a Great Carpet Replacement
Gary Langsdale, University Risk Officer, wrote in regarding the work of Renovation Services. "We just completed having the carpeting replaced in our office suite, and I wanted to let you know how delighted everyone in our office has been with the process and the workmanship. The crew was extremely professional, accommodating of our schedule, thoughtful about how to be efficient and non-impactful to our operations, and generally pleasant to work with. We will tell all our friends where we got great service!"
Spring 2018
Cheers to Landscape
Lorna Spearly, sales specialist at the Nittany Lion Inn wrote to pay compliment to the landscaping at the Inn. "I just wanted to take a moment and exclaim to you how wonderful our landscaping looks this year. The landscapers have done a wonderful job incorporating new plants in the green areas around the hotel and the new planters right outside Gardens entrance. It is such a delight to walk up the sidewalk each morning and see something different has popped up or was planted recently. The new mulch adds such a nice contrast and the colors of the flowers are so nice. I really can’t say enough.
"When I encounter the landscaping staff I always wish them a nice day. You can tell they are not used to having anyone recognize them while they are working and expressing appreciation for what they do tirelessly in all kinds of weather – especially the late spring snow we had recently. Please let them know someone noticed."
A Shout-Out To Area 5
Stephanie Skebeck, Assistant Housing Manager, wrote in to OPP to commend the employees of Area 5 on their hard work: "I wanted to bring to your attention the great working relationship we have with Area 5 and acknowledge one of your HVAC techs. Wade Harpster is an outstanding HVAC tech, who takes pride in everything he does. We frequently work together on numerous issues that arise all year round in North Halls. He is very knowledge in all that he does and the level of service he brings to our area is impeccable. Recently, we brought a new residence hall online and were having issues with our fan coil units in the student rooms. He discussed several options with me, and we decided on one that would work best for the building. While I had to bring others up to speed on the possible solution, due to the building being under warranty, Wade took it upon himself to go and speak with Steve Garbini, Area 5 Engineer, regarding the possible solution. When I called Wade to ask him to reach out to Steve to ensure that the solution would work, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that he already spoke with Steve, put the solution into effect and the building is now back up and running. We are very grateful to have highly knowledgeable and assiduous techs in Area 5 that we are able to depend on."
Great Work On The Armsby Building
Jane Gardner, administrative manager in Armsby Building, wrote to OPP regarding abatement and installation of new floor tile. She said,“The stairs are complete and look so much better. I don't know the names of the men that did this project but they did a wonderful job! They were neat, quiet, and the tile looks great - no seams or anything! I wanted you to know so you can pass this on to the appropriate person.”
Brad Smith, facilities coordinator, also said, “Too often the great work your crews do go unmentioned so I wanted to take a minute to pass along Jane’s praise of the work performed in Armsby Building. I couldn’t agree more of her assessment of the job. Please pass this on to the employees on each of your crews who were involved. Another job well done!”
A Thank You From Pollock Housing
Sue Merritts wrote in to thank OPP for their hard work keeping the snow at bay: "As another snowy season comes our way, we here at Pollock Housing would like to thank your staff for the outstanding job they did over this past week! Not only was it coming down at a fast pace, it was brutally cold as well. Your team members did a great job at keeping the lots and walkways cleared. Kudos to all who make this happen and it appears to be thankless work."
Gratitude For Clear Sidewalks
Brenda Miller and Tim Shortall wrote in to thank OPP for keeping the sidewalks clear after this snowfall. "We just want to thank you for all the hard work you do to keep sidewalks and parking lots clear. Keep up the good work and have a safe winter out there."
Recognition Of Hard Work
Lisa Wandel from Residential Dining wrote in to thank Ryan McCaughey and his crew for keeping the parking lots clear. "Our thanks to you and your crew (Ryan) for taking care of the weekend’s storm/ice issue. We appreciate the long hours put in to make our parking lots as safe as possible. Many thanks for the good work!"
A Helping Hand During An Emergency
Dr. Tracy Hoover, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, wrote in to thank OPP employees for their help resolving a water leak. "On Monday, January 8, the Ag Admin Building experienced a water leak on the first floor that impacted several areas of the building, including an office in the 101 suite. We would like to take moment to recognize, commend, and thank the individuals who went above and beyond that morning helping to detect the issue, assisting in getting items out of the way, and handling the overall clean-up efforts: Tammy Lucas, Hillary Stewart, Seth Shoemaker, Dan Smoyer, Kevin Morningstar, Wade Harpster, Mike Gibboney, Pat Kasper, and Doug Hagman.
Their actions kept the impact of this water leak minimal and their efforts did not go unnoticed. We truly appreciate everything this crew of individuals did. We would also like to take a moment to recognize the entire janitorial staff in the Ag Admin Building. There have been multiple compliments on how nice the building looks and the excellent condition they keep it in. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. Many times, only the complaints are brought to people’s attention and not the good. This is one of those times when these individuals need to be recognized for their hard work."
Fall 2017
A "Thank You" For Wonderful Customer Service
Tammy Zeiders, Assistant Housing Manager of White Course Apartments, wrote in to thank Corey Lucas and Amy Day for their exceptional service:"I wanted to send you a positive feedback in regards to Corey Lucas and Amy Day. It is a pleasure working with these two and it amazes me how they put customer service ahead of anything. Amy has been in communication with Ken Fredricks and I the last couple of days and made a visit to ensure her crew is there for the residents of White Course. As you know these residents have small babies and they live here 365 days a year and can never be put on the back burner. Corey and Amy truly get this and like stated, are willing to ensure their concerns are taken care of in a timely manner. I have worked with both Corey and Amy for many years and I can say they have not lost their focus on doing their job well and giving 100 percent!"
An Act Of Kindness
Nadine O'Leary, IT Constultant at the Information Security Office, wrote in to thank Thomas Shirey for helping her out of a sticky situation. "Yesterday evening as I was rushing out of the TSB building to get to my son's appointment, my evening became a bit more stressful. As I got into my car and turned the key, the car would not start. Panic set in as I did not want to be late for this appointment. After many attempts and someone trying to give me a jump my vehicle still would not start. All of a sudden a man by the name of Thomas Shirey appeared out of nowhere and took charge. He had me jump in my car turn the key and push the gas. I'm not sure what he did, but my car started and I was able to make it to my son's appointment. What a great feeling to know there was someone who cared enough to help me in my time of need. I am very grateful and thought you should know."
Kudos For Exceptional Work
Aliana Steinbugl wrote in to thank OPP staff for their help. "I wanted to write and let you know how thankful Housing and Food Services is to your staff, Andrew Lowery, and Les Weyandt. Last night we deployed a set of emergency cores to aid our housing operation at Penn State Behrend. Les handled and vetted our request throughly and Andrew executed the locksmith work in the utmost professional and knowledgeable fashion. It is very evident that Andrew is a talented locksmith. Again, thank you to Les and Andrew for exceptional work last night. Commonwealth Campus Housing and Food Services and HFS Access & Security are very appreciative. "
Labor Crew Cheers
Aaron Knight, a facilities representative from the Eberly College of Science, wrote in to thank the Labor Crew for their excellent work. "I just want to take a moment to recognize and show my department’s enormous appreciation for your labor crew team and its operation. While I do hope their work gets recognized regularly, I suspect it’s probably not on an equivalent level to the attention and dedication these men (and sometimes women – Melinda Kling) bring to each work request and project on campus. Their responsiveness when needed, and efficiency when onsite, has saved my department, faculty and staff a copious amount of time and hardship. For their limited size to cover the needs of one of the largest campuses in the country is profound, but to do so with the positive attitude and experience they bring is uncanny. And whether they’re aware of it or not, they’re ideal ambassadors for not only the University and OPP, but their labor union as well. Please continue supporting this unit and help show the appreciation that each college and unit has for this group."
Summer 2017
Vietnam Memorial Arrival At Innovation Park
Dan Leri, Director of the Innovation Park Office, wrote in to thank OPP for its help with the Vietnam Memorial at Innovation Park. "The cooperation and performance of teams from Transportation, Police Services, Risk Management, and OPP have been amazing in this WPSU project. Their expertise and direction in combination with community volunteers has been inspiring. Be sure to thank and congratulate your units when we are finished Sunday evening."
Video of wall installation: https://vimeo.com/236865041
Keeping Up With The Bike Path
Tammy Zeiders, Assistant Housing Manager at White Course Apartments, wrote in to thank Brien Phiel and Todd Zook for their work on the bike path. "I wanted to reach out to all of you and let you know how very much I appreciate all the hard work that the tree/landscaping crew did for the bike path by White Course Apartments. It was brought to my attention a couple of weeks back from the residents/students that the bike path they use every day was becoming unsafe due to the trees and bushes being over grown. The next day, thanks to Brian Phiel and Todd Zook, this concern was taken care of. It is great that they took the time to make this a priority and to putthe safety of the students first. I have received so many positive notes from the residents and students of how awesome the area looks. I also received a call from Cheree Jones (Director of Day of Caring). She wanted me to thank Brian and Todd for making this happen and that the area that she uses every day as well looks fantastic! Every year she and the volunteers try to make the bike path their priority, however this past year they needed to focus on an area by the golf course. Please pass this email onto the appropriate people and share with all the employees that had a part in making this happen. Again thank you for all your hard work and for making White Course look it’s best every day. I shared some before and after pictures with you."
A Great Restoration
Derek Kalp thanked all those involved in the Wink restoration. "I just wanted to thank everyone for their part to get the Wink restored and reinstalled. It looks great and I’ll be sharing this with the sculptor’s studio."
Graduation Congratulations
Corey Lucas, hydronic programs supervisor, earned his masters of professional studies in organization development and change management and graduated on Saturday, Aug. 12. He has been accepted into the PhD program for the same area of study.
In addition, Larry Murray, systems administrator, earned his masters of professional studies in enterprise architecture. Congratulations, Corey and Larry!
Thanks For The Courteous Service
Lisa Wandel wrote in to OPP to thank Tim Boone for his courteous service. "I was walking to Old Main this afternoon (around 11:20am) and Tim was mowing the grass near the HDev building. When a group of visitors/potential students walked by with a Lion Ambassador, he shut the power to his motor, so that the families could hear the Lion Ambassador. As soon as they were a safe distance away, he turned it back up and continued mowing. I think it was a terrific example of how each one of us can positively impact our students, visitors and guests’ experiences."
Cheers From The Materials Research Institute
Clive Randall, Director of the Materials Research Institute, thanked Area 6 employees for their hard work:
"I wanted to extend a big "Thank You" to you and everyone on your team who assisted with the steam leak that MSC experienced in the North Wing mechanical room on Friday morning (July 21). Due to the OPP's quick response in getting the steam safely shut off, repaired, and the building back online, there was no equipment adversely affected other than the minimal downtime the repair necessitated. As you are very aware, there are millions of dollars of highly sensitive equipment, such as clean room and instruments within, and other sensitive equipment that can be damaged due to high humidity, temperature and lack of cooling water, within the building that serves both the Penn State community and industry. Once the building was brought back online, your work enabled us to stabilize the temperatures and building systems, including resetting the fire alarm, which saved further impact to critical systems. It has been noted by the occupants of this building over and over again how your care and attention to detail keep our building running and provide the best conditions to allow our researchers to make progress.
We wanted to take this opportunity to recognize you for the hard work that goes into keeping all of Area 6 running so efficiently, and we sincerely appreciate it. We wanted you to know that the administration, faculty, and staff greatly appreciate the sincere efforts and professionalism of your group."
A Special Thank You...
Jeffery Leavey, the former Radiation Safety Officer in the Environmental Health and Safety department was granted the 2017 Honor Roll Award by the Health Physics Society. This award is given posthumously to honor the Health Physics Society members who made significant contributions to the profession of health physics during their careers, but were not otherwise honored by the Society during their lifetimes. Jeff’s wife and son presented at the awards banquet on July 11th, 2017 to receive the award on Jeff’s behalf during the 62nd annual Health Physics Society meeting.
Jeff Leavey passed away on September 30, 2016.
Tips and Tricks in ARC Magazine
Tom Worrick, metal worker, fabrication and maintenance, submitted a tip to ARC magazine for their "Beginner Tips & Tricks" article and his was selected for inclusion in Summer 2017 edition. Tom wrote, "Always open the valve on your tank before installing the regulators in case some debris has found its way into the valve. Just a quick open will do the trick." Because his submission was selected, Tom will receive a Lincoln Electric Welding Gear Ready-Pak. Congratulations, Tom!
Celebrating OPP’s Recent Apprenticeship Completions
Recently, a group of OPP apprentices completed their four-year apprenticeship program. Because of this, we would like to congratulate elevator technicians Brian Grubb and Matt Lessman as well as heating and ventilation technicians John Miller, Corey Runkle, Howard McGonigal, and Jason Whitford. Each employee that applies for one of the posted apprenticeship opportunities must go through a lengthy selection process involving a review of educational transcripts, a formal exam, and an interview. Those that are successful are then offered the opportunity to participate in a Pennsylvania Registered Apprenticeship program. Both the elevator and heating and ventilation programs require apprentices to spend four years -- or 8,000 hours -- on the job learning from fellow journeyman. They are also required to complete at least 144 hours of related instruction relating to Math, English, and Technical Trade-related theory. These six apprentices did an outstanding job in this endeavor and were presented with a certificate from the state along with celebratory remarks from Associate Vice President Ford Stryker and Teamsters President Jonathan Light. Once again, we would like to commend them on their extraordinary work.
Keeping Customers Cool
Kris Wentling, real estate specialist, wrote to thank Bill Mauk for his work to keep those in Benedict House cool and comfortable. "The A/C system here in Benedict House has been an issue for the last few years and finally died this spring. Bill was integral in getting new units ordered and installed to have us back up and cooled off before the heat of summer arrived. During the course of his 3+ weeks in our building, he kept us continually up to date on the status of our project and once completed, proceeded to share information with us on how the units work and how to adjust the temperature settings if necessary. On top of the installation of our faulty units, Bill went above and beyond in making repairs to other aspects of our system that would help the efficiency of heating and cooling in our building. He also plans to make recommendations back to OPP for other ways to improve our overall HVAC system in the future. Bill’s diligence and expertise in handling this project make me feel confident that we will be sufficiently heated and cooled for many years to come."
A Snow Removal Shout-Out
Nadine Davitt, Jeff Dice, Matt Wolf, and Brian Phiel recieved a shout-out this year,"for their leadership this winter cleaning and clearing the snow and ice." To read more about their recognition, visit Penn State News.
Spring 2017
Kudos To The Wood Shop
Glorie Josephs, receptionist/facilities coordinator wrote to thank OPP for their work. "Thank you to Chad Alterio and everyone in the wood shop for the beautiful finishing work on our Robb Hall wood round table and University House railings. The table looks brand new and our historic University House is now safer with the sturdier railings. It’s a pleasure working with you and Chad – we truly appreciate the careful attention to details and first class service!"
Thrilled With The Landscape
Bruce Grinder, user support specialist, wrote to share compliments of Shawn Wood who works in landscaping on Ag Hill. "My team and I work in the Ag Admin Building, and we enjoy and appreciate that Shawn keeps our area so attractive, and that he is always so pleasant and courteous.
"Yesterday we were talking about the area again and one of our staff sait to me, 'Of course we always look great -- this is a high visibility area with cross-traffic and the dorms and especially the Creamery. I bet that Penn State always puts their best landscaper on Ag Hill.'
"So there you have it! By the unanimous decision of some Ag Admin staff, we believe Shawn to be the best landscaper at PSU. I know people are prone to writing to supervisors when they are mad, but we wanted to write to share how happy we are to have Shawn in our area."
A Successful "Take Your Sons And Daughters To Work Day"
Jennifer Fluery wrote to OPP about her positive experience: "This was my first year taking Mike to the ‘Take Your Sons and Daughters to Work Day’. I just wanted to let you know how fantastic I thought the OPP Shops tour was. I believe it was Brooks Meyers and John Lyons, and they were wonderful. Due to extenuating circumstances we had to leave before the stadium tour, but I really hope to do that next year."
John Bechtel also wrote to praise the event: "I just wanted to thank you all for organizing this event. Jack had a great time and looks forward to next year. At the end of the day he said, ‘I think I want to do what you do, Dad’ – pretty funny. I am not sure he knows what I do exactly but this was a good opportunity to share a ‘typical’ day with him."
Gary Helsel also wrote in about the experience: "I wanted to let you know how awesome this program was this year. My kids really enjoyed it. Thank you. Everything was great!"
Compliments To Landscaping
Kathy Kleiner wrote to OPP to compliment landscaping crews on their fantastic job this spring: "I just wanted to compliment the landscaping crew here at University Park! I walk extensively all around campus and the flower beds and containers are splendid! You and your crew do a fantastic job of keeping the campus looking pristine!"
Congratulations To Craig Dubler
As part of the "National BIM Guide for Owners" Committee, John Messner, Charles and Elinor Matts Professor of Architectural Engineering; and Craig Dubler, Penn State Office of Physical Plant Facility Asset Management program manager and instructor in architectural engineering, received the National Institute of Building Sciences Honor Award. To read the complete story, visit Penn State News.
Kudos To Custodial
Jim Caltagirone, Director of Alumni Relations and External Relations for The Graduate School wrote to praise Greg Corbin and Albert Darpino for their hard work: "On behalf of my colleagues in the Graduate School, I am writing to praise Greg Corbin and his fellow team member Albert for the outstanding effort they put forth on Saturday, March 25, to prepare the Kern Graduate Building Lobby for the annual Doctoral Alumni Recognition Luncheon. Both Greg and Albert were extremely conscientious as they ensured that the lobby would look spectacular for our nearly 100 guests from throughout the United States, Mexico, and Puerto Rico...and the lobby certainly did! Greg and Albert are not only positive reflections on your unit, but the entire University. Please know that their efforts were recognized, valued and appreciated."
Cheers From The HUB
Brad Wagner, a Facilities Supervisor, wrote to thank Connie Brumgard and Area 4 for their hard work in the HUB. "I just wanted to send an email out and give a big thank you to Area 4 and Connie Brumgard. The HUB has been a very busy building the last few months and with that, like always, we have had some issues. Connie Brumgard and her crew at Area 4 have done an excellent job maintaining our building and working with my staff. We are very fortunate to be in the Area 4 district and you should be very proud of your staff. Thank you always."
Keeping Things Clear
Rob DeMayo, director of Transportation Services, wrote regarding the March 14 snowstorm."Thanks for the help with the Fleet lot yesterday, and thanks for the help keeping CATA services runnings. The GM at CATA also forwarded their gratitude to those who were involved in clearing route pathways."
Great Job on Snow Removal
Sue Merritts, assistant manager for North, West and White Course Housing, wrote regarding the snowstorm on March 14. "Please know the staff is appreciated for their hard work through the night and into the day. I managed North Halls on March 14 and shovelers were working when I came in and the walkways were in incredible shape. Thank you for a non-appreciated job...as the snow melts and everyone forgets what you do."
A Satisfying Commute
Kristen Hanna wrote to Christina McGinley to thank OPP for successfully removing the snow near Innovation Park. "I just wanted to send a note of thanks for clear conditions this morning. I was delighted when I got here this morning, and happy to be headed to Innovation Park and not the other way, which – judging by the traffic jam – looked to be the real doozy today. Thank you, Chrissy, and everyone else who helped make for a smooth morning."
Cheers from a Tricky Intersection
Peter Aeschbacher wrote to OPP to thank snow removal crews for their efforts in clearing up the snow at the intersection of Atherton and Curtin. "Thank you for your help! As I reached the intersection after yesterday’s snowfall, I thought fondly of the plowing crew. Please extend my thanks to them for the great work!"
Kudos from Coach
Penn State Head Football Coach James Franklin acknowledged OPP in his Feb. 1 press conference. "I want to thank the people that work on this campus because it's amazing to me how many people talk to me about how beautiful the campus is, how clean the campus is. That's OPP. That's all the people that work on campus, cleaning things up, shoveling sidewalks, picking up trash."
Cheers from IST Red Lot A
Kent Matsueda wrote to OPP to thank Dave Libreatori, Howard Bone and Kalen Brown for their efforts in Red Lot A during the Jan. 31 snowfall. "I drove in this morning thinking that the Red A lot was going to be a mess. I knew there would be people parked all over the lot because of the snow.
"I was dumbfounded when I pulled in to see every car lined up as usual.
"Then I saw these gentlemen working hard shoveling every single lane line and I can tell you that it made all the difference. I've been parking here since I began working at IST in 2011 and this was the best snowy-day parking."
Sayonara, Snow!
Barb Duclos, an administrative support assistant from Facilities Resources & Planning, wrote to Matt Wolf to thank his team for their work clearing the snow."Hi Matt – Just a shout out to you and your crew for getting us dug out from the snow and ice this morning. All of us on Elm road really appreciate it! Thanks so much. Glad to be another day closer to Spring!" Russell Barton also wrote in to compliment the crews on their work: "Great clearing and prep around the Business Building this morning. Thank you."
A Successful Groundbreaking
Lynn Tressler, Executive Assistant to the Dean (College of Engineering) wrote to thank those present at the Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Groundbreaking."On behalf of Dean Elnashai, I would like to pass along our sincere thanks for those in attendance and/or involved in the Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Groundbreaking event on Friday. While the weather was a bit challenging, everything else came together beautifully. We are truly grateful for your participation."
Fall 2016
Courteous and Quick Service
Tammy Steiner, Engineering Services, wrote to Buildings & Grounds to praise the work of Linda Shawley. "She is a great employee who, when called regarding plumbing down in 113, is always very courteous, quick responding and informative. She always has a chipper attitude and let's you know what is going on, when she will return and what is being done if further work is to be conducted. The entire suite in Room 113 really all agrees what a nice and hard working person she is. She is a great employee for Penn State and OPP!"
A Prompt Response
Sandra Del Pilar, administrative support assistant with the Population Research Institute, wrote in to say thank you for the prompt response to an issue with the heater in Oswald. "Stan Mayhew came to check on the heater and while it seems to be working, he indicated he would come back to check it again and may need to change the thermostat in the room. We appreciated his quick response." Dave Brown, Area 2 Supervisor, also shared, "Stan is certainly one of the most conscientious employees I've supervised, and he genuinely takes pride in his work and assignments."
Safety Kudos to the Labor Crew
George Benko, utility safety coordinator, shared his compliments to the Labor Crew, specifically in regards to their attention to safety. "I spent a few hours with the Labor Crew watching them move a large and heavy table. I was quite impressed with the teamwork and communication between the guys. They all discussed the best plan of attack, and even though there were a few ways to move the table, they all decided to proceed with the process in which they were used to. Everyone had their proper PPE and the tools were available. Each was cognizant of the risks and stayed out of the 'line of fire.' During every step of the move, the team talked the plan through so that everyone was aware. The Safety Office appreciates their efforts toward safety."
Beautiful Fall Landscapes
Derek Kalp, landscape architect, shared his compliments to the work the landscape crews have done this fall. "The fall planting in the pot at OPP is very well done. I've had tons of comments on the fall display at the Inn too. I also have to mention the work done at the Arboretum with the wreaths and gourd displays, which have been stunning. Those are just some of the highlights. Your crew has been doing an amazing job."
A New Attraction at Millbrook Marsh
Robert Brooks, professor of Geography and Ecology, wrote to OPP in regards to work done at the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center. "It was a pleasure to work with everyone from OPP. Their suggestions and diligent efforts were essential for delivering what we know will be a very popular educational and wildlife attraction at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center. Every day that I'm there someone stops by and wants to know what we're doing, all with positive reactions. We wanted to sincerely thank Nadine Davitt, Mike Brown, Derek Kalp, Steve Maruszewski, Fred Espy, Jason Stover, Chris Taylor, Bob Warner, Scott Shoemaker, Norm Parks, Nate Haupt, Don Hassinger, Kyle Gallardy, Steve Kutches and Vince Benner, as well as anyone else involved that we've missed."
Exceptional Service
Margaret Buban, director of Finance & Business Operations at Penn State Brandywine, wrote to praise the work of Andy Ritter.
"Andy brought up an excellent point related to the Verizon Small Cell initiative and possibly changed the direction of the project. As a point of reference, VZ Wireless folks were pushing the potential to icnrease data coverage area on campus and our problem with cell service is 'voice' signal strength. Andy realized what they were pitching and asked the necessary questions. If it wasn't for him, no one else would have realized the program they were 'pitching.' Andy is excellent and serves the campuses well! Today, his service was exceptional!"
Gold Star Work
The individuals who call Ihlseng Cottage home during the work day wrote to OPP to thank the crew who completed work at their building. The members of the crew were Alan Shaffer, Greg Corbin and Mark Kopchik."We are tremendously impressed with everyone who helped to get the tubs cleaned in Ihlseng. They did a great job clearing the pipes and spent a great deal of time and effort trying to clean out the paint. These men deserve gold stars!"
Bridge Improvements
Anne Riley wrote to OPP to express thanks to the crew, including Paul Cox, Scott Smith, Rob Knapik and John Daulby, who worked on the railing at Ridge Riley's Bridge in Alumni Gardens. Anne is Ridge's daughter. "Thank you so much for the beautiful railing work on the bridge. I am just so delighted."
Making Whitmore a Success
Joe Keiser, assistant head for Chemistry Department, wrote to OPP commending Rob Bloom, who was the point-person for the Whitmore Lab renovations project. "Rob's help was critical to all facets of the project. He has served very effectively as the interface between OPP, the Chemistry Department, Stantec, Barton Malow, and the Greenberg contractor. Throughout the project, Rob demonstrated his knowledge and ability to work effectively with a wide range of people in a kind and pleasant manner. Rob was fast and helpful with all explanations, and I was impressed by his ability to keep up with the constant barrage of meetings, emails and decisions.
"I was impressed and surprised by Rob's willingness to oversee not just the big decisions, but also by his willingness to get involved with some of the small details. One part of the project that Rob got very involved with was the design of the first floor AV system. Not only was Rob involved in the detailed design discussions, but he also came to Whitmore on the first day it was used to make sure everything worked well.
"Another area in which Rob became involved with the details was the furniture selection committee. Rob arranged for the furniture meetings roughly every two weeks and he started them early so decisions could be made in a relatively relaxed manner. He participated in nearly all of these meetings and was an enormous help with thinking through the details.
"Throughout the project it was clear that Rob wanted to hold the line on expenses, but he also wanted quality. In October of 2014, we were debating about the trade-offs between 5' vs. 6' wide hoods in the organic labs. After a special meeting on this topic Rob wrote, 'Thanks to all of you for taking the time to prepare for and participate in yesterday's meeting. I think we've come to an acceptable compromise between energy usage and safety, while still retaining the six foot hoods in the project. Once this project is complete, my hope is that instead of just being a facility that is tolerated, Whitmore LAb will be an example of this balance for not only Penn State, but other institutions as well.'
"In the end I think Rob's hope has been achieved. I believe that Whitmore is a model for effective and efficient instruction in chemistry. The Chemistry Department has a lot of people to thank for this, but one person in particular who deserves credit for the success of this project is Rob."
Hansel Honored with Game Ball
Terry Hansel, project coordinator, was honored with the game ball from the Penn State vs. Maryland game on Oct. 1. Cory Chapman, assistant athletic director, said that, following a report of suspicious activity, "Terry quickly identified resources, staffing and went above and beyond in order to allow our law enforcement officials access to our stadium so a thorough and timely search could take place."