Happy New Year!

A greeting from Michael G. Perez, Associate Vice 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the hard work and support you have provided to the university throughout 2013. This was another year of tremendous growth and progress. We’ve shared a number of accomplishments. We’ve worked to keep this campus safe, clean, plowed, watered, warm, cool, and much more.

Though we’ve had many successes, I’d like to mention a few of them here.  
The newly founded FM Green Team provided the leadership to put us ahead of 300 teams across the state of Utah in the Clear the Air Challenge. When taking trax or riding the bus, I saw a number of our FM employees and whether it was to participate in the challenge or  your regular choice of transit, I appreciate your taking the time to track the miles and to help reflect our commitment to sustainability.

As service is an underlying value for our organization, I was also proud to participate in the first FM wide service project in collaboration with The Bennion Center.  A number of us spent a Saturday morning painting, cleaning, and sorting clothes at The Road Home.  It was both a humbling and rewarding experience. I’m grateful to all who took the time to volunteer and to those in Facility and Construction Ops who made 71 blankets and donated funds and materials to those most in need in our community.

This was also a year of continued growth of our FM scholarship program.  This year we were able to grow the scholarship from $300 to $500 dollars.  I thank Craig Bohn, Angie Meeks, Rochelle Randazzo, and Lynn Rohland for their service on the scholarship committee. I am proud to personally support this fund and thank those in the organization who also contribute to support the advancement of our employees. We anticipate the contiunued growth of this program in the coming year.
Above all we’ve done interally, we’ve also had others take notice of our work. FM’s committment to accessiblity was recognized by the Center for Disability Services. Also, Lora Mortensen was recognized with the Presidential Staff Service Award.

Too often the great things that happen here go uncelebrated. I am so proud to lead this organization and I value the excellent work we do together. As we begin this new year, please take a moment to pause, reflect on our good work, and thank those around us for all that is done to support this university.

Thank you and Happy New Year.

We have an excellent group of employees in FM. I am incredibly proud of the work we do. I thank you for your service and for helping us to lead the industry.