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Leadership Letter

                                                          Friday, January 24, 2025

 

Good Day Facility Leaders.

 

I wanted to first share that our former DMV Independent School Alliance President Bob Butland retired last week after serving as the director of facilities at Bullis for fourteen years. Bob worked tirelessly to maintain a beautiful campus and well-groomed physical plant, while also mentoring his team to do the good work. He was to many of us a good friend and an exceptional resource.

In fact, Bob was the first facility manager that I called nearly ten years ago to help build the alliance. His leadership, and active engagement at Bullis and with fellow FMs is deeply appreciated. Different church same pew. That is the intention of the alliance.

While Bob and his wife, Celine,  now reside at the Delaware Shore, his new business venture may benefit folks at your schools who might own homes in Bethany, Rehoboth, or Ocean City.  Bob’s new number is 302.522.2209, and his business: Done Right Handyman Service. 

While wishing Bob the best, please also welcome Khalid Daniels @ Georgetown Day School, who remains equally as talented and is reasonably new to GDS. Others whose schedules might prevent them from attending DMV Independent School Alliance meetings can save this thread as a respond-to-all-hotline inquiry on whatever pressing issue arises.

Returning to the next DMV Independent Alliance meeting: we are gathering, again, at the Mannington Commercial Showroom, which has room for the more than the twenty facility leaders who attended several years ago. Sixteen of you have already said that you plan to attend. If you are able to attend, please, respond to this email so that the caterer is buttoned up. If campus commitments emerge on the date, simply provide a head’s up email or text.

Meanwhile, Dennis @ Episcopal and Mark @ Flint Hill will help guide the open-format discussion. Pressing issues that a host of you shared:

  • What successes can you share regarding hiring skilled and reliable staff
  • Are FMs looking to outsource areas that historically been filled with in-house staff 
  • Finding good GC contractors and architects for smaller and larger projects 
  • What construction companies and mechanical and electrical contractors are others having good experiences
  •  Steps to ensure finding good GC/Contractors/architects for modest and more sizeable projects
  • What projects are others planning
  • Is the DMV Independent School Alliance “Best of Trades” featured on our website up to date  
  • Steps to ensure OSHA-compliant, and what are FM using/doing for OSAHA required training
  • Aggregate buying to offset high energy bills
  • Succession planning
  • Return to quarterly DMV meetings. How do we host @ our schools. The fifteen minute single-topic zoom/teams meeting during pandemic — once every six-weeks?

 

Date: Friday, February 21, 2025 @ 11:00 AM – 1 PM

Location: Mannington Commerical Showroom 8260 Greensboro Drive Tysons, VA 22102 (ground floor on the left)

Catering: Lunch provided by Saint Germaine

Directions: Via 495 Exit 123 S (Chain Bridge Road) to International Drive to 8260 Greensboro Drive — 8260 Greensboro Drive signage is small and partially obscured

 

Neal Helm, Program Chair