A New Face In Our Midst

July 16, 2009

A Letter from Your Pastor

You may have noticed a new face in our midst. UUMC and the Wesley Foundation have hired Steve Smucker as our new Facilities Administrator. This position was conceived by our Trustees and the WF Board in recognition of the fact that we have a very high-use facility that needs increasing amounts of care. They have worked hand-in-hand with the Staff Parish Relations Committee, Finance, and the Administrative Board to make this position a reality. It is also of note, especially in these hard economic times, that these committees worked hard to insure that this new position did not involve an increase in our budget.

After the new position was approved by our Administrative Board and the Wesley Foundation Board in May, we were blessed to find a candidate whose experience and skills fit our needs. Steve has ten years of managerial experience with the State of Michigan and has recently worked as the building manager for a church in Mason, MI. He has experience in supervising staff, managing budgets, working with contractors, managing complex projects, and carrying out general building maintenance.

In his new position, Steve will work with the pastors, the WF campus minister and with lay committees, especially Trustees and the WF Board, to guide the stewardship of our joint facilities. Steve began his position on July 6 and will be introduced in worship on Sunday, July 19. He can be reached at the church office between 7:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. daily and by email at smucker@tds.net. When you see Steve, please make him feel at home.

You may have guessed that this position involves transition for Darby Harris as well. The Facilities Administrator position replaces our current position of Building Manager. Darby, who has taken a full-time position at MSU, will no longer be in this role, though he will continue to be a part of our community. We will recognize Darby’s contributions in worship this Sunday. But, when you see him, please thank him for the wonderful contributions he has made to the church and the Wesley Foundation.

If you are wondering what a Facilities Administrator does, below are some of the duties involved. This is not a complete or prioritized list but only selected examples of the responsibilities that are critical to the continued effective operation and maintenance of the church and WF buildings.

Some Duties of Our Facilities Administrator:

• Schedules, budgets and supervises regular custodial and maintenance work as well as contracted services.

• Coordinates the use of facilities, including coordinating the scheduling, opening and closing of the building, and building security.

• Coordinates the purchase, conservation, inventorying and recycling of supplies, equipment and furnishings.

• Works with Trustees and WF Board in the development of short-term and long-term goals for building maintenance and improvements.

• Manages maintenance projects and capital improvements including tracking of warranty requirements and government inspections. Maintains a maintenance log on all equipment and systems as well as a supplies list.

• Monitors the heating and ventilation equipment and all mechanical rooms. Responsible for maximizing energy conservation.

• Coordinates and manages information technology support.

Pastor Kennetha Bigham-Tsai