Interim Vice President of Safety & Facilities Baxter Goodly sent a note to the division after three team members passed away over the span of a week. Please see the email in your inbox if you need access to Employee Wellbeing Resources. The Staff Council has also established an In Memoriam page on its website.

Dear Teammates,

Over the last week, our hearts have been saddened by the loss of three extraordinary colleagues who graced our lives with their presence for decades – Jeff Dean, Donald Gibson, and Calvin Williams.  Jeff, Donald, and Calvin were true friends who loved the university and cherished the many GW friendships they cultivated during their years of service. Their values of dedication, humility, and kindness will continue to inspire us all to be better versions of ourselves, as they inspire me. As we mourn their deaths, let’s also celebrate the countless ways in which they touched our lives, and strive each day to honor them by embracing the values they held dear.

Experiencing this much sorrow in such a short span can be difficult to navigate alone. This is a time to come together to lean on and support each other. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need support.

My thoughts are with you all –
Baxter 

Interim Vice President for Safety & Facilities Baxter Goodly sent the following message to staff earlier this month.

Happy New Year, Team!

I trust your time away from campus gave you a chance to recharge and that you’re ready to tackle 2024’s fresh challenges.

We had a very productive 2023 – and I do mean productive. Our Facilities team completed over 23,000 service call phases since August. That’s a big number indicating all the hard work our staff is doing each and every day, but I actually want to focus on the decrease we’ve seen since implementing zones in Facilities Buildings and Grounds. During the 2021 Fall Semester when we were still primarily operating as individual shops, we had almost 2,500 more service calls. More impressively, the average time it took to complete service calls dropped from 10.59 days in November 2021 (the month we began the shift to zones) to 4.23 days in November 2023. I attribute these decreases to both the preventive maintenance and the increased teamwork that have resulted from moving to zones.

FBG accounts for the majority of our staff, but we can’t forget about the tremendous contributions from the rest of FPCM.

• Transportation and Logistics expertly transitioned us to a new shuttle provider with little disruption and completed almost 1,600 phases between trash removal, furniture projects, and relocation services.
• Utilities, Energy, and Engineering modernized elevators in several buildings and got to work on a cogen optimization project. They also had high profile achievements like the approval of the Southland Energy project expected to save us 1.5 million dollars in the first year and an energy management pilot program at Smith Center now expanding to more buildings on campus.
  Construction Management and Campus Planning earned notable publicity as well from renovations at the Smith Center, the solar system now operating at Thurston, and prominent renovations in Duques.
• These accomplishments leave no doubt we’re well prepared to take on all the projects we have slated for the Spring Semester. FBG has begun work on a strategic plan for the next two years that will involve input from many on the team. Across Foggy Bottom, we have HVAC work scheduled, including refurbishing systems in both Ross Hall and Academic Center, replacing the heating and cooling systems in Amsterdam, and restoring building services in certain parts of Gelman.

Finally, we are continuing our efforts to refresh AiM and FixIt. These systems touch every part of FPCM, meaning successful completion of this project is critical. Once we’ve reached the finish line, we’ll have created a system that better empowers our customers, increases technician productivity, helps managers improve operations, and strengthens our ability to collect and report on data and trends. We’ve already spent over 650 hours on this project already and I thank all those who have helped ensure we stay on schedule and on budget.

Your participation in these projects and our daily operations is essential. Without you, we can’t serve GW, let alone continue our journey to improve our processes. Thanks for everything you’re doing and here’s to a fantastic year ahead!

All the best,
Baxter

FPCM Senior Associate Vice President Baxter Goodly sent along the following message to FPCM staff for the holidays.

Team,

We’re coming to the end of 2023 and I can say with confidence that another Fall semester filled with service improvements and major projects has earned all of you a restful Winter Break. These last several months at GW have been marked by significant events, including the introduction of a new university president, the initiation of a substantial effort to revitalize AiM, and the execution of one of the most well-organized move-ins in recent memory.

Your dedication and hard work have truly charted our course for the year, making it a period of transformation and unparalleled productivity (a claim I’m proud to report is backed up by the numbers). Each of you has played a crucial role in the success of our endeavors, and I am immensely proud to be part of such a dynamic and committed team.

As we reflect on the achievements of 2023, I am filled with optimism about the future. The challenges we faced were met with resilience and collaboration, setting the stage for a promising New Year. Looking ahead to 2024, I anticipate more impressive milestones to come, many of which I can’t predict as they will be the result of your own creativity and planning in the face of unexpected circumstances. Together, we will continue to enhance the campus environment and provide the best possible support for our university community.

Many of you will be on campus during the break, ensuring the smooth operation of our facilities and the well-being of our students. I acknowledge your dedication and hard work, and I hope that amidst your responsibilities, you find moments of joy with your loved ones.

Wishing you all a safe and rejuvenating break. Be well, stay safe, and I look forward to reconnecting with you all in 2024!

All the best,
Baxter

Team FPCM,

Thanksgiving is a special holiday for me. It is a time to reflect on and celebrate life’s many blessings. And one of those blessings is to be a member of this incredible team that does so much to improve the lives of the entire GW community.

And it is a time to express my sincere appreciation for all that you do to make GW a truly great university. Your hard work over the past year has been instrumental in elevating our standards of customer service and creating a positive and safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. I couldn’t be prouder of your efforts and I am grateful for your dedication and commitment to excellence. You are making a difference!

As we gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving, let us take a moment to cheer our shared successes and recommit ourselves to our mission: Fostering an inviting campus environment through exemplary delivery of facilities services.

Enjoy this well-deserved break, celebrate the fruits of your labor, and anticipate the exciting opportunities that lie ahead!

All the best,
Baxter

Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer Sharon Reich Paulsen and FPCM Associate Vice President Baxter Goodly both sent out messages honoring all GW staff who have served as part of our armed forces. You can read both messages below.

Sharon Reich Paulsen’s Message

As we observe Veterans Day, I would like for each of us to treat this occasion as more than a fleeting acknowledgment. It should be a reminder to us all of the unwavering commitment those in our armed forces have made to the safety and freedom of our nation.

Veterans, the valor and selflessness that define your service inspire all of us at GW. I am truly proud to have you on our team. Our institution is privileged to have individuals of your caliber associated with us.

Please accept my thanks and the thanks of us all for your service.

Sincerely,
Sharon Reich Paulsen
Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer

Baxter Goodly’s Message

Today on Veterans Day, I’m extending my heartfelt gratitude to all the brave individuals who have dedicated themselves to the service of our nation in the armed forces. I am immensely proud to have individuals like you as part of our team, and I want you to know that our appreciation for your service goes far beyond this single day. Your dedication, courage, and selflessness are a constant source of inspiration, and we are deeply thankful for your contributions in ensuring our freedom and security.

Thank you for your service.

With great appreciation,
Baxter

As part of the launch of our brand new FPCM Employee Guidebook, FPCM Senior Associate Vice President Baxter Goodly sent along the note below. You can always view the guidebook at go.gwu.edu/fpcmguidebook.

FPCM Team,

I am pleased to share with you a new and revised FPCM Guidebook. This document provides information specific to FPCM policies and procedures and should routinely be used as a reference tool for all employees. It does not replace university issued policies but does serve as a general guideline for multiple areas within our organization. As the need arises, this guidebook will be updated and changes will be communicated accordingly.

Please take the time to become familiar with the pertinent information contained herein.

Thank you,
Baxter