As Women’s History Month continues, we want to take the opportunity to highlight a few of our ladies who work behind the scenes to provide support to our front-line team members. These women work in Admin & Support Services, Communication & Information, and Design Services to provide everything from landscape architecture expertise to setting the tone for new employee onboarding. They juggle the management of capital construction projects, gather and disseminate essential communications, manage accounts payable and receivable, and so much more.
We asked the ladies within these units to share their thoughts on the work they do and the value that women add to facilities management as a whole. The responses received are heartfelt and meaningful. These women (and many others) make Facilities Services better every day, and that is evident in their thoughtful contributions.
Pictured: Allie McCosh following the UT football win over Alabama
How Do Women Help Make Facilities Services Better?
When asked how women help make Facilities Services better, Helen Hennon (Design Services) shared that women bring diverse perspectives and increased creativity to the team. She also believes that women help enhance decision making and problem solving by providing well-rounded thought processes that lead to effective solutions.
In addition, Allie McCosh (Comm & Info) believes women bring extra compassion, patience and attention to detail to the work we do. She jokingly said that she likes to think women keep the men’s heads on straight at times. Rebecca Alcorn (Comm & Info) echoes Allie’s sentiment. She says, “Not all women are mothers, but those that are (and some that aren’t) bring that motherly concern to the team. We look out for one another in a different way than men look out for one another.” Rebecca also said, “It’s not that having women around makes Facilities better. It’s that having women in the department makes Facilities complete.”
Tracy Walker (Admin and Support Services) shares that the ladies in our Admin & Support Services team are living examples of how women elevate communication, problem solving, and juggling various responsibilities for the betterment of the department. Tracy says, “the ladies in our Admin group are daily troubleshooters and take on new responsibilities by the minute.” Highlighting specific examples, Tracy shared that Susan Gibson has really taken charge in her new role as a lead in Accounts Payable and is an excellent resource for anyone in the department needing assistance with PDs, receiving reports, vendors, and more. She applauds Mitzi Elrod who thrives on the challenge of learning something new and having a deep understanding of her job. Mitzi has embraced recent changes and is already proficient in her role. She also brags on the work of Amanda Ruelle who takes care of project initiation, which is a massive amount of work most days. She is now taking on some of the project billing and has jumped in without hesitation.
Pictured: Helen Hennon, Design Services
What Is Your Proudest Accomplishment in FS?
When asked about their proudest accomplishments, each woman’s response highlights the good while giving greater credit to those they work alongside and support. Tracy said, “Our team’s proudest moments would include keeping vendors paid during the COVID furlough and seeing our team pull together during our Admin office’s recent unexpected reorganization. Even with our workload, we seem to be a much more cohesive group these days and work well together.”
Rebecca Alcorn says she’ll be proudest of surviving the implementation of DASH training over the next few months, but she also mentioned the way her team supported the department during COVID through innovative and inclusive ideas that ensured all staff had the opportunity to continue working from home.
While Allie McCosh is new to the team, she’s already proud of the work she’s doing to set the tone for new hires in orientation. She shared that her proudest accomplishment thus far has been hearing someone in orientation praise her willingness to help them process information in a kind and compassionate way.
While Allie’s job places her in a position to support new employees with one-on-one care, Helen Hennon is often tasked with juggling multiple capital construction projects at once. She says she’s proudest of using her position to save the university millions of dollars. Helen said, “In my role, I get to see every Capital project coming and going, and every few months, I am able to identify some work that is proposed to be done that will be wasted shortly thereafter, and work to stop it. An example is that we had a Windows Replacement and Masonry Repairs project for about six million dollars that included replacing all the windows and repairing masonry on Henson and Dunford Halls. I was able to identify that due to the new business building, this would be wasted work. I was able to get Henson and Greve off the list before the work was done, and we have requested to use the money to do other buildings.”
Pictured front right: Rebecca Alcorn, with fellow FS staff from L to R: Candis Sheehan, Nikki Woolsey, and Sam Ledford
What Advice Do You Have?
Lastly, we asked women in these units to share their advice to young women looking to get into facilities management or working toward a degree in a college/program similar to the work they currently do. Their answers might surprise you, and they’re shared below:
Allie –
“DO IT. KEEP GOING. KEEP PUSHING. It’s so gratifying to know you’re working towards a something that will make you feel so rewarded long term, even on the hard days! Whatever title we may be, ALL of us women matter and make a difference!”
Rebecca –
“I tell my daughter all the time to skip the college degree and to become a female welder. The trades really are where the future is for so many people’s careers, and women can see as much, if not more success than men right now. As far as advice for people who are pursuing an education to do what I do it is as simple as this: persevere, don’t talk too much, try to understand how current processes work before you try to change them, and, most importantly, have fun. We never know as much as we think we do, and if we sit back and observe and try to learn, we will be that much more successful.”
Helen –
1. “Believe in Yourself: Confidence is key. Trust in your abilities and skills. I’ve succeeded in my career because I believed in myself, and the same will be true for you.
2. Embrace Challenges: Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow. Embrace challenges rather than shying away from them.
3. Continuous Learning: Stay curious, keep learning, and stay updated with the latest technologies and advancements in your field.
4. Develop Strong Communication Skills: Effective communication is essential, especially in roles involving project management and team leadership. Develop strong communication skills, both written and verbal, as it will greatly benefit your career advancement.
5. Seek Mentors and Role Models: Mentorship is invaluable. Seek out mentors and role models, both within and outside your organization. They can provide guidance, support, and valuable insights based on their own experiences.
6. Network and Build Relationships: Networking is crucial. Build professional relationships with colleagues, industry professionals, and mentors. Networking can open up new opportunities for career growth and development.
7. Don’t be Afraid to Take Risks: Take calculated risks and step out of your comfort zone. Sometimes, the biggest opportunities come from taking a chance and pursuing new challenges.
8. Advocate for Yourself: Especially in male-dominated fields, it’s important to advocate for yourself. Speak up, assert yourself, and ensure your contributions are recognized and valued.
9. Promote Diversity and Inclusion: As a woman in engineering, I understand the importance of diversity and inclusion. Promote diversity and inclusion within your teams and organizations, as it leads to better outcomes and a more innovative work environment.
10. Find Work-Life Balance: It’s important to find a balance between work and personal life. Prioritize self-care, set boundaries, and find activities outside of work that bring you joy and fulfillment.
Pictured: Tracy Walker, holding her February 2024 Employee of the Month award
Tracy –
1) “Many of our FS employees (not only women) started working here out of high school and are now 20-30 years in the same department, which speaks a lot for the family atmosphere we have here. The scope of work done by Facilities Services would provide a peek into many career opportunities for young ladies from Accounting to Engineering.”