André Hutchinson hopes to make Physical Plant ‘the most professional department on campus’
Andre Hutchinson (Photo courtesy of UP Marketing and Communications)
By Nikki Robles, Staff Writer -- robles15@up.edu
After receiving numerous applications following the resignation of Thomas Blume last semester, the University of Portland has appointed André Hutchinson as director of Physical Plant.
"I saw it as an opportunity to take my work experience from the last 25 years and put it to work in service in the Congregation of Holy Cross," Hutchinson said.
Fay Beeler, the assistant director of Physical Plant, served as the interim director until UP made its final decision on Feb. 27.
Hutchinson graduated with a degree in finance from Notre Dame in 1986. He has over 25 years of experience in construction, including the establishment of his own construction company, Dillon Stone, in 1995.
Beeler has worked closely with Hutchinson since his arrival and appreciates his interest in meeting with all the Physical Plant workers.
"He seems fairly driven," Beeler said.
As director, Hutchinson is in charge of overseeing the Physical Plant, a department that encompasses all of UP.
"I'm responsible for the entire physical campus, including maintenance of all the buildings, new construction, infrastructure, housekeeping ground, events," Hutchinson said. "Every aspect of life here at the University, the department of Physical Plant touches in one way or the other."
Hutchinson believes Physical Plant has a duty to fix any maintenance issues that any individual who visits or lives at UP encounters.
"Our customers are everyone who steps foot on campus," Hutchinson said.
During his first week on campus, Hutchinson contacted various departments to ask for comments on Physical Plant's productivity.
"The feedback I've gotten most consistently so far is that there are some Physical Plant employees who have a long history of service at the University and they are really dedicated to the Physical Plant," Hutchinson said.
After his assessments have concluded, Hutchinson hopes to start working on improving the performance of Physical Plant.
"One thing that he is stressing is that any information he gets is going to be useful," Beeler said. "He wants to increase efficiency."
For now, Hutchinson has established a vision for Physical Plant.
"My vision for the department is that we are the most professional department on campus in terms of how we perform our work and how we interact with our customers," Hutchinson said.
