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Ford's Focus
We've made it to Spring, although I'm not entirely sure Mother Nature agrees. Regardless, it seems like warmer weather and sunny skies are on their way. I want to thank all of you for your dedication to keeping everyone on campus safe this winter. Please don't underestimate the importance of the work you all do to keep this campus running.
As I mentioned in the last edition of News & Views, we are currently in the process of reviewing the results of the employee survey that was conducted in the fall. Some of you have heard more about the results from your supervisors, while others will be hearing more in the coming weeks. We have set up a webpage for you to provide anonymous feedback, express any concerns you have and ask questions. We need your voice to be successful in this endeavor to address the key issues identified by the survey.
On a more somber note, it's been a difficult few weeks here at OPP. We had to say goodbye to two longtime employees, Claude Helton and Paul Smoczynski. I would like to personally send my condolences to all those who knew both Claude and Paul. Their absence will be felt for a very long time.
Best,
Ford
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 Bethaney Anders accepted a Janitorial Worker position in District 32. Her first day was March 23.
Hometown: Tyrone, Pa.
Hobbies: Kayaking, hiking, spending time with family and friends
 Justin Baker began working as a Janitorial Worker in District 53 on Feb. 22.Hometown: Bellefonte, Pa. Hobbies: Hunting
 Erin Branstetter began working as a Janitorial Worker in District 23. His first day was March 8.
Hometown: Tyrone, Pa. Hobbies: Hunting, motorcycle riding Jennifer Brezler accepted a position as a Janitorial Worker. Her first day was March 1. Bekah Britton accepted a position as an Administrative Support Assistant in OPP Stores. Her first day was Feb. 16.  Mike Brown accepted the Facilities Supervisor position in Utility Construction. His first day was March 23. Hometown: Altoona, Pa. Hobbies: Hunting, camping, fishing
 Tim Busko accepted a Janitorial Worker position in District 52. His first day was March 16.
Hometown: Huntingdon, Pa. Hobbies: Old movies, vintage cars, books Tammy Coble accepted a position as a Janitorial Worker in District 51. Her first day was March 2. Hometown: Bellefonte, Pa. Hobbies: Spending time with family  Boi-Lan Conrad accepted a position as an Administrative Support Assistant in Buildings and Grounds. Her first day was March 9. Hometown: Ho Chi Minh City  Albert Darpino accepted a position as a Janitorial Worker in District 43. His first day was March 22.
Hometown: Altoona, Pa. Hobbies: Working on computers, spending time with family  Dawn Dean began working as a Janitorial Worker in District 21 on Feb. 16. She transferred from Housing and Food Services.
Hometown: Centre Hall, Pa. Hobbies: Reading, camping
 Patrick Dean accepted a position as a Janitorial Worker in District 13. His first day was March 15.
Hometown: Centre Hall, Pa. Hobbies: Playing sports, hanging with friends John Deibler accepted a position as a Janitorial Worker. His first day was March 1.  Steven Derrick began working as a Janitorial Worker in District 13 on Feb. 22.
Hometown: State College, Pa. Hobbies: Walking
Gene Dubbs began working as a Lead Plumber Fitter on March 16.
 Allen Hammond accepted a position as a Specialized Equipment Technician. His first day was March 23.
Hometown: Tyrone, Pa. Hobbies: Playing guitar, working on electronics
Hunter Harris accepted a Janitorial Worker position in District 13. His first day was March 8. Hometown: Philipsburg, Pa. Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, firefighting
 Richard Harris accepted a position as a Janitorial Worker in District 23. His first day was Feb. 15.
Hometown: Houtzdale, Pa. Hobbies: Sports
 Tyler Kibe accepted a Maintenance Utility Worker position in District 53. His first day was March 8. He transferred from Hospitality Services.
Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, pool
 Dan Pick accepted a Planner/Estimator 3 position. His first day was March 16.
Hometown: Centre Hall, Pa. Hobbies: Golf, spending time with family
 Carol Quigley began a position as a Janitorial Worker in District 52 on March 9.
Hometown: Warriors Mark, Pa. Hobbies: Birding, sketching, hiking
 Devin Repasky accepted a position as a Maintenance Utility Worker. His first day was March 22.
Hometown: Moshannon, Pa. Hobbies: Lifting, hunting
 Michael Seyler accepted a position as a Maintenance Utility worker in District 32. His first day was March 16.
Hometown: Lock Haven, Pa. Hobbies: Football, DJing
Gary Shaw accepted a Planner/Estimator position. His first day was March 2.
 Mary Skiba accepted a position as a Janitorial Worker in District 31. She transferred from Hospitality Services. Her first day was Feb. 23.
Hometown: Bellefonte, Pa. Hobbies: Running  Mike Snider accepted a position as the Manager of Maintenance Programs. His first day was Feb. 16.
Hometown: Port Matilda, Pa. Hobbies: Spending time with family Mike Sprankle began working as a Janitorial Worker on March 22. Rodney Starr began a position as a Building Maintenance Worker on Feb. 16.
 Charlene Vanada accepted a position as a Janitorial Worker in District 33. Her first day was March 8.
Hometown: Spring Mills, Pa. Hobbies: Collecting antiques
**If your picture was not included, we would be glad to include it in a future edition. Please contact Susan Bedsworth to set up a time to have your photo taken.
Farewells
Lisa Brown, Janitorial Worker, accepted a position in Housing & Food Services. Her last day was March 8.
Brittany Bumbarger, Janitorial Worker, accepted a position in Student Affairs. Her last day was March 22.
Gary Carter, Janitorial Worker, accepted a position in Student Affairs. His last day is March 29.
Ty Emel, Janitorial Worker, accepted a position in University Libraries. His last day is March 29.
Vicki Eminhizer, Administrative Support Assistant, accepted a position in Housing & Food Services. Her last day was March 3.
Ed Gannon, Facilities Manager, celebrated his last day with the University on March 6.
Eunice Hockenberry, Storeroom Clerk, accepted a position with the Graduate School. Her last day was March 13.
Teri Kerr, Administrative Support Specialist, accepted a position with the Alumni Association. Her last day is April 6.
Kate Lumley-Sapanski, OSEH Manager, is retiring from the University after 37 years. Her last day is March 31.
Dave McClelland, Facilities Supervisor, accepted a position with Housing & Food Services. His last day is April 3.
Bill Newman, Planner/Estimator, is retiring after 14 years with OPP. His last day is March 31.
Sam Nwadike, Maintenance Utility Worker, resigned from the University effective March 12.
Theresa Patrick, Janitorial Worker, resigned from the University effective March 6.
Facility Coordinator Updates
Frank Driscoll was named the Facility Coordinator for E&MS.
Amy Dugan has been named the Facility Coordinator for the Hintz Alumni Center.
Steve Hayes has been named the Facility Coordinator for Human Resources.
Michelle Irvin was named the Facility Coordinator for Police Services.
Chrissy McGinley was named Facility Coordinator for University Outreach.
Tracey Noviello has been named the Facility Coordinator for the Graduate School.
Mary Pearce has been named the Facility Coordinator for the College of Education.
Katie Rountree was named the Facility Coordinator for Arts and Architecture.
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Several improvements and enhancements are on the way to the current Timecard application. The new system, known as Abacus, will go live on Monday, April 27. The new system will offer additional functionality, including:
- A user friendly and expandable view for all devices, desktop and handheld.
- Multiple timecard templates can be created.
- Employees may retract submitted timecards.
- Supervisors may reject submitted timecards.
- Autocomplete was added to fields, including Task Number, Phase Code and Craft.
- Total Hours for the day are displayed on the timecard entry screen.
- Home screens were added for Supervisors and Employees.
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| Abacus: Timecard Labor Entry
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| | Abacus: Timecard Absence Entry |
PD Code Conversion to NP Absence Types
PD Codes have been converted to the University NP (No Pay) absence types.
Non Absence ND Code Conversion to Phase Code The following ND codes have been eliminated and replaced with phase codes. For those eliminated ND codes listed in the conversion table below, you will need to now enter a task number and related phase code for the hours associated with that type of labor. A training manual and videos will be available.
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Preventing Frostbite on Behinds
Steve Briskar wrote to OPP to thank two men for their professionalism and dedication to their work. "I wanted to write and send thanks to both Sean Walker and Bill Rittelman for their help at Wartik. After the disaster a year ago, all the meetings, and other goings on, one opportunity that came up was to add heat to the second floor restrooms. These restrooms have had plug-in space heaters for years, and last year we froze pipes in one of the restrooms.
"After the design process was complete, and the project almost wrapped up, it turned out that the recommended corrections did not work. Both Sean and Bill led the charge to add heaters in this space, and they did it in record time. Two months ago this was dead in the water and I assumed we would have to live with it. Today we have working heaters and folks are not being treated for frostbite on their behinds! Both of these gentlemen are professionals and exemplify what OPP is support to be about. Not only on this project, but every daily encounter I have with them." Thanks, Sean and Bill!
Taking Care of Osmond
Teresa Davis, associate dean in the Eberly College of Science, wrote to OPP to thank the OPP staff for their attentiveness to issues in Osmond. Andrew Hughes, Connie Brumgard and the entire second shift custodial staff are to be commended for their work to clean up the water leak between the second floor and the sub-basement the weekend of Feb. 20.
Peak Day for Steam Services
 It's been one very cold winter, which has kept Steam Services very busy. The morning of Feb. 20 was one of those exceptionally cold days (it was -12 outside before the windchill) and Steam Services hit peak loads at 430 kpph and 8,500 kW. Paul Moser, Superintendent of Steam Services, wrote, "To all of you who make steam delivery on days like today possible...the University thanks you!"
Painting the Town
Dave Lieb, senior associate vice president, Office of University Development, wrote to OPP to express his thanks for the painting done in 105 Old Main earlier this month. "Our suite (105 Old Main) was painted this week by one of your crews. This was a significant undertaking, at least from our perspective, as much of the existing paint needed to be scraped and the walls primed before new paint could be applied. The crew has completed the entire suite and restored our office to a far better condition than what they found it when they arrived, and they did so well before we anticipated they would be finished.
"I want to commend the crew for their professionalism and for accommodating our needs as several of us had to remain in the suite while they worked. They are truly experts at what they do and all of us in this suite are sincerely appreciative of their skill, friendliness and work ethic."
Snow Removal Challenge
Donna Queeney, president of the College Heights Association, wrote to OPP to thank all those who contributed to the snow removal operation this winter. "What a superb job the Physical Plant people have done in keeping sidewalks and walkways free of snow and ice this winter!
"No doubt the snow removal burden has been a challenge. However, the many College Heights residents who walk to, from, and on campus have been most impressed with and appreciative of the promptness and thoroughness with which the surfaces on which we walk have been cleared. Even the bike path adjacent to Park Avenue has been kept safe for pedestrians.
"Our thanks to all who helped make our travels by foot safe, and to those who supervise them."
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Claude Helton, Oct. 7, 1956 - March 7, 2015
 Claude Helton, HVAC Maintenance Mechanic, passed away at his home on March 6. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and coworkers.
Claude was born on Oct. 7, 1956 in Mount Union, the son of the late John Morris Helton and Mary Jane White Helton. Along with his mother, he is survived by four brothers and three sisters and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his work in OPP, Claude also served as a Centre Daily Times route driver. He was a member of the Unity Church of Jesus Christ in State College. He enjoyed football, baseball, wresting and NASCAR. His greatest joy was spending time with family, church family and friends.
Services were held on Wednesday, March 11 at the Unity Church of Jesus Christ. Burial was at Pine Hall Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to Unity Church of Jesus Christ, P.O. Box 886, State College, PA 16804.
His obituary can be read in its entirety via the Centre Daily Times.
Several of Claude's close friends and coworkers shared their thoughts and memories of Claude.
"Claude and I met years ago, we worked Janitorial together. We would spend a lot of time together during break. A lot of times we'd talk about living and dying. While I'm most comfortable in my work clothes, Claude always wanted to look good when he wasn't at work. He liked to look good at work, but knew he had a job to do at work and you couldn't come in here all dressed up. We made a promise to each other. He promised if I died before him he'd come to my funeral dressed in common clothes, like he'd wear here at work, because that's how I remember him. But if he died first, I had to wear a suit, which I'm totally not comfortable in. But since he was, I told him I would dress up. I kept that promise. I know without a doubt Claude would've kept his word, as well." - AJ Bechdel, Cement Finisher
"I remember Claude for his desire to improve himself and willingness to help others. Claude started with OPP as a grade 9 and worked his way up to a grade 5 through effort and determination. That is a true credit to Claude, but that's not what really distinguishes Claude in my mind.
"OPP is a big organization. We have over 1,300 employees working 24/7/365, spread out over hundreds of buildings across campus. Because of that, it's a challenge to know everyone. It's even more difficult to get to know people well. That wasn't a problem for Claude. Claude seemed to know everyone.
"As notable as they are, what I remember most about Claude are not his work accomplishments, but his people accomplishments. I'll remember what a great guy he was." -Phillip Melnick, Director, Buildings and Grounds
 "Claude was a really hard worker and would always try to do his best. He always wanted to make sure he was doing things the way they were supposed to be done. He would do anything for you. He has such a big heart and a good spirit, and you could always see that smile of his. He was always interested in learning, and never hesitated to ask questions or reach out. One memory that makes me laugh deals with the safety meal. Boy, did Claude like to eat. It'd be stacked on that plate." - Mike Jackson, Supervisor Trades
"Claude was passionate about helping people. He just lived to serve. He wanted to serve and he never looked for accolades or praise. He just wanted to help people and he'd go out of his way to do it. You never had to ask. He took it upon himself.
 "Claude and I went to all the Penn State wrestling meets. He loved Penn State Wrestling with a passion. It's going to be hard to watch wrestling now. As much as I love it, he made it even more enjoyable. "I told my kids, 'If you go through life and find one person that you can truly call a friend, you're better than most people.' Claude was that person for me. He was a true friend." - Vernon Davis, Contract Liaison |
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Paul M. Smoczynski, Feb. 14, 1951 - March 18, 2015
Paul Smoczynski, 64, of Bellefonte, passed away on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at Mount Nittany Medical Center. He was born in Philadelphia and the son of the late Meiczyslaw Edward and Helen Blanche (Sampson) Smoczynski.
Paul was a graduate of Devon Preparatory School and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State. He worked in the construction industry for nearly 30 years, served as an operator for Oak Hall Water Company, and most recently was a drinking water system operator at Penn State.
Paul was a member of the American Legion Post 245, Bellefonte VFW Post 1600, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and Nittany Bassmasters. He was an avid hunter, fisherman and Harley Davidson enthusiast.
He is survived by one son, Michael, one sister and one brother, his former wife, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousin.
Services were held on Sunday, March 22 at the Wetzler Funeral Service, Inc. in Bellefonte. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.wetzlerfuneralhome.com.
"Paul was a quiet and kindhearted soul. He was always there to help. He got along with everyone and always did his job and did it well. He and I spent many a late night here fixing emergency problems with the system. He will definitely be missed." - Jim Hosgood, Supervisor Trades
If you have any stories or memories you'd like to share about Claude or Paul in a future issue of News & Views, email newsviews@psu.edu.
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When you retiree do you know how you're going to use all the extra time you have? Will you be busy working on projects around the house, spending time with family and friends, pursuing your favorite hobbies or pursuing other activities? Or do you fear being bored and not knowing how to fill the days?
 For Kate Lumley-Sapanski, who is retiring on March 31 after 37 years at Penn State, that question is already answered. She's looking forward to time spent with her family and pursuing her favorite hobbies, including gardening and furniture painting.
But what has she been doing these last 37 years? Quite a bit! Kate returned to the area after graduating with a biology degree from Antioch College in Ohio, a school known for its cooperative education programs. "I got a job making vaccines in a small company, but I was looking for more challenges," said Kate. She found those challenges doing research in a lab for molecular and cell biology and spent 14 years as a research assistant in biochemistry and molecular biology.
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"I'm not a creative person, at least I don't think of myself that way, but I totally love doing this."
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Kate joined Environmental Health & Safety in 1993 as the laboratory and hazardous waste supervisor and was charged with developing the laboratory safety program and managing hazardous waste removal at the University. "That was a very important subject to me after working in a lab," said Kate. "I really enjoyed developing the program."
Today, Kate is the assistant director of EHS and has a wide range of responsibilities. When asked what she did on a day-to-day basis, she said it was hard to summarize because it's different every day. She is responsible for the Preparedness, Prevention and Contingency Plan for the University and serves as the Emergency Coordinator. Kate also continues to manage the laboratory and research safety plan that she developed. She routinely meets with staff to answer questions and help resolve issues, and also people who call in who may be dealing with issues ranging from indoor air quality problems to those who need hazardous waste removed. In addition, Kate sits on a number of committees, including the emergency management group, a committee that handles how to prepare for things like the flu and Ebola, a committee that handles animal issues, as well as a University-wide safety committee.
Despite being very busy, Kate has enjoyed her years at Penn State and the ability to pursue something that she cared about. "This job has always had challenges that pushed me to do more things," said Kate. "I've always wanted to set a good example for my children. There have been many opportunities to learn and it's never been dull. It's been a great experience and a wonderful job."
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Another example of a piece of furniture Kate has enjoyed painting.
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It's also provided for some memorable experiences. One particular memory that sticks out for Kate involved an old oil tank and the duck pond. "It was probably one of the best and worst experiences," said Kate. "There was an old oil tank in the basement of the Borland building that had been forgotten about. It still had oil in it and it started to leak. That year we spent our Christmas break walking through waste-deep snow putting down absorbent materials on the duck pond to prevent a major disaster."
Beyond the memories she made, Kate said her favorite part of the job was getting to work with so many people. "I loved working with people and seeing and helping them develop the things they were good at. Seeing people do well at something they're good at is fabulous."
And what will she miss? "The opportunity to work with really great people and find solutions for complicated problems."
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Each edition we'll have a photograph of an item found in the attic. We hope you'll have fun guessing what it is. We'll include the answer in the next edition. Send your guesses to newsviews@psu.edu.
The item in the Feb. 17 issue of News & Views is a Staefa fk-h90 humidity duct sensor. Congratulations to Matt Field for the correct guess! Check out this month's item below.
Happy Guessing!
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An OPP Events Committee, composed of various volunteers from throughout the Office of Physical Plant, was recently formed. The mission of the OPP Events Committee is to cultivate, support and strengthen our work life and by doing so foster a more hospitable and engaging environment. Our goal is to build a stronger community throughout the organization and to give back to the community in which we live.
Events Committee Members:
Plans for 2015:
- Habitat for Humanity project
- Food Bank
- Bus trip to a Pirates game
- OPP Intramural softball team
- Open House night at OPP
- Kick-off Tailgate
- OPP Cookbook
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Dedicated to Diversity
April 3, 2015
9-11 a.m.
431 James M. Elliott Building
May 5, 2014
2-4 p.m.
431 James M. Elliott Building
Unable to attend this session or looking for individual sessions for your unit? Please contact Charleon Jeffries (cxj164@psu.edu) or the Affirmative Action Office (814-863-0471) to discuss other programming opportunities. |
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We Are!
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In each edition, we are including information and links to retirement information found both on the web and from Penn State's Office of Human Resources. Remember, regardless of your age it's always important to plan ahead for retirement.
What are the differences between Annuities and Mutual Funds and which one is best for you?
Penn State's retirement plan offers both mutual funds and annuities. However, there are some differences between the two that may make one or the other, or both, the best option for you and your retirement savings goals.
The Office of Human Resources has a great page set up explaining the two options, their differences, how you receive your income come retirement time and resources in case you have more questions. Check out the Annuities and Mutual Fund Comparison page for more information on these retirement savings options.
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Have something to sell? Let us know! E-mail Susan Bedsworth with your item(s), details, contact information
 and photos. We will include it in the next edition of News & Views.
And don't forget about OPP's Yammer Group "Up for Grabs." Just sign in with your University ID and password to post your item.
Headboard for Sale Size: King Style: Sleigh Condition: New Color: Cherry mahogany veneer wood with a cherry finish Dimensions: 53" by 78.75" Includes: Headboard, sideboard and hardware to attach to rails (footboard and rails not included) Price: $100
Lion Surplus
Lion Surplus handles the removal of University-owned equipment in environmentally responsible ways, such as sales, bids and auctions. Their store, located at the corner of Services Rd. and Big Hollow Rd., is open to students, faculty, staff and the public. The inventory changes daily, but the store routinely has gently used furniture, computers and other electronics, scientific equipment, and much more.
Follow Lion Surplus on Facebook to keep up to date on inventory and special events.
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Contact Us
If you have any comments or suggestions for News & Views, contact Susan Bedsworth by e-mail or at 863-9620.
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Bike share programs provide shared-use bicycles to individuals for a very limited period to time, and typically allow pickup and return at multiple locations. Participation in most bike share programs requires a paid membership to cover the costs of purchasing, maintaining and replacing the bicycles, as well as other expenses related to operating the services.
