MEET OUR TEAMS
Administrative Services
The units under Administrative Services are responsible for providing direct support the Facilities Services staff and assisting campus partners in building strong relationships with our team. This is carried out through work in Finance & Administration and Communication & Information.
Administration & Finance Unit
In many ways, Administration & Finance is the gear that keeps the Facilities Services operation running. This unit oversees all financial transactions, contract services, and purchasing authority. They’re also tasked with oversight of human resources and employee relations, safe working conditions and operations, inventory management, and warehousing. Without these functions, our front-line staff lack what they need to keep campus running safely and smoothly. Learn more about this team below.
Michael T. Howze
Director of Administration & Finance
Michael T. Howze is a results-driven leader with a wealth of experience in financial and operational management across higher education, secondary education, corporate America, and not-for-profit organizations. With a proven track record of building high-performing teams and aligning financial strategy with operational excellence, Michael is adept at driving growth and navigating complex challenges.
Currently serving as the Director of Administration & Finance for Facilities Services at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Michael oversees budgeting, procurement, safety, and human resources, ensuring that all processes align with the organization’s goals and objectives.
The Administration & Finance Unit of Facilities Services
oversees four core areas:
Financial Services
Material Procurement, Receiving, Warehousing, and Inventory Management
Personnel & Administrative Support Services
Safety
These responsibilities are managed
by four key subunits
Business Services Office
The Business Services Office is the central hub for all financial matters, including fiscal policies, budgeting, accounts payable/receivable, and contract services.
Central Supply & Warehouse
This team handles procurement and warehousing operations for all of Facilities Services, working closely with the UT System Procurement Services Office to ensure seamless purchasing and inventory management.
Human Resources Office
The Facilities Services Human Resources Office is a vital resource for both prospective and current employees. They provide guidance on HR policies and procedures, assist with employee-related questions, and support career development. Whether you’re exploring employment opportunities, understanding available benefits, or addressing workplace concerns, this team is here to help. Adminstrative Services
Safety Coordination
The Safety Coordinator plays a crucial role in promoting and maintaining a safe work environment across all areas of Facilities Services. This unit is responsible for implementing safety protocols, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. The Safety Coordinator works proactively to identify and mitigate potential risks to protect the well-being of employees and stakeholders.
Our unit is dedicated to providing exceptional support to ensure the efficient operation of Facilities Services while fostering a safe, positive, and productive work environment.
Communication & Information Unit
The Communication and Information Services (CIS) unit is a cross-functional team that provides development, implementation, and use of technology, leading efforts in the effective use of technology. The unit also guides strategy for digital communications, public relations, and collateral to consistently articulate the department’s mission. The unit facilitates training and development of staff to create a highly skilled and agile workforce; and, tends to our customer support line, OneCall (946-7777), troubleshooting issues and expediting our work order processes.
Kevin Garland
Director of Communications & Information
Kevin Garland is a seasoned leader who has served UT at Facilities Services for over 25 years. He is adept at managing cross-functional teams, leading organizational transformation, refining operational efficiency, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. His drive for education has molded him into a well-rounded leader with an MBA from the Haslam College of Business, a Bachelor of Arts in English from UTK, and two additional degrees in Computer Science from Purdue University. He is also a graduate of UT Leadership Institute and holds managerial certificates from “UT Leaders: Lighting the Way”, SuperVision 20/20, and S.O.A.R.
Collaborating alongside the other Facilities Services Directors as strategic planners, Kevin steers the Communications and Information Services unit, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence, while supporting the department’s mission and vision.
Communications & Public Relations
The Communications sub-unit is made up of the departmental Communications Manager and Web Designer. This two-person team is responsible for telling the stories of Facilities Services to our team, our campus community, and the world at large. Tasked with both internal and external communications, the Communications team is responsible for special event assistance, team recognition programs, the Facilities Services website and social media presence, departmental awards, and the Facilities Services Annual Report, among other projects.
Employee Training & Development
Employee Training & Development provides our employees with flexible opportunities for personal and professional growth through education, training, and workplace experience. This team plays a large role in departmental safety as they administer annual OSHA and other required training courses to more than 600 staff members. Employee Training & Development has been instrumental in the university’s migration to DASH and has conducted more than 100 training sessions for staff and customers alike.
FS Information Technology
Facilities Services IT provides guidance and support for technology used day to day throughout Facilities Services. This includes everything from phones and computers to working both within Facilities Services and outside of the department on projects like building automation and general improvement of work processes by utilizing technology. The team is responsible for data management, digital infrastructure, and device support. All functions of the IT team are designed to create optimal experiences for customers and team members as we work to collaborate and innovate every day.
Work Order Management
The Work Order Management Team provides our One Call service to customers and assists our department staff in creating, monitoring, and streamlining work orders and the procedures surrounding them. This includes working with individual shops for work order creation, documentation, and partnering with the IT Team for better monitoring and reporting on in-process work orders. This team is most often the first interaction with customers seeking a service or assistance and strives to connect customers with the correct Facilities Services staff to assist them. The Work Order Management team strives to make the best “first impression” to reflect our department when they work with our customers. They also offer vital support for all of the Facilities Services team as they provide emergency communications assistance through dispatching, documentation, and issuing of telecommunications equipment.
It Takes a Volunteer
Facilities Services is made up of more than 600 individuals
who work tirelessly to keep campus running 365 days a year.