Dave Keating’s work because the director of services at Consolidated Excessive College District 230 might be thought of a thankless job.
He and his crew have been busy throughout a latest August warmth wave. They’re additionally busy when it will get too chilly. They’re busy with development and different points at Sandburg in Orland Park, Andrew in Tinley Park and Stagg in Palos Park.
When issues are going proper, he’s usually ignored. When issues are going fallacious, although, it’s “Hey Dave!” time.
However he loves the truth that he can get up and go to work not understanding what’s in retailer for him.
“There may be by no means a uninteresting day,” Keating mentioned. “I by no means sit at my desk and say ‘oh boy it’s one other lengthy day at work.’ There may be at all times motion. There may be at all times one thing to do.
“If I’ve to, I’ll get in there and get my fingers soiled and repair one thing myself. However it’s ever-changing and it’s not the identical day on daily basis. It’s one thing completely different. It’s not rinse-repeat, rinse-repeat.”
It’s additionally a job that doesn’t produce numerous fanfare. However that modified when Keating was named with seven different facility administrators throughout the nation as a Services Champion by FacilitiesNet, an trade commerce writer.
He and the opposite champs can be honored throughout a webcast on Nov. 12.
District 230 chief know-how officer John Connolly appreciates Keating’s work and nominated him for the award.
“Dave is aware of practically each sq. inch of all three campuses,” Connolly mentioned in a information launch. “His consideration to element is second to none and the scholars and employees are fortunate to have such a devoted steward of our services.”
Keating was named District 230 director of services in 2020. He’s a graduate of St. Rita Excessive College in Chicago and is a licensed journeyman electrician with 15 years of economic and residential development and administration expertise. He additionally had 5 years of expertise because the district’s upkeep supervisor.
Based on FacilitiesNet, over 100 nominations for the Facility Champion award have been obtained this yr, greater than doubling nominations from a yr in the past.
Amongst Keating’s fellow winners are facility managers at a New Jersey airport, a Florida lodge and an insurance coverage firm in Milwaukee, in addition to leaders from different faculty districts throughout the nation.
“The ability administration trade is filled with so many wonderful people,” mentioned Dan Weltin, editor-in-chief for FacilitiesNet in a information launch. “Narrowing down entries to solely eight winners is an extremely troublesome job, however I’m proud that we’re capable of acknowledge these deserving managers.
“Winners come from all ranges of expertise and a wide range of markets, however all of them share standout management traits and have a ardour for this trade.”
Through the Aug 26-27 warmth wave, Keating was pulled in a number of completely different instructions.
“I’m going building-to-building on daily basis anyway,” he mentioned. “However it was fairly loopy. Every faculty had an issue and we tried to work it out one of the simplest ways we might.
“We had assist from the district and the college admin. We moved youngsters round the place we would have liked to, and we had followers introduced into areas that have been overheating. Total, I believe we dealt with it fairly properly.”
His wildest day got here throughout a polar vortex in January 2019, when windchills reached 50 levels under zero within the space.
The chilly climate presents sufficient challenges by itself, however Keating and his crew had an added bonus to maintain them on their frozen toes.
“We misplaced energy at Stagg the identical day that was occurring,” he mentioned. “There was no warmth within the constructing. The children weren’t in class, however we have been there chasing pipes that have been bursting. Any small method that air bought in there, it will freeze the pipes after which after they thawed out, we have been flooded.”
He added they have been chasing associated points on the different two faculties as properly, however Stagg wanted probably the most consideration.
However his job is just not at all times racing from emergency to emergency.
“There are days which can be quiet, and people are good to have,” he mentioned. “However there are nonetheless issues that must be addressed however they’re miniscule. A light-weight swap or one thing. Small stuff.
“It’s not on daily basis that your hair is on hearth and you might be operating round.”
Jeff Vorva is a contract reporter for the Day by day Southtown.
