Crew Spotlight: Barry Cox

Happy Wednesday! Today we are spotlighting crew member Barry Cox, who has been an MSU HVAC technician for 18 years!

Barry has an important job- he keeps us all comfortable! As an HVAC technician, Barry ensures our campus has heating and cooling. In addition, he repairs line leaks, completes electrical and plumbing work, and refrigeration needs.

Barry has two licenses that are required for his job. The first is his HVAC license, which permits him to buy the supplies, and the second is his Journeyman’s license, which permits him to then do the work!

Barry says his favorite part of the job is the people he works with. Turns out we are pretty fond of him, too! When Barry isn’t working at MSU, he works some more! He is the owner and operator of his own business, Barry Cox HVAC. Barry also enjoys hunting when he has time.

If Barry could choose to spend the day with anyone, he would choose to do so with his father, who was an inspiration to him.

Facilities Management, and the rest of campus, is very lucky to have Barry on our team! We appreciate all his hard work and dedication to our campus.

Crew Spotlight: Donnie Willoughby

Happy Wednesday! Today’s Crew Spotlight is the wonderful Donnie Willoughby, Grounds and Landscaping Manager. Donnie has been a part of the team for 15 years, and says the best part of the job is the people he works with.

Donnie says grounds and landscaping involves much more than what meets the eye. He says it is not simply mowing and weed eating. This job involves many skills and knowledge pertaining to concrete, electrical work, and much more. To be in this job, you have to know a little bit of everything. One might say Donnie is a jack of all trades!

In grounds and landscaping, it is all about first impressions! Donnie says this job involves knowing what looks good in each area to match its aesthetic. Donnie works with several different people to coordinate events going on around campus. He says they all help one another out, which makes his job more enjoyable.

When Donnie isn’t keeping campus beautiful, he enjoys fishing and spending time with his family. His wife is also an MSU employee and his daughter Chelsea graduated from MSU in 2016. Donnie’s other daughter is still trying to decided her next step. We hope she chooses to become a part of Eagle Nation, too!

MSU Facilities Management is so lucky to have Donnie as a part of our time. We, and the rest of campus, are so appreciative of all his hard work and dedication! 

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Crew Spotlight: KaiLa Conn

Happy Wednesday! Today’s Crew Spotlight is the wonderful KaiLa Conn, a member of our grounds keeping team! KaiLa graduated from Morehead State in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communications. Additionally, she has certification in data entry operations. She has been working for Facilities Management for a year and a half now.

KaiLa says she wanted to join Facilities Management because she wanted to work her way up and stay within the university. She has ambitions to work in adult and higher education!

When it comes to her favorite part of the job, KaiLa says it is everything! She enjoys her work, along with the physical aspect of being outdoors. KaiLa says it takes much upkeep and ambition to keep the facilities running, and that the job is not as easy as it may look! KaiLa also enjoys being a part of the essential personnel of MSU. They keep the campus operating!

When she isn’t working, KaiLa enjoys things that express her creativity! Some of her hobbies include interior decorating, painting, designing, word burning, and monogramming. In fact, she has even assisted in planning MSU’s Spring Gala!

If KaiLa could spend the day with anyone of her choosing, she would choose to do so with Janice Joplin, as she is a big fan of her music!

We are so lucky to have KaiLa as a part of our team. We appreciate all she does for Facilities Management and the University! 

Crew Spotlight: Alan Debord

This week’s Crew Spotlight is the wonderful (and very tall) Alan Debord! Alan is Lead Grounds Keeper for Facilities Management and has been working here for nearly 7 years!

 As a groundskeeper, Alan is involved in nearly every aspect of campus. Not only does the grounds team maintain campus, but are very intentional in how and where they do the things they do. For example, there is much knowledge and planning that goes into the vegetation and plant choices that are seen on campus and where these can be planted, where they will best grow, etc.

Additionally, Alan and the grounds team take care of all the athletic fields! He has many licenses that are required to do his job well, which include Class B CDL, N3, N20, 7A, and a pest control license.

Alan’s favorite part of his job is doing what he can to make campus look as best it can, which involves enhancing the environmental architecture and landscape of the university.

When he is not working for Facilities Management, Alan enjoys spending time with his family and owning and operating his own business, Debord Auto Sales. Before coming to MSU, Alan was a used car salesman, and still has his license to do so, which he utilizes in his own business!

Alan says if he could spend the day with anyone of his choosing, he would like to spend time with his grandfather.

We at Facilities Management are so grateful to have Alan as a part of our team. Thanks for all you do!