Building Maintenance & Grounds Director Announcement

Dear Colleagues,

With admiration for his years of service at the university and his numerous contributions to F&S, I am announcing that Director of Building Maintenance & Grounds Dave Boehm will retire on November 30.

Dave has had a tremendous career encompassing more than 40 years of work in our industry, with much of that occurring in various roles on the Urbana campus.

He joined F&S in 2015 as the director of the Building Maintenance department after serving as the assistant director of facilities for University Housing. In 2021, he was appointed to lead the newly created Building Maintenance & Grounds division and became a member of the F&S Executive Management Team.

Over the last nine years in our unit, his notable accomplishments include helping to improve the overall start and closeout times for service work requests, strengthening the work order communications with primary building contacts, targeting core campus areas for grounds beautification, and enhancing maintenance service readiness balanced with cost-efficiency. As an American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers member, his knowledge and efforts were integral to the organization’s multifaceted pandemic response strategies and provided the maintenance support that was needed to safely reopen classrooms, laboratories, and spaces for in-person teaching, research, and engagement activities.

Those who have had the privilege of working with Dave know that he is someone who values relationships and is committed to the success of others. These qualities are at the core of his leadership style. He is the epitome of an Illinois professional, always prioritizing superior customer service and ensuring that F&S team members have the resources and support they need to carry out their critical work.

Building Maintenance Superintendent Steve Bainbridge will take over for Dave as interim director. Steve has been with the university for 19 years, with 12 of those as the electricians’ foreperson before his promotion to superintendent. He is well-prepared to guide the team forward with his extensive experience, dedicated customer focus, and expertise within the division. Over the next several weeks, Steve will collaborate with Dave to facilitate a comprehensive and effective transition process. 

Please join me in wishing Dave all the best on a joyful new chapter in retirement and offering Steve congratulations on this interim appointment.

JEFF ANGIEL
Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of Facilities & Services