With 39 years of experience, Richard Mason is the longest active employee at the Delaware (Ohio) Area Career Center. So, it’s no surprise that when big decisions are made on campus, Mason, the maintenance supervisor, is front and center in that process.
“Our school underwent a consolidating project where we went from two school campuses into one,” says Brad DeMent, operations administrator at the career center, of Mason, a 2023 Facility Champion. “During the $45 million dollar expansion, Richard was a leader in working with contractors, vendors and staff to ensure the school was getting exactly what it needed. There were tough and trying times when relocating an entire school, but through Richard’s leadership, he led a team that became the backbone of the operation. Richard’s diligence, integrity and leadership skills made the move and new build an efficient and orderly process while hitting the deadlines that needed to be met.”
In addition to Mason’s time at the career center, where he started as a custodian before moving to facilities in 1992, he also served his country for 30 years in the National Guard, rising to the rank of E8 Master Seargeant before retiring in 2014 after service that included 12 months in Baghdad.
During his military service and his time at the career center, Mason also found time to continually learn by gaining several recognitions during his career, including an award for his work in indoor air quality and earning certifications in HVAC and lifts in addition to receiving his BOC Facility Managers Certification in 2007.
Continuing education and encouraging employees to better themselves professionally is something that Mason encourages for all the workers he manages.
“Success in facilities management is achieved through effective leadership, fostering a skilled, motivated, and well-trained team,” he says. “Encouraging professional growth, teamwork and a positive work culture is essential for long-term success.”
Continuing education has helped Mason in his role combining the career center’s two buildings into a modern facility. The career center’s conversion included bringing a 1970s building into the modern age with new technologies such as a new building automation system, LED lights and more than 870 transitioning windows that help the career center adjusting to weather and sunlight to impact energy use and building comfort.
The projects help shine a spotlight on Mason among students and faculty at the career center. Still, Mason prefers the focus remain on those who benefit from his team’s projects.
“In the realm of safety and security, we’ve implemented a robust, programmable access control system, enhancing the overall safety measures for students, staff and visitors,” Mason says. “This project truly exemplifies our commitment to creating a cutting-edge, sustainable and safe educational environment for our students and faculty.”
Dave Lubach is executive editor for the facility market.
