HR News

Congratulations Christopher Valdez: Facilities Manager of Mechanical Trades

Nancy Portner — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 16:25:38 +0000

Congratulations Christopher Valdez: Facilities Manager of Mechanical Trades Nancy Portner Fri, 07/31/2026 - 10:25

Please join me in congratulating Christopher Valdez on his new role as our Facilities Manager of Mechanical Trades here in the Operations and Maintenance division.

Chris brings more than 20 years of experience in facilities operations, maintenance, skilled trades leadership, and building systems management. His career spans progressive technical and supervisory roles, with expertise in HVAC/R systems, building automation systems, plumbing operations, workforce leadership, budget management and customer service.

Chris has served the �ֲ��ý for nearly 15 years, advancing through a series of increasingly responsible positions within Facilities Operations. He began his CU career in a Pipe Mechanic Trades position before moving into an HVAC/R Technician role, where he supported campus mechanical systems, building automation controls, refrigeration equipment, and critical infrastructure maintenance. He later transitioned into leadership as the HVAC/R Shop Supervisor and has recently filled interim leadership roles as the Pipe/Plumbing Shop Supervisor. Currently Chris is filling an interim appointment as the Manager for the Structural Trades Shop.

As the Facilities Manager of Mechanical Trades Chris will provides leadership and management to 50 full time employees (FTE) within the skilled trades work units including HVAC, Pipe/Plumbing, Preventive Maintenance and Research Support teams as well as the Ultra Low Freezer and Cross Training programs.

As Brett Hoag, Associate Director of Mechanical and Structural Operations, transitions into his role Chris will continue to act as the Manager of the Structural Trades Shop until we fill two leadership vacancies in the work unit.

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Welcome to the Team: Brett Hoag, Associate Director of Mechanical and Structural Operations,

Nancy Portner — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 15:40:39 +0000

Welcome to the Team: Brett Hoag, Associate Director of Mechanical and Structural Operations, Nancy Portner Fri, 07/31/2026 - 09:40

Please welcome Brett Hoag, our new Associate Director of Mechanical and Structural Operations, to our team! Brett’s first day here at CU �ֲ��ý will be Monday, August 3.

Brett brings more than 13 years of experience in facilities management, engineering, energy management, and building systems operations, with expertise spanning higher education and commercial facilities environments. His background includes leadership and technical support for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, structural, preventive maintenance, deferred maintenance, and capital improvement programs.

Most recently, Brett served as Campus Engineer and Energy Manager for the Auraria Higher Education Center, where he supported facilities operations across a 3+ million square foot campus serving approximately 50,000 students, faculty, and staff. In this role, he worked closely with skilled trades teams, managed maintenance and infrastructure projects, provided technical oversight for deferred maintenance and capital construction initiatives, and led efforts focused on energy efficiency, sustainability, and building automation system optimization. Brett also played a key role in a $28.5 million energy performance contract initiative and helped implement more than 120 energy-saving measures that reduced campus-wide energy consumption.

Brett will be filling the Associate Director of Mechanical and Structural Operations position here in the Maintenance and Operations division, providing leadership and management to 89 full time employees within the skilled trades work units including HVAC, Structural, Pipe Trades, Cross Training, Preventive Maintenance, Access Services, Project Support, Small Construction and Research Support teams.

Let’s give Brett a warm welcome to the team.

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Volunteer leave available to I&R staff

Nancy Portner — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 18:32:02 +0000

Volunteer leave available to I&R staff Nancy Portner Tue, 07/14/2026 - 12:32

I&R allows volunteer hours to be granted from work to serve the community in various ways. Volunteer time is credited on a fiscal year basis (July 1 through June 30). Some examples of this service may be as a volunteer worker at a charitable organization or attending a school function for one’s child or relative.

Volunteer leave must be requested from your supervisor and approved by the appointing authority.
16 hours of leave time is granted each fiscal year (pro-rated for appointments less than 100%). Staff who start on or after January 1 receive eight hours of volunteer time to be used before June 30.
Any unused portion as of June 30 is forfeited (hours do not roll forward).

Questions? Ask your supervisor or reach out to any member of the I&R HR team.

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Check out Career Services' photo booth

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 18:08:58 +0000

Check out Career Services' photo booth Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 07/14/2026 - 12:08

Career Services has a photo booth that’s available to undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and staff in need of a high-quality professional photo for a LinkedIn or other professional networking platform. The photo booth is located in the lobby of Career Services, S440 in the C4C, and is available during business hours, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

The photo booth can be controlled from your smartphone by scanning a QR code. It will take three shots while offering advice on how to pose for an effective professional portrait. You can do some limited retouching on the Iris screen with the photo booth’s software or more retouching on your own device with any photo manipulation program after you receive the files via email.

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Individual Development Plan (IDP)

Nancy Portner — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:41:28 +0000

Individual Development Plan (IDP) Nancy Portner Thu, 06/18/2026 - 08:41

The IDP helps you reflect on your strengths, identify growth areas, and map out your next steps at CU �ֲ��ý. It’s a simple, guided tool that supports conversations with your supervisor and helps you choose the development opportunities that best fit your goals — including Extreme Ownership and the Mentor Program.

If you’d like support completing your IDP, you can schedule a 20‑minute check‑in with Kelsey Draper. You can choose a time that works best for you.

Learn more about the IDP: /bfi/employees/indivdidual-development-program-idp

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Holiday and Winter Break Administrative Leave Details 2026-2027

Nancy Portner — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:16:21 +0000

Holiday and Winter Break Administrative Leave Details 2026-2027 Nancy Portner Mon, 06/08/2026 - 06:16

Winter break for 2026–27 will run from Thursday, Dec. 24, 2026, through Friday, Jan. 1, 2027.

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Pay Day Schedule Change coming Feb. 28, 2027

Nancy Portner — Fri, 08 May 2026 19:59:45 +0000

Pay Day Schedule Change coming Feb. 28, 2027 Nancy Portner Fri, 05/08/2026 - 13:59

Beginning Feb. 28, 2027, nonexempt employees currently paid monthly will transition to a biweekly pay-in-arrears schedule as part of the Time & Labor project.

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Time & Labor (T&L) project information

Nancy Portner — Fri, 08 May 2026 18:19:08 +0000

Time & Labor (T&L) project information Nancy Portner Fri, 05/08/2026 - 12:19

Following a review with university leadership, the T&L go-live date has been moved to Feb. 28, 2027.

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Welcome to the Team: Emily Nelson, Project Manager

Nancy Portner — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:17:59 +0000

Welcome to the Team: Emily Nelson, Project Manager Nancy Portner Mon, 04/13/2026 - 09:17

Please join us in welcoming Emily Nelson to the Design and Construction team as a Project Manager. Emily is returning to her home state to join CU �ֲ��ý, bringing an interdisciplinary background spanning engineering, architecture, and construction. Her work is grounded in the intersection of design and construction, and she is eager to support campus projects that will have a lasting impact for generations to come.

Welcome to CU �ֲ��ý, Emily!

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Welcome to the Team: Nate Richards, Senior Project Manager

Nancy Portner — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:14:43 +0000

Welcome to the Team: Nate Richards, Senior Project Manager Nancy Portner Mon, 04/13/2026 - 09:14

We’re excited to welcome Nate Richards to Design and Construction as a Senior Project Manager. Nate comes to us with a degree in Construction Management from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and 20 years of industry experience in Colorado. His background includes work with general contractors and an owner’s representative firm, and he is passionate about public‑sector work and building projects that serve communities for generations.

Welcome to Design and Construction, Nate!

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