SRAPPA Members,
It is my honor to serve as the SRAPPA President this next year. When thinking back about the history of SRAPPA, there have been some great pioneers for the SRAPPA Region. SRAPPA was created in 1952. We are celebrating 73 years of history of like-minded people gathering to learn from each other. As Proverbs 27:17 states, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” We each have experiences we can share as well as learn from others to make each of us a better person and leader in our institutions.
Each year SRAPPA pushes the boundaries and grows in ideas, strengths, numbers, etc. The Fall Conference this year proved that. We had a record number of attendees as well as business partners. 488 people attended the conference in total. SRAPPA would not be what it is today without each and every one of you. If you were not able to attend, I would highly encourage you to try and attend next year in Concord, North Carolina in October 2026.
Most of the work we do on a daily basis is not seen by our campus users. We all know what it takes to keep the doors opening properly, HVAC units running optimally, hallways clean and clutter free, etc. The end users just know that things either function properly or not. As we each take care of our individual tasks, collectively the end result is that our campus faculty, staff, students, or visitors can focus on the reason why they are on campus.
No matter the size of your institution, how long you have been in Facilities, or your role in your specific department, know that someone else is or has gone through something very similar to what you are going through. SRAPPA is a great resource to learn from others and share common issues and ideas. As I think of the many members of SRAPPA, I see Mentors and Mentees.
I also encourage each of you to seek out at least 1 professional development opportunity this next year thru the SRAPPA/APPA offerings.It could be attending a State, Regional, or National conference; watching one of the free APPA provided webinars; attending an APPA U Institute for Facilities Management or Leadership Academy training; obtaining your Certified Educational Facilities Professional (CEFP); attending a Supervisor Toolkit; or participating in the Mentor/Mentee Program. The opportunities are endless with several items offered monthly. The SRAPPA board has scholarship funds available for a variety of Professional Development offers. Please use the SRAPPA website to apply. As Sir Richard Branson stated, “Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don’t want to.”We have had several trainings on this philosophy list week already.
Thank you SRAPPA Members for having the confidence in me to lead this outstanding organization into this next year. I am encouraged by those who have been before me and inspired by those after me. I hope you all have a wonderful, productive year.
Thank you,
Collin Sewell, P.E., CEFP
