On May 7, university leaders, managers, and honorees gathered for the fourth annual recognition luncheon to celebrate the Facilities Services Excellence Awards. This celebration spotlights the exceptional custodial professionals whose dedication fosters the safe, clean, and welcoming spaces that are vital to achieving Yale’s mission. From historic libraries to state-of-the-art laboratories, these Facilities team members ensure that spaces across campus do more for students, faculty, and staff.

 

President Maurie McInnis praised the six honorees for their extraordinary commitment and the lasting impact they make across campus every single day. As part of Yale Facilities, these individuals represent the backbone of campus life and operations, embodying a culture of quiet leadership, unmatched reliability, and a collective pride that keeps the university moving forward.

 

 

According to Facilities Superintendent Bruce Serret, John Smoakes consistently demonstrates an exceptional work ethic, professionalism, and commitment to service excellence. Bruce noted that John reliably responds to on-call emergencies, supports high-profile events, and willingly assists wherever needed throughout the Hillhouse area.

 

John provided exceptional support during the Tanner Lectures on February 4 and 5 by ensuring that the auditorium at Sheffield-Sterling-Strathcona Hall, and its surrounding area, were prepared between scheduled classes and the start of the event. “The event organizers specifically praised John’s professionalism, positive attitude, and responsiveness to their needs, all of which contributed to the success of the event,” said Bruce.

 

Bruce also highlighted John’s outstanding teamwork during a flood response at 17 Hillhouse Avenue, noting that although the emergency occurred outside his assigned area, John immediately stepped in to assist the Engineering team with cleanup efforts without hesitation. “John’s dedication, teamwork, and commitment to supporting others make him highly deserving of this award,” said Bruce.

 

Associate Area Manager for Yale West Campus Regina Clarke-Boiteux praised Sammy Rodriguez for dedicating 20 years of service to the Yale Facilities and building a reputation for excellence, reliability, and leadership throughout his career. Sammy began his Yale journey on Old Campus before continuing his service at Bass Library and Science Hill, and he has served as the custodial team leader at Yale West Campus for 11 years.

 

“Known for his strong work ethic and commitment to the university community, Sammy consistently demonstrates exceptional dedication to support the mission of West Campus with pride, integrity, and professionalism,” Regina said. She added that his positive attitude, dedication to customer service, and willingness to help others have made him a respected leader and valued member of the Facilities team.

 

Facilities Superintendent David Sanchez recognized Denise Sutton as a trusted member of the mobile rounds custodian and project work team at Yale School of Medicine. He noted that throughout numerous staffing changes over Denise’s 12 years of service, she has remained dependable, committed, and always willing to step up, whether she’s preparing floors for commencement, supporting lab move-ins, or responding to emergencies.

 

Denise’s exceptional commitment is reflected in her availability during crises at any time of day or night. “Just as important, she brings a calm, positive demeanor to every situation, helping to deescalate challenges and maintain strong relationships with our customers,” David said. “Her professionalism, reliability, and attitude truly set her apart and make her an invaluable asset to the School of Medicine.”

 

Facilities Area Manager for central north Melissa Debies-Carl shared that throughout the year, Kortney Jenkins consistently demonstrated outstanding professionalism, reliability, and dedication while providing exceptional service as a custodian at Silliman College. Kortney regularly went the extra mile in her daily responsibilities to ensure that all areas remained clean, safe, and welcoming for students, staff, faculty, and visitors.

 

“In addition to maintaining high standards of cleanliness, she is always willing to assist others with a positive attitude,” Melissa said, noting that Kortney’s responsiveness, attention to detail, and commitment to teamwork made a significant impact on the overall environment at Silliman. Since receiving the award, Kortney earned a promotion to senior custodian at the School of the Environment, where she has already led a team in a deep cleaning project with outstanding results. “Please join me in congratulating Kortney on this well-earned achievement,” Melissa said.

 

Facilities Superintendent Bradley Olson commended Michael Darien as a steady and trusted presence as a custodian at Sterling Memorial Library. Bradley noted that Michael’s reliability, professionalism, and consistently excellent work have earned the respect of everyone around him.

 

“Michael takes genuine pride in what he does, and it shows in the condition of the spaces he cares for every day,” Bradley said, adding that “it has been a privilege to work alongside him.”

 

Area Manager Dan Johnson commended custodian Terence Britt, custodian at the Yale Health Center, for consistently exemplifying professionalism, reliability, and an unwavering commitment to excellence in every aspect of his work. Dan noted that Terence’s dedication plays a vital role in maintaining a comfortable and inviting space for patients, visitors, and staff alike, driven by a strong work ethic and deep attention to detail.

 

“In addition to the quality of his work, Terence is highly regarded for his exceptional customer service skills,” Dan said, adding that Terence always assists others with a positive attitude and genuine care. “His ability to create positive interactions and provide outstanding support has resulted in acknowledgments and praise from his customers. Terence’s commitment to service excellence and teamwork makes him a great asset to our organization.”

For Kortney Jenkins, the recognition highlights her daily commitment to the campus community. “Receiving this award was truly meaningful to me,” she said. “I take a lot of pride in the work I do every day and always try to go above and beyond to help create a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for everyone.”

 

John Smoakes looked back on his time at the university, sharing the unique perspective and philosophy behind his career. “I have been a Yale employee for almost 20 years, and I love every moment I have spent at this great university,” John said. “You can prepare all you want to, but if you never roll the dice, you will never be successful. The most important thing to do is to inspire people to be great in whatever they want to do. Anything you decide to do in life; you do it for yourself regardless of what others may think.”

---

Top image: Facilities Services Excellence Awards luncheon, (left to right) Terence Britt, Denise Sutton, Sammy Rodriguez, President Maurie McInnis, Kortney Jenkins, John Smoakes, photo by Rob DeSanto