Printer-friendly version
October 28, 2024
Colleagues,
I am excited to welcome Steven Gilsdorf as our new director of facilities operations! In this key role, which reports to me, the associate vice president for facilities and campus stewardship, Steven is responsible for leading physical plant, custodial, and grounds maintenance facilities operations groups toward the successful operation and maintenance of Yale’s buildings and grounds on all campuses.
Before sharing more about Steven, I would like to acknowledge and thank Sam Olmstead, who has been acting as interim director of facilities operations since January 2022. Sam has done an outstanding job taking on this additional leadership responsibility through our organizational transition. He will assist Steven in completing this transition over the next couple of months as Sam also begins a new role as director of utilities and campus resiliency, with more specifics to follow.
Returning to Steven, he comes to Yale as an experienced executive with a demonstrated record managing facilities operations functions for two universities and in the private sector. His strengths span leading trades and services, managing capital renewal programs, applying sustainability best practices, tracking and reporting on utilities usage, developing safety and custodial cleaning programs, and working closely with labor relations and union members toward productive outcomes.
Steven was senior director of operations and maintenance at Wayne State University, where he led union and non-bargaining employees in all facets of facilities operations and was responsible for operating and maintaining 11.5 million square feet of space and 210 urban acres of grounds. While there, he established service standards, introduced a quality assurance program, and advanced client engagement—meeting their needs and rendering positive earnings.
He received a B.A. in business administration from Cornerstone University and an M.A. in organizational change leadership from Western Michigan University. Steven is a Certified Educational Facilities Professional, a graduate of the Institute for Facilities Management through APPA, and has held several advisory and leadership roles through APPA and its regional organizations MAPPA and MIAPPA.
Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Steven as he joins the Yale Facilities team on October 28, 2024, and appreciation to Sam for his leadership and support during this transition.
Sincerely,
Anthony Kosior, PE, CEM
Associate Vice President for Facilities and Campus Stewardship
Yale University
Top image: Steven Gilsdorf, courtesy of Wayne State University