FE&P restructure calls for promotion, redistribution

FE&P restructure calls for promotion, redistribution

BY LINDSEY FIELDER
Rice News staff

Facilities, Engineering and Planning (FE&P) went through a reorganization process in June. The new structure in the administrative positions is intended to balance the department’s technical and architectural needs.

Doug Tomlinson is now the assistant vice president for project management and engineering. In addition to his prior responsibility for engineering, Tomlinson now works directly with all the project managers except those in maintenance.

Associate Vice President of FE&P Barbara White Bryson said putting these two areas together takes full advantage of Tomlinson’s skill set. “It makes sense to have engineering project managers and architectural project managers come together, work together and learn together,” she said. “And Doug is a terrific manager and a very good leader for this department.”

Two project managers were promoted to senior project managers — Anna Ramirez and Eleni Barzouka. Ramirez is in charge of the capital budgeting process and Barzouka coordinates all projects related to the Department of Housing and Dining. Senior Project Manager Pat Dwyer has been given the additional responsibility of providing staff support for the space committee.

The redistribution of responsibilities has provided the department more opportunities, Tomlinson said. “Promoting from within is always good,” he said. “We already had a team that was familiar with Rice and this has allowed them to grow professionally and improve their skills.”

Tomlinson plans to continue and improve collaboration between project managers and campus clients. “We’re not planning these projects on our own here,” he said. “We’re out on campus talking to various departments about their needs at all times.”

In addition to taking on more responsibility, Tomlinson has passed on the day-to-day operations of the central plant to Doug Wells, the new director of the central plant. The central plant supplies utilities to the Rice campus.
Tomlinson came to Rice five years ago as the operations manager.