A wife, three kids, and five grandkids later, Orlando Rodriguez has a lot to be thankful for over his 40 years at Rutgers.

Rodriguez, Rutgers—New Brunswick, Senior Shift Supervisor for IP&O’s Utilities department, started in the summer of 1982 as a temporary employee for Livingston Housing. He became a permanent employee in August that same year, and when a Rutgers Security Guard position became available in Public Safety in 1983, he bid for it. “In those days you bid for positions,” Rodriguez explained. “I had some experience in security so it was a good fit for me.” At that time, Public Safety was located in an old house on Huntington Street, College Avenue Campus. He got the job working nights, which allowed him to take care of his son because his wife worked days.

In 1986, Rodriguez noticed a position through the Craft Trainee Program, as a pipe fitter. The program allows those interested in applying for a position in the trades to work alongside an experienced mentor as well as attending a trades school. “At the time of my interview we had our son who was a year and a half, we did not have a babysitter, and I took him to my interview,” said Rodriguez. Rodriguez met with the Director of HR for Physical Plant, Ed Best, and was accepted into the program, working Monday through Friday and attending school for two trades for four years in the evenings. The night shift allowed Rodriguez and his wife to each be home with their young son with one parent working days and one working nights.

Rodriguez completed the program in 1989 then bid on an open position as a HVAC mechanic in 1990.  In 1997, Rodriguez was promoted to Facilities Day Shift Supervisor, and in 2006, promoted to Facilities Area Manager. In 2016, Rodriguez was promoted to his current position.

Over the 40 years, Rodriguez has had many highlights, but sites his interactions with co-workers as his key highlights. “People always come to me asking for assistance, my door is open.”

For Rodriguez, and the five shift operation specialists and one supervisor of utility operations he oversees, utilities is 24/7 day operation. IPO’s Shift Supervisors work around the clock to make sure Rutgers utilities are properly functioning. This team of dedicated employees, on all campuses, check all boilers, chillers, air handlers, all alarm BMS and environmental boxes, and are responsible for heating plants on different campuses and one CoGen plant. They respond to any incident or emergency that arises during their shift. When an employee completes a shift, that person tells the incoming shift employee of any problems or issues that remain unresolved.

We have several building automated systems that we check,” said Rodriguez. “When an alarm comes in, our crews respond.” Responding to problems promptly or simply making sure everything is running smoothly is critical for everything from heating and cooling dormitory rooms to maintaining exact temperatures for the animals in our environmental and vivarium facilities.

“My team is trained to respond to calls in all types of environments including clean room,” Rodriguez explained referring to the sterile environment in which many researchers work. “They understand the important work our researchers are doing and make sure every problem is handled quickly and professionally.”

“This is a 24/7 job, and when you have good people it makes everything easier,” Rodriguez concluded.

Featured in the IP&O Newsletter, July 2023.