Facilities/Safety/Trades
The Outstanding Employee awards are chosen by nominations received by the Awards Committee from all faculty, staff, and students at VIMS. They are awarded in the categories of Facilities/Safety/Trades, Research and Advisory Service, Technical Support, and Administrative Support.
This year, we are pleased to present the Outstanding Employee in Facilities/Safety/Trades to Ron Herzick.
Ron has been a
member of Facilities Management for more than 10 years and has managed numerous
projects with great success.
This past year Ron demonstrated outstanding performance using innovative techniques never before applied at VIMS. The Concrete Pier was constructed using “Design/Build,” where the designer and contractor team-up to begin construction prior to completion of the contract drawings, thus minimizing construction time. The new Field Support Center was constructed using “Construction Management at Risk.” This allowed VIMS to select a contractor before the contract drawings were completed, allowing the contractor to interact with the architect early in the design phase and to provide VIMS with a guaranteed maximum price and to ensure the project was designed within budget.
Ron is also project manager for the new 8,000-square-foot Eastern Shore Seawater Laboratory. The project posed unique building requirements since it is being constructed in the coastal flood plain. The project is now 80% done and is scheduled for completion later this spring. Ron was also able to obtain emergency approval to contract an architect and engineer to replace Seaside Hall, which was destroyed by fire last November.
In addition to these capital projects, Ron has worked diligently with the Department of Historic Resources to obtain the archaeological approvals needed to demolish various buildings on our Gloucester Point campus later this spring.
Ron’s knowledge, skills, and ability to plan and monitor construction projects have allowed the many projects he has managed to move forward in a timely manner. Ron is reliable, hard working, and a definite asset to the VIMS community.
Congratulations, Ron!