Member in the Spotlight:

William "Shorty" Schwartz
Southwestern University
shorty@southwestern.edu | 512-863-1991

Background into the field of Facility Management
I guess it's only natural that I ended up at an institution of higher ed, having begun my career at Southwest Texas State (now just Texas State), where I earned a bachelors degree in Urban and Regional Planning. I then ventured off into the trades as an electrician for about 25 years. I was employed in the commercial and industrial electrical field, with the last ten or so in supervision. Most of that work was in semi-conductor plants in the CenTX area. In 2009, Southwestern University was looking for an electrician and I was fortunately chosen for the job and the rest is history, which is still being written. And I couldn't beat the drive: it's only 15 minutes to work! I have always enjoyed seeing the end result and making the customer happy, in this case our students, faculty and staff.

How has TAPPA contributed to your career?
While working at Southwestern University in Georgetown, I never imagined I would join a group such as TAPPA, much less participating on the Board, the VP and then President! My former boss pushed me and here I am. TAPPA has allowed me to grow professionally by introducing me to like-minded individuals who tend to struggle with the same issues as other universities, regardless of size, public or private. TAPPA has provided a network of peers that I have been able to call on when faced with a question of "how did they do this or that?". In the past year (COVID-19), most institutions were wondering if they were doing the right thing and how were they able to monitor the success of such actions. TAPPA had some webinars that acted like a sounding board for anyone who attended. It has introduced me to several new vendors that I might not have otherwise met, showing me new technologies and services.

Personal Tidbit
I enjoy riding and training horses and team roping. I've managed to win a few buckles along the way. I have tried to help my daughter along with her western sports endeavors, from barrel racing to goat tying. I have been doing so for almost twenty years. I also enjoy watching and supporting my daughter compete in cheer, cross country and track.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy working with people who have the same goal in mind, knowing that we in Facilities are providing a service to our campus, students, staff and faculty alike. I enjoy the fact that I've been entrusted with taking care of facility, providing stewardship and that I hope to leave it better than when I arrived. I enjoy working with students on certain sustainable projects; they will always keep me on my toes.