Charles Leatherwood has had the privilege of working at Texas Tech University for the past 41 years. He began his career at Texas Tech at the age of 18, working with grounds maintenance to maintain the sprinkler system. Since then, he has had the rare and unique opportunity to work in every position within grounds maintenance, working his way up to his current senior leadership role. Charles serves as a Senior Managing Director for the Operations Division and oversees three critical areas: grounds maintenance, transportation and parking, and services which includes custodial, mail, and the central warehouse. During his many years of service, Charles has been a vital resource in much of the infrastructure planning that has occurred on campus from water lines to fiber optics.
This past year, Texas Tech celebrated its centennial year, and the Operations Division provided constant support for all centennial related events. The year-long celebration could not have run so smoothly without Charles and his teams. Charles was directly involved in the coordination of several key events from planning and set up to final execution. He could not be prouder of each of his teams and the work they put into each event during the university’s centennial year.
Charles says his favorite thing about his job is that every day is different. He noted that there are always “opportunities we don’t think we can ever do, and then we do it.” Charles will be retiring at the end of 2024 and is looking forward to relaxing and spending time with his grandchildren.
Candi is the Director of Marketing and Business Development at Alpha Building Corporation (Alpha) and Omega GC (Omega). She is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience, the past 11 years in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Her journey into the K-12 and higher education sectors started six years ago at a civil engineering firm and continued to her current position.
Alpha, a third-generation family-led construction firm, carved its legacy in the educational domain back in 1992. Their pioneering achievement, securing the nation's first job order contract (JOC) for a university campus, marked the onset of a longstanding commitment to education-focused construction endeavors. Last year marked a significant chapter in Alpha's narrative, as their vision for diversification led to the inception of Omega GC, a sister construction company dedicated to the private sector. While Alpha continues its legacy of excellence in public facilities, Omega embarks on projects within the private sector.
Beyond her corporate responsibilities, Candi's commitment extends to industry involvement, serving on committees such as the Texas Association of Physical Plant Administrators (TAPPA). Alpha's enduring partnership with TAPPA and the Central Association of Physical Plant Administrators (CAPPA) underscores their commitment to supporting educational institutions' construction needs.
