Hello TAPPA,

I hope this letter finds you all in good health as we prepare for another year of academia. Hopefully, everyone was able to enjoy some time off, recharging the batteries with family and friends. I know I was, and I believe it was a bit overdue. And don’t despair, college football is just around the corner, along with cooler temperatures.

During this month’s upcoming meeting and those to follow, the Board will be discussing new goals and how best to achieve them along with planning next year’s conference. Of course, we will set some BHAGs - Big Hairy Audacious Goals - that’s just one of the ways we plan to grow our numbers. One of those big goals is having more universities and colleges joining TAPPA, and here in lies the challenge: How do we effectively go about having more institutions join? This year’s Board Retreat will be at next year’s conference venue in Denton. It’s at this time that we will refine our goals, setting objectives for us to measure our successes. And if you haven’t heard, TAPPA 2023 is being held in Denton and hosted by University of North Texas and Texas Women’s University. (Learn more at https://tappa.net/.) Thanks to both!

I want to take the time to mention the TAPPA 2023 Annual Awards because this is a way for our members to recognize employees, teammates along with a business partner that has always been there for you. And if you’d like to gauge how your organization is doing against the APPA Award for Excellence Criteria, TAPPA can help.

The following categories are where you can recognize your team and your network. Every year, TAPPA accepts nominations to recognize your team and your network:

Facility Management Distinguished Service Award: Presented to a Facility Manager who promotes education and other professional activities through serving as a role model and mentor.

Business Partner Distinguished Service Award: Honors a business or business member of TAPPA who has served as a consistent and exemplary volunteer supporting the mission of TAPPA.

Stars Across Texas Award: Recognizes outstanding achievements in facilities management and is designed to advance excellence in the field of educational facilities. The award uses the same criteria applied through the APPA Facilities Management Evaluation Program and is a great stepping stone toward applying for the APPA Award.

Awards are a great way to build team morale and retention. The TAPPA Board highly recommends you take advantage of our awards program. Begin now! Identify candidates for the first two awards and assess your organization for the third. You will be glad you did. 

As a suggestion, as you finish this letter, take a minute, and write down names of potential nominees for the first two awards above. Then, build upon that over the next few months. Before you know it, you’ll have a nomination for submission. Award submissions are normally due at the beginning of the calendar year, but if you are ready early, contact us and submit!

TAPPA wants to ensure your organizations and business networks are successful and the Board Members are here to help. If you have award-related questions, reach out to TAPPA Past President Dave Reynolds at dreynolds@f-w.com or myself at wls1@txstate.edu.

Watch for future articles on the TAPPA awards and remember to keep building these nominations.

Sincerely,

Wm. “Shorty” Schwartz, President, TAPPA