PPD Achievements - Employee of the Year

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

During January of each year, Architecture/Engineering, Building Services, the Health Center, Grounds, Systems, Facilities, Resource Management, and Support Staff will select an Employee of the Year from the winners of the Employee of the Quarter for the preceding year. Each selectee will be provided a cash award of $50.00. Departmental funds will be used.

Physical Plant Division Employee of the Year 2007

The eight departmental Employees of the Year compete for the Physical Plant Division Employee of the Year. Selectee's picture is prominently displayed in Building 700. Recipient will not receive further monetary award but will receive other appropriate recognition.

Alvin Langford 2007 PPD Divisional Employee of the Year
Left to right: Eric Cochran, Marty Werts, Alvin Langford, Dave O'Brien, and Fred Gratto

Congratulations are in order for Alvin Langford of Grounds Department, who has been chosen as Physical Plant’s 2007 Divisional Employee of the Year. Alvin is an Auto/Marine Equipment Maintenance Supervisor, and is in charge of the Grounds Repair Shop at PPD.

Alvin has been working for Grounds his entire UF career – he began working for the department in 1989, as an Automotive Equipment Mechanic. Over the next eighteen and a half years, he was promoted to Maintenance Mechanic, and then to Supervisor.

At the Grounds Maintenance Shop, Alvin and his crew work on everything from weed eaters to dump trucks. “We handle all kinds of stuff,” he said. “Anything mechanical that Grounds uses, we’ve probably worked on it – backhoes, chainsaws, mowers, you name it. We do some welding and metal fabrication here, too. We make things like handrails, drain grates, gates – we made the pressbox structure at PK Yonge, and the fence and gate that encloses the compactor over at Shands. We also order parts and schedule smaller maintenance for all of Grounds’ vehicles and equipment.”

“Alvin leads our equipment repair team, and they can fix anything, do anything, and build anything on campus,” said PPD Assistant Director Fred Gratto. “They are able to do this because Alvin sets a good example as a leader, and because he has the skill set to meet any repair or construction challenge. He’s a tremendous asset to our organization, and a friend to the campus environment. He is exactly what a public employee should be: talented, enthusiastic, and eager to help people. The University of Florida is a better place because he works here.”

Landscaping/Groundskeeping Superintendent Marty Werts added, “Alvin has character. In my opinion, a person that works honestly, and creates an environment that demonstrates that honesty, day in, day out, is a person with character, and Alvin fits that description completely. I don't know of a compliment that can be much higher then that. I think Alvin is as deserving as anyone that’s ever had the honor of being PPD's Employee of the Year.”

“I feel like the guys that I work with really helped me win this award,” Alvin said. “I want to thank all of them, because without them this would never have happened. I especially want to mention Steve Corbett and Eddie Lake for performing great work with me every day, and I want to thank Marty Werts and Fred Gratto for putting me in for Employee of the Year.”

Much has changed about the University of Florida and Physical Plant since he first put on the uniform, but Alvin says his work is always enjoyable. “Sure, this place has changed a lot in 18 years – the budget stuff we’re dealing with this year makes it tougher, especially. But I like working out here with the people we have at PPD. I think there’s a lot of variety to this job, there’s always something new to work on, something new to learn how to install. I feel like each day brings me a new challenge and makes it enjoyable to get up and go to work, and I’m still looking forward to finishing my career out here at Physical Plant.”

2007 PPD Departmental Employees of the Year

« Rod Clements
Architecture & Engineering