April 2022

Welcome to the New Systemwide Office

The World Room is wired. Offices are decked out. Cubicles line the room. The copier stands at the ready in the supply room. And, crucially, the coffee maker is in the kitchen. After a massive effort, the new Systemwide Office is open for business. At 420 S. Fairview Ave. in Goleta, UCEAP banners on either side of the front door welcome students, staff, and visitors. “Every person at UCEAP contributed in one way or another, and, collaboratively, we successfully reached this milestone—and I am thankful to all,” said Lance Heather, assistant director of Facilities Operations & Administrative Services. The smaller office size will easily accommodate the Systemwide staff as it maintains a primarily remote and hybrid workforce model. “Re-creating the new World Room layout as closely to the old was something I thought would provide comfort and a sense of familiarity, and I hope that came through," Lance said. The World Room media supports hybrid (in-person and remote) meeting attendees, which is an essential feature. “It was incredible to have leadership back onsite for a DC (Directors’ Council) meeting and I appreciated their positive feedback and acknowledgement,” he said. Critically, the office also meets UC policy for seismic outfitting and other standards. Special Thanks Lance offers special thanks to those who were instrumental in the transition to the new space. The Space Planning Group provided guidance and unwavering support: •Vivian-Lee Nyitray, associate vice provost and executive director •Bryna Bock, human resources director •Michael Marcelli, budget and finance director •Thomas Bunnell, information technology director •Maisee Thao, senior analyst Scott Kasai, network/systems technical support analyst: Scott, while very short-handed, managed the packing of IT equipment, thoughtfully evaluated what to keep and what to offer to staff and campus colleagues. He advised on networking discussions with a focus on network integrity and stability. Thomas Bunnell: Thomas was onsite every day and never afraid to get his hands dirty. It wasn’t unusual to see him cleaning out spaces and—despite how busy he was—lending a hand. His frontline leadership was inspiring and motivating, especially during some of the more challenging times. Jason Hall, facilities operations and administrative services coordinator: Jason joined the Admin Team mid-move and immediately hit the ground running. His willingness to learn on the fly and adapt to the ever-changing environment immediately took the pressure off. He often found creative solutions at critical moments to keep the momentum moving forward. Bryna Bock: Bryna kept me grounded and often was tasked with talking me down from the latest setback. She provided me the autonomy to be successful and supported the decisions I made. When I needed help, she was always quick to coordinate temps. Additional thanks to Human Resources Generalist Alex Schoenwetter, who, with Bryna, moved Jason’s recruitment through expeditiously. Administrative assistants Donna Brosnan and Kathleen Chiarappa pulled double duty running the day-to-day operations at both the old and new offices while adapting to rapid changes. “The term ‘it takes a village’ truly applies to this move,” Lance said.