General Executive Director of Facilities Management for Yavapai College, James Crockett, has roots in the institution going back over 30 years. He started taking pre-college courses as an elementary and junior high school student and started his academic path in earnest in 1995, securing 74 credit hours from Yavapai College before transferring to Bringham Young University.

He returned to Yavapai College in 2014 to work for the Facilities department as a general contractor with an extensive background in project management, land development, and over 20 years of experience working in multiple construction trades, including underground ecavation, utilities, framing, carpentry, tile, flooring and more.

Crockett has a wide range of responsibilities: he oversees the daily operation of all Yavapai College campus and center buildings and grounds; ensures proper maintenance of the HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems; manages custodial services, landscaping, fleet management, and environmental services; and implements preventative maintenance programs.

“It’s hard to find a profession that requires you to use all of your skills and experience, but that’s what this place demands,” Crockett said. “I get to work with so many wonderful people here at the college, as well as contractors, vendors, leadership, students, municipal leaders, and more. We function like a small city and with that comes a diversity of experience, opportunities, and challenges. I am pushed every day to be better than I was the day before and that is exciting to me.”

Oversight of Yavapai College facilities operations and management is just one facet of Crockett’s role. He is also heavily involved in capital planning and construction, working with architects, contractors, and stakeholders to deliver projects on time and within budget and ensuring compliance with building codes, Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, and campus master plans.

Developing and managing multi-million dollar operating and capital budgets and forecasting resource needs and allocating funding for maintenance, repairs, and capital projects also falls under Crockett’s purview. He is also very involved with safety, compliance, and risk management to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

“The importance of my role at Yavapai College is to provide a safe and secure environment that is conducive to learning for our students, while being accountable to the taxpayers of Yavapai County for the funds that we’re entrusted with,” Crockett said.

Overseeing a staff of 60 full- and part-time employees in Facilities at Yavapai College, Crockett said that one of the bigger challenges in managing the expectations of the numerous operations for which he is responsible.

“We touch every space and impact everyone’s work experience. It’s impossible to meet everyone’s desires, so we spend a lot of time trying to be everything to everyone. This can lead to burnout if you don’t love the work you are doing, but the good news is that I love doing it and have loved my time working here.”

In a position that involves as much as Crockett administrates, he also leads sustainability initiatives, such as energy conservation, waste reduction, and green building strategies. His role also requires him to monitor energy use and seek ways to improve efficiency and reduce the college’s carbon footprint.

Crockett said that there are many opportunities for employment for those seeking a position in facilities management. He shared that any type of construction trade is a great transition in and out of facilities work, adding that his department also employs project managers, office professionals, customer support associates, custodians, grounds crew, experts in various trades and more.

“The members of the Yavapai College Facilities department are typically a group of folks who love to provide service to others and create something that they can see and feel,” Crockett said. “Most of our folks feel fulfilled when they can stand back at the end of their workday and see the work that they’ve accomplished. Other professions have a more difficult time visualizing their work results.”

Yavapai College operates seven campuses and centers throughout Yavapai County and offers over 100 degrees and certificates, four baccalaureate degrees, student and community services, and cultural events and activities. To learn more about Yavapai College, visit www.yc.edu.