"Strike up conversations with everyone you possibly can while you're at conferences, you never know what threads will come from them. Thank you, Doug, for talking with me on a bus ride, oh, so many years ago. And [to COCM] for being such engaged participants in addressing leadership issues for the fellows," - Dr. Sharon McDade

Join us as we celebrate COCM's 20th anniversary with the theme "Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, and Building the Future." On this episode of Student Housing Matters, Alton Irwin, Director, and Chief Marketing Officer at COCM, sits down with Dr. Sharon McDade to discuss her involvement with COCM and the Fellows Program of the American Council on Education (ACE).

Dr. Sharon A. McDade, a seasoned higher education leader, is the senior executive leadership and search consultant with Greenwood Asher & Associates' leadership and strategic services, specializing in searches for educational leaders and organizational development. With an illustrious background, Dr. McDade's impact extends globally, encompassing diverse leadership programs, keynotes, and scholarship, making her a prominent figure in advancing leadership in higher education.

The conversation explores Sharon’s experiences in leadership development and higher education and her interactions with COCM, particularly her engagement in the Fellows Program case study involving Pennyfield College.

Listen in as she shares stories of her collaborative relationship with COCM leaders Doug Brown and others, highlighting how their expertise and innovative ideas contributed to the Fellows Program of the American Council on Education (ACE) and the impact of her leadership development initiatives within the higher education community.

Topics Covered

Dr. McDade discusses the role of leadership development programs in promoting leadership positions, particularly for women and individuals of color

The impact of the ACE Fellows Program

The collaborative partnership between Dr. Sharon McDade and COCM (Capstone) in enhancing the Fellows Program's case study including the Pennyfield College simulation

Dr. McDade's transition to Greenwood Associates and her role in facilitating strategic planning processes for various higher education institutions

The far-reaching effects of leadership development initiatives in the higher education landscape

Connect with Dr. Sharon McDade

Greenwood/Asher & Associates, LLC 

Connect with Alton

Student Housing Matters

Student Housing Matters on Facebook

Student Housing Matters on Twitter

Capstone On-Campus Management

Alton at COCM

Alton on LinkedIn

Email media@cocm.com  

What makes a Director of Facilities successful in leading their maintenance team?

It’s more than just showing up and doing the job. And it’s more than just taking good care of the facility.

Success comes from taking care of the students and staff as well, building relationships with them as people to make sure they have what they need to thrive.

Chris Adams is Director of Facilities for The Village at the University of South Florida, Chenal Alford (better known as Al) is Director of Facilities for Millennium Hall at Towson University, and Hermond Lawson serves as Assistant Director of Facilities for Walker Avenue Apartments at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

On this episode of Student Housing Matters, Hermond, Chris and Al join host Jeremy Steed to explain how they got their start in facilities maintenance at COCM and share their experiences working at different sites in multiple roles.

Hermond, Chris and Al discuss how campus maintenance has evolved since the 2000s, describing why ongoing training is crucial for their teams and how the design of the facilities themselves have changed to benefit students.

Listen in to understand how Hermond, Chris and Al build a culture of respect and transparency on their teams and learn how their genuine care for staff and students contributes to their success!

Topics Covered   

How Hermond, Chris & Al got their start in facilities maintenance at COCM

Hermond, Chris & Al’s experiences working at different COCM sites in multiple roles

How facilities maintenance has evolved since the 2000s

What Hermond learned from the students he was teaching to answer maintenance calls

Hermond, Chris & Al’s appreciation for the support they receive from COCM leadership

The ongoing education and training required for maintenance teams

How Hermond, Chris & Al build a culture of respect and transparency among their teams

How the facilities themselves have changed over time to benefit students

Connect with Hermond, Chris & Al

COCM Operations & Management

Connect with Jeremy 

Student Housing Matters

Student Housing Matters on Facebook

Student Housing Matters on Twitter

Capstone On-Campus Management

Jeremy on LinkedIn

Email media@cocm.com