Congrats and Best Wishes! Harry Teabout's Retirement

From: Bob Reuning
To: All-FM
Subject: Congrats and Best Wishes! Harry Teabout's Retirement

Good Afternoon FM Team,

It is with mixed feelings that I share the news of Harry Teabout’s retirement. Harry has been an integral part of FM and UMD for the last 30 years and has been a great friend and colleague to those of us who had the pleasure of working with him. January 31 will be his last day with FM.

Harry started at the university in 1983 as a housekeeping manager for Residential Facilities and joined FM (known as Physical Plant at the time) in 1995 in a similar housekeeping manager role. In 1998, he became Director of Building & Landscape Maintenance and assumed the role of Executive Director in 2013.

Harry has not just witnessed but participated in the evolution of the university over three decades. Throughout his career, Harry racked up an impressive list of accomplishments. He was a key advocate for the creation of the Arboretum, which is now internationally accredited. In 2019, the Landscape Department won the Professional Grounds Maintenance Award for Best Landscape Managed University in the United States thanks to his support and direction. He added the Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) to Housekeeping and paved the way for Housekeeping’s Green Seal 42 certification. He was also instrumental in reorganizing and clarifying the mission of Area Maintenance and Classroom Maintenance, developing it into the organization it is today.

Those who have worked with Harry over the years describe him as “a genuinely kind and thoughtful leader, especially as a boss.”  Team members and colleagues note his dedication to FM and his people and appreciate that he “is always looking for the best outcome for his people.” Whether offering advice or support or acting as a sounding board, Harry could be counted on to be there when needed.

We are in the early stages of a search for Harry’s replacement. In the interim, Karen Petroff, Assistant Director, B&LM - Arboretum and Landscape will serve as acting Executive Director. For now, please join me in congratulating Harry and wishing him well as he begins his next chapter. He will be missed.

A come-and-go reception is being held on Tuesday, January 31 from noon - 1:30 p.m. in College Park City Hall Conference Room 401 for those who would like to stop by and wish Harry well.

Sincerely,

Bob Reuning

Charles R. Reuning, MS, MBA, P.E.
CAPT, CEC, USN (Ret.)
Associate Vice President
University of Maryland
301-405-6214