MEET: Jack Phillips, Facilities Manager

I grew up in West Michigan and graduated from Calvin University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science, interdisciplinary in engineering and business. After college, I was a controls engineer in the automotive industry for 10 years.

I returned to Calvin as the Assistant Director of Facilities in the mechanical department for the next 10 years. While at the university, I assisted in our department’s sustainability efforts that helped drop electrical demand by 19% and water consumption by 25%. We solved other campus problems like improving air quality and lowering Chloramine gas levels in the pool area by adding a UV filter.

For the past year, I have worked for a builder doing remodeling and newbuild construction. I am excited to be working at the Seminary because of the good work we do here in helping to make a space conducive to learning. I enjoy the community and relationships with coworkers and students. I like solving difficult maintenance problems and planning equipment replacements and upgrades. I have a passion for sustainability to increase efficiency and lower costs.

In my role as the Facilities Manager, I handle all aspects of maintaining the building and surrounding areas. We handle everything from daily cleaning to large construction projects. We handle fire alarm systems, fire suppression, locks and doors, elevators, electrical, plumbing, carpet cleaning, apartment maintenance, HVAC, building automated systems, and scheduling.

Outside work, my wife and I have five kids who keep us busy. We enjoy family time and being outdoors as much as possible. On a nice day, you will find us outside playing a game of basketball, kickball, or wiffleball in the yard. We love to swim, be by a lake, or just marvel at God’s creation. We also love to travel around northern Michigan in the summer.