bill skinner: second career success
Early last fall, the guys on the physical plant staff began wearing Navy blue baseball hats with the word "Collegiate" written in gold script across the front, and one day I commented that they looked very cool. A couple of mornings later, I arrived at school, unlocked my office door, and found one sitting on my desk. I've worn it proudly ever since.
Two reasons. One, my job responsibilities put me in close contact with the men and women in the physical plant department on an almost daily basis, and I long ago came to respect them as true professionals and friends. Wearing their hat, to me, strengthens that bond. Second, the hat represents the kindness of Bill Skinner, the custodial supervisor who, I found, had left the gift.
Skinner, a native of New York City, came to Collegiate eight years ago. A graduate of Queens College, he worked as a research assistant at Mt. Sinai Hospital for a couple of years, then served as an employment counselor both for the city of New York and the federal government until he retired in 1986. He and his wife Arlette then moved to Florida, but when Hurricane Andrew struck a crushing blow, the Skinners decided they'd had quite enough.
"I moved to Richmond not knowing what I'd do," he recalls. "The good Lord looked out for me. I had a couple of job offers and took the one at Collegiate. I knew nothing about the custodial business. I'd worn a three-piece suit and carried a briefcase for so many years. I wanted a job I wouldn't have to take home."
Famous last words.
Skinner's first responsibility was the care and cleaning of the Middle School building, and his personality and friendly disposition quickly earned him respect. Over time, he attended classes to enhance his knowledge of the custodial business, and as he gained experience, his responsibilities increased. In July 2001, he was appointed to his current position in which he supervises a staff of 25.
"Basically, Bill came to us as a retired person looking for something to do, and it just snowballed," said Glen Dandridge, supervisor of maintenance and transportation. "He's very knowledgeable, and his willingness to work and his ability to work with people are his great qualities."
Skinner is responsible for three shifts, and much of their work is completed behind the scenes and after hours. The first shift lasts from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. and is responsible for delivering the mail several times a day, responding to emergencies, routine cleaning, and preparing the cafeterias. The 1 p.m.-to-9:30 p.m. crew cleans the buildings top to bottom and is responsible for preparing them for the next day. The shift that works from 3:30 p.m. until midnight cleans the carpets and floors, no small task in a facility with 26 buildings.
Skinner usually reports for duty at 10 a.m. and is on deck until 6:30 p.m. If he has an early morning meeting or work to be completed in the evening, his hours expand, but he's not complaining. While his job title says "supervisor," more often than not you'll see him with his sleeves rolled up working in the trenches with the folks he supervises. "I've always felt that the best way to lead is by example," he says. "I don't want anyone to believe that there's anything I would ask them to 1o that I wouldn't do myself. The best way I can exemplify leadership is to work side-by-side with people. More than anything, it solidifies our working relationship. Loyalty is something I work hard at making happen."
In his time at Collegiate, Skinner has seen numerous changes from his own job responsibilities to the proliferation of campus buildings that have offered new challenges for him and his staff. One thing that hasn't changed has been the feeling of care and support which he felt when he came in 1994 and felt again last spring as he battled and defeated prostate cancer.
"People rallied around me, and I got a lot of strength from that and probably healed a lot quicker than expected," says Skinner. "You work in this environment, and when something happens, you learn that there truly is a Collegiate family."
