“As a self-proclaimed people pleaser, I never thought my career would hinge upon the ability to say no, and say no often,” Ana Thiemer says.
Thiemer is the person responsible for making decisions about where and how a limited amount of money is spent on UT buildings, which means she is in a position where she’s unfortunately practiced at saying no to requests. To be fair, she is also one of the nicest people to relay this message, with one colleague saying, “Thiemer is the only person who could say no and I still left her office smiling.” Thiemer does approve requests too, but for enhancements that feel more behind-the-scenes than showy and aesthetic, such as making sure we replace air handling units so that spaces are conditioned and ensuring paths of travel for all students are safe and code-compliant.
One of the areas under her direction is the Replacement and Renewal (R&R) program, now part of a larger comprehensive program called Capital Investment Management (CIM). The CIM program provides a comprehensive view of University needs, allows for improved prioritization and planning, and gives UT visibility, awareness, and a more forward-looking and cohesive approach. Together, these programs manage and track all capital investment for the systems that keep a building operational and safe, from the roof to the flooring and every system in between.
“It is our job to maximize limited resources to ensure the campus runs safely and efficiently and to support the mission of the University,” Thiemer says.
As with any position that involves limited resources, critical needs compete, and decisions around them require prioritization. Thiemer, who says she believes in collaboration and consideration of diverse viewpoints, involves others in that process. Since starting with UT in 2009, she formed a Prioritization Committee, which includes representatives from numerous departments across UT, such as Environmental Health and Safety, Facilities Operations and Maintenance, Fire Prevention Services, Utilities and Energy Management, the Provost’s Office, and more. There are also subcommittees for accessibility and infrastructure.
“These representatives help us consider what we may not know or remember. Many times, these are the staff who are living and working with issues in these buildings, taking trouble calls. It’s important for them to have their say,” Thiemer says.
Thiemer has demonstrated success not just with collaboration in R&R but also in forming new teams to support planning initiatives on campus. Because of these successes, her role has expanded. She was recently promoted to a new position, director of operations support, reporting to Associate Vice President for Campus Operations Brent Stringfellow. Read more about this promotion and other changes in a recent message to Campus Operations staff.
In addition to the R&R and CIM programs, Operations Support teams will benefit overall campus planning by focusing on capital asset strategies, campus geospatial assets, data and document management, and project intake and development. These teams will provide strategy, analysis, and coordination across Campus Operations departments, resulting in efficiencies, cost savings, and improvements to campus clients.
Thiemer says she is excited about her new role because she loves challenges and using her critical thinking skills to start new projects and teams. She loves UT because she’s able to employ those skills to improve spaces for students and research.
“I’m happy that I have a part in making students successful. Our students are the future. They’re excited to be here. It’s not just a degree. It’s a culture, and for me, working to make that possible is a definite yes.”