Our department is proud to have employees with many years of dedicated service. This year, I would like to honor two highly valued members of our team who, after many years with FPO, are preparing to begin a well-deserved new chapter.

Frank Tipton – Celebrating 29 Years with FPO

Frank with his best friend and wife, Beth.

Frank Tipton was born in Glendive, Montana, and graduated from high school in Wyoming. He attended the University of Florida, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Astronomy and Environmental Engineering. Before joining FPO, he worked as a manager at a local photographic processing lab.

Frank joined FPO on February 7, 1997, beginning his career as an OPS employee focused on site contamination issues. Over the years, he advanced to coordinator and ultimately to project manager. He considers his proudest accomplishments to be the successful remediation of numerous contamination sites – many of which achieved “No Further Action” status – as well as centralizing all UF/IFAS permits into a single system where information can be efficiently stored and easily accessed.

When asked about his favorite memories and most meaningful moments at FPO, Frank says that his fondest memory is the wonderful people he has had the opportunity to work with and get to know. His most impactful moment was September 11, 2001, when he was traveling with then – Associate Vice President of UF/IFAS, Joe Joyce. After hearing about the collapse of the Twin Towers, they turned back and returned to Gainesville to find the university shut down.

Frank is well known among our department’s employees as an exceptionally kind and positive person. Despite his very busy schedule, he always finds time for a quick chat and a shared laugh.

When asked what message and advice he would like to share with UF people, Frank said:

“Enjoy every day, don’t take yourself too seriously, and make plans for the future by taking advantage of any educational and financial investment opportunities offered by the University.”

Frank also shared that his retirement plans, besides traveling and spending time with family and friends, include restoring his grandfather’s 1964 Chevy C10 pickup truck. While we’ll be missing him, it sounds like he’ll be keeping himself quite busy.

We are grateful for his years of service and wish him happiness, good health, and many exciting adventures in retirement.

Joe Hayden – 28 Years of Service with FPO

Joe Hayden was born and raised in Largo, Florida, where he graduated from high school. He later attended a technical school, earning his electrician’s license. He went on to graduate from Santa Fe College with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. Before joining FPO, he worked for a local contractor as an IT Support Specialist.

Joe became part of the FPO team in 1998 as an IT Support, and his role within the department steadily evolved over the years. He managed the building automation server used across the state, helping FPO monitor and control HVAC systems in facilities statewide. By writing custom code and configuring system settings, he optimized energy efficiency – adjusting chilled and hot water temperatures and creating automated schedules that placed buildings into energy-saving modes when unoccupied. Joe also performed final system reviews on projects involving HVAC and building automation to ensure every system was operating safely, efficiently, and as designed.

Joe speaks about his work with true passion, comparing buildings and their complex systems to the human body – breathing in and out, responding to their environment, and adapting between warmth and cold. He also places a strong emphasis on energy conservation, noting that:

“Every dollar spent on energy is a dollar taken away from research and innovation.”

Over the years, Joe has worked on an impressive number of projects, making it difficult for him to name just one favorite. However, he often recalls a moment from 2023, when he worked nonstop for 36 (!) hours during a major system upgrade at Fifield Hall – a powerful example of his exceptional dedication and commitment.

Throughout his many years with the department, Joe has received multiple awards recognizing his exceptional contributions and dedication. In 2008, he earned the Innovation Award for his creativity and commitment to excellence. In 2011, Joe and his team received the Award of Distinction for their outstanding performance and teamwork. Most recently, in 2023, he was recognized with the Superior Accomplishment Award for his contributions to the University of Florida, particularly for his role in the development of the Blueberry Research Project Facility.

Among his colleagues, Joe is known as an extremely knowledgeable, kind-hearted, and genuine person with a great sense of humor. He possesses an incredible depth of knowledge and an impressive memory of the buildings he has worked on over the years. When asked about any facility maintained by IFAS FPO, Joe can immediately recall its building number, the year it was constructed, and the systems it contains.

While Joe does not have any specific plans for retirement, he enjoys woodworking and looks forward to having more time to dedicate to this longtime passion.

Joe leaves behind a legacy of excellence, collaboration, and genuine care for the people and facilities he supported. His passion for his work and dedication to the mission of UF/IFAS will be remembered long after his retirement. We thank Joe for his remarkable service and wish him continued happiness and fulfillment in the years ahead.

Joe and his team receiving the 2009 Sustainable Solutions Award for Energy Conservation.

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