Facilities Management : We Make AU Facilities Safe, Functional and Attractive

Willy Suter was named the Director of Facilities Management (FM) at American University in May of 1994 after 20 years of service in various positions at George Washington University.

In his current position, Suter leads and trains a 200 strong diverse maintenance and operations work force that manages 2.5 million square feet of AU's urban campus facilities. While working closely with five assistant directors (facilities operations, central plant, grounds/support services/vehicle maintenance, capital renewal and deferred maintenance and ARAMARK housekeeping), Suter participated in the implementation of new maintenance management software (Facility Focus), supervised organizational structural change to zone management and initiated an employee safety committee. Equipped with an open and creative leadership style, he has played a key role in campus-wide committees and initiated a series of team-based decision-making activities.

An active member of APPA, the Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers, he has been the vice president for the Education in the Eastern Region since 2002 and was the president of the MDDC Chapter in APPA in 1999. Suter earned the "Always an Eagle" student award in 1997 for exemplary commitment to the enrichment of student life. He also chairs or coordinates several committees on campus including the Campus Beautification Team and the Environmental Issues Project Team.

Suter graduated from George Washington with a bachelors degree in fine arts (sculpture) and earned a Masters in Administrative Science from the same institution in 1989.

He is also a graduate of both the APPA Executive Development Institute and APPA Institute for Facilities Management and is a Certified Quality Consultant.