How long have you worked at CU Anschutz and what do you do here?
I started out at the UCHSC on Ninth Avenue and Colorado Boulevard back in 1998. This summer, it will be 27 years.
I oversee building maintenance and daily operations for 36 buildings on campus, which cover approximately 4.2 million square feet of space.
You can find Vimol Mitchell, CEFP, CFM, FMP, SFP, LEED Green Associate, driving across campus.
My team consists of 107 full-time staff across 10 disciplines, including the customer service center, nine different zones, shift staff, HVAC, refrigeration staff, plumbers, electricians, building maintenance, system control staff and circuit management.
Can you tell us a little bit about your career journey and how you found yourself at CU Anschutz?
I was in the U.S. Navy, active duty, for 10 years. I was stationed at Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii, and I met my wife there. In 1997, we moved up to Colorado, and I landed a job as the HVAC mechanic for UCHSC. I was able to pursue my master's degree at the same time, and I joined the U.S. Navy Reserve.
At that time, UCHSC had acquired the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center and was getting ready to move the campus to its current location.
I went from HVAC supervisor to facilities manager, where my job for the first couple of years was to close the UCHSC campus and help transform this campus to what it is today.
Why do you like working at CU Anschutz?
Initially, it was just a job to pay the bills and take care of my family. But after I was promoted and the university began building the CU Anschutz Medical Campus and decommissioning the old UCHSC campus, it was really exciting for me from a facilities management perspective.
Not too many facilities managers will be exposed to those elements at the same time. That's a dream come true for a facility manager. It allowed me to be exposed to all facets of facilities management, and that led to a fulfilling career.
My family has also benefited from the campus. My wife had knee surgery and went through physical therapy here. My son spent some time at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital. My two grandsons were born at UCHealth.
It’s come full circle. When my grandkids get older and then I get older, they can say, "Oh yeah, I was born at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, and, by the way, my grandpa used to work there."
Working here, there are no bad days. There are challenging days, but we overcome them. One of the biggest challenges we had was the COVID pandemic. We had to do a lot of work with HVAC and air flow in the buildings during the pandemic.
What do you do when you're not working?
I enjoy spending time with my family, especially my grandsons. We typically play outdoors, go on bike rides. I take them to the park, and we go fishing.
When I'm not with my family, you'll typically find me working out at the gym. I run; I cycle. Right now, I'm training for my second marathon, which is going to be in December in Honolulu.
Vimol Mitchell poses with his race medals.
I am the current president of the Denver chapter of the International Facilities Management Association, a professional networking organization for facilities managers.
I also taught HVAC at various community colleges during the evenings for 20 years.
Are there any hidden secrets that most people don’t know about campus?
I think a lot of people don't know the rich history of the CU Anschutz campus. My first memory of the campus was when I came to go shopping at the commissary, which was behind the Fitzsimons Building.
I used to get my haircut at the base exchange, where the VA Medical Center is right now. The Fitzsimons Army Medical Center supported military members, their families and the community.
Over the past 20 years and the transformation we have had, the campus continues to support the community. Some current employees were born at Fitzsimons General Hospital, and we have others whose spouse or parents were stationed here.
What three words would you use to describe CU Anschutz?
I would describe the CU Anschutz Medical Campus as unique, beautiful and diverse.
