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Rickes
Associates is proud to announce that Tom Flaherty has been selected as
the 2009 SCUP Distinguished Service Award Recipient.
The
Distinguished Service Award recognizes exceptional contributions to the
activities and success of the society. Recipients are nominated and
selected on the basis of their contributions to SCUP, length of service,
and commitment to its purposes, goals and activities. This award began
in 1989. |
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Thomas B. Flaherty
has been named the SCUP 2009 Distinguished Service Award Recipient. His
colleagues say he is one of those rare members who is not just “in” SCUP
but is “of” SCUP. Flaherty joined SCUP over 20 years ago and began his
service at the regional level where he was membership contact,
conference chair, regional representative, and at-large member. He
pioneered the first SCUP regional website while serving as regional
communications coordinator.
Flaherty later served as SCUP’s President in 2003-04, and oversaw
significant strategic planning activity that transformed the
organizational structure of the society. He chaired the local host
committee for SCUP–36 in Boston, and served as conference chair for
SCUP–37 in San Diego.
Specializing in academic and strategic planning, Flaherty helps groups
develop clear vision and problem-solving strategies based on the needs
of their organizations. He advocates team-based approaches, and believes
that close collaboration between budget administrators, space planners,
facilities managers, and senior leadership is essential to maximize
institutional planning and effectiveness. Flaherty has made numerous
presentations at SCUP regional and international conferences, at the
Association for Institutional Research and EDUCAUSE conferences on
strategic planning, hiring, retention, total quality management,
interest sessions, and has conducted planning workshops.
When asked to describe Flaherty, colleagues say he has indefatigable
energy, a combination of Yankee work ethic and Southern charm, and a
self-effacing sense of humor. He has a reputation as being a great SCUP
ambassador and engaging people in the organization and its mission. In
addition, they applaud him for being a great mentor, always willing to
listen, advise, and add perspective to a new SCUP member. He has the
ability to connect the dots – especially between the academic and
facilities sides. Another quiet strength is his skill to gently
persuade: when Flaherty asks you to volunteer, it is virtually
impossible to say no. |