SoCalAPPA

Southern California Chapter of APPA

Welcome

Welcome to the Southern California Chapter of APPA (SoCalAPPA).

We are a network of facilities management professionals working in a range of educational contexts: university, college, community college, K-12, museums and vocational-technical.

We represent institutions from across Southern California, both public and private. We promote APPA’s mission of Leadership in Educational Facilities in Southern California. SoCalAPPA is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization. We seek participation at all levels of facilities management.

Our Mission

To promote the training, knowledge- sharing, networking, and career-building resources of APPA International across all levels of Southern California educational facilities professionals, and to provide our members with meaningful professional development opportunities in Southern California.

Membership

Individual Membership
to SoCalAPPA is FREE
Be a part of SoCalAPPA and get updates about educational and professional development opportunities.
SoCalAPPA membership is open to all employees of educational institutions in Southern California that are members of APPA or PCAPPA.

The Southern California Chapter of APPA (SoCalAPPA) is comprised of universities, schools, museums, cultural centers, and libraries located in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Kern, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, Imperial, and San Diego counties and is seeking nominations for the Board of Directors for the following positions:

  • Vice-President (2-year term)
  • Treasurer (2-year term)
  • Board of Directors Member-at-Large (3-year term)

For additional information or to nominate a candidate, please respond directly to this email on or before Friday, October 18, 2024.  Elections for these positions will be held at the SoCalAPPA Annual Meeting on Friday, November 22, 2024 at 2:00pm with a Zoom meeting invitation to be sent at a later date.  This email is blind copied primarily to voting representatives of APPA institutions, hence please feel free to forward this message broadly to staff at your institution who may be well suited and interested in the opportunity.  Thank you for your assistance.

Position Descriptions

  • Vice President.  The Vice President shall: assume the duties of the President if the President is absent or if the post becomes vacant; and such other duties as assigned by the President or Board of Directors.
  • Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be responsible for financial management, including keeping all appropriate fiscal records, and ensuring that all funds are recorded, spent, and monitored consistent with funder requirements, legal requirements, and sound financial management.
  • Member-at-Large. Voting position contributing to discussion and assigned duties as needed by the Board.

Imagine of APPA president

Kevin Austin

President

Kevin serves as the Director of Facilities Services for Pomona College where he oversees campus operations. From 2009 to 2021 he served as the Senior Director of Operations & Maintenance at the University of Chicago where he was responsible for facilities maintenance, housekeeping services, landscape services, and several contracted services. Kevin’s 38-year career includes leadership positions at University of California campuses in San Diego, Davis and San Francisco, Cal Poly Pomona, Occidental College, and Elk Grove Unified School District. In addition, he served as a branch manager for ISS Facility Services, a contract service provider. Kevin is a long-standing active member of APPA. Most recently, he served as Membership Chair for the MAPPA Regional Board and as President of the Illinois Chapter (ILAPPA) of APPA from 2019-2021. He is a graduate of APPA's Institute for Facilities Management and earned his CEFP certification through APPA in 2014. While at the University of Chicago, the Facilities Services team was awarded the APPA Award for Excellence in Facilities Management.

Photograph or Travis Thomas

Travis Thomas

Vice President

Travis has served as the Director of Grounds, Custodial & Events for Physical Plant Management at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) since January 2021. Travis got his start in Facilities as a Student Assistant in the Central Receiving Department at CSUN in 1994 before becoming staff in 1997. Throughout his 30 years of service to CSUN, Travis served in a variety of roles, including Warehouse Worker, Distribution Center Supervisor, and Materials Manager. During his six years as Director of Logistical Services, Travis supported Central Receiving, campus-wide Asset Management, Mail Services, the PPM Work Control Center, the PPM Distribution Center and the Reprographics and Sign Shop enterprise operations. During this time, Travis also served as Fleet Manager and as the Logistics Section Chief in CSUN’s Emergency Operations Center. Travis holds a B.S. in Music from CSUN and a M.S. in Public Administration from California State University, Los Angeles. An active member in APPA, Travis earned his CEFP in 2018 and completed the Institute for Facilities Management later that same year.

Photograph of Jason Wang

Jason Wang

Secretary

Jason is the Senior Director of Physical Plant Management at California State University Northridge (CSUN) with professional interests in organizational theory, human resources management, and construction/facility management. Jason has worked in construction, university student unions, residential life, and taught high school. He has been at CSUN since 2002 and earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration/Student Personnel Services from the University of Arizona with a minor in Human Resources Management and a B.S. in Physics from Cal Poly Pomona.

Events

Upcoming Webinars, Drive-In Workshops and Meetings
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Webinars

Coming in 2025

Please check back as we build content for our webinars

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Drive-In Workshops

March 2025

Athletic Field Maintenance Seminar

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Monthly Board Meetings

November 22, 2024 @ 2;00 PM

Annual Meeting and Board Elections

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Get in Touch

Let us know how we can assist you

Find us at the office

9151 Atlanta Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 6126 

Contact Us

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