Fred Harris Honored with College Facilities Award
by Jan Janes on Dec 2, 2016At the annual conference of the Community College Facility Coalition (CCFC) in Sacramento three weeks ago, Fred Harris was awarded the Paul Holmes Facilities Leadership Achievement Award for his commitment to enhancing school facilities for California's community college students.
Fred Harris (center) Vice President of Administrative Services at Gavilan
College, with (left) Sherman Wong, Public Agency Law Group and Willard
Lewallen, President of Hartnell College, after Harris received the Paul
Holmes Facilities Leadership Achievement Award in Sacramento, Calif.
Harris joined Gavilan College as Vice President of Administrative Services in June 2014. Prior to his arrival, he served for 17 years as Assistant Vice Chancellor of College Finance and Facilities Planning in the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office. He led a team responsible for monitoring 72 community college districts' financial conditions. In addition, his work within the Facilities Planning and Utilization Unit offered keen insights into the system's extensive facilities and diverse sites in California.
"Fred is a doer," said Sherman Wong, CCFC board member with the Public Agency Law Group. "Quite simply, he builds bridges and cuts through red tape in order to get things done, for the good of community colleges and the students of California."
In his capacity at the Chancellor's office, Harris developed the FUSION system, credited with community college districts receiving more than $25 billion in local and state bond funds during the last ten years. The program is a web-based suite of tools offering integrated management and facilities reporting.
Harris also led the drive for sustainable, energy-efficient facilities. He guided the community college Proposition 39 energy efficiency program approved by voters in 2012. Community colleges can access funding to reduce energy use and achieve savings.
Many people attending the conference knew Harris while he worked in the Chancellor's Office. According to Hartnell College President Willard Lewallen, "Fred is now one of our own, serving as Vice President of Administrative Services at Gavilan College."
Fred Harris, Gavilan College VP of Administrative Services, addresses
the annual conference of the Community College Facility Coalition
after receiving the Paul Holmes Facilities Leadership Achievement Award.
During his tenure at Gavilan, Harris led the build and opening of the San Martin Airport project where the Aviation Maintenance Technology program will be housed for the next 30 years, oversaw construction of the new Coyote Valley satellite location and managed numerous projects across the Gilroy campus.
"Since his arrival at Gavilan, Fred's record of innovation and creativity – all delivered with a positive attitude and his unique sense of humor – continues to flourish," said Kathleen Rose, Gavilan College Superintendent/President. "I have grown to rely on and trust Fred's judgment with all projects, big and small, knowing his focus is always on our students and the community."
The Paul Holmes Facilities Leadership Achievement Award was inspired by the late Paul Holmes, a partner at Murdoch, Walrath & Holmes. He founded CCFC to pursue state funding opportunities and advocacy on behalf of community colleges.