CORNER BROOK — Dennis Waterman says he feels good about his decision to retire from Grenfell, and believes the university campus in Corner Brook is in good hands to achieve its objectives to flourish.
The director of administration and finance said he has been delaying his retirement until the appointment of the new associate vice-president (administration and finance), and will continue to do so until the end of August. The newly announced associate vice-president Gary Bradshaw will assume the position Sept. 1.
Along with the appointment of Mary Bluechardt as vice-president, Waterman said Grenfell Campus is poised to continue its growth and reach the vision administrators have.
“We are building resources in all the right areas and there are a number of objectives that Grenfell has to undertake, and has to meet, over the next couple of years,” Waterman said Thursday. “I think we are on the right track and we are getting good, qualified people to take over responsible positions.”
Waterman says he has some vacation plans before moving on to the next chapter of his life. He suggested he has some things awaiting, but nothing definitive at this point.
Although not employed by the university, he said he will remain an active alumni and will make himself available for any consultation if need be.
“After having spent in excess of 13 good years with the university, I will certainly be available to the university should they want my advice or whatever on any particular issue,” he said. “That is my intent, and I will stay close to it and watch as the university progresses and see how things unfold, and work with them and do whatever I can to achieve those objectives.”
Memorial University’s Board of Regents appointed Bradshaw to the position of associate vice-president (administration and finance) at a meeting held in Corner Brook Thursday.
He has more than 20 years experience in facilities management, project management and general management in the areas of engineering, financial services, human resources and labour relations.
The Memorial graduate and former director of facilities management with Newfoundland and Labrador’s university is currently vice-president, finance and facilities at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI). During his nine years there, he managed the planning and development of approximately $120 million dollars of capital expansion and renewal.
“He is indeed, from everything I understand and learned (Thursday) as the board discussed it, outstanding,” Bob Simmonds, chair of the Board of Regents said. “He is a steal, was the phrase used. To get someone of his calibre, his quality, that is what Memorial is all about. We are attempting to obtain and achieve the very best, bring in the very best, and this is an example of it.”
Another example, according to Simmonds, is the recent appointment of Bluechardt as vice-president. She said the appointment of Bradshaw is a crucial part of the next phase of Grenfell’s growth and development.
“Grenfell is growing into a larger, more complex organization and this new position will ensure that our management systems are equal to the task of further growth,” she said.
At Marble Mountain, before meeting with community stakeholders as part of the meetings held by the Board of Regents, she expanded on that point.
“With the investments that have been made in the Grenfell campus, having someone with that experience behind him coming in is just fantastic,” Bluechardt said.
The associate vice-president (administration and finance) is a newly created position that reports directly to the vice president (Grenfell Campus). The associate vice-president will play a significant role in providing leadership in creating the administrative structure for Grenfell.
With the campus’ significant increases in budget and autonomy, and the addition of many new permanent positions, the associate vice-president will provide leadership for the deployment of these new resources and serve as the chief financial officer for the Grenfell Campus.
