Valdosta State University’s Council on Staff Affairs presented Robert Tindall, associate director of Maintenance, with the 2015 Excellence in Service Award during the university’s fall convocation. Tindall is one of three staff members to receive the award.

“I am very excited and surprised…I think I am still in shock,” shared Tindall.

Tindall manages all maintenance shops and repairs for the VSU campus. This includes the steam, heating and air conditioning, ventilation, plumbing, electrical, fire alarm, and water and sewer systems, as well as the painting, door locks, and carpentry shops.

“Robert is a man of action,” said Raymond A. Sable, director of Physical Plant. “He loves to have tasks to complete and [crises] to solve, and no one on campus does a better job of getting things done when it comes to the big, physical changes of the university. Robert has consistently stressed that work at the university be done to high standards and completed by professionals with the appropriate credentials to guarantee the work. One could say that he has left his mark on every area of VSU, both inside and out.”

Tindall, who worked as the associate director of Facilities Planning for 29 years, has overseen the construction on many iconic structures on VSU’s campus, including the renovations of West Hall, Nevins Hall, Converse Hall, and Ashley Hall; the University Center, the Curriculum, Leadership, Technology, and Communication Arts Building, the Odum Library, the P.E. Complex, the Hugh C. Bailey Science Center, and the Health Science and Business Administration Building.

“Since Mr. Tindall has taken over maintenance, there has been significant improvement in the quality and the timeliness of the work being performed,” said Shannon McGee, director of Auxiliary Services. “Maintenance tasks are not only successfully completed under Mr. Tindall’s management, but he provides valuable communication to all the key stakeholders while the work is being accomplished.

“Mr. Tindall’s hard work, determination, and attentiveness to the minutest of detail has given me confidence in our due diligence process in managing facilities, including large public-private venture projects, and reassurance in the level of customer service that we are providing our students.”

“Robert takes safety seriously and ensures our residents always have an environment they feel comfortable in,” shared Dr. Thomas W. Hardy, director of Housing and Residence Life. “He is also the first to hold contractors accountable and explains quite clearly the expectations of them and how they must back up what they are contracted to do for VSU.

“Robert took on a difficult task when the former assistant director of Plant Operations retired. He immediately set to work demanding excellence amongst his team members and a no-excuses policy. His drive was to find a way to make it happen, no matter what.”

Tindall believes that what sets him apart from others in his career field is his enthusiasm for the job. He looks forward to coming to work each day and tackling whatever tasks are presented to him. “Overall, I am just like everyone else and this award is really about my 45 men who work every day in their job doing repairs,” he said.

Tindall and his wife, Bonnie, chairwoman of the Department of Political Science at Georgia Military College (GMC), have been married for 46 years. Together, they have two sons, Chris, athletic director and football coach at Lowndes Middle School, and Matt, manager of the GMC Bookstore; three grandchildren, Paul, Abby, and Rylee; and a white Labrador named Brodie, who is 9 years old.

In 2011, Tindall received the University System of Georgia Distinguished Service Award. “While that award means very much to me, being selected here at VSU is [an even] greater award and makes me very proud to be a part of VSU,” he said.

In his spare time, Tindall enjoys playing golf, reading, and working in his yard. He is a member of the Georgia Association of Physical Plant Administrators, the Southeastern Association of Physical Plant Managers, and the American Association of Physical Plant Administrators.

COSA presents the Excellence in Service Award each year at the convocation held in the fall. All full-time classified staff employees, with the exception of direct reports to the president, are eligible for the award.