John Ferlito, a 38-year SUNY Oswego employee and, since 1998, the campus electrical supervisor, will receive the 2015 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service.
In day-to-day operations and in preparation for special events, Ferlito’s hallmarks are customer service, dedication and personal follow-through, according to utilities manager John Bricker, who nominated his Facilities Maintenance and Operations colleague for the award.
“Customer service is his strong point,” Bricker wrote. “He makes sure everybody’s needs are met, by using a personal touch. He will dedicate whatever time is needed to make sure events go off without a problem. He makes himself available and talks to people to see if he can do anything more to help.”
With primary responsibility for electrical distribution system maintenance on campus, Ferlito also has taken on many other tasks. One was improving the visibility of Pathfinder Hall’s police station with new exterior lights. Then-Chief Cynthia Adam of University Police publicly thanked Ferlito and his crew for helping the station become a “beacon of the night.”
Ferlito also oversees the electrical system’s safety. “He insures that the electrical system on our campus is reliable and up to code,” Bricker said.
Behind the scenes, the electrical crew proves key to many campus initiatives. Long hours for Ferlito and his team led up to the big day Oct. 16 when Al Roker, the Weather Channel and NBC’s “Today” show set up in Marano Campus Center, followed by Charlie Rose, Roker and three other media stars at the Lewis B. O’Donnell Media Summit, topped off at night by the campus-produced “Tomorrow Show,” featuring Steve Levy and college President Deborah F. Stanley in a public launch for the college’s “With Passion and Purpose” $40 million fundraising campaign.
The medal for the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service will be conferred on Ferlito at Oswego’s December commencement ceremony.