Meet Our Speakers

Attendees have the opportunity to participate in lively discussion tailored to their specific needs in solving planning, construction and operational challenges led by some of today’s prominent K12 district facility administrators.

The Speakers

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Phil Berman

Executive Director for Building Services

CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS (NC)

Philip Berman is the Executive Director of Building Services of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System.  He has over 35 years of experience in Facility Management, Engineering, Capital Project Management, Environmental Health and Safety Leadership at two Fortune 100 companies (Atlantic Richfield, Co., and W.R. Grace & Co.) and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (over 21 million) square feet, 180 + sites).  Berman drives organizational excellence through implementation of, ISO 9001/14001, technology, key performance indicators, benchmarks, and six sigma methodologies to improve organization performance.  He has effectively consolidated these strategies into a business improvement plan focused on world class service, promoting sustainability, and employing cultural change strategies including behavioral modification. 

Prior to joining Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in 1998, Berman was Corporate Director of Facilities and Engineering for the W.R. Grace Corporation.  He served on Grace’s Global Engineering Management Group and Environmental Task Force, both of which were commissioned to develop standards for excellence and implement best practices throughout the Corporation.  He also served as member of W.R. Grace’s Human Resource Advisory Council.

Berman holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is a Grace Corporation Leadership Graduate from the School for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, N.C. Berman has been involved with professional organizations including IFMA (16 years), IFMA Public Sector Councils, A.E.C.H.E., NFPA, ASHRAE, Baldrige, ASBO (American School Business Officials) and AASA (American Association of School Administrators).

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Michael Bobby

Chief Financial & Operations Officer

CHARLESTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT (SC)

Michael Bobby joined the Charleston County School District as Chief Finance and Operations Officer in April 2008.  In this role, Bobby takes on responsibility for all operations and financial activity for the District.  These responsibilities include Supervision of Finance and Budget, Transportation, Facilities, Food Service, Contracts and Procurement, Information Technology, Human Resources, Risk Management, Maintenance/Grounds and Custodial Operations. 

Bobby has been in Public Education as a profession for over 36 years.  Born in Ohio, he attended the Parma City Schools (in the Greater Cleveland area) and has completed undergraduate and graduate work at the masters plus 30 hours level.  Within the three plus decades of his experience in the public education arena, he has been a mathematics teacher, coached multiple sports, worked at building level in administrative duties and has over the past 20 years worked at the district level teaching and working with adults as opposed to direct interaction with the students.  His experiences include work at all levels with children within the District from small to large, rural to suburban to urban with growing diversity, an underlying theme.

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Caterina Hatcher

ENERGY STAR National Manager, Public Sector

US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)

More info coming soon!

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Cheryl K. Humann

Executive Director of Facilties

JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS (CO)

Cheryl Humann has been involved in the design and construction industry for over 25 years.  Currently the Executive Director of Facilities Planning & Construction  Management for the Jefferson County School District, the largest school district in Colorado, her department was responsible for delivery of a six-year $485M Capital Improvement Program (CIP) consisting of 350 projects at 130 different sites.  

With a team of 16 people, Cheryl is responsible for overall capital asset management.  She collaborates with other departments such as Maintenance, Food Service, Security, Technology and Transportation.  She is the lead staff member of the Capital Asset Advisory Committee.  She is also a member of the statewide stakeholder group on K-12 facility planning and construction.

Cheryl is a registered Professional Engineer, with a Masters degree in Computer Information Systems.  Published works include Plotting a Path and Choosing the Right Path,
American School & University, November 2000.

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Chip Irby

Director of Maintenance Services & Engineering

CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS (NC)

Chip Irby has over 26 years of experience in accounting, construction and facilities management and maintenance. During the beginning of Mr. Irby’s professional career, he served as a cost accountant and auditor. Mr. Irby spent five years as a classroom teacher and coach in the State of North Carolina. After leaving the educational environment, Mr. Irby began his facilities management career as a Director of Maintenance at a private school in Charlotte, NC. Over the years, Mr. Irby served in many related capacities such as a Field Construction Manager for Centex Crosland and Maintenance Operations Manager for the Charlotte Housing Authority. Mr. Irby has served the past nine years at CMS. He is a licensed General Contractor and Home Inspector in North Carolina. He earned a Masters Degrees in Business Administration and Industrial Technology from Pfeiffer University and North Carolina A&T State University respectively. His undergraduate studies are in Accounting; Business Administration, Economics, and Education from Catawba College and Industrial Technology from North Carolina A&T State University.

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Thomas Schneider

Manager of Energy & Operational Efficiencies

NORTH PENN SCHOOL DISTRICT (PA)

More info coming soon!

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Keith Scroggins

Chief Operating Officer

BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS (MD)

More info coming soon!

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John Shea

Chief Executive Officer, Division of School Facilities

NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (NY)

John T. Shea has been the CEO of the New York City Department of Education, Division of School Facilities since August, 2008. He came to the DOE after twelve years as the Executive Director of Facilities for the Nassau County Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), the largest regional school district in New York State.

Prior to BOCES, Shea was a Technical Manager for the Aramark Corporation in their Educational Services division. Shea started his career in the maritime industry as an engineer, supervising ship repair and construction both domestically and internationally. He has a BS in Marine Engineering from the United States Merchant Marine Academy, from where he graduated in 1989, and is a former officer in the United States Naval Reserve.

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Doug Taylor

Supervisor of Operational Services

COUNCIL ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT (PA)

More info coming soon!

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Jaime Torrens

Chief Facilities Officer

MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS (FL)

Jaime G. Torrens is responsible for facilities planning, construction, maintenance, operations and inspections at the fourth largest school system in the nation. As a member of the Superintendent’s Cabinet, he manages a staff of 1,300 professional, technical and trades personnel responsible for all aspects of 4,000 buildings comprising 45 million square feet on over 400 school campuses and numerous ancillary facilities. 

Torrens is charged with leading the district’s multi-billion dollar five-year capital program and ensuring compliance with the State of Florida School Concurrency requirements.  To this end, over 100,000 new student stations have been opened, including 35 new or replacement schools and 47 additions or K-8 conversions.  

During the past 26 years, Torrens has served the district in various positions of increasing responsibility related to facilities management and district/emergency operations.  He has led the district’s infusion of sustainability principles into design criteria and specifications for capital projects and opened the first Gold Certified comprehensive high school under the LEED for Schools Program. 

Under the direction of Torrens, in 2009-10 the district established an Eco-sustainability Office which initially focused on reducing utilities consumption as well as printers and paper. This program has achieved cost avoidance exceeding $15 million and returned a portion of the accrued energy savings to schools that reduced electricity consumption.

Torrens holds a Master of Science in Management and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Florida International University and he is a LEED Accredited Professional. 

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Timothy White

Assistant Superintendent of Facilities

OAKLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (CA)

More info coming soon!

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