Justin Utpadel has been named director of the Physical Plant at University of Wisconsin-Stout after a national search.
The announcement was made by Phil Lyons, vice chancellor for Administrative and Student Life Services.
Utpadel replaces Shirley Klebesadel, who retired.
Utpadel will oversee campus facilities and Physical Plant operations, including building maintenance, grounds, custodial services, central heating and cooling plants, fleet services, utilities, planning and engineering and construction projects.
He also will serve as the university’s point person with the UW System regarding capital projects, facilities planning and engineering and be part of the university’s Strategic Planning Group.
The UW-Stout campus covers 125 acres and includes 45 buildings.
Utpadel is an alumnus who majored in construction at UW-Stout. He has been director of operations at Heartland Construction in Chippewa Falls. He is responsible for the leadership and oversight of company operations that included a $31 million annual budget and multiple construction projects. Among the projects is the downtown Menomonie Cobblestone Hotel, which is under construction.
Utpadel previously worked for the city of Maple Grove, Minn., as a project coordinator in the engineering department. He also worked for seven years as an assistant project manager for Mortenson Construction in Minneapolis.
He is vice president of the Northwest Regional Builders Exchange and is a staff sergeant in the Wisconsin Army National Guard, completing two tours of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Utpadel will begin work at UW-Stout the third week of August.
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Justin Utpadel
