Person of the Year

Executive Director of Facilities Bob Celli

Bob Celli has been named The Carroll News "Person of the Year" for his role in crafting the Master Plan and JCU's future.

Every year, John Carroll University students notice new dorm furniture, changes in the buildings and improvements on campus. However, very few students stop to think who is behind all the upgrades to their daily living environment.

The man behind the transformations is Executive Director of Facilities Robert Celli and his staff of facilities professionals. He has spent the past eight years at JCU creating an ideal living situation for students. Additionally, Celli was the mastermind behind the Master Plan, which will continue to renovate the school for years to come.

Celli started his work with JCU in 2000 as a member of the Turner Construction Company team hired to provide management services to the University on new construction projects. His company was hired to renovate both the DeCarlo Varsity Center and Don Shula Stadium, as well as Celli’s personal favorite – the construction of the new Dolan Science Center.

“One of the hardest things I found at JCU was that things go on 24/7 here,” said Celli. “When I did pure construction, I had more knowledge of what was going on pretty much on any given day on the site. Here, it simply became apparent that one needed to put faith in the people you were surrounded with.”
“I was blessed to have a great crew to work with,” he added.

In 2004, JCU hired Celli on staff permanently, and he has been attempting to improve the campus on a daily basis ever since.
“JCU is like its own little city,” Celli said. “We’ve got our own dining facilities, infirmary, things like that. When you look at it that way, it’s incredibly efficient and interesting to work with.”

A major focus for him and his staff has been remodeling buildings and outdoor spaces to become compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This includes putting a new ramp on the Administration Building, updating a bathroom in Sutowski Hall, remodeling parts of Millor Hall and this summer performing renovations in some of the suites in Bernet Hall.

Also, Schott Dining Hall will be remodeled to accommodate the Fresh Foods Company that will be put into place this coming fall.
Along with this effort, the main conference rooms on the first floor of the Rec Plex will be renovated to compliment the LSC Room, which was completed over Christmas Break.

The summer projects include a makeover of Jardine Room, Murphy Room, the old Faculty Lounge and the Student Conference Room.
In addition to the physical changes on campus, Celli and University leaders Doreen Riley and Jerry Sheehan focused a lot on developing good relationships with neighbors around JCU during the creation of the Master Plan. Meetings were held at houses on Kerwick, Milford, Belvoir, Claver and other streets to discuss the Master Plan and the University’s plans to become better neighbors.

When Sasaki Associates, the planners chosen to review the campus, visited JCU, Celli remembers them saying, “We’re too closed off from the town. The barrier needs to be taken down between the neighbors and the University.” Having good relations with neighbors was paramount for Celli as the plan started to take shape.
Celli explained that his goal has always been to enhance living and social spaces for students. “My job is to keep finding ways for making it fun for the kids,” he said. “It’s frustrating when you put up an exit sign on Thursday and by Saturday three need replacing. We worked very closely with Residence Life to get students to realize that the more things you break, the more improvements we can’t do,” said Celli.

“The money goes towards the elevator keys you broke, instead of being able to make study lounges better. It just keeps you at status quo,” he added. Celli has been involved with getting new equipment in the Corbo Room and a new sound system to enhance student life.

Other tasks Celli has completed include improvements to the Grasselli Library’s air conditioning system, new chairs and tables in the library and adding Java City, Einstein’s and Zoca.

Some of his early projects were new campus signage and a new front entrance on to the Administration Building. “Adding stuff for students, faculty and staff has been gigantic for me,” said Celli of his experience.

He also researched other possible renovations such as a dome on the varsity field, replacing the track and field, adding softball dugouts for the women and remodeling space for a new wrestling room in the Rec Plex.

Celli also looked at remodeling Murphy Hall, renovating University-owned apartments for upperclassmen, adding card access to residence halls and restoring the Hamlin Quad.

Much of this has been carved out in a ten -year and beyond facilities plan. Besides the physical enhancements students see each day, Celli also structured a facilities Web site that allows students to post their own work orders.

Additionally, it provides updates on renovation and construction projects. He also worked closely with the University Heights Fire Department to modernize the fire alarm and sprinkler systems on campus to create a safer environment.

One of his biggest accomplishments is the Dolan Science Center. “You give your whole being to this [building] and then all of a sudden the users move in and you realize it’s not your place anymore,” Celli said. “Perhaps people will step out of Dolan and become strong leaders, and if you’re a part of that, gave them a place to do their job, that’s a great feeling.”

Celli helped to find a second source of power for Dolan in the past year and also helped establish an art exhibit room on the science center’s first floor.
Outside of JCU, Celli has had a hand in construction of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, the Cleveland Browns training facility and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He explained the work on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as “just wild.”

He met Tina Turner, The Eagles, Pink Floyd and others. “The drummer of Pink Floyd asked to see the drawing of the building,” Celli explained. “And he said ‘you need to respect our tools, our instruments, and make a display of them.’ And he was right.” Celli and crew brought in part of the Rolling Stones “Steel Wheel Tour” stage and developed a drumstick exhibit and a guitar exhibit. They also built the “Wall” exhibit in honor of the advice given by the drummer.

After this academic year, Celli will be leaving JCU to work for Donley’s Inc., a Cleveland based and family-owned construction company. He will relocate to Raleigh, N.C. and start building a new academic structure at the University of Virginia.

Also, he will work with James Madison University in Virginia on a brand new dining hall, which is also accommodating the Fresh Foods Company, similar to JCU.
“It’s been fun getting to know everyone [at JCU] in the different departments and hearing their perspectives. I had to find equal balance to make sure everyone was heard and thought of. If I was Santa Claus I’d fix everything, but you’ve got to prioritize. I really wanted to help everyone, but it’s always a struggle to figure it out,” he stated.

For the future of JCU, Celli believes the residence halls need to be updated. “No doubt about it,” he said. “We will do the dining hall, completed the science center and the stadium, now is the time to turn our thoughts to the residence halls.”

His successor will report straight to President the Rev. Robert Niehoff and also run all the housekeeping duties.
“Jon Ivec [vice president of finance and administrative services] gave me the mantra ‘we need to leave this place a better place than we found it,’” said Celli. With all he has accomplished at JCU, it is clear Celli has stuck to those words.