Roger Livernois is the Facilities and Project Manager at The Development Corporation (now TDC). He has been a part of TDC’s team since 2015 and has led the organization though countless building upgrades, work orders, and tenant transitions. His expertise in facilities management and customer service makes him an invaluable asset to TDC and Business Park tenants.
While Roger is well known among TDC board, staff, and tenants, we wanted to take a moment to highlight the man behind the buildings.
Aside from a short stint away from the region in the 80’s, and a brief three-week trip across the country with his then 16 year old son, Roger has always lived in the North Country. Roger is a proud resident in the small hamlet of Owls Head NY – just 10 miles southeast of Malone NY, where you can find him enjoying all that the north country has to offer.
Born and raised in the same town, Roger’s education started in a two-room schoolhouse where he attended until the fifth grade. He finished his studies at Franklin Academy High School where he also received a two-year degree in Electrical Occupations.
Roger went on to pursue a variety of jobs in facilities management, but spent the majority of his professional career overseeing the facilities at Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone, NY. He has since spent the last five and a half years with The Development Corporation (TDC) as the Facilities and Project Manager (Read more about Roger’s professional background here).
What is a little known fact about you?
I was in the scouting program and achieved the rank of Life Scout before the troop dissolved. The troop was sponsored by the Owls Head Mountain View Fire Dept. which I then joined as a junior member at 16. I have been a member now for 46 years and hold NYS Certificates for Fire Fighting and Emergency Medical Technician. I am currently still active and sit on the board for the fire department.
What do you like to do outside of work?
My hobbies include whitetail deer hunting, fly fishing, kayaking, woodworking, collecting antiques, playing acoustic guitar, reading, and riding my Harley Davidson motorcycle. I also enjoy traveling. As much as I love the Adirondack Mountains, I also enjoy the ocean. Every spring my wife Becky and I spend time on the beaches of the west coast of Florida.
Where else have you traveled?
Some of my more memorable trips include Hawaii for my honeymoon, and riding our motorcycles from Owls Head, NY down the Blue Ridge Parkway to Asheville, North Carolina. We also take an annual trip on our motorcycles to Old Orchard Beach, Maine for the Fourth of July holiday.
What is your favorite restaurant?
My wife Becky and I enjoy going out to eat at a variety of places, one of our favorite spots is the Red Fox Inn in Saranac Lake.
Do you follow any professional sports?
I enjoy watching NASCAR, following Dale Earnhardt until his death and then his son Dale Jr. until he retired. My wife and I have been fortunate enough to travel with friends to watch several races.
What is your favorite quote?
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” – John F. Kennedy
What is your favorite part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is working with the tenants and watching them succeed. I like to think that my part in keeping their facilities maintained and helping to reduce downtime adds to their successes.
What has been your favorite project that TDC has been a part of?
One of the most rewarding projects I have worked on at TDC was the construction of the 60,000 SF light manufacturing building on Arizona Avenue at the International Airport. TDC collaborated with Clinton County and the State of New York to create a new industrial space in the hope of attracting new business to the greater Plattsburgh region. Before the building was complete, Vapor Stone Rail signed a lease for the entire building. We then had the exciting challenge to complete the rest of the construction to best meet the needs of the business moving in. I collaborated with the Operations Manager from Vapor Stone Rail, the contractors and the county to finish the building to meet their needs, ultimately helping to create more quality jobs in the region.
What advice would you give to someone who wants a career in Facilities Management?
Find one trade that you enjoy and learn everything you can about it. Listen to your colleagues in the other trades to glean their knowledge. Develop critical thinking skills that enable you to react to changing issues and be proactive and develop contingency plans in advance to help reduce downtime for the organization.
What advice would you give someone starting their career?
I believe communication is key in any career – be quick to respond to requests and provide clear information. Listen to your parents, they know what they’re talking about. My mother’s advice, work hard and stand up for yourself, has helped me throughout my career.
What advice would you have given your younger self?
Looking back at my career, I wish I would have taken more opportunities to grow professionally. My advice would be to take advantage of educational opportunities, take risks, and allow yourself to grow. Don’t be afraid to change employers, or job titles.
What are your goals for the future?
In retirement, I would like to have the potential to pursue part-time work as a consultant or representative for businesses on construction projects. Right now, I’m focused on creating a long-range capital plan to help with the maintenance of TDC facilities over the next 10-years.
What are you looking forward to the most in the next 5 years?
Retiring and spending my winters in Florida! I plan to spend my newly found free time to travel more, enjoy my hobbies, and spend time with my wife, son & step son and their fiancée’s and my grandson Bentley. My wife and I are planning a trip across the country to visit national parks and landmarks – I can’t wait to return to the Rocky Mountains!
TDC is grateful for all of the knowledge and expertise that Roger brings to the organization. His friendly demeanor makes him a pleasure to work with and the staff certainly enjoys the occasional baked good that he brings to the office, particularly homemade donuts. Thank you, Roger, for all that you bring to this organization.
