Fish to lead facilities planning and management

An administrator with more than 23 years of experience with UW–Madison and the State of Wisconsin has been selected as the university’s new associate vice chancellor for facilities planning and management, Chancellor John Wiley announced today (Tuesday, Nov. 19).

Alan R. Fish, who has served as administrative officer and associate athletic director for UW–Madison’s Division of Intercollegiate Athletics since 1989, will begin his new position as associate vice chancellor on Jan. 6. His annual salary will be $125,000.

“I am very impressed with the facilities planning and management staff. They have faced tremendous challenges in recent years, and I look forward to working with the staff to continue addressing difficult issues,” Fish says.

Fish has extensive experience in budgeting, planning, financing and managing facilities for both the university and the state. As associate athletic director, he has overseen planning and management of a number of projects, including the Kohl Center, University Ridge Golf Course, Camp Randall Stadium, the Fetzer Academic Center located in the McClain Center, the Goodman softball complex, the women’s hockey practice facility and the UW Athletics Hall of Fame.

He will remain the project manager for the Camp Randall Stadium renovation project and for construction of a new men’s and women’s crew house.

“Al has had much success overseeing some very high-profile projects on this campus, even when doing so in the public spotlight,” Wiley says. “I am pleased that he is taking on an expanded role in overseeing campus buildings and infrastructure.”

During 10 years in state government, Fish gained additional experience in the area of facilities planning. As administrator for policy and budget with the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services, he developed plans and budgets for centers that serve the developmentally disabled. While serving as a legislative liaison and adviser to Gov. Tony Earl, he staffed the Transportation Projects Commission. Fish was also a budget analyst for the Department of Administration, which required him to review and make recommendations on capital projects.

In his new position, Fish will focus on careful management of campus facilities, energy conservation and safety. He will also work to find the resources to improve and renovate existing facilities and infrastructure.

“We’re still behind in infrastructure,” Fish says. “We need to catch up with not only our information technology backbone, but also our basic utilities, such as electricity, chilled water and steam heat.”

The associate vice chancellor for facilities planning and management provides leadership, guidance and direction in evaluating and meeting the university’s facilities needs. Fish will coordinate and supervise all facilities management activities, including budgeting, construction, maintenance and support services, safety and hazardous materials management, parking and transportation, space management, and energy conservation. In addition, he will represent the university on all facilities and construction matters before the public, UW System administration, and local, state and federal governments.

“It is extremely important that UW–Madison work closely with our external partners. I put a very high priority on developing a good working relationship with local communities, the state and UW System administrators,” Fish says.

Fish replaces Bruce Braun, who retired June 30 after nearly seven years in the position. John Harrod has been serving as the interim associate vice chancellor. Harrod and Joseph Fritton, director of the Division of Facilities Management and Architectural Services for the State of Kansas, were the other finalists for the position.

“All three finalists were truly exceptional, and each understood the challenge of planning and managing facilities on a campus as complex as ours,” Wiley says. “Although the final choice was difficult, we are fortunate to have found the right person for the job at this time.”