North Bay Business Journal

Tony McCormick, Agilent Technologies

Facilities Manager, Agilent Technologies, 1400 Fountaingrove Parkway, Santa Rosa; 707-577-3000; www.agilent.com

Age: 60

Residence: Santa Rosa

Professional background: Journeyman electrician, facilities maintenance, facilities management

Education: Santa Rosa Junior College graduate

Staff size: 13 Agilent, 80 contract

Describe the facilities you oversee: Santa Rosa campus, headquarters for Agilent’s Electronic Measurement Group, the largest of the company’s three major business groups – 1 million square feet, 195 acres; 1,150 employees. Business activities include research and development, marketing, manufacturing and administration. Site features are a 1 megawatt solar power system, on-site K-2 school; one-acre employee garden.

Roseville — 150,000 square feet; 300 employees. Business activities include Electronic Measurement Group calibration and repair plus warehousing.

Folsom — 50,000 square feet; 90 employees. Business activities include high-volume gas chromatography column manufacturing for Agilent’s Chemical Analysis Group.

Everett, Wash. — 50,000 square feet; 80 employees. Business activities include Electronic Measurement Group research and development, manufacturing and administration. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself: Married to Debbie for 40 years, and we have two daughters Laurel, 29, and Bonnie, 27. Have lived in Sonoma County since 1972. Active members of Santa Rosa Christian Church since 1975. Debbie and I run two small retail businesses in Rincon Valley: Sunnyside Cottage Gifts, Toys and Home Décor and Paper Dolls Women’s Clothing Consignment. I’m currently volunteering as Agilent’s representative on the Hispanic Chamber of Sonoma County board of directors.

I was a charter member of “Hope Works,” representing Agilent on the gang-prevention program created through the Santa Rosa Mayor’s Gang Task Force. Served as a spiritual adviser at Sonoma County juvenile hall for eight years and continue to volunteer in that capacity.

Devoted to physical fitness with long-term memberships at Stan Bennett’s Gym and Tone Fitness. Exercise activities include weight-lifting, biking, running, Pilates and Bodeci. Enjoy snowboarding, open-water kayaking, hiking, gardening, cooking, listening to music and spending time with  Mom on Sunday afternoons.

What do you see as the role of the facilities managers within your organization?: We create an environment that inspires and encourages others to achieve their absolute best. This type of environment sets the platform for operational excellence, effective financial control, full understanding and response to business needs and timely project completion.

What is the achievement you are most proud of?: Achieving scores that were higher than “External Best in Class” for the annual Agilent leadership audit over the past two years. The survey is completed by employees and scores their manager’s performance on customer orientation, speed and decisiveness, risk taking and employee engagement.

What is your biggest challenge today?: Maintaining an effective variable organizational and operational support structure, able to expand and contract with changing business environment.

What the next major project either under way or on the horizon?: Now under way is the $4 million upgrade and renovation of Santa Rosa campus building 4, which was postponed in 2008 due to downturn in business. The project will include bathroom, conference room, ceiling, flooring and office furniture renovations. It’s scheduled for completion in the first half of 2012 and will complete renovation of the site, which began in 2005.

What product or service would help or is helping you do your job more effectively?: Given my mobility needs, a laptop computer and smartphone are critical for my effectiveness.

How do you think your profession will change in the next five years?: The need for ever increasing awareness, focus and implementation of sustainable and environmentally sound building maintenance and construction practices. We must keep the health and well-being of future generations in mind in all that we do.

Most admired businessperson outside your organization: My wife, Debbie. She loves what she does and the customers she serves with her whole heart.

Current reading: Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament, My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, Abraham Lincoln’s Daily Treasure edited by Thomas Freiling

Most want to meet: Bono of U2

Stress relievers: Prayer and some form of exercise every day

Favorite hobbies: Biking, snowboarding and open-water kayaking

Words that best describe you: Faithful, determined, dependable, kind, good listener

Is there something we didn’t ask that you would like to add: I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given by HP/Agilent and the wonderful managers and co-workers I’ve worked for and with and learned from.