Working with students is Tim Backes’ favorite part of his job. “They’re very inventive and creative. They keep me on my toes,” he said. Backes is associate director of business operations at the Student Union Building. About 85 percent of SUB staff are students.
Photo: Tim Backes
In addition to their creativity, Backes said students know best how to reach other students. For example, the last games room manager publicized tournaments in the dorms and got fraternities and sororities to compete.
“The saddest part of the job is when they graduate,” Backes said, adding that of course he’s happy for their achievement.
When he joined UNM 11 years ago, he managed the food services. Since the university began contracting out food services to private companies, he and Associate Vice President for Student Life Walter Miller work with those companies to ensure they meet the campus’ needs. Backes also oversees building operations, maintenance and events.
Backes said the transition to UNM’s new food services provider, Chartwells, has gone well. “I think they’re much more receptive to the campus and student needs,” he said.
Chartwells is providing a mix of local, regional and national eateries, balancing support for local businesses with students’ preference for branded, familiar concepts, Backes said.
He said Chartwells is gearing toward providing a greater variety of healthy food options. The company is also partnering with the SUB on green initiatives.
Going green has been the SUB’s biggest challenge in recent years, Backes said.
Initiatives include several energy conservation measures. The SUB has a computerized HVAC heating and cooling system, so, for example, when a ballroom is not in use, it’s not being air conditioned. The SUB has switched to energy efficient light bulbs, and student managers make sure lights are off at night.
The SUB has also recently expanded recycling, with more bins available for consumer waste recycling. New water filtration stations will be installed in the fall, so that people can fill reusable bottles instead of buying disposable ones. The eventual goal is for the SUB to become carbon-neutral.
Backes enjoys horseback riding and calf-roping – a strange hobby, he said, for someone originally from New York City.