When it comes to professional development and career growth, Mary Grube, assistant vice president of finance at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, is setting the pace in the educational facilities management industry.
Earlier this year, she was presented with the Pacesetter Award from the Association of Physical Plant Administrators (APPA), recognizing her contributions to educational facilities management.
The professional home for educational facilities leaders, APPA’s mission is to support educational excellence by equipping facilities professionals with leadership, knowledge and community.
Grube has been connected with the organization since 2014 and currently serves as the president of the Eastern Regional Association of Physical Plant Administrators (ERAPPA).
She said she began with the organization's Maryland/DC chapter and from 2018 to present has held leadership roles on the MD/DC APPA Chapter Board, the ERAPPA Board and the APPA Professional Development Committee.
As president of ERAPPA, Grube says her main goal is to establish a three-year strategic plan. “This initiative reflects our forward-thinking commitment to aligning our goals with the evolving needs of our members and the facilities management profession.”
Grube often sets her forward-thinking mind in motion at St. Mary’s College, where she has worked for 20 years — starting out in the campus bookstore in 2005 and making her way up through various positions in facilities management to her current AVP position. She said professional development opportunities such as those she’s had through APPA have played a significant role in her career growth and overall confidence. Grube said she is grateful that St. Mary’s College encourages professional development, not only for her but for her team.
“The College administration has always been supportive of my professional development with these organizations," she said. “When we each grow, our whole team grows stronger, so we have to keep learning, sharing and pushing each other to be our best.”
