How she shines: Lavone sets clear expectations and is very open and honest with the custodial staff. She holds them accountable and tells them what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. She mentors any custodian who is interested, and most of them are, by reviewing their resumes and performing mock interviews, providing valuable feedback. Her collaboration with other managers makes her an exceptional reference for the custodians when they apply for other jobs.
Years in the industry: 28 years
Job responsibilities: Lavone is the Manager of Sandia National Laboratories' Custodial Services Department. In this role, she oversees 96 custodians covering over 5 million square feet of cleanable space.
Career path: Lavone began her career at Sandia National Laboratories in an administrative role, where she quickly demonstrated exceptional organizational skills and a strong work ethic. Through dedication and continuous learning, she advanced to become the Hiring Technologist for the entire facilities department, playing a crucial role in recruiting and building a talented workforce. Her leadership abilities and deep understanding of operations led to her promotion as Supervisor of the Custodial Department. From there, she became Manager of the Custodial Department, where she excelled in managing teams and improving service quality.
Recognizing her versatility and strategic mindset, upper management entrusted her with the responsibility of managing the logistics department for several years. In this role, she successfully optimized processes and ensured seamless coordination across multiple functions. Despite her achievements in logistics, her true passion remained with the custodial department. Once her objectives in logistics were accomplished, she returned to lead the custodial team as Manager, where she continues to inspire and drive excellence in the cleaning industry.
Best advice received: Don't take things personally.
Fun fact: Lavone is afraid of spiders and snakes.