Featured Staff Profiles

With more than a decade of building commissioning, operational management, energy management, and troubleshooting experience, Brian has found that he prefers using his skills on-site, where he’s involved in the day-to-day functioning of the systems he designs.

“Some engineers are so focused on the theory behind a design, they don’t know how to maintain it and access it in the field,” explains Brian, who worked as a controls engineer before joining ARAMARK, in a position that had him in front of a computer screen all day.

Now, every day presents unique challenges. Whether he is preparing a presentation to a college president or working with one of the maintenance technicians at a facility he oversees, Brian is comfortable relating to them both. He is able to provide an enterprise-level view while also knowledgeable about the finer intricacies of each system.

“I was also looking to branch out, do more, and acquire more responsibility,” Brian says of his decision to join ARAMARK. “I didn’t see myself as a people manager, but the opportunity was there.”

At ARAMARK, his career took off, and he accepted a promotion from manager to senior manager in less than a year. “It was quicker than I expected,” he says of the role, which included managing a group of engineers and the financials for the facilities he oversees.

One of the things Brian likes most about ARAMARK is the culture of rewarding good work and investing in employees. More than financial rewards, it’s a company-wide effort on making ARAMARK a fun place to work, he says. He points to the pizza lunches, the trips to Phillies games and the other team-building activities, which help him manage and motivate his growing team.

“I like to create an environment where they feel free to make decisions and not be so concerned that they are making a mistake,” Brian says. He’s found that he really enjoys serving as a mentor to new engineers, helping them identify where to find information and how to develop paths to solve problems they encounter in the field. “They develop confidence in their own self-competency and realize that their knowledge levels were there all along.”

As Brian considered the next step in his energy management career, he was attracted to the opportunities available at ARAMARK – especially the chance to be directly involved with the inner workings of boilers, chillers, generators, and systems. 

“That really excited me,” said Brian, who joined the company after working as an assistant engineer aboard two cable ships. “I liked the idea of getting out into the field and working with the day-to-day operations of facilities and systems.”

As he learned more about ARAMARK, Brian recognized great potential to develop his engineering credentials and take on a management role. When he started in 2002, he was overseeing fossil, electric, and water consumption at three facilities. Within a year, he had five facilities within the greater New York metropolitan area under his watch.

“I’ve just kind of grown from there,” says Brian, who has received his Certified Energy Manager title and is pursuing his New York State Professional Engineering License. “There’s been a natural progression of increased responsibility.”

Through proper maintenance, he has been instrumental in reducing total energy consumption at nine sites by 19%, which equates to an annual energy savings of $2 million.

After his most recent promotion to Senior Energy Manager, Brian oversees nine facilities and supports engineers at five others. He also oversees the daily operations of three engineers, assists with global team initiatives, and mentors young engineers and interns.

“We’ve been offering energy services for so many years, there are such great resources within our team to really make our programs successful,” Brian says. “The team has great camaraderie. There’s a real sense that as each one of us succeeds, the company succeeds and it’s good for all of us.”

With all of the recent attention on energy – including new executive orders from the government, the media spotlight, and general public awareness, Brian tells new engineers that this is a really exciting time to be in the field.

“I really enjoy what I do,” he said. “I’m able to apply what I learned in school. This is exactly what I was looking for.”

As he started his engineering career, Buthove wanted a hands-on role where he could expand his knowledge of building systems, engineering and construction. After a graduate of Buthove’s SUNY Maritime mechanical engineering program joined ARAMARK, Buthove decided to take a closer look. 

“I liked what I saw,” Buthove said, citing ARAMARK’s international reach and multiple locations across the country. “I knew I could improve myself and move up the ladder. I definitely see that there is opportunity here.”

He looks forward to the weekly meetings that detail the energy management plan and review a week’s worth of problems that the team resolved. “There’s a lot of support here from the other managers,” he explains. “We know where we stand and we’re all available to help each other.”

In his role as an energy manager for a Louisiana school system, Buthove is involved with energy control operations and all energy tracking and analysis for the school district. The dozens of principals and teachers that he interacts with know him by a different title.

“I’m the Energy Guy,” he says. The title hints at the faith that the school administrators put in Buthove to increase efficiency, reduce energy bills, check HVAC equipment and bring it back in line so the school day can proceed according to schedule.

“I’ve been learning a lot here,” Buthove says. “There are things that I wasn’t exposed to in school. I can diagnose a problem and bring things back online.”

Outside of work, Buthove, who relocated from New York to Louisiana, plays guitar, explores his new surroundings, and is looking for a soccer league to join.

“I’d recommend ARAMARK to anyone interested in a career in energy management,” he says. “It’s a great place to grow.”

As a registered Professional Engineer with more than 15 years of progressive capital program management, project management, and engineering experience, Suzanne has experienced a variety of working environments, including direct employment at a university and founding her own construction management company. 

She has found that working for ARAMARK provides her with more resources and support than she has had in any other position.

“When you are managing projects on smaller campuses, you really can only base your decisions on your own experiences and your limited knowledge base,” explains Suzanne, who has been involved in the planning, design, renovation, and construction of new projects for higher education clients for eight years.

“At ARAMARK, I always have someone I can call to discuss mechanical or electrical issues, get advice and compare notes. It’s definitely the best way to serve clients and provide the level of services that will help them succeed.”

The opportunities at ARAMARK extend beyond the day-to-day resources. “There’s a wealth of opportunity here,” Suzanne says. “You can move into different accounts or look into working at different geographic regions of the country. ARAMARK is really supportive as you seek to advance your career.”

Although ARAMARK Corporation is a large company, Suzanne has also found that it offers the freedom for program managers to take responsibility for their own accounts. “I like that sense of independence,” she says. “We’re able to manage things in ways that we’re comfortable with, and that make sense for our individual clients.”

Providing insight at other ARAMARK accounts also helps to strengthen her knowledge base. “The opportunity to participate in studies at other campuses gives me access to benchmarking and best practices,” she says. “We are able to work together, learn from each other and bring more value when we return to campus.”