COCC Campus Services Director Earns Facilities Credential

Joe Viola, director of campus services at Central Oregon Community College, has earned the Certified Educational Facilities Professional (CEFP) credential. The CEFP is a way to validate the unique knowledge and competency required of an accomplished professional in the educational facilities field.

"By obtaining the CEFP, it assures the individual and their institution that they have established a thorough and applied understanding of the best management practices related to educational facilities," said J. Thomas Becker, chair of APPA's board for educational facilities professionals certification. "Our CEFP recipients and their institutions have also committed to an ongoing program of professional development that will further assure cutting-edge relevancy going forward."

Currently, there are only 12 other facility managers from community colleges nationwide that have achieved this certificate, and there are only 20 CEFPs from all colleges and universities in the APPA Western Region.

"COCC has had a long tradition of maintaining our investment in facilities through excellent management," said Matthew McCoy, COCC vice president of administration. "Joe continues that tradition of wisely utilizing public resources. His expertise from decades of private industry and public services are a daily benefit to the college."

Viola has served as director of campus services since 2008. He has more than 25 years' experience in both high-end residential and commercial construction in California. His commercial projects include Pepperdine University School of Business, 13 buildings for Carson Towne Center, and the administration building for Foothill Transit Bus Depot. Locally, Viola worked with CAC Development as a project manager for various large residential projects and for ID Group handling a $3 million remodel. He also owned his own construction company from 1988 to 2000. He earned his bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Connecticut and has continued his education in construction project management and architecture.

"The CEFP credential is an exciting new standard for educational stewardship. It represents core knowledge, talent and skill, underscoring accountability and commitment to growth and mastery," said Lander Medlin, APPA executive vice president.

The CEFP tests knowledge and competency in the following areas of educational facilities management: General Administration and Management; Operations and Maintenance; Energy, Utilities, and Environmental Stewardship; and Planning Design and Construction. APPA has more than 5,200 educational facilities professionals at more than 1,500 learning institutions throughout the United States, Canada and abroad.