Reimagining Ivy Tech Indy: Meet Bret Swinford, Executive Director of Facilities

As Ivy Tech Indianapolis undergoes its transformative capital project, Ivy Tech Indy: Reimagined for the Future, a dedicated team is needed to bring this vision to life. Over the course of the project, we’ll introduce you to key individuals—both from within Ivy Tech Indianapolis and the broader community—who are working behind the scenes to turn our four guiding principles into reality.

Kicking off the spotlight series is Bret Swinford, Ivy Tech Indianapolis’ new executive director of facilities. With a 40-year career in traditional manufacturing, a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the General Motors Institute at Kettering University, and an M.S. in Management from Indiana Wesleyan University, Swinford brings a unique blend of technical expertise, leadership, and a passion for problem-solving to his role. From overseeing facility operations to ensuring seamless campus renovations, he’s already making a significant impact. 

In this Q+A, Swinford shares how his career has prepared him for this role, which buildings he’s most excited about, and how he thinks the Reimagined project will benefit the campus community. Plus, get to know Swinford beyond the job–from his love of hiking to his competitive streak in billiards. 

Can you share a bit about your background and what brought you to Ivy Tech?

I am a Pendleton resident who has spent over 40 years working in the industry. Most of that time was spent in the automotive lighting business along with a few years in the rubber industry. I saw the executive director of facilities position posted online and applied because I’ve always had an interest in working on a college campus. I enjoy the overall positive energy I have always encountered on any campus I visit.

How has your experience in traditional manufacturing prepared you for your current role as executive director of Ivy Tech Indy Facilities?

Many of my past roles involved direct responsibility for the manufacturing of products or the acquisition of the tools and equipment required to make products. Those experiences helped me tremendously when I moved into maintenance and facility positions over the last 15 years. Because I had the opportunity to work in both capacities, it helped me to understand the urgency that people have when they request help from me or my team. For example, I may have 50 hot items on a to-do list for the day when someone calls in a panic because they have one light not working. On my list, that light issue may not be in the top 40 in terms of importance. But, to that person, it is on top of their list. 

What attracted you to work in higher education, and how does it differ from your previous roles?

I enjoy the energy of a college campus. I also enjoy working with and talking to people. The single biggest difference is not chasing the same production schedule every day. In this job, I can already see that every day is a little different, and every day, the challenges and opportunities are different.

What are your primary responsibilities as the executive director of Ivy Tech Indy Facilities?

My job is to ensure that students and employees of Ivy Tech can come to school or work at any time and encounter no facility or equipment problems that prevent them from accomplishing their intended goal.

My job is to:

1. Direct the team responsible for maintaining all Indianapolis Ivy Tech facilities and equipment in a manner that can be used safely every day.
2. React quickly to repair items that break down.
3. Identify opportunities for improvements and develop plans to implement those ideas.
4. Recognize/anticipate future problems and develop plans to address them before they impact the campus.

How does your role contribute to the success of the Ivy Tech Indy Reimagined Capital Project?

My team is involved in every aspect of the Ivy Tech Indy Reimagined project. This includes relocation of people and furniture, shuffling classes and classrooms, and assisting in anything related to the project where our assistance is beneficial. The biggest portion of this will be the coordination of efforts because this is a large and complex project.

What excites you most about the changes and renovations happening on campus?

I have great respect for historic buildings such as the Illinois Fall Creek Center and North Meridian Center (NMC). I was extremely excited to hear that this job would be associated with renovating the old buildings versus tearing them down and rebuilding something new. I am really excited about the finished product, and I believe the students and employees will be very happy when we are done as well.

What is one aspect of the Ivy Tech Indy Reimagined project that you believe will have the biggest impact on students, faculty, and staff?

When the project is complete, the facilities will be much nicer for our students and staff.  But, probably the biggest overall improvement for students will be consolidating all of the student services into one building in NMC. This will be a great improvement.

Outside of work, what are some of your interests or hobbies that help you recharge?

I enjoy sports (more watching than playing these days), hiking, and billiards. Over the past eight years, I have walked approximately 17,000 miles (based on Fitbit data). During this time, my wife (Mary) and I visited and hiked in numerous state and national parks, including a memorable hike into the Grand Canyon in 2021. I still have many destinations on my bucket list, and hopefully, I’ll get to visit them over the next few years. I am an avid pool player. Unless I am on the road, I generally play at least a few minutes every day at home. I enjoy the competitive nature of the game and find it very relaxing.