Campus News

June 16th, 2026

GC’s facilities director: Council accomplishing more by meeting less

Sometimes less really is more.

That’s one lesson that arose out of Chris Painter’s two years as chair of the Maryland Community Colleges Facility Planning Council. The Garrett College facilities director says moving from monthly to every-other-month meetings actually led to more engagement by Council members.

“Participation in the monthly meetings was pretty low,” recalled Painter. “We had an uptick in attendance when we went to every other month. In the months the whole group didn’t meet, the officers still met virtually.”

The FPC – comprised of the facilities directors from each of Maryland’s 16 community colleges – also changed its focus during Painter’s term as chair.

“We had been bringing in a lot of outside speakers for those meetings,” Painter said. “We decided to focus more on the challenges each of us were facing on our own campuses, and which schools that might have already dealt with those challenges could offer some advice.”

Painter said the FPC began focusing on two goals during his tenure as chair that will require ongoing work.

“We’re advocating for yearly funding of the Facility Renewal Grant for every community college,” said Painter, noting half of the state’s community colleges are currently funded in odd years and the other half in even years. “We also want to streamline the capital projects process. Right now, you pretty much have to have your program [full project proposal] submitted 18 months ahead of funding. That’s too long a time frame.”

Painter said the FPC will be meeting with representatives of the Maryland Association of Community Colleges in September to discuss legislation that would expand FRG funding.

Painter praised the support FPC members receive from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) staff.

“Communication with MHEC is fantastic,” said Painter. “You get a lot of guidance and assistance from their staff.”

Painter became FPC chair less than two years after becoming GC’s director of facilities, security, and capital projects.

“I was fairly new when I took that [chairmanship] over,” remarked Painter. “That’s a great position for somebody new to learn about the state’s processes. What surprised me the most was the challenges in dealing with state agencies to get approvals for capital projects.”

Painter – hired just as the performing arts center project was wrapping up – has provided leadership for a myriad of capital projects during his three-plus years at GC.

He oversaw the turf field construction, a two-stage renovation of the 400 Building (café/kitchen and student services wing), and a partial renovation of the 600 Building to create a radiologic technology lab and relocate the arts suite. The latest capital project, which will be completed later this summer, is a total renovation of the 700 Building to provide additional space for the College’s growing intercollegiate athletics program.

Painter retired from the Department of Homeland Security Federal Air Marshals in 2022, with his last assignment being assistant special agent in charge of the Washington, D.C. office. He said his wife encouraged him to “un-retire”.

“Heidi was like, ‘You’re going to have to do something,’ ” Painter said with a laugh.