Executive Staff

Ron Flinn

Ron Flinn is the Vice President for Strategic Infrastructure Planning and Facilities at Michigan State University, overseeing the functions of all Division departments. He has been employed by MSU since 1957, when he started in the Division as an engineering student employee. He became a full-time regular employee three short years later.

Flinn has held many positions within the Physical Plant, including but not limited to: Assistant Vice President, University Engineer, Interim Director of Building Services, Associate Director, Plant Engineer, and Associate Engineer.

During his tenure, Flinn has been involved in the design and construction of nearly 75 percent of the campus buildings and infrastructure. The MSU Physical Plant is well known nationally as "doing more with less," and constructing quality buildings allowing for low operating costs. MSU's extremely reliable T. B. Simon co-generating power plant is also unique among institutions of higher education. Flinn has served on numerous university committees and initiatives such as the 2020 Master Plan. He and the MSU Physical Plant have been featured in national publications such as the APPA Facilities Manager and Buildings Magazine, and received the Midwest APPA Award for Excellence in Facilities Management in 1988.

Flinn's notable accomplishments are many, including publications, professional organizations and awards. Some of his publications include, "The Buildings and Grounds Committee for the Association of Governing boards of Universities and Colleges" and "Walk-through Steam Tunnels at Michigan State University" which was also presented to two international organizations. Positions he has held in professional organizations include international president of APPA/The Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers, from 1996-97; president of Midwest APPA in 1992; and president of the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers from 1989-90. He also has served as a consultant to the University of Maryland and The Ohio State University, and taught "Public Relations and Communications for Physical Plant" for more than five years at the APPA Institute for Facilities Management. Flinn played a large role in the development of the University Club at MSU, of which he is a charter member, and was named a Paul Harris Fellow through Rotary International.

Flinn has an associate degree in Construction Technology from Erie County Technical Institute (Buffalo, N.Y.), a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Michigan State University, and a degree in business management from LaSalle Extension University (Chicago). He is also licensed as a professional engineer in the state of Michigan.

Lynda Boomer

517-432-2213
boomer@ipf.msu.edu

Lynda Boomer is currently the Energy and Environmental Engineer with the MSU Physical Plant Division, where she has been employed for 22 years. The greater part of her career has been spent in the Engineering and Architectural Services department as a designer and project manager for renovation projects and new construction.

Currently, Boomer's numerous duties are centered on enhancing Michigan State University’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Some of her responsibilities include: participating on the Environmental Systems Team led by the Vice President for Finance and Operations office; leading several sub-teams regarding Energy Conservation; assisting on a team developing Environmental Management System (EMS) for the power plant that is led by the Environmental Health and Safety office; involvement in a utility metering upgrade project for campus, and working with a building Retro-Commissioning Team to identify energy savings.

Boomer graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in electrical engineering and is a professional engineer in the State of Michigan. She is also an accredited LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) professional. She has also developed the baseline CO2 emissions inventory for campus for the Chicago Climate Exchange, which is a market-based greenhouse gas reduction trading platform.

Robert Ellerhorst

517-355-3314
rlellerh@ipf.msu.edu

Robert Ellerhorst is currently the Director of Utilities at the T.B. Simon Power Plant at Michigan State University. Ellerhorst's responsibilities include managing the Plant's budget to provide reliable energy, water, and recycling and waste management services to MSU faculty, staff, students, and the visiting public. Ellerhorst is also involved in developing the use of alternative fuels to supply energy for MSU. Ellerhorst has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in civil/structural engineering; all from MSU.

Ellerhorst has also held prior positions at MSU. As a Maintenance Engineer, he led the maintenance staff of a pulverized coal-fired co-generating power plant, interacting with architects, engineers and water treatment consultants to maintain plant environmental data and analyze plant performance data to plan and recommend major improvements. He also has worked as an Architectural/Civil Design Supervisor Staff Engineer where he was responsible for planning, analyzing and scheduling the design and inspection of building and utility systems on campus. Ellerhorst also has been an Assistant Construction Superintendent representing new construction projects on the MSU campus.

Gus Gosselin

517-432-0501
gggossel@ipf.msu.edu

Gaston (Gus) Gosselin is currently the Director of Building Services with the MSU Physical Plant Division. Gosselin has worked for Michigan State University for 19 years in the Maintenance Services and Building Services areas.

Gosselin started as a Maintenance Engineer, where he oversaw the operation of the Maintenance Engineering group. Later he oversaw the Mechanical/Electrical Maintenance shops and then assumed responsibilities for the entire Maintenance Department. During this tenure, his emphasis on customer satisfaction increased the area's rating to regularly exceed 96 percent.

Gosselin is a 1975 graduate of General Motors Institute (now the Kettering Institute). He received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with the equivalent of a minor in facilities engineering. Gosselin is a professional licensed engineer in the State of Michigan and has also held licenses in Ohio and Kentucky. He, with Dale Carnegie, is also a graduate of the APPA Institute and Academy.

Gosselin has also worked with/for General Motors at GMC Truck and Coach in Pontiac, Mich., as well as, Meijer Inc. Gosselin established a volunteer group at Michigan State University recycling donated used bicycles for campus use. This project is now formalized as the MSU Bikes department.

Robert Nestle

517-432-0586
rwnestle@ipf.msu.edu

Robert (Bob) Nestle is currently the University Engineer with the MSU Physical Plant Division. Nestle has been with the Division since 1972, for 36 years. He started his work at the Physical Plant in the Engineering and Architectural Services (EAS) Department as a student employee and was hired as a Mechanical Designer after receiving a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from MSU in 1973.

Nestle was promoted to his current position in 1982. He is a licensed professional engineer, certified energy auditor and licensed residential builder. As University Engineer, Nestle oversees the EAS office, its 48 full-time staff (many of whom are licensed architects and engineers), as well as 57 student employees.

Additionally, Nestle supervises EAS as it designs over $100 million per year of new campus buildings, building additions and alterations, utilizing both in-house professional staff and consultants. EAS also provides daily construction inspection, and maintains the University Standards for Construction and facility records.

Roy Simon

517-353-5515
rjsimon@ipf.msu.edu

Roy J. Simon is currently the Director of Telecommunication Systems and Transportation Services at the MSU Physical Plant. Simon has a bachelor's degree in finance, a master's degree in marketing and logistics and finance, a Ph.D. in higher education and finance, and a postdoctoral degree in computer networking; each from Michigan State University. Simon has worked for the State of Michigan's Human Resources Department, New York Life, Michigan State University's Office of Institutional Research as Assistant to the Director, and the Michigan State University College of Nursing as Assistant Dean.

Andy Smith

517-432-0211
adsmith@ipf.msu.edu

Andy Smith is currently an Occupational Safety Compliance Officer at the MSU Physical Plant. Smith coordinates and manages safety programs across departments in accordance with OSHA regulations and university guidelines, as well as conducting regular safety inspections and providing technical information and training to support a safe work environment for Physical Plant personnel. Smith has been with the Physical Plant Division for two years and in that time has served in many different positions related to Occupational Safety and Environmental Compliance. Smith’s first position was with ORCBS (Office of Radiation, Chemical and Biological Safety) where he conducted, managed, and maintained records related to the presence and location of asbestos and lead in buildings on campus. Smith then went on to take a planner/inspector/analyst position in asbestos contracting.

Smith maintains state accreditations as an asbestos inspector, asbestos supervisor, lead inspector, and risk assessor and is also a Certified Microbial Consultant.

Barbara Wilber

517-432-0244
bewilber@ipf.msu.edu

Barb E. Wilber is currently the Support Services Manager at the MSU Physical Plant. Wilber has dedicated 23 years of service to the Physical Plant Division and has worked for multiple departments. Wilber began at the Physical Plant as a student gardener and then as a student assistant in Maintenance Services. Other responsibilities while working at the Physical Plant have included lawn care, construction project management, delivering internal mail, managing the Division’s budget, operating building environmental systems, reading utility meters, supervising the Dispatch Operation, and serving as a Division representative on a variety of University-wide committees.

Wilber earned her Building Construction Management degree while on educational leave between 1993 and 1995. Upon returning to MSU, she represented the university as the construction project representative on the MSU College of Law building project. Other notable efforts include growing the Central Control Operation and developing use of energy management systems by skilled trades staff.