ROCHESTER, NY–Michael Chihoski has been named senior associate vice president for facilities and services at the University of Rochester, effective April 1.
Chihoski, who is currently CEO of Aristo Properties Group (APG) in the Chicago area, joins Rochester with more than 25 years of operations and facilities experience and has particular expertise in construction, facilities management, plant operations, emergency management, and environmental health and safety. Previously, he served as the COO for Emaar, the Economic City in Saudi Arabia, where he was responsible for day-to-day operations and master planning, construction, supply chain, and utilities and infrastructure for King Abduallah Economic City (KAEC), the largest private development in the world with a value in excess of $100 billion.
“Mike Chihoski is an internationally recognized leader who brings to Rochester an exceptional record of experience and professional achievement that ideally suits our multi-campus research institution,” said Holly Crawford, senior vice president for administration and finance and CFO. “He will be able to effectively lead and manage the transformative facilities and campus projects that advance the University’s priorities, and implement the best practices for all aspects of our operations, maintenance, and construction. We are fortunate to have Mike join the University’s senior leadership team, and I look forward to working with him.”
University Facilities and Services encompasses the River Campus; Medical Center; Eastman School of Music; South Campus, including the Laboratory for Laser Energetics; the Memorial Art Gallery and other properties totaling more than 12 million gross square feet of the University’s multi-site campus. Its units include Planning & Project Management; Central Utilities and Energy Management; Mail Services; Medical Center and River Campus Facilities Operations; Support Operations, including landscaping, snow removal, and general maintenance; and Transportation and Parking Management.
Chihoski is also currently serving as president and CEO of global development for Gulf Development International in London. In this role, he oversees day-to-day operations of all development projects for GDI and leads the organization’s business development efforts and strategic partnerships. He also formerly served as senior vice president for OSF Healthcare System in Peoria, Illinois where he was responsible for corporate management of real estate, property management, design and construction, plant operations, clinical engineering, security, and environmental health and safety.
He is a Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CHFM), Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP), a senior in the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (SASHE), a FEMA Hazardous Materials Contingency Planner, and a frequent speaker at national and international professional organizations and conferences. In 2009, he was selected to represent the United States at an international planning workshop in Tunisia, Africa sponsored by the World Health Organization on Safe Hospital Design and Emergency Management. He earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Northern Illinois University’s College of Engineering and Engineering Technology and is an alumnus of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design where he completed the Advanced Management Development Program in Real Estate.
