Team Member Spotlight | Michael Gutierrez, Campus Business Operations Officer

• By Clara McKenney
• June 20, 2022
• Campus Life

With five campuses stretching across 108 counties in West Texas and beyond, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) is a diverse and complex institution, and our success is due in no small part to our exceptional team members. 

At TTUHSC, everyone plays a vital role. Being part of the TTUHSC team means being part of a supportive community where you can grow and thrive in a values-based culture that puts people first. As ambassadors of our mission and culture, our incredible team members go above and beyond every day in exemplifying our values: Beyond Service, Kindhearted, Integrity, One Team, and Visionary. We are excited to share their stories.

Meet Michael Gutierrez, Campus Business Operations Officer for the TTUHSC Campus in Abilene

How long have you worked at TTUHSC, and what is your role?
I started working at TTUHSC in January 2017 as Associate Facilities Director. I was hired as Campus Business Operations Officer in September 2019, and my primary duties are to ensure that the campus is running smoothly and that our students, team members, and guests are provided a comfortable and safe environment for working and learning. 

How did you come to work at TTUHSC? Can you tell us about your career journey to (or within) our institution?
In my former life, I was a Commercial Real Estate Manager for 14 years, managing up to 21 million square feet of real estate in Houston. After growing weary of the traffic, crime, hurricanes and flooding, and not having family support to assist with our son, my wife and I decided to move back to Abilene in November 2016. I was hired by TTUHSC a couple of months later.

What do you enjoy about your work, or what excites you most about your job?
The most enjoyable part of my work is being able to interact and collaborate with multiple team members. We have very talented, skilled team members, and I really enjoy working with people who love their jobs. I also like that in my current position, I get to work in many different areas and have some flexibility to handle issues as they pop up – I’m not stuck in the same routine.

Which of the values (One Team, Kindhearted, Integrity, Visionary, and Beyond Service) is most integral to your job or team? Why?
The One Team value is probably the most integral because, in order for me to be successful, I need to work with other teams to provide safety and comfort to all those on campus. I work with IT, Facilities, Networking, Safety Services, and Security to ensure we are all on the same page.

Following the One Team value would be the Kindhearted value. Being nice helps build trust and makes working with others more enjoyable.

How would you describe the culture at TTUHSC?
It is changing for the better! When I started in 2017, morale was rather low. Now, with our values and training, it seems that attitudes and mindsets are beginning to change. We still have more work to do, but we are heading in the right direction.

What do you enjoy most about where you live, and what makes you proud to call West Texas home?
I love Abilene because of the small-town feel. I grew up in Abilene, and after graduating from ACU, I swore I would never come back. But, now that I’ve lived in the big cities of Dallas and Houston, I appreciate the five-minute rush hour and no major crime waves or hurricanes to worry about. This is a great place to raise a child. I’m proud to call West Texas home because of the community involvement and support for our military and police.

What do you wish more people knew about your team or department, or our institution?
I wish people knew more about how involved our institution is in the community. We make significant contributions to the community via our students, faculty and staff. I also wish more people knew about the great research our team members are doing. Here in Abilene, we have nine different cancer research studies going on, but not too many people know what we are up to. Who knows, one of our team members may come up with a new innovative treatment to cure cancer.

What most excites you about the future at TTUHSC?
I am excited about the future of TTUHSC because of the new Executive Leadership Team we have in place. It is refreshing to see things change for the better. With the implementation of various councils, I’m seeing more consistency among the campuses. Additionally, with collaboration being a top priority for the Leadership teams, departmental silos are being torn down.

What would you tell people who are considering a position at TTUHSC?
I would say: do it! We have great, friendly team members, as well as awesome benefits.

Is there anything else you would like to share?
I just want to say that I’m truly blessed to work for TTUHSC. I didn’t have a job when I left Houston, so it was a surprise to me that once I moved to Abilene, a position opened up at TTUHSC that I was qualified and hired for. It is a blessing to come to work and work with such talented team members. 

I’m also blessed to have great managers who are willing to provide support whenever needed. Having worked for private companies and now with TTUHSC, I can say that I feel I have a sense of purpose here versus working for the other companies that are driven by the pursuit of profits.

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Ready for a rewarding career where you can build relationships and make a real difference? View our current openings and apply now, or explore what makes TTUHSC such a great place to work.