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Civilian life: Augie's public safety director makes adjustment
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The switch was not a small one -- going from helping run an American military base the size of a city to helping run a small, private, liberal arts college. But Greg Venvertloh, Augustana College's new director of public safety, insists the transition to the college from Camp Victory in Iraq, where he was director of public works, was not drastic. Safety standards are not that different from place to place, and a job is usually about working with people to get problems overcome, he said. "To be quite honest, it's not a huge adjustment," Mr. Venvertloh said. At Victory, Mr. Venvertloh helped ready the base to be handed over to the Iraqi government, he said. At the time, there were 20,000 people -- American military personnel as well as U.S. civilians and the citizens of 30 other countries -- who called the base home. That job was one of his greatest accomplishments, he said. Mr. Venvertloh began his new job in January. He said he is reviewing Augustana's safety procedures, looking for what works and what might need improvement. His goals are to improve the campus safety culture, ensure that safety procedures and rules -- from environmental and fire safety to security-- are being properly maintained and met and TO make that information available on a campus safety website, Mr. Venvertloh said. Another goal is to ease the campus into any necessary changes by not making too many too fast. "Augustana has a good safety culture," he said. "We're going to make it great." Much of his professional life has been related to safety, he said. Mr. Venvertloh's military career began in 1984 and has spanned the regular and part-time components of the Army. He began as an enlisted man in the regular service, then joined the National Guard and went to school in Quincy, his home town, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Chemistry. After earning that degree, the Army offered him a commission, and he became part of a fast response team whose job it was to counter the threat of weapons of mass destruction. As a civilian contractor, he also helped train the security forces of various U.S. Navy bases in how to deal with potentially hazardous material threats. At Camp Victory, his responsibilities included safety, construction, facilities maintenance, recycling, hazardous materials and waste removal. Mr. Venvertloh now holds the rank of major and is still active in the Iowa National Guard. The thing he learned during his career -- and that he will apply to his job at Augustana -- is making sure communication is a key component of his operation, Mr. Venvertloh said. Being able to communicate with superiors and subordinates is an indication of good leadership. "If you're not communicating, bad things can happen," he said. He said the people of Augustana have made his job easier. "The caliber of people here is just amazing," he said. More about Greg Venvertloh: Age: 47. Hometown: Quincy, but lives near Galesburg. Family: Wife and three children, ages 9 to 14. Education: Bachelor of Science in Environmental Chemistry from Quincy University. Hobbies: Getting his kids to their various extracurricular activities. 
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Rock island, IL Details |
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Today is Sunday, May 19, the 139th day of 2013. There are 226 days left in the year.
1863 -- 150 years ago: The Rt. Rev. Harry I. Witherspoon, D.D. Bishop of Illinois, willpreach in Trinity (Episcopal) Church, in this city this evening.
1888 -- 125 years ago: At 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon the Mississippi River flooded itsbanks at Rock Island, destroying the warehouse of the Rock Island Lumber companyand damaging the Lumber Company and arsenal power plant. Total loss isestimated at $100.000.
1913 -- 100 years ago: Residents of South Rock Island township are circulating a petitionfavoring the annexation of that area to the city of Rock Island.
1938 -- 75 years ago: Mrs. Thomas Ackles, of Rock Island, has been elected president ofthe Playcrafters for the next season. She succeeds Warren Leonard.
1963 -- 50 years ago: Some 8,000 people filed through the gates of Rock Island Arsenal on Saturday to view a display of a part of the nation's armed strength. The occasion was theannual observance of Armed Forces Day.
1988 -- 25 years ago: Willis Kuschmann, of Moline, who already has won his laurels as oneof the most artistic men in the Quad-Cities area, has a new hobby. He is deeply involvedin miniature railroading. At the age of 88, when many other seniors are dozing in theirchairs or sitting before the television, Mr. Kuschmann is planning and working on hiscollection.
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