Get to know F&S: Tony Russo
As the newly appointed Trade Services Manager, Tony Russo has big plans for the future, and a deep respect for the past.
A new year has begun, and there’s a new face at the trade shop on the University of Toronto’s St. George Campus: it’s Trade Services Manager Antonio “Tony” Russo.
Russo, who joined U of T in September, felt ready to take on the exciting challenge of running a shop of this size, staffed by over seventy master carpenters, welders and more.
“U of T has always been somewhere I wanted to be. It’s such a prestigious university, and I want to contribute to the community and campus, here,” says Russo.
Before joining U of T, Russo began his career working in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) as a technician, and quickly progressed to managerial roles. He was most recently working for the City of Toronto, where he was a facilities manager overseeing a large portfolio of emergency services buildings across the city.
In his role as Trades Manager, Russo is responsible for the oversight of carpentry, electrical, locksmith, machining, plumbing, sheet metal, and steam fitting specialists and the essential work they do across campus to keep it running every day.
As a newcomer, Russo has been getting to know his team and shadowing the team leads, for whom he has plenty of praise — “they’re all masters of their trades,” he says. “The team here are some of the trusted stewards of the St. George campus, with deep technical expertise and decades of experience.”
He has also been acquainting himself with U of T’s historic buildings. “When you’re talking about a campus this large, with its heritage value and history, it can take time to know it all inside and out. It’s exciting,” he says.
A few months on, Russo is shifting focus to make sure the trade shop can support the campus community as efficiently as possible, developing documentation, and, critically, building relationships across campus. “My first priority was to fully understand the operations and all of the services we provide. Trade Services gets called on by almost everyone across campus. So one of my goals for the new year is really getting to know different service providers, staff and faculty,” he says.
In his free time, Russo likes to spend time with his family and has recently developed a passion for roller skating. “The old school kind,” he’s quick to clarify. “It’s like a ritual now” he says, with trips to the rink having quickly become his favourite way to exercise and spend a Friday night.
Want to learn more about trade services on campus? Check out our webpage dedicated to trades with full details of each trade.