Rouages: “Managing the procurement and setup of equipment at events”
Pascale Hugonnet-Susini is the logistics and events team leader in the Logistics Department. From conferences and exhibitions to ceremonies, as well as vehicle loans and lost-and-found items… Learn more about all her responsibilities in the “Rouages” video series produced by the University of Montpellier.
“ “We always have people coming by,” says Pascale Hugonnet-Susini with a smile, “whether it’s managers stopping by to say hello or colleagues. We’ll talk about what’s on our plates and then we’ll laugh—we’re always laughing here.” The Logistics and Events Support Department is located on the ground floor of Building 7, just past the coffee machines on the right at the end of the hallway. Behind the doors, everyone is busy with their tasks in a cheerful atmosphere.“There are 27 of us in this department, but the logistics division has three departments spread across several sites. In total, that makes more than 60 employees,” explains the logistics and events team leader.
Highlights of the Year
At the top of the list of her many responsibilities is the coordination and management of events. The president’s New Year’s address in January, an open house in February, a staff appreciation day in June, a two-day orientation for new students held at the Jardin des Plantes in September, a children’s Christmas party in December… Throughout the year, Pascale Hugonnet-Susini and her team work behind the scenes to make the major social gatherings possible—events that foster a sense of belonging for everyone at the University of Montpellier.“An event like the president’s New Year’s reception, which is held between noon and 2 p.m., means a full day of on-site work for us, from setting up to taking down the equipment,” she explains.
In addition to these major events, the Logistics and Event Support Department also plays a daily role in organizing conferences, exhibitions, and conventions… “In most cases, this involves managing the procurement and setup of equipment—such as tables, chairs, and barriers—as well as tents, a stage, signage, and so on for UM events. We work with all departments, whether it’s HR or the accounting office for small supplies, and more frequently with the Campus Life and Communications departments.”
Lost and Found Vehicles and Items
For many university staff members who are accustomed to traveling by car, Pascale Hugonnet-Susini is also the custodian of the keys to the dozen or so rental vehicles that the University of Montreal makes available to its departments.“I manage the reservations and handle appointments with auto repair shops for vehicle maintenance and servicing,” explains the team leader.
To see what her latest task involves, we follow her into a small room next to the logistics and events department.“This is Ali Baba’s cave,” she says as she opens the doors of a cabinet filled with lost and found items from the university: glasses, headphones, gloves, pouches, bags, as well as clothing and even a few bicycles…“I’ve never found anything particularly unusual, except for a few pairs of forgotten underwear,” adds Pascale Hugonnet-Susini.
From housekeeping to logistics
She joined the university 16 years ago as a janitor at the IUT, and it was“the great atmosphere in logistics” that convinced her to take the plunge and swap her cleaning cart for a hand truck and a pallet jack. While she readily admits that the job can sometimes be physically demanding and requires flexibility“because you may have to work late at night and on weekends,” the team leader insists,“it’s a job I enjoy! We do a little bit of everything; we never get bored. On the other hand, you have to know how to be diplomatic to try to keep everyone happy, but you really feel useful. " And the best reward for Pascale Hugonnet-Susini comes every year at the end of the year: "It’s Christmas for the UM agents’ kids! It’s a busy, tiring day, but seeing all those little kids running around, shouting, and playing—it’s absolutely fantastic!"
