Tom Lentz, director of facilities engineering for The Johns Hopkins Hospital, oversees a staff of 200, including painters, electricians, plumbers, carpenters and others responsible for keeping systems and equipment in top working order. He is also responsible for information technology, finance and supply chain for the Facilities Department.

But he says his most important role is as a member of the hospital’s patient care team.

“Despite the fact that I’m personally not at the bedside, I feel deeply committed to patient care,” he says. “We’re kind of far behind the scenes, doing whatever it takes to keep the hospital running in order to provide the highest quality environment for healing and a safe environment for our patients, our staff and our visitors.” 

Lentz started at Johns Hopkins as a 19-year-old college student tasked with repairing computers. In January 2001, after 18 months in that subcontractor position and after he completed his bachelor’s degree in computer information systems, Lentz was hired as a programmer. From there, he moved into management. He has since earned a master’s degree in advanced information technologies and a master’s degree in business administration.

To lead a diverse staff who work a variety of roles, Lentz relies on his values and the golden rule. “I believe in treating everybody fairly. It doesn’t mean that everybody is happy — but you treat everybody equally and with respect,” he says.

“I stand up for my employees when they need to be supported, but I’m also willing to talk to and discipline employees when they’re not doing something right,” Lentz says. “It’s holding people accountable for their actions and trying to get everybody rowing that boat in the same direction.”

That approach earns Lentz respect from his staff, according to Dave Catlin, an electrician. “He knows how to talk to people and is willing to listen. He’s very professional, is intelligent and knows what he’s doing,” Catlin says. “If you have a problem, he won’t brush you off.”

One initiative Lentz is most proud of is the expansion of the department’s apprenticeship program, which requires four years of schooling and 8,000 hours of supervised hands-on training to receive a journeyman’s license in the trade.

“We have been approved to open six trade apprenticeships — two in carpentry, two in electrical and two in plumbing — to environmental care employees,” says Lentz. “This is a life-changing program for these employees. Johns Hopkins pays for their education for the next four years as they learn a trade. They’ll not only have a higher salary but also a more meaningful experience at Johns Hopkins.”

One of Lentz’s teams was chosen to pilot a new process called Kronos Attestation, which is being rolled out across the Johns Hopkins Health System for hourly employees who use Kronos to record their time. The attestation, which begins Oct. 13 at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, will enhance the validation of time that hourly employees work on a given shift and confirm whether the employee took an uninterrupted meal break. 

Outside of work, Lentz is an adjunct professor of information technology at a local university. He is also nearing completion of the requirements to become a mentor for the P-Tech program at Dunbar High School, located two blocks from the hospital. 

Lastly, as the father of two boys and two girls who are active in multiple sports such as baseball, soccer and field hockey, Lentz says, “Life is busy for my wife and me, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.”