Playmaker Profile: Blackshaw draws praise for leadership amid significant Capitol renovations

For a building full of political activity and history, it has taken the work of a nonpolitical mind with a highly collaborative approach to preserve and enhance the Capitol for future generations of officials and visitors.

Hard work and a proactive team-centered approach have defined the career of Rob Blackshaw, executive director of the Michigan State Capitol Commission and head of Capitol Facilities, those who have worked with him over the years say.

His career trajectory has contained three acts: an initial period of working in and around the Capitol moving up the ladder in various roles, a period of years in which he stepped away to join the private sector and his return over a decade ago which he hopes will last through until retirement.

For Blackshaw, his first stretch at the now 147-year-old Capitol began in October 1990, during the 1989-92 restoration project when the building was essentially gutted, years of neglect cleared away and replaced to bring the building back to its original look with modern function.

Growing up in Lansing, Blackshaw told Gongwer News Servicethat he saw an opening for a position on the Capitol Facilities staff, and he decided to apply. He said his major in college at Central Michigan University was in communications and business, but he had always been interested in architecture and had taken some engineering and architecture courses in college.

Blackshaw said for his first year he worked second shift before moving to the day shift for the next seven-and-a-half years.

In the late 1990s, he was approached to be the project manager for the House Office Building that was to be constructed across the street from the Capitol. Following its construction and opening in 1999, he stayed on to set up and manage operations.

In 2005, he left to join the Taubman Company, a property management firm that develops shopping centers. He was project manager for an expansion at Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi, he said, and stayed on as operations director.

His return to the Capitol came in 2015 following a random stop-in to visit staff in the building.

Blackshaw said he crossed paths with then-House Clerk Gary Randall, a former state representative and the chair of the Capitol Commission at the time with a passion for the building. Randall, Blackshaw said, invited him to his office and asked him if he would consider coming back because of plans for upgrades to the Capitol.

"I considered it, and it didn't take me long to consider it," Blackshaw said. "Once I started working in the Capitol, it got into my blood, and I have such a passion for it. It took me probably less than 20 hours to finally call back, said 'yes, I'll come back.'"

Randall served as chair of the Capitol Commission from 2014-23. He said he knew Blackshaw not only from his time as chair but as a member of the House, where Randall served from 1979-96.

"I've always had great admiration and respect for his work ethic and skills," Randall said.

Randall said Blackshaw has a talent for assuring solid plans for projects on the grounds while also being able to get buy-in from the commission and from lawmakers.

Valerie Marvin, director of education and history at the Capitol, also serves as Capitol Commission secretary. She has worked with Blackshaw since his return to work at the building.

Marvin said she appreciates Blackshaw's willingness to let staff develop their skills and expertise as well as accept their input.

"He gives them room to do their job and excel,"Marvin said. "One thing I really appreciate with Rob is he does not micromanage. … I have been really pleased with how Rob has allowed staff to grow and expand their skills."

Blackshaw praised the Capitol staff, whom he said have developed into experts in their fields. Blackshaw said he has been a collaborative manager, allowing those with expertise to approach him about issues in the Capitol.

"That has really developed the Capitol Commission staff to be what I think is the strongest I've ever seen since 1990 and that's great, because that's one of the goals I wanted to do, is build a strong team, strong enough that when I leave they remember what's going on, and everyone can continue to be a great steward of this building," Blackshaw said.

Upon Blackshaw's return in December 2015, work on planning the infrastructure project at the Capitol began in which the mechanical and electrical systems were replaced and the geothermal field on the grounds.

Those systems were not replaced during the 1989-92 restoration project, he said, and with another 30 years' time, the need for upgrades was even more critical by the 2010s.

While the project was underway, the proposal for the Heritage Hall visitors center came up, which required adjustments to be made to the geothermal field before proceeding. Those adjustments were made and eventually the Heritage Hall project was constructed.

Chad Clark, vice president of The Christman Company, said he has worked with Blackshaw on several projects at the Capitol in recent years, including the mechanical systems and Heritage Hall projects.

"Rob and his team take a really proactive approach," Clark said.

Clark said he also appreciates Blackshaw's collaborative spirit and willingness to hear diverse points of view. Further, he said Blackshaw "walks the talk" by having integrity and following through on what he says he is going to do.

By developing a team of experts on staff and possessing a high level of attention to detail and documentation of projects, Clark said Blackshaw has put his successors in a good position to manage the building once he moves on.

Marvin also was impressed with Blackshaw's leadership during the Heritage Hall project, saying he coordinated with numerous stakeholders to develop a Capitol addition that honors the original building and complementsit.

"He had a really good skill set to move that project forward," Marvin said.

She said for her, it was a great opportunity to be able to use her expertise and work on developing the exhibits housed within Heritage Hall.

Blackshaw has always been open to new ideas and improving services and educational opportunities at the Capitol, she added. During the coronavirus pandemic, she said Blackshaw listened to staff's suggestions to develop virtual Capitol tours and use platforms including YouTube to offer more engagement with the public.

Some bosses do not like to branch out and try new things, Marvin said.

"Rob is not that person. Rob is always excited at the idea of something new," Marvin said.

Blackshaw returned to the Capitol around the time the commission was established, Marvin said, and has done much to build the commission and Capitol staff into a robust operation to preserve and even proactively address repairs within the building and grounds.

"It's amazing to see what we've been able to accomplish with him in charge," Marvin said.

Randall was also proud of Blackshaw's work on the Heritage Hall project, from getting the funding from the Legislature to having it completed.

"Rob has a resilience that's important in that kind of job," Randall said.

Keeping a historic building in good shape is no small task, Randall said, and Blackshaw has surrounded himself with experts to help make the work a success.

"It was always a pleasure to work with Rob, even on the things we didn't necessarily agree on," Randall said. "He was an absolute delight to work with."

Blackshaw said he is non-political in his role, but he understands that there is some politics involving the commission's work at times.

The most prevalent area in which politics enters into Capitol Commission operations, he said, is over security matters.

"No one has opposed what we're doing with security and ramping up the security," Blackshaw said. "We wish they would pass legislation that could take care of it and fall back onto it, but they never wanted to do that, so the responsibility fall(s) on the shoulders of the commission."

With hundreds of thousands of visitors per year, between school groups, tours and attendees of rallies or protests, security has become a necessity.

"With the rise of political violence, I think we'd be fools not to take care of ourselves," Blackshaw said.

He added that he does what he can to filter out any political aspects away from himself and his staff.

"The commission's really done a nice job of keeping me out of politics, because I think once I, if I ever were to become political, I think I'm vulnerable, and then I probably wouldn't be in this chair anymore," Blackshaw said.

Blackshaw said he is a nonpartisan person. He said he tries to be open-minded and listen to other opinions on Capitol-related matters so that good ideas are not disregarded.

He added that the security operation at the Capitol was nonexistent about five years ago. It now takes up about one-third of his time managing it all, he said. Up until that time, the Capitol was an open building with no security intake.

Monthly meetings are held with security officials to discuss upcoming events on the grounds to plan how they approach security during events, rallies and protests.

Another recent project has involved a drone software program that has been launched, which detects any drones that fly over Capitol airspace.

The state currently does not have enforcement powers overdrones entering its airspace and the state files flight plans with the Federal Aviation Administration to use drones for actions like building inspections.

Legislation is under consideration that would cover issues including who has rights to the Capitol airspace, classifying the Capitol as critical infrastructure and limitations on state purchasing of drones.

Rep. William Bruck, R-Erie, who has spearheaded a large House legislative package on drones, said Blackshaw has been involved in the legislation since early in the process and very supportive.

"He's definitely kept his thumb on the pulse ofit," Bruck said. "It does mean a lot … to have people who could be impacted be involved."

Bruck said Blackshaw and the commission have been very good to work with on the bills.

He said he believes the House may be able to move the drone bills in mid-April, after the legislative spring break. Bruck said he has also spoken to bill sponsors of drone legislation in the Senate as well.

Blackshaw said he and the Capitol staff cannot be in their roles forever and are stewards of the building. Eventually, he and others will pass the torch to others to keep the building in good shape for the public toenjoy.

"I've been here now just over 10-and-a-half years back from when I started back, and at this point, I would like to stay here until I retire," Blackshaw said. "I don't know what that date is, but as long as I'm having fun, I tell my wife, and it's not a super big burden, I'm going to just continue to let it roll for a while, because it is a fun place to work."

-- By Nick Smith

Gongwer