Get to know IPF: Trhile Brown

As a coach both on and off the field, Trhile Brown knows what it’s like to be an effective leader.

Brown’s time at MSU reflects the growth opportunities that the university offers. After serving as a campus food court employee, Brown was hired as an on-call temp in IPF Custodial Services. Soon after, he became a full-time employee and spent six years doing custodial work for the football team, a position that allowed him to rub shoulders with some Spartan greats. Recently, he was promoted into a supervisory position. 

“I always wanted a leadership role, and when this opportunity opened up, I knew I had to go for it,” Brown said. 

“As a custodian, I enjoyed being able to come in and get my work done and have that gratification at the end of the day,” Brown said. “But what is cool is that now I get to see it from a leadership perspective, and it’s shown me how great our department is.” 

Brown handles scheduling work, taking inventory and meeting with campus partners to ensure the work we do is satisfactory. He oversees a two-person floor crew and eight custodians in the Business College Complex. 

“Our jobs require us to be flexible,” Brown said. “Scheduling in a large crew has its challenges, but we have a great team that looks out and covers for each other.” 

Brown has learned a lot throughout his career at MSU and hopes to inspire others. “It has been really great to connect with different departments and form new relationships.”

Outside of work, Brown enjoys sports, both watching and coaching, and spending time with his three children. This past year Brown coached flag football and basketball for one of his son’s teams. 

“Home is a sanctuary,” Brown explains. “I can always put on a good face at work because home is so secure.”

Brown’s advice for other employees is, “Get out to the events that are happening and network with people inside and outside your department. It’s important to build those relationships early on.”