Sy Sperling, founder of The Hair Club for Men, used to say, “Not only am I the Hair Club president, I’m also a client.” Well, Wilfred Dennie doesn’t need the Hair Club for Men, but he was a client of Webster Bank before recently being named its senior vice president, corporate real estate and facilities operation.
In his new position, Dennie will be responsible for direct strategic portfolio planning, management and execution of all activities related to Webster’s real estate portfolio in support of business unit operation and strategic plans.
“I knew it was a quality company,” Dennie said, “I like their belief in respect for every individual. I know that’s important when you work at Webster.”
He made a career change because it was the opportunity to do something different. Prior to joining Webster, Dennie, 59, was national client executive in the corporate services/facilities management division of Sodexo Inc., a food services and facilities management services company based in Waltham, Mass. In that role, he served as the single point of contact for clients and led the operational and strategic growth of a multi-site, multi-state operating area.
Dennie, who lives in Ledyard, is a certified facility manager with the International Facilities Management Association and a facilities management administrator with the Building Owners’ & Managers Institute International. He earned a bachelor of business administration and an MBA from Western Michigan University, in Kalamazoo, Mich.
“The combination of finance and facilities is like brother and sister,” said Dennie, adding that he has experience in managed cost accounting for a firm that bought raw materials and made finished products. He became so efficient at cost-cutting that he eventually put himself out of work by automating the department’s work.
Outside of the office, two of Dennie’s hobbies are entertaining and gardening. As a young man, he hated cutting the lawn and other chores imposed on him by his father. Now, he views it as therapeutic.
“I enjoy sitting back and seeing the fruits of my labor,” he said. Dennie proudly adds that when he and his wife built their home, he didn’t need to hire a landscaper.
He looks forward to the planting season for 2010. “Winter is a tough time for me, but I enjoy planning for the warm weather,” he said.