So You Want to be a Facilities Manager
Q1. IT SEEMS A LITTLE UNUSUAL FOR A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER TO BECOME A FACILITIES MANAGER. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?
I was head of a structural department in West Palm Beach, FL, and a friend who worked at the University mentioned they were looking for a head of facilities. I met with the CFO and next thing I knew, I was hired.
Q2. WAS IT A DIFFICULT TRANSITION?
Yes and No. The University was planning to build 5 buildings quickly and my primary duties were to be the Owner’s Rep. So, Bob the Builder was building buildings… right in my areas of strength. What was more difficult, was that all of the outsourced facilities contract reported to me, so I was in charge of the Maintenance, Grounds and Custodial staff. It was a whole new world for me and I had a lot to learn.
Q3. WERE THERE ANY SURPRISES?
I learned along with buildings, I also loved building teams and developing the managers that reported to me.
Q4. WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF BEING IN FACILITIES?
The Students. I really enjoyed working at a residential campus where we hired students in facilities and got to know their stories. When the work became draining, I would tell my team to have lunch with some students and listen and laugh and get refreshed. Can I share my Valedictorian story?
Q5. DID IT HELP THAT YOU WERE AN ENGINEER?
Definitely. We are trained problem solvers and a Director of Facilities is bombarded with a vast array of problems. The challenge was, you also become a juggler and Engineers really like to focus on one problem at a time. Facilities Folks don’t have that luxury. One minute you’re in the President’s Cabinet meeting preparing for a Board Meeting, then headed over to a Construction Progress meeting, then meeting with a faculty member who is not happy with the custodian cleaning his office.
Q6. WHY IS TALKING WITH OTHER FACILITIES MANAGERS IMPORTANT TO YOU?
I’ve learned so much through the years and discovered that I’m a Connector, a Builder and a Mentor. If we’re not careful, we become fire fighters and don’t have time to do the really important (but not urgent tasks). The biggest one of those is Capital Planning for the future. I like to say that we need to take, “Small steps in the right direction.”
Q7. IS THAT WHY YOU ARE HOSTING THESE TALKS ON, "THINGS THAT KEEP FACILITIES MANAGERS UP AT NIGHT?
Yes, I thought we’d get the word out and see what interest there is for future conversations. I’d love to be the person you can confide in to share the struggles and also be encouraged. I would like to be a solution provider and help make the connection that brings you to the next level.
Q8. CAN YOU SHARE SOME OF THE UPCOMING TOPICS?
We kicked off the series with Preventive Maintenance and Capital Planning and will follow up with:
· Performing Condition Assessments
· Healthy Buildings
· Delivering More Projects Faster
· Underground Utility Mapping and Planning for Growth
· Leadership Training and Team Development
· Expanding Your Student Engagement and Academic Support
· Topics that interest our Listeners
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