We’ve met and spoken with a lot of Facilities Managers over the years, and one thing that comes to light really quickly, is that they really love their jobs. Bill (William) Cooper, Director of Buildings and Grounds for the Milford school District in New Hampshire, is unequivocally one of them.

Bill Cooper is talented, energetic, and passionate about not only his job, but the future of facilities. He is happy that after all of the years at work, he is still learning something new every day. His good nature shines through, which is evident in a feature piece by his school district, where he jokes that, “Summer’s never vacation time.” We’re sure a lot of Facilities Managers at schools everywhere can relate.

A proven team player, Bill says, “If I do not know the answer, I will find it.” When you visit his LinkedIn page, you’ll find a ton of positive posts, and an obvious enthusiasm for his school district.

So let’s get to know the person who has a board full of Thank You cards from students, for all of the wonderful work he does.

Bill Cooper
Director of Facilities

Tell us a bit about yourself

I am the Facilities Director for the Milford School District, Milford New Hampshire, and have been here for the last 19 years. 

I live with my dog Zeke, a Belgian Malinois. I ride my motorcycle when I can, and have been in the martial arts for the last 27 years.

When I retire my plan is to ride around the country to visit all of the states. 

When it comes to self-improvement do you prefer to read books, listen to podcasts or take a course?  

I read, listen to TED talks and podcasts. 

If you could have dinner with someone famous, from your past or present who would it be and why?  

Colin Powell or Abraham Lincoln. During the times of war why they did what they did.  

What is the best place you’ve ever traveled to? 

Key West and The California Coast, from L.A. to San Francisco both are beautiful!  

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? 

There is always someone smarter in the room. 

What is your favorite quote?  

To many to just pick one.

Finish Strong!   

Never quit.

Whatever the attitude, so is the response.

Many look, but few see.

One becomes great when he comes to the realization that what he knows is very little.

Are you a morning person or a night person?  

A night person, although as I get older I notice I am turning into a morning person.  

You’ve been asked to do a TED Talk. What is the topic you’re going to speak about? 

 

Friendship. Do not take them for granted. Reach out to those from your past. 

How did you get started in your career? 

Job opportunity with a bank. Went to night school, studied blueprints and became curious.  

Describe the biggest challenge you’ve faced when trying to reduce operational costs? 

To manage how we are going to complete the work without sacrificing quality. 

How would your co-workers describe you? 

Hard, but fair.  

Tell me how you organize, plan, and prioritize your work.  

The first items that need to be addressed are life safety, HVAC, water and electrical. Then look at all of the remaining work requests that come to me, and sort by building and type.  

How many years of experience do you have?  

38 years.

How would you describe a typical day?  

There are no typical days, but I do check emails and phone messages first, and start my day with a coffee, then find out what is going on, and jump right in.  

How has your partnership with us, DCM Inc., changed your bottom line?   

I do not waste time looking for prints. I sign into echo and find all of the prints right there at my fingertips. Very easy to use and understand. I will tell others about your company.  

What’s the most recent example of how we have exceeded your expectations? 

By finishing going through all of the blueprints we sent, and having them online so quickly!   

We finish the interview and you step outside the office and find a lottery ticket that ends up winning $10 million. What would you do?  

Go back to the office and share some of the winnings with staff, along with my family. Give some to the school district to finish some projects, and then invest the rest. 

Connect with Bill Cooper on LinkedIn

If you’re not following Carolyn McGary on LinkedIn, you’re missing out. 

Known as the Wonder Woman of FM, Carolyn’s feed is full of Facilities Management news, podcasts, job listings, career advice, and then some. Her enthusiasm towards the Facilities Management profession is positively contagious. 

In fact, by the time you’re finished reading and listening to her “FaciliTopics” – 10 min shorts from her FMPipeline team all about Facilities Management – you’ll find yourself, looking up programs to make a career pivot. Maybe you’ll even join her classes at Metropolitan State University in Denver where’s a part-time instructor in the Department of Engineering. 

It’s easy to see why she made IFMA’s Forty under 40 list of the best and brightest FM professionals. 

So let’s get to know Carolyn McGary, our FM Superhero, as part of our Facilities Manager Spotlight Series!

Tell us a bit about yourself…

Hello!  Wonder Woman here.  Superman (the hubby) and I live in Parker, CO with our three cats and a small horde of books and legos.  He’s an electrical engineer and I’m currently a part-time assistant project manager, part-time instructor, and a part-time Co-Director of a Non-profit!  When I’m not doing any of those things, I’m probably sleeping (ha!), or singing in my local choir, or volunteering with my sorority.

When it comes to self-improvement do you prefer to read books, listen to podcasts or take a course?  

Ooh, this one is tricky.  I would have to say it depends, so I will rank them by effectiveness for me:

Taking a Course – In person I always get more out of.  Virtual as long as I have accountability buddies. I’m currently working on a virtual program and a Business Development Professional credential. 

Podcasts – As I was driving more during covid (vs the train) I found podcasts are my jam!  I’ve been listening to Nonprofits are Messy by Joan Garry and I’m learning SO MUCH about how to run a nonprofit.  This benefits all the nonprofits I’m currently a part of. 

Books – My self-improvement book collection is full of good intentions, but I tend to move much slower through the nonfiction.  I like mainly fantasy type books with snarky heroines. 

What are the three interesting facts about you?

I once sat on a live alligator!  Colorado has (or had, in case it’s not still there) an alligator farm and I went with my parents on an adventure in high school.  I guessed the alligator’s weight the most accurately and the prize was a photo with her.  Good thing I was skinny at the time, poor girl! 

 I’ve sung at Carnegie Hall – it was with my HS choir and several other student choirs for…I couldn’t even tell you what event, but we got to spend several days touring NYC – seeing a Broadway show and the Statue of Liberty, and I have photos of the Twin Towers the Spring before they fell.  ☹

I was a Ninja!  No, really, my hubby and I found a dojo near our house that taught ninjitsu, which is the art of the ninja.  Katana, Throwing Stars, Sais, Slurpee Straws…the works!  Also, it’s fun to say I have ninja training. 

What’s your favourite drink?

Earl Grey Latte

You’ve been asked to do a TED Talk. What is the topic you’re going to speak about?  

The Future of FM! 

How did you get started as a Facilities Manager?

I found my passion while in college.  Our university had an accredited FM program, which has since closed, but it was intriguing, I liked buildings and people, so I decided to try it.  After my first (or maybe second) world workplace, I realized I was where I would thrive.  

What are your career goals as a facilities manager?

I’m currently very close to the dream.  I have found the most joy in helping other students discover FM as a great career path.  I’m not saying I’m great at it yet, but I’m working it! 

From here I am trying to focus more on the nonprofit I am co-director of: FM Pipeline Team Inc.  Our goal is to Engage, Enlighten, and Energize the Next Gen of FM.  We’re hopeful to build the budget over the next 2-5 years to really help it take off and make a big impact to the FM Industry, getting more students to choose the career path rather than fall into it.

Lastly, I’m an aspiring future IFMA Fellow.  I hope to one day join those prestigious ranks of people who have proven their impact on the profession.     

How many years of experience in facility management do you have?  

I’ve been doing this about 16 years now and am coming up on my 20 year anniversary with IFMA in 2024.  It’s pretty exciting to think that by that time, I will be able to say I have spent over half my life in facility management! 

We finish the interview and you step outside the office and find a lottery ticket that ends up winning $10 million. What would you do?

That depends, do I need to share it with my hubby?  ;-p

After figuring out if I’m sharing, I want to 1) invest it so that I can live off the interest for as long as I can 2) create endowment scholarships for my Sorority and the IFMA Foundation and 3) Help seed the FM Pipeline to succeed far into the future.  4) Maybe travel on my interest $ to places other than WWP and such.

To connect with Carolyn McGary, visit:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wonderwomanoffm/
• Website: https://fmpipeline.org/

One thing that Facilities Manager’s tell us all the time, is the importance of keeping up to date with changing technology, news, and trends in the Facilities Management industry. The future of Facilities Management is very bright, and making sure FM’s are aware of the latest changes, is crucial to their jobs. We put together 5 must-read Facilities Management websites for FM’s to keep up to date with the latest industry news. 

5 must read Facilities Management Websites for FM’s to follow

A lot of DCM’s clients are Facilities Managers. Staying up to date with what is happening in their profession, is essential to our ensuring we provide our clients with the best possible service. All of these Facilities Management websites, are part our of our weekly reads.

1) REMI Network

We begin with the REMI Network. The REMI Network features news and information servicing the real estate management industry.

They provide content for professionals involved in every stage of real estate management. This includes the planning of a project, to a property’s development – design and construction, all the way to its occupancy, management and maintenance.

Owned by MediaEdge communications the REMI Network offers seven publications including:

• Canadian Property Management,
• Canadian Apartment Magazine
• CondoBusiness
• Canadian Facility Management & Design
• Facility Cleaning & Maintenance
• Construction Business 
• Design Quarterly

Great reads on REMI Network:

Three ways engineers can improve building projects

Rethinking the restroom experience

2) Facilities Net

Facilities Net is home to two magazines – Building Operations Management and Facility Maintenance Decisions. Their editorial content features news about design, construction, maintenance and operations of facilities. They often publish articles submitted and written by industry experts, who report on industry news, write editorials, suggest solutions to problems their readers, and FM’s may face.

Current career opportunities can be found in the Facilities Net job section. Their Education section offers Webcasts, and Democasts. Most importantly, they offer a ProFM credential – an inclusive credential and training program in facility management.

Notable content on Facilities Net:

Career is an awesome whirlwind for young FM

10 Post Pandemic Facility Management and Construction Trends

3) IFMA

The IFMA – International Facility Management Association – is one of the most well known Facilities Management Websites, and has one of the largest FM communities in the world. IFMA offers news, events, careers, training and just about everything that you need to begin or grow your Facilities Management career. Their publication, FMJ Magazine, is published six times a year. Each magazine issues is focused on a different topic.

They have an online forum called IFMA Engage, where you can discuss topics with other FM professionals.It’s well worth becoming an IFMA member. IFMA is extremely active on social media. One of the best places to connect with them in on LinkedIn.

Helpful pages to bookmark:

IFMA Knowledge Library

What’s New at IFMA?

4) Buildings

The Buildings brand has been around a long time. 1906 to be precise. They serve a community of facility managers, and building owners, that oversee commercial and public buildings. We’re big fans of their clean and easy to navigate website, which offers industry news, podcasts, commercial products, magazines and newsletters on facility management. Their content helps their readers make smarter building decisions.

Did we mention the many free courses they offer on every topic from Energy Management, Disaster Prep, to Green Building Operations.

They founded the notable Purpose Awards. The goal of the awards is to recognize products, projects, designs, and spaces that contribute to positive change for the health and wellness of humans, and the planet.

Interesting reads:

Future of Open Office will focus on Health and Personalization

How technology saves this hospital $3.2 million a year in Energy costs

5) Facility Executive Magazine

Last but certainly not least, is Facility Executive Magazine. Whatever topic you’re looking for on Facility Managers, there is a good chance Facility Executive has it covered. They’re one of the most well known Facilities Management websites. They cover a vast array of FM topics from Construction, the Environment, Safety, Economic Development. Their Products and Services section takes a look at everything from physical building materials, to the latest tech.

A big part of FM work is managing people. The category Workplace Culture, explores the changing landscape of that side of the Facilities Management profession.

Don’t miss out on their humorous side in their Friday Funny blog posts.

Well worth your time:

Smart Technology in the Office of the Future

New life for Shopping Mall focus of Design Content Finalist

We’ve had the opportunity to speak to Facilities Managers across all industries as part of our Facilities Manager series. They’ve shared their thoughts on what Facilities Managers do every day, and things people may not know about the profession.

The one thing we are certain of is that every day is different and the list of things on their to do list is endless. We work with a great deal of Facilities Managers and every day, the staff at DCM learns something different about the profession.

What will be different – the Future of Facilities Management

But we’re looking forward to seeing how it is going to change as well. From Covid having solidified the demand for ensuring the health and safety of employees and their facilities, to climate change increasing the need for healthier buildings, Facility Manager’s will be looking at buildings in a different way than their previous years. That doesn’t include all of the tech advances in recent years, from digital twins to 3D facility mapping, the FM profession is headed to new heights. 

In fact, the demand for Integrated Facilities Management Global Integrated Facility Management Market is projected to grow from USD84.65 billion in 2020 to USD114.86 billion by 2026.

We asked Facilities Managers, their thoughts on the Future of Facilities Management. The good. The bad. And what’s next.

A very bright outlook for Facilities Management is in the cards

The future of FM is very bright and secure and is the closest to the information technology Industry. By 2023 FM profession is projected to be worth about $23 billion dollars. As people continue to seek physical spaces, for work, recreation and residential purpose, the ever increasing needs to manage Services and smart buildings. The needs and services of an FM is at all time high. Not to forget, we also offer health and safety management as well.

– Yomi Agbenro, Business Support Services Manager

The environment, health and safety of buildings will all be a big priority

I think it has to look different. I think you’ll see more facilities professionals look more closely at environmental services, occupational health and safety, air quality solutions. As long as you have buildings you will still need facilities. I also see our role expanding into home setups and providing advice. Infection control practices will increase and will become more everyday happenings. 

Space planning and logistics will play a bigger role in managing staff that no longer are onsite every day, but when they come in need a space. Imagine driving an hour into the office for your once a week meeting, and you don’t have a safe space or any space to work at.

It will be interesting how they manage large buildings like casinos and stadiums.

–  Danielle Paquette, Facilities Manager

Attracting top talent that has a well rounded skill set is also a topic of discussion as the profession evolves.

I am very concerned about the future.  For decades people have focused on college and moved away from learning the trades.  Now, so many great trades people are retiring leaving a huge void in the service industry.  Facilities Management needs people who understand how a building operates and not just managing the budget. 

Many people entering the Facilities Management field have college degrees but do not understand things such as how an air conditioner works, theory behind wiring inside a building, how the plumbing systems handles water and waste, etc.  

Employers are using “Director of Facilities” or “Director of Maintenance” titles to attract employees.  People with only basic maintenance skills have this title which takes away from the Facilities Management profession.  

– Michael Walton, Facilities Manager

But change in the future of Facilities Management is inevitable

Post pandemic we will see a new layer of accountability not so dissimilar to water quality testing, and the public will demand both a rigorous approach and full disclosure and accountability. Boards will have to report on air quality, deep cleaning and other measures in much the same way in the last decade we upped the standards for lead testing in our water. We will have to add the current construction protocols or a modified version thereof into new agreements. We will spend more time in addressing compliance while trying to maintain the same schedules that we have had in the past.    

– Lewis Morgulis, Managing Partner, Planning

How do you think the future of Facilities Management will look? Join the conversation with us on DCM’s social media. You can find us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We’re always eager to hear your thoughts and to help with your drawing conversion and management.

Special thanks to the following Facilities Management Professionals who helped us with this article:

• Yomi Agbenro – LinkedIn, IFMA and Kicc.org.uk
• Michael W. Walton –  LinkedIn
• Danielle Paquette – LinkedIn
• Lewis Morgulis – LinkedIn

So you want to be a Facilities Manager. What do you do first, and what do you really know about the profession? As part of our ongoing Facilities Managers Series, we spoke with several very experienced Facilities Managers to find out in their own words, their thoughts on their profession.

We asked them everything from what key characteristics a successful Facilities Manager has, to the future of the profession, and what a day in the life of a Facilities Manager is like.

We know there are a lot of different paths one can take to become a Facilities Manager. But we wanted to dive beyond education, to the nuances that really make the profession what it is. In which case, we asked Facilities Manager’s, what advice would you give to someone who was considering becoming a Facility Manager. 

Things that only a Facilities Manager would know after years of doing the job.

Things that they may not find in a textbook. 

Their replies were as focused on the people they work with, as it was about the skills they need for the job, and the buildings they looked after.

How to become a Facilities Manager –

Career Advice from FM’s

When you think of a Facilities Manager, what comes to mind? Organizational skills. Extensive training. The go-to person when something needs to be fixed in your building. 

You’re on the right track. But what else do Facilities Managers have to take care of?

Safety – Facilities Management maintains the fire sprinkler systems, alarms systems, emergency lighting, and emergency preparedness plans.

Ergonomics – making sure the workplace fits the employee to improve comfort, health and satisfaction.

– Michael Walton, Facilities Manager

When things go wrong, guess who they’re calling when it’s the middle of the night.

In my time on the job, the concept of being “On-Call” as a 24-hour supervisor was not in the job description (or if it was, I didn’t read it), and it is a significant area that you have to do well. All after-hours calls from security, to fire, to police, to evening staff working have to be addressed by the person on call. 

It’s 2 a.m. and a motion sensor has gone off, and you are woken up to deal with it. As the on-call supervisor, you dispatch the security company, and await the report. It may also involve sending a staff member to board up the broken window, replace the lock, reset the fire panel. Each supervisor takes a 1-week shift, and can count on at least 2 nights of broken sleep each week, six to eight times a year.

– Lewis Morgulis, Managing Partner, Planning

You manage people, almost as much as you manage buildings and facilities.

I think the biggest thing people are surprised at is the amount of people managing you have to do. Everyone thinks they can be a facilities manager, and that it’s so easy until they spend a few hours with you. People think of you as the complaints department, and you have to manage that in a professional way without taking it personally. You need to be able to manage their expectations and listen to their issues while maintaining your calm, and trying to understand where they are coming from.

Answering questions pertaining to areas that have no relation to you. In this role, you are often one of the first contacts for a new hire, and you might be one of the only faces especially in these times that they’ll see so they reach out to you first. You really need to have a large picture view so you can easily direct them to the area they need.

–  Danielle Paquette, Facilities Manager

Ok you can handle that. Still want to be a Facilities Manager? What other advice do FM’s have…

My advice for FMs is to stay teachable, adaptable, technology compliant and data-driven in this 21st century.

– Yomi Agbenro, Business Support Services Manager 

Enter this field to help others. Be a lifelong learner.  Contractors can take advantage of people who are not familiar with building systems. Hire people who are smart in their field and learn from them instead of attempting to teach them. Mistakes are a part of learning.  It is silly to hire smart people and hold them back. Build a team of trusted people.  If you do not know something, talk with your team and seek the answers.  If you act like you know it all it will diminish the respect your team has for you. 

– Michael Walton

Your education never stops.

Never stop learning, whether it’s about the buildings, your job skills, how to communicate better, how to motivate, how to listen, how to empathize, how to mediate – all of it is required in the FM field, and most of it is people-focused. 

– Lewis Morgulis

With the advance of modern technology, FMs need to stay abreast of emerging technology to further enhance productivity, reduce costs, and improve efficiency in the workplace or any other physical spaces they manage for people.

– Yomi Agbenro

Listen and learn – why? There is no way to know everything no matter how long you’ve been doing it. If you can’t listen you will always struggle to make effective change.

Stay strong – you need to be able to convey confidence and others may think they know better, and perhaps they do but you are also a subject matter expert, and if you strongly believe in something stay the course and make your case.

If you don’t know or you aren’t sure, say so.

– Danielle Paquette

If you’re thinking of becoming a Facilities Manager, join us on LinkedIn where we often share tips, articles and advice in the Facilities Management industry.

Special thanks to the following Facilities Management Professionals who helped us with this article:

• Yomi Agbenro – LinkedIn, IFMA and Kicc.org.uk
• Michael W. Walton –  LinkedIn
• Danielle Paquette – LinkedIn
• Lewis Morgulis – LinkedIn

As part of our Spotlight series, we thought it was high time we sat down with our Advisor, Adam Muggleton, to get to know the workings behind his brilliant mind. Adam sees buildings in ways that many people often can’t, and shows them how to make their buildings work.

That’s why he’s in such high demand.

Adam Muggleton, otherwise known as The Building Whisperer, is a property industry philosopher and podcaster. His blog, aptly named after his moniker, is where Adam investigates, highlights, and suggests solutions for the absurdities in the property design and construction industry – of which he says there are many.

He has worked around the world, over 21 countries to be specific, and held leadership positions in various firms. Adam brings a unique skill set derived from property development, design team management, project management, and building commissioning.

Adam is very passionate about promoting the concept of Commissioning Management as an effective property management tool, to create buildings that work.

He thrives on disrupting the status quo, because zero defect, high-performance buildings are possible. Or as Adam aptly puts it, “The question is, “why are zero defect, high-performance buildings the exception and not business as usual?””

Tell us a bit about yourself 

I am a Chartered Project Management Surveyor (MRICS) and a certified building commissioning professional. I have been lucky enough to work on projects in 21 countries and with some amazing people. 

I work with firms and projects in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. Assignments include project leadership, building commissioning, business development, marketing strategy and industry specific software advisory.

I travel a lot with work but due to the pandemic I now spend most of my time working from home in Canada. I relax from work by taking as many vacations as possible, keeping fit with long walks and kettlebell training.

When it comes to self-improvement do you prefer to read books, listen to podcasts or take a course?  

Take a course  

What is your favourite food? 

All Italian foods 

What are the three interesting facts about you?  

• Dual nationality (British & Canadian) 
• Don’t want to retire, just want to design the best possible lifestyle for growth, wellbeing and happiness. 
• I am mildly dyslexic 

What’s your favourite drink? 

Coffee . 

What’s your dream car?  

Singer, retro mod, Porsche.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?  

“You are not a serf tied to the location of your birth. If you do not like your situation, it is on you to change it. No one owes you anything. There is a whole world out there and you can go and be successful anywhere. Just make sure you acquire skills and mastery that people will pay you for”.

This advice changed my life. 

What is your favourite quote?   

Discipline equals freedom – “Jocko Willink” 

How did you get started in the property industry?

  

Stumbled into the job center after I left school and got a job as a trainee commissioning technician.  

What are your career goals in the property industry? 

To be a thought leader and educator.  

Describe the biggest challenge you’ve faced when trying to reduce operational costs?  

Path dependency thinking. 

How would your co-workers describe you? 

Demanding 

Tell me how you organize, plan, and prioritize your work.  

I schedule time closely to maximize my output. I use Google calendar for scheduling and Microsoft OneNote for to do lists and workflow management.  

What software have you used in the property industry? 

• DCM Echo for drawing management 
• BlueRithm for building commissioning test sheet software 
• Smartdraw 2020 of diagramming and drawings 

How many years of experience in in the property industry do you have?  

40! Yes I am old.   

When people come to you for help, what do they usually want to help with?  

Selling their commissioning business. Technical questions on building commissioning and scheduling . Construction technology software development strategy. 

How would you describe a typical day in the property industry? 

In these times of COVID my typical day is:  

• Coffee and 30 mins (max) on e-mails 9:00am to 9:30am 
• Zoom calls to Middle East clients till 9:30 am to1:00pm 
• Research and writing blogs and my book 2:00pm till 4:00pm 
• Podcast interviews when required, normally in the afternoons. 
• 12,000 step walk 4:00pm to 5:00pm listening to podcasts. 
• Workout late afternoons 3 times each week. 

On days when Zoom calls are low I use the time to do project work or write.  

I tend to work 5 days a week with Fridays off due to Friday being the day off in the Middle East and Sundays off unless there is something specific. 

How has your education prepared you for your career?   

OK but not great. Post college / university training, experience and soft skills development are the real difference makers.  

The need for a great mentor and a focus on soft skills is what I wish I had known as a young man. 

How has our partnership changed your projects?   

Made me aware of how paper based most facilities manager are. I always now focus on a “digital first” approach, 

What’s the most recent example of how we have exceeded your expectations? 

 DCM’s commitment to kept improving their software plus its consistent industry communication via social media.  

We finish the interview and you step outside the office and find a lottery ticket that ends up winning $10 million. What would you do?  

A long family vacation to Australia and New Zealand.

To connect with Adam Muggleton visit:

• The Building Whisperer – https://bldwhisperer.com/
• Edifice Podcast – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/edifice-complex-podcast/id1276845500
•  BlueRithm website – https://bluerithm.com/
• Adam Muggleton – LinkedIn

In our Facilities Manager Spotlight series we get know the individuals who help make building operations, and facilities management look easy. It is a genuine joy to learn from them, find out more about how they got into the profession, and their personal goals. This week we catch up with Yomi Agbenro.

FACILITIES MANAGER SPOTLIGHT

Yomi Agbenro is the Business Support Services Manager at the Kingsway International Christian Center. His LinkedIn profile emphasizes his goal is to contribute positively towards organizational growth, and success through use of his personal attributes, skills, and competencies. He says his greatest strength is analyzing issues, identifying solutions and providing alternatives. Yomi has the ability to manage stress effectively with a positive can do attitude.

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Yomi Agbenro. Facilities Manager, HSE Officer, husband, son, brother, soccer, and basketball enthusiast. Avid reader, and life long learner.

When it comes to self-improvement do you prefer to read books, listen to podcasts or take a course?  

I will prefer to read and take a course. It’s always been my strength and how I have learnt best the most.

What are your career goals as a Facilities Manager?

Career goals is to work at the highest level of excellence, with integrity, honesty and capacity building to take on more challenging tasks.

Describe the biggest challenge you’ve faced when trying to reduce operational costs?

Greatest challenge when trying to reduce operational expenses is the need not to drop quality, in favour of the bottom line.

What advice do you have for Facilities Managers?

My advice for FMs is to stay teachable, adaptable, technology compliant, and data driven in this 21st century.

We finish the interview and you step outside the office and find a lottery ticket that ends up winning $10 million. What would you do?

If I saw the $10,000,000 dollars coupon, I would pay my tithe first as a Christian, buy my wife and Dad a house, give to my favorite charity and invest and save the rest of the money.

You can connect with Yomi Agbenro on Linkedin and Kicc.org.uk

Before we dive into a day in the life of a Facilities Manager, let’s talk about what a Facilities Manager actually is. The International Facility Management Association (IFMA), defines Facilities Management as a “a profession that encompasses multiple disciplines to ensure functionality, comfort, safety and efficiency of the built environment by integrating people, place, process and technology.”

Simply put, a Facilities Manager is responsible for making sure your building or facility runs smoothly, and safely. Like Guardians of the Galaxy, they’re the guardians of your building. A Facilities Manager’s role often differs however, depending on the industry they work in, the size of the building, or the amount of staff they oversee. Their responsibilities are vast and their knowledge extensive. 

One thing we can say for certain, a day in the life of a Facilities Manager is anything but ordinary.

We asked Facilities Managers to take us through a day in the life of a Facilities Manager. From their responsibilities, to challenges they may face, and even some memorable highlights.

 

AN AVERAGE DAY

Most people go to work with an idea of how their day is going to go. We finish our tasks, take a lunch, have staff meeting and go home. Facilities Managers come to work and it’s like walking into a new, yet familiar environment every day.

“Is there an average day?! You start off with a great “To-Do” list and maybe you cross one item off before your day goes sideways! Staff arrive and suddenly the temperature needs adjusting. There’s a strange odour coming from the vent. My desk won’t raise anymore. The power flickers. Questions come in from HR about who’s accessed a particular area of the office or what time staff have arrived. Health and Safety concerns come forward. We want to move this person to this desk but it’s not in our area – can you help? “I found this bug at my desk, what do I do”? This is my favourite because this is where I step on it or squish it with a kleenex and say “problem solved”. I spend a fair amount of time working with procurement and approving work and invoices. Managing janitorial contracts to printing contracts. New staff coming on, and they need access and a tour. “

–  Danielle Paquette, Facilities Manager

“There is no single typical day, but there is a cycle to the work that makes sense. We work with our staff (that’s two of us) and consultants to update all of the information to prepare the list of projects that we will undertake over a three-year period on a yearly basis. In essence unless something fails or the budget gets more money, we are looking at adding year three projects each year and confirming if anything in years one and two has to move. Design for most projects occurs early in the fall so that one the budget is approved we can tender early in the new year.“

– Lewis Morgulis, Managing Partner, Planning

THE FIRST TO ARRIVE

Chances are, your Facilities Manager is there before anyone else. If you got into your building easily, your access card worked, the toilets are flushing, the heat is on, and you’re not near the construction going on in other departments, chances are, that’s the magic of your Facilities Manager.

“Arrived prior to everyone else. Review logs and work orders from the previous day. Make sure Life Safety Systems are operational and ready, if needed. Meet the arriving crew (if there is a second shift, meet them when they arrive). Brief discussion of previous work and follow-up needed. Assign work and get people moving. Visit departments to follow up on how we responded to their service requests. Evaluate expenses and budget allowances. Various meetings. Follow up on space needs and determine the best fit. During the day, follow up with the crew to make sure they are okay and working safely. Meet and talk to contractors to make sure they are on point. Most importantly – make sure the crew knows their work is appreciated.”                                 

– Michael Walton, Facilities Manager

In an average day in the life of a Facility Manager is the definition of “Wears many hats.”

Their responsibilities run from the smallest to the biggest facility operations issues, including:

1. Building maintenance.
2. Contract management.
3. Operation management.
4. Fire safety
5. Pest control.
6. Landscaping and gardening services.
7. Plant and machinery maintenance.
8. Plumbing work and repairs.
9. Electrical works and maintenance.
10. Cleaning and janitorial services.
11. Project management.
12. Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning.

– Yomi Agbenro, Business Support Services Manager

PROJECTS ALL THE TIME

Throughout the year, renovations and construction projects often take place in buildings. Updating facilities as the building ages, new additions to accommodate staff and employees, and repairs as needed, never stop. Even when you’re not working, your Facilities Manager is.

“We look to see which projects are summer based and then ensure that each school knows what is going on and when construction will start. We cancel permits or summer school if a school is impacted by too much work and we will stage work so that two contractors are not in the same place at the same time.

With 65 projects going on at the 50 sites in any given year, we meet weekly to review all projects and go daily to sites where we have issues that have to be ironed out by the owner.  Any project that is not meeting its schedule is visited more often and we work together with the architect, GC and local authorities to remove any obstacles.“

– Lewis Morgulis

HIGHLIGHTS

While still being conscious of safety and health issues that affect staff, it’s important to recognize the highlights from the daily work, as well as the care and effort that is put into helping everyone overall. Little things often add up to big things. Facilities Mangers do their best to keep people happy and safe, and staff very much appreciates it. Even when things are not always easy.

“Highlights are being able to provide a service that makes it easier for the end user. Currently in COVID times staff are run off their feet out in the community so a simple thing in getting items together for them to do a curbside pickup means so much. Having a system in place so you can provide information when asked. Responsibilities are varied. You will most likely be responsible for a sizeable budget, you need to understand leases because your organization will come to you throughout the term with different questions. Health and Safety is a large responsibility, even though it typically resides with HR.

The Facility Manager is typically the one that will have to implement and figure out the best solution. You tend to be the one everyone comes to even though it may have absolutely nothing to do with you. I always give new employees my name and extension and tell them they can reach out for anything. I let them know I may not have the answer but I’ll be one of the quickest resources to get you where you need in order to get the answer.“

– Danielle Paquette

“One highlight I can share is when we completed a learning commons renovation at Notre Dame SS. I was in on the first day of school and students had wandered into the new space. I asked them what they thought, the Notre Dame students were amazed at how we had taken a space that they thought was dull and dingy and had made it so new and exciting. They loved the furniture, the new teaching areas, the spin bikes, the new shelves and all the light in the space. Two other students were there from the other high school that is attached and they were awe struck that we would do this for our students. “Can you do that for our library?” the one student asked, and it struck me that maybe we were doing this differently than other Boards did. ”

– Lewis Morgulis

“Safety programs I developed were adopted by the insurance carriers as model programs.  I was a panelist for a Business Continuity Discussion. Won the Flik Hospitality President’s Award. 4,000+ employees in our division. I developed the Death of a Guest procedure and never expected to use it.  Unfortunately, I had to use it a few times.  Very sad!“

– Michael Walton

MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES

No matter how big or small, a memorable experience for a Facilities Manager, differs from one to another.

“Career highs and lows are too numerous to mention,but a memorable experience is when for two years back to back we experienced seamless operations in my organization without any interruptions. “

– Yomi Agbenro

Hurricane Isabel came through our area.  My entire crew volunteered to stay and make sure the resort was safe.  Some employees worked with me for 20+ years.

– Michael Walton

A day in the life of a Facilities Manager is unlike most professions. But that those that wear that responsibility wear it well. So the next time you see your Facilities Manager at your building, ask them how their day is going, and perhaps what they do at your facility. Their answers may surprise you.

Special thanks to the following Facilities Management Professionals who helped us with this article:

• Yomi Agbenro – LinkedIn, IFMA and Kicc.org.uk
• Michael W. Walton –  LinkedIn
• Danielle Paquette – LinkedIn
• Lewis Morgulis – LinkedIn

If you work in an office or building of any kind, chances are you don’t think about why your access card works everyday, why the grass is always watered, or even that your toilets flush properly. All of these may seem like small things but Facilities Managers everywhere, are often the unsung heroes of why a building operates as smoothly as it does. What are the key characteristics of a Facilities Manager that makes their work feel effortless? They think about all the things, so you don’t have to.

Because we all know, it’s not effortless. It’s planning, exceptional organizational skills, and the ability to both communicate the issues at hand, while listening to the needs of others.

As part of our ongoing Facilities Managers Series, we get the chance to speak to Facilities Managers everywhere, to find out in their own words, their thoughts on everything from their jobs, to the future of the profession. 

We asked them their thoughts on the key characteristics of Facilities Manager, as well as experiences, that help them excel at their job. 

Needless to say, their answers had a lot of things in common, and some may surprise you.

What are the Key Characteristics of a successful Facilities Manager?

Problem Solving

Facilities Managers are excellent problem solvers,. partially because their days are so varied. They’re often on their feet, and have to think fast, both to prevent problems from happening, as well as to solve them if they do occur.

“You can have standard solutions to a lot of issues but quite often you’re thrown a curve ball and you need to be able to act and act wisely so you’re not creating other issues, especially health and safety concerns.”

–  Danielle Paquette, Facilities Manager

Patience

More often than not, people are impatient. When they want something done, they often want to wave a magic wand and have that happen. Real life is anything but that. Having patience and flexibility with budgets and people’s expectations, are a very important characteristic of a Facilities Manager.

“When I took over my role, we had not spent money on the parking lots for years. With budget cuts it was an easy thing to cut. Five years after the first cuts the driveways and parking lots looked appalling. We made a multi-year plan to fix the problem using a consistent standard for all sites. The patience part came in when we had to prioritize the work and explain that while a number of sites were awful, we had money to fix only a handful properly. It’s hard to say no, and it’s harder to stick with the plan when people are asking you to compromise, cut corners, not be as effective.” 

– Lewis Morgulis, Managing Partner, Planning

Organization 

Being organized is important, but Facilities Management organization, is top tier level organization. Why? Because they oversee a great deal of health and safety matters, and one thing going badly, could spell a big disaster.

“You will always be juggling multiple projects and priorities and not having strong organization skills will kill you.”

– Danielle Paquette

Facilities Managers – more than just Technical know how

Integrity, Trust and Listening Skills

We often think of a Facilities Manager as a technical role. But a great deal of decisions that fall under the responsibilities of a Facilities Manager are actually soft skills, such as listening, communication and adaptability. 

Ensuring that the individuals who lean on Facilities Managers, believe they are doing the best possible job, is imperative. Whether that’s their team, building visitors or contractors. Handling matters with tact and sensitivity, while meeting everyone’s needs, involves a great deal of trust and listening skills. 

“Build a team of trusted people.  If you do not know something, talk with your team and seek the answers.  If you act like you know it all it will diminish the respect your team has for you. Diversity is important to all work environments. Working with people who have different opinions and views helps creativity and operations.”

– Michael Walton, Facilities Manager

Saying yes more often

“Small or large requests that force us to rethink our beliefs are a great opportunity to change the world. We had an agency looking for a spare classroom to run programs for families. We had always charged groups like childcares to rent the space, but this group had no fees and only a small budget to run its programs. We said yes here because it brought new families into the school, it added a vital link to the community, it changed how we saw our neighbours … it changed our paradigm, all from a simple yes.”

– Lewis Morgulis 

“You need to be able to listen. If you’re going to solve or help solve the problem you need to take the time to listen and understand it. Also, leadership skills. You’re not usually fixing the problem on your own, you have a team plus you have customers, and to make it all work efficiently you need to bring that all together.”

– Danielle Paquette

Constant Learning and Education

The best Facilities Managers in their field, never stop learning. Whether that’s technological advancement, changes in the industry they work in, learning new skills is a must. Many Facilities Managers attend conferences, seminars, read books and take courses to keep their skill set updated.

“Never stop learning. My advice for FMs is to stay teachable, adaptable, technology compliant and data driven in this 21st century. With the advance of modern technology, FMs need to stay abreast of emerging technology to further enhance productivity, reduce costs and Improve efficiency in the workplace or any other physical spaces they manage for people.”

– Yomi Agbenro, Business Support Services Manager

“Enter this field to help others. Be a lifelong learner.  Contractors can take advantage of people who are not familiar with building systems. Hire people who are smart in their field, and learn from them instead of attempting to teach them. Mistakes are a part of learning.  It is silly to hire smart people and hold them back.”

– Michael Walton

Optimism and Celebrating Successes

Finally, a very important key characteristics of a Facilities Manager, is to look forward to the future.  Enjoy the positive impact that their work has done for others, and celebrating the successes.

“Some character traits that I think are important are to be optimistic, and to have an open mind. You will not be able to influence change or get people to buy into something if you’re negative. If you’re closed minded you will never move forward.”

– Danielle Paquette

“I love it when we get things done and we make changes that staff and students love. We track the number of completed capital projects, and the total amount spent, and we publish it for our public to see. To me, it’s important that communities see that every school is being looked after for its building and program needs. I also love it when our staff can take a pet peeve off their list. The leaky roof, the crappy doors, windows that won’t shut or open all eventually come up for replacement. Once the new component works, it’s nice to celebrate the fact that the school is better.”

– Lewis Morgulis

And always remember to enjoy the moment

“No matter how tough times get, we have time to laugh and goof around with the team.  One night we were on snow duty and it just happened to be Super Bowl Sunday.  The plow truck was parked while my assistant watched the game.  Afterwards, he told everyone, I knew Michael would find me. And after he did, I had to shovel snow the rest of the night.”

– Michael Walton

Special thanks to the following Facilities Management Professionals who helped us with this article:

We began this Facilities Manager Spotlight series to get to know the people behind emerald curtains. There’s a reason we call Facilities Managers Wizards. They do everything for company from making sure your air conditioning is turned on, that your access card works, to saving the day when there’s a serious emergency. After all, they manage all of the engineering drawings and that’s no small feat.

FACILITIES MANAGER SPOTLIGHT

Michael Walton is a Director of Facilities, leadership style encourages people learn, grow, develop, reach their potential, so they can satisfy their own personal goals. Safety programs that Michael has developed, have been recognized by insurance companies as model programs.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I am a facilities management professional and enjoy every segment of my work.  My specialties include: maintenance and operations, organizing maintenance departments, safety, emergency preparedness, emergency management, and business continuity.

Hobbies include carpentry projects, herb gardening, vegetable gardening. I am the Training Officer at the local fire department and a life member of the local rescue squad.

How did you get started as a Facilities Manager?

My Facilities Management journey started when I was very young.  My grandfather was a machinist, a neighbor was a carpenter, and a police officer was a handyman on the side.  These men took time to teach me their trades and help me to succeed in whatever I did. They also shared life’s lessons.

When I started working in maintenance, the owner (another great man) encouraged me to keep pushing.  He covered the cost of my classes and stopped by to check on my progress and always provided positive reinforcement.  I was the first person in our company to have a computer and he visited to see how I was using it.

I was very successful in HVAC, appliance servicing, electricity, plumbing, electronics, etc. Always growing and learning new skills.  For 20+ years I completed a class every semester.

I was introduced to emergency services and emergency planning by a wonderful mentor. She pushed me in directions I did not realize I would enjoy, but she saw it in me. I developed an Emergency Response Team, Emergency Response Team Manual, Manager on Duty program, conducted training, managed security efforts and more.  I really enjoyed this work. Completed the Emergency Medical Technician and Firefighter 1 classes to support my programs.

As I developed and expanded into more departments my position changed from supervisor to director.  She pushed me to move into Facilities Management and supported my classes with BOMI. My career continued to develop, always more exciting.

Joined a local Fire Department and Rescue Squad. When I worked at Telos Wireless, the Board of Directors asked me to develop Business Continuity plans for the company.  I jumped at the opportunity and the more I learned about Business Continuity the more I realized this is what I was doing all along.  Business Continuity allowed me to work with all departments, get to know how the departments worked and the inter-dependencies between departments.  I developed programs that were adopted by our insurance carrier.  They wanted to use them as model plans.

My journey towards Facilities Management led me to IFMA and their Core Competencies which includes Safety, Business Continuity, and Emergency Management. 

I continue to work on the IFMA core competencies to perfect my skills and stay up with all the latest trends and technologies.

What are your career goals as a facilities manager?

My goal is to be a complete facilities manager and earn the respect through servant leadership.  When I retire, I want to help people entering the facilities management field or help those struggling to find direction.

I have a great family with two children and three grandchildren.  Enjoy all the time I can get with them. My wife is amazing and has stuck by my crazy lifestyle of teaching, running fire calls and a rescue squad.

What is your favorite food?

We eat very healthy and I do not necessarily have a favorite food, but I do have favorite elements of cooking – great flavor, low sodium, low fat, high fiber, fresh herbs and garlic. 

What is the best place you’ve ever traveled to?     

My wife and I went to Wales to seek her heritage.  I met a Fire Department Battalion Chief online and he met us in Wales.  He kept us very busy for hours.

What is your favorite quote?  

Albert Einstein – Do not keep anything in your head you can find in a book in under 15 minutes.

How would your co-workers describe you?

Based on my past experience: they find me fair, honest, loyal, dedicated, and focused on the employees. 

When people come to you for help, what do they usually want to help with?

Develop a new skill.

We finish the interview and you step outside the office and find a lottery ticket that ends up winning $10 million. What would you do?

I would take care of my family first.  Then secure retirement but continue to help people in facilities management, and emergency services.  

Thank you Michael, for taking the time to be in our Facilities Manager Spotlight series!