Facilities in Focus

How does one of the largest school districts in the country transform its facilities operations to meet the highest standards of health and sustainability? In this episode of Facilities in Focus, host Mackenna Moralez sits down with Sara Porter of Healthy Schools Campaign and Chicago Public Schools leaders Rob Christlieb and Brian Martin to discuss how the district made history by being the first in the nation to achieve Gold Certi...

Facilities in Focus is back with an exciting previous of season three! Mackenna Moralez kicks things off solo this week, with a sneak peak of the upcoming season covering education facilities. While all facilities bring on unique challenges, there is also a wild, weird and unexpected side of facilities management when it comes to overseeing schools. From taxidermy animals to pipes flooding the hallways, Alishia Jolivette, Gretchen ...

Welcome back to a special bonus episode of Facilities in Focus! Mackenna Moralez sits down with the king of NFMT himself, John Rimer of FM360, to talk all things NFMT Remix. With nearly 30 years in facilities management, John shares stories from the field, insights of the industry’s future and why shows like NFMT Remix are essential for personal and professional growth. Whether you’re a seasoned FM or just getting started, this epi...

Welcome to the season finale of the second season of Facilities in Focus!

If you’re still thinking that IoT is just a buzzword, Greg Christensen, host of the CMMSRadio podcast is sure to change your mind. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez talks with Christensen as they break down how smart sensors and connected systems are changing the way facility managers work every day. Filled with “aha!” moments that make...

There has been a rise in workplace violence incidents within the healthcare industry since the pandemic first began in 2020. Duke University Health recently installed weapon detection systems at all of their locations to ensure the safety of their buildings. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez talks with Mary Martin, chief operating officer for Duke University Health about what lead to the installation of the w...

Five years have passed since the COVID-19 pandemic first sent people packing their desks to work from home. In recent weeks, more companies – and even the federal government – have mandated that employees return to the office full-time. Mackenna Moralez sits down with Alex Carlson, vice president of facilities management services, Fine Tune Expense Management on how facilities managers are being tasked with incentivizing employees ...

Robots are no longer a thing of the future. They vacuum our floors, help pick and package our goods and now they are mowing lawns. It almost seems too good to be true. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez is joined by Michael Kashuba, the director of parks and recreation of the city of Amarillo. They discuss how the parks department is transforming turf management by using autonomous robotic mowers. With stories...

Mackenna Moralez is joined by Gavin Ventresca, project management specialist for Boeing. Backed with a bachelors degree in architecture and facilities management, Ventresca’s entry into the industry differs from the typical facility manager. During their conversation, Ventresca discusses how he views technology as just another tool in the toolbelt and advises what new FMs can gain by embracing change. From debunking lazy Gen Z myth...

Welcome back to Facilities in Focus! Mackenna Moralez is joined by Building Operating Management’s Facility Influencer and industry expert Shawn Black to kick off the second season. The pair discusses AI and the promises and pitfalls of the emerging technology and how it is already shaping our lives. Whether you’re a techie, a skeptic or just AI-curious, this conversation will leave you thinking long after it ends. 

“We can’t afford...

Welcome back to a bonus episode of Facilities in Focus! Host Mackenna Moralez sits down with Cat Antenucci, one of the 2024 Facility Champions award recipients. Cat discusses her dynamic journey from maritime engineering school to assistant director of engineering for Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa. She shares how her early exposure to facilities maintenance and engineering fueled her rise in a male-dominate...

Welcome back to Facilities in Focus! After wrapping up our first season on emergency preparedness, we’re diving headfirst into season two, and this time it’s all about technology and its impact on the facilities management industry.  

Before we jump into the new season, we’ve got a special tech horror story special for you! 

Host Mackenna Moralez is joined by Michael Kashuba, Shawn Black and Alex Carlson as they share their most emba...

In the season finale of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez talks with Brian Forde Jr., the chief operating officer for Boston Public Schools about the unprecedented operational challenges schools faced during the early days of the COVID-19. He describes the measures that were taken to maintain safety for all students and their facilities and whether or not education facilities are ready for the next pandemic.  

"It wasn’t ju...

In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez speaks with Maureen Roskoski, Vice President of FEA about her first-hand experience in the Maui wildfires of 2023. Maureen recounts how she was stranded without communication or clear evacuation routes, and how she relied on emergency preparedness practices from her professional expertise in facilities management. Throughout the discussion Maureen offers actionable advice for...

In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez talks with cybersecurity expert and former FBI operative Eric O’Neill. Eric shares insights of his career and why it is important for facility managers to have strong cybersecurity practices within their operations. 

“Cybersecurity may seem esoteric and mystical, but it’s really just the new battleground between attackers and defenders,” O’Neill says during the podcast. 

The Fa...

In the spring of 2024, the Mount Horeb Area School District in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin prevented an active shooter incident with security processes that they had in place. In this episode of the Facilities in Focus podcast, Mackenna Moralez speaks with Dr. Steve Salerno, superintendent of the Mount Horeb Area School District about the district’s response to the incident, highlighting the importance of preparation and proactive secur...

2025 marks the 20th anniversary since Hurricane Katrina left a devastating impact on the city of New Orleans. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez interviews Doug Thornton, executive VP of stadiums and arenas at ASM Global, which oversees the New Orleans Superdome. Thornton recounts his experience being at the forefront of opening the Superdome as a place of shelter during the hurricane and reflects on how the c...

In this episode Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez speaks with Dave Pettit, director of facilities of Joplin Schools about the community’s journey of resiliency and recovery following the devastating 2011 tornado that ravished the town and killed 158 people. In the episode, Pettit reflects on the emotional and physical scars left behind and describes lessons that were learned in the aftermath of the natural disaster.  

“What def...

The Facilities in Focus podcast, brought to you by FacilitiesNet, covers all aspects of facilities management. Host Mackenna Moralez engages with a wide range of guests, including facility managers, delving into the lessons they learned from these events and what advice they have for fellow managers who may be experiencing similar challenges.  

https://facilitiesnet.com 

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