Blogs

Facilities and risk management may have different responsibilities, but they share a common concern: protecting people, buildings and organizations.

Skip Vaughn, Assistant Vice President of Facilities Management at American University, brings experience from construction, the Coast Guard, federal facilities and higher education, with roles as a contractor, construction manager, owner’s representative, federal facilities leader and FM shaping how he approaches problems from multiple perspectives.

Frank Rudilosso, Senior Director of Maintenance Operations Programs at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, shared how his career in fire protection, life safety, facilities operations and compliance shaped his approach to managing complex healthcare facilities.

Even Superman might not be able to predict what’s going to pop out of your facility’s ceiling tile, so we asked our friends in the facilities community to share their most unexpected stories about one of the most mysterious zones in buildings.

Risk managers and facilities teams may sit in different departments, work from different priorities and speak different languages.

Ask an administrative assistant what they know about facility management and you might get a polite smile. Ask what they need from facility management

For a school facilities director, Heather Krebs seems pretty relaxed on a July morning, but behind the scenes, it’s no summer vacation for her and her team.  Big things are coming in the fall, like a brand-new multi-sport outdoor stadium complex for Snider High School, 3-time state champions in football (1992, 2015 and 2023) and well-known for their marching band program.

Creating and maintaining an accurate equipment inventory has traditionally been one of the most time-consuming tasks in facility management.

Do the guests get room service? Are the rooms big enough to play catch? Is the mini-bar stocked with kibble?

Like many facilities leaders, Trent McJunkin didn’t start his career with a plan to work in facilities management. His background began in industrial maintenance, where he gained hands-on experience with equipment, operations, and problem-solving before moving into leadership roles.

Facility emergencies rarely happen at convenient times. When a power outage, water leak, equipment failure, or fire alarm goes off at 2 a.m., facilities teams need accurate building information immediately.

Older buildings rarely fail all at once. More often, small issues go unnoticed until they become costly repairs, safety concerns, or operational disruptions.

The fire panel alarm goes off at 2:14 a.m and by 2:30, there's a battalion chief standing in your parking lot asks two questions: Where's the gas shutoff? And is there anything behind that east wall we should know about?

Every senior living community is built on the same promise: provide residents with a safe, comfortable place to live while giving families confidence that their loved ones are well cared for.

The best technology often disappears into the background and lets people focus on the work that matters. It doesn't demand attention. It removes friction. It simplifies tasks and helps teams stay productive.

After 26 years as an architect, Burke Jones transitioned into facilities leadership at Derby Public Schools, where he oversees 18 buildings serving thousands of students and staff.