Heather Krebs
Challenges Are OpportunitiesFor 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.
Heather’s Indiana school district is home to approximately 28,000 students, the largest in Indiana. They have 62 buildings, 51 schools and a cycle of constant renovations for the district's 70+ year old buildings. Everyone is rah-rah about the new stadium -- Snider students and band members, especially, since they’ve been sharing their stadium with another school since the 70s.
Heather has been with the district for more than a decade. She has a civil engineering degree from Purdue University, and she worked in architecture and engineering before joining the district.
“Best career choice ever,” she said.
At Purdue, males were 20-1 women and women were few and far between, but Heather had confidence, tenacity, and wasn’t really concerned about gender.
“No one is going to tell me something is impossible,” she explained.
Earlier in her career, she did get the cold shoulder from some guys who were reluctant to give her credit on a project, but she knew she had to build respect and rapport in a male-dominated industry. Growing up, Heather had an artistic side and at one point, she was interested in journalism, which could have been good because journalism is all about getting good answers to important questions to build a story. Later, it was architecture. Fortunately, she had excellent guidance from her school’s guidance counselor and a youth group counselor, who was an engineer and recognized and encouraged Heather.
“I wouldn’t be who I am today without them,” she said.
On her team now, she has five project coordinators, two program coordinators, and two architectural technicians. She’s confident that she can hand them projects, which they can run and take ownership. The school years have taught Heather the value of recognizing and rewarding these seven core competencies:
- Be organized
- Be aware that there are also many moving pieces
- Keep your thoughts straight
- Manage your time wisely
- Find balance. It’s easy to get weighed down with information onslaught
- Filter what’s important and remember to delegate
- Build your team and trust them. Don’t micromanage.
In her career, she formed close allies with the district’s executive director of operations, who was the previous facilities director, and they have worked together for 13 years. He helped advance her career and she stepped into his role as director when he was promoted.
“It’s all about courage and foresight. I respect and trust this individual,” Heather said.
Being a mom to 16-year-old twins who are learning to drive is “fun” for Heather. She also has two older stepchildren. Downtime is a premium, but when she has the opportunity, she loves to take in a touring Broadway musical or rock concert or play a round of golf, but she treasures those times when she can simply sit on the back deck and read a book.
Heather has been involved with associations like the Indiana Association of School Business Officials for education and networking and she’s served on the school board in a neighboring school district, which was itself an education.
“It wasn’t an easy job. You’re under a lot of pressure to get answers for frustrated parents and I had to learn to be patient, understanding that people are passionate about their schools and their kids. I’m glad I did it because it’s given me a better understanding of what makes schools tick,” she said.
Like many school district facility team leaders, Heather’s had her share of emergencies to deal with. She said, “It’s best to have a clear path of action, get out there quickly, quickly triage and stay calm.” She strives to turn challenges into opportunities for her team, so everyone has the autonomy to step in to make things better.
She’s been dipping into AI cautiously and finds it useful for summarizing information, replying to emails, and giving pause before replying. She acknowledges that it’s important to have more information at your fingertips to be proactive on the job and in the field.
When her team asked her about her favorite catch phrases, Heather didn’t hesitate:
- Trust the process
- Strive to be better
Reflecting on her own journey, Heather hopes more women will consider careers in facilities management, engineering, architecture, and construction. She believes these fields offer a unique opportunity to combine creativity, problem-solving, leadership, and a tangible sense of purpose.
"Don't let the fact that it's traditionally been a male-dominated industry discourage you," she said. "If you're curious, willing to learn, and ready to work hard, there is absolutely a place for you." Heather encourages young women to seek out mentors, ask questions, and have the confidence to pursue opportunities even when they feel outside their comfort zone.
"Some of the most rewarding moments in my career have come from taking on challenges that seemed intimidating at first. Believe in your abilities, trust the process, and keep striving to be better. You'll be surprised by what you're capable of—and by the impact you can make on your community for generations."