Advocacy and Education: From Single Mother to Facilities Director
In this episode of Facility Voices, Yanet Vega, Director of Facilities and Environmental Services at El Rio Health, shares a deeply personal and determined journey into facilities management. From growing up in Los Angeles to moving to Arizona as a single mother, Yanet carved her path through architecture school with relentless focus, balancing long commutes, late nights, and hands-on learning experiences that shaped her practical understanding of the built environment.
She reflects on how early challenges—advocating for herself in school, working at Home Depot to learn construction fundamentals, and navigating her first professional roles—laid the foundation for her leadership style today. Now overseeing a wide range of operations, Yanet brings a unique perspective that bridges design, construction, and facility operations, emphasizing collaboration, long-term thinking, and continuous improvement. Her story also highlights the importance of representation and resilience in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Tune in to hear Yanet Vega’s story and insights from the front lines of facilities management.
Each episode of Facility Voices includes supplementary content that expands on key themes and insights from the conversation. You can find that additional material at: Access Episode Takeaways
Yanet Vega
Director, Facilities at El Rio Health
Facilities operations, capital projects
Yanet Vega is the Director of Facilities and Environmental Services at El Rio Health, one of the nation’s largest Federally Qualified Health Centers in Tucson, Arizona. She leads operations, environmental services, transportation, and capital projects across a multi-site healthcare network, creating safe, patient-centered environments. With a background in architecture, Yanet brings expertise in design, space planning, and interior design, helping streamline projects and align facilities with clinical needs. She is recognized for her collaborative, people-first leadership and for championing women in facilities management, while supporting local vendors and strengthening community partnerships.
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