In today’s episode David sits down with the two winners of the 2024 Facilithon Competition: Anderson Reynolds, the first-place national finalist in the high school division, and Toby Styron, the first-place national finalist in the post-secondary division.
Anderson, fresh out of high school in Lakewood, Colorado, shares how his diverse educational experiences, including participation in SkillsUSA and various construction programs, led him to excel in Facilithon. Toby, currently enrolled in the electromechanical technology course at Texas State Technical College, talks about how his early work experiences and the encouragement from his instructors steered him towards facilities management.
We explore the dynamics of the Facilithon Competition, where participants from across the country are challenged to respond to real-world facilities management scenarios. Anderson and Toby share their experiences tackling problems ranging from financial planning for amusement parks to emergency responses in hospital settings. They highlight the importance of quick thinking, comprehensive knowledge, and the support of mentors in navigating these challenges.
Join us as we discuss the valuable lessons learned from these experiences, the excitement of competing at the national level, and how these young leaders plan to apply their skills in their future careers. Whether it's managing a hospital's fire sprinkler system or finding innovative solutions for an amusement park, Anderson and Toby's stories demonstrate the diverse and dynamic world of facilities management.
Anderson Reynolds graduated from high school in the Denver Metro area in the spring of 2024. Throughout high school he participated in leadership, career exploration, and CTE programs, including a construction management program and later SkillsUSA. Through these programs he has acquired certifications in construction safety and sustainability, while representing his community as the state secretary for SkillsUSA Colorado from 2023-2024, where he attended two SkillsUSA national conferences as a competitor. At the 2024 national conference, he participated in Facilithon, where he took gold in the high school division.
Toby Styron Jr. from Roscoe, West Texas, began working at 12 at Day Sign Co. in Abilene, learning business and leadership under Jake Day's mentorship. His diverse career includes roles as a foreman, welder, plumber, jailer, and contractor. The first in his family to graduate high school and college, he earned degrees from Texas State Technical College Sweetwater and Texas Tech University. Initially pursuing a medical career, Toby found his passion in the trades, mastering welding. With experiences across the country, he is proud of his achievements and dedicated to inspiring others to strive for their best.
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The views and opinions expressed by third-party guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of ARC Facilities and ARC Document Solutions. We provide a platform for diverse perspectives and discussions and ARC Facilities/ARC Document Solutions assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content provided by our third-party guests.
