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Facility Voices

Navigating Technology Shifts Starts with Identifying Needs

31:54 minAPRIL 05, 2024 David Trask, National Director, ARC Facilities

In this episode of Facility Voices, Andrew Akard, Vice President of Facilities at Tinker Federal Credit Union, talks about technology in facilities management and shares some of the innovative approaches employed at Tinker.

Andrew emphasizes the importance of clearly articulating objectives and collaborating with other departments to ensure successful technology integration. He highlights the significance of effective communication with leadership and the need to tailor messages to specific audiences to build confidence in proposed initiatives. He underscores the value of seeking feedback and remaining open to refining proposals based on input from stakeholders.

Andrew discusses the challenges of managing facilities spread out over a wide geographical area and the strategies his team employs to overcome them, including smart irrigation controllers and EMS systems.

You won’t want to miss out on this important episode, offering valuable insights and practical strategies for driving innovation in the field!

 

Andrew Akard directs building construction, remodeling, maintenance, janitorial services and lawn care for TFCU’s branches and corporate offices. Akard ensures that the member’s perspective is a driving force behind TFCU’s strategic priorities, business decisions and organizational processes in existing and future TFCU locations. This can be seen in TFCU’s mission of incorporating new technologies at their branches, such as Interactive Teller Machines (ITMs) and electric vehicle charging stations.

Prior to joining TFCU, Akard served in the US Navy for eight years as an operations intelligence specialist, where he served as a mentor and advisor to the Afghan National Army in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2011. After separating from the military, Akard worked in operations for property management and commercial real estate companies, most recently as the director of operations at Simon Property Group.

Akard received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Oklahoma Christian University and his master’s of business administration from Loyola University Maryland.

Andrew Akard

Andrew Akard

Vice President, Facilities Director

Facilities Department at Tinker Federal Credit Union

Andrew Akard manages building construction, remodeling, maintenance, and operations at TFCU’s branches and corporate offices. He integrates member perspectives into strategic priorities and business decisions, exemplified by TFCU’s adoption of technologies like ITMs and electric vehicle charging stations. Formerly in the US Navy, Andrew served as an operations intelligence specialist and later held operational roles in property management and commercial real estate, including as director of operations at Simon Property Group. He holds a bachelor’s in political science from Oklahoma Christian University and an MBA from Loyola University Maryland.

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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.

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