Facilities in Focus

Accessibility on college campuses goes far beyond code compliance, it’s about dignity, independence and creating a true sense of belonging. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, host Mackenna Moralez talks with Lawrence Group leaders Mike Flynn and Javier Esteban about the art and complexity of retrofitting for accessibility. With examples ranging from residence halls to libraries, they explain how facilities leaders can design spaces that serve students of every ability—today and in the future. “Accessibility cannot be an afterthought. It has to be part of the process,” Javier says.  The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly. The third season will cover education facilities. For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please email Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com. Connect with Mackenna on LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/mackennamoralezFollow us on social media:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt  Youtube: @FacilitiesNet  X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT  Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT 

Deferred maintenance is a reality for every facility manager, but what happens when the stakes are thousands of students’ health and safety? In this episode of Facilities in Focus, host Mackenna Moralez sits down with Machion Jackson, deputy superintendent of operations for Detroit Public Schools Community District about how transparency, creativity and community engagement have helped her team prioritize critical repairs and reinvest in Detroit’s schools. Her insights offer practical strategies and inspiration for facility managers everywhere.  “School buildings are stabilizers of neighborhoods—they’re the beacons of communities,” Machion says. “If left unattended, deferred maintenance doesn’t just affect classrooms, it affects families, teachers, and the future of entire neighborhoods.” The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly. The third season will cover education facilities. For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please email Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com. Read Machion’s BOM cover story here: https://www.facilitiesnet.com/facilitiesmanagement/article/From-Teaching-to-Facilities-Management-How-Machion-Jackson-Found-Her-Calling--19928 Connect with Mackenna on LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/mackennamoralezFollow us on social media:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt  Youtube: @FacilitiesNet  X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT  Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT 

What does campus construction have to do with student success? In this episode of Facilities in Focus, host Mackenna Moralez speaks with Gretchen Catlin, chief facilities and general services officer for the University of Maine System how strategic facilities planning impacts everything from housing shortages to collaborative learning spaces. She also offers unique insights into construction trends that currently surround education facilities. Packed with real-world examples, creative solutions and even a few surprising stories from behind the scenes, this conversation sheds light on why facilities management is at the heart of higher education’s future. “If you build it, they will come — and that’s what excites me most about facilities: creating safe, engaging spaces that truly shape the student experience,” Catlin says. The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly. The third season will cover education facilities. For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please email Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com. Connect with Mackenna on Linkedin:linkedin.com/in/mackennamoralezFollow us on social media:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt  Youtube: @FacilitiesNet  X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT  Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT 

How does one of the largest school districts in the country transform its facilities operations to meet the highest standards of health and sustainability? In this episode of Facilities in Focus, host Mackenna Moralez sits down with Sara Porter of Healthy Schools Campaign and Chicago Public Schools leaders Rob Christlieb and Brian Martin to discuss how the district made history by being the first in the nation to achieve Gold Certification under the Healthy Green Schools & Colleges Standard. Porter, Christlieb and Martin share how they reached this milestone, what it means for students and staff and how sustainable practices create healthier, more effective learning environments.  “This is not a one-and-done award—it’s about creating healthier, safer schools every single day,” Christlieb says.  The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly. The third season will cover education facilities. For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please email Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com. Connect with Mackenna on LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/MackennaMoralezFollow us on social media:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt  Youtube: @FacilitiesNet  X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT  Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT 

Welcome to the season finale of the second season of Facilities in Focus! If you’re still thinking that IoT is just a buzzword, Greg Christensen, host of the CMMSRadio podcast is sure to change your mind. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez talks with Christensen as they break down how smart sensors and connected systems are changing the way facility managers work every day. Filled with “aha!” moments that make you think, “why aren’t we doing that yet?” This episode is for every facility professional who wants to stay ahead in the technology game. “Technology is not a magic silver bullet,” Christensen says during the episode. “You still have to manage it, scrutinize the data and make sure it’s doing what it’s supposed to do. Otherwise, you’re just firefighting with fancier tools.” The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly. The second season will cover technology within the facilities management space. For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please email Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com. Follow us on social media:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt  Youtube: @FacilitiesNet  X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT  Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT 

Five years have passed since the COVID-19 pandemic first sent people packing their desks to work from home. In recent weeks, more companies – and even the federal government – have mandated that employees return to the office full-time. Mackenna Moralez sits down with Alex Carlson, vice president of facilities management services, Fine Tune Expense Management on how facilities managers are being tasked with incentivizing employees to return to the office with new technology. Whether you work in-office, hybrid or remote, the conversation will have you thinking differently about the spaces where we work – and who makes them work.  "We need to stop talking about technology as job replacement—and start talking about it as a tool to make people’s lives better. If we lead with that, we’ll get a lot more buy-in," Carlson says. The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly. The second season will cover technology within the facilities management space. For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please email Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com. Follow us on social media:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt  Youtube: @FacilitiesNet  X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT  Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT 

Robots are no longer a thing of the future. They vacuum our floors, help pick and package our goods and now they are mowing lawns. It almost seems too good to be true. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez is joined by Michael Kashuba, the director of parks and recreation of the city of Amarillo. They discuss how the parks department is transforming turf management by using autonomous robotic mowers. With stories about real-time alerts and security features, Kashuba shares how robotics have become a force multiplier within the department. The episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about how robotics are revolutionizing grounds management. “We’re not looking at reducing jobs—we’re looking at ways to get our staff doing the work they want to do, and letting the autonomous mowers handle the rest,” Kashuba says during the episode. The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly. The second season will cover technology within the facilities management space. For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please email Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com. Follow us on social media:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt  Youtube: @FacilitiesNet  X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT  Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT 

Mackenna Moralez is joined by Gavin Ventresca, project management specialist for Boeing. Backed with a bachelors degree in architecture and facilities management, Ventresca’s entry into the industry differs from the typical facility manager. During their conversation, Ventresca discusses how he views technology as just another tool in the toolbelt and advises what new FMs can gain by embracing change. From debunking lazy Gen Z myths, to embracing mistakes as learning moments, this conversation is for anyone curious about the future of facilities management, the power of technology and what it means to build a career you love.  "I like it when I walk into a hot dumpster fire, and I’m able to figure out what’s going well, what’s not, and what we can do to fix it," Ventresca says during the interview. The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly. The second season will cover technology within the facilities management space. For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please email Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com. Follow us on social media:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt  Youtube: @FacilitiesNet  X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT  Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT 

Welcome back to Facilities in Focus! Mackenna Moralez is joined by Building Operating Management’s Facility Influencer and industry expert Shawn Black to kick off the second season. The pair discusses AI and the promises and pitfalls of the emerging technology and how it is already shaping our lives. Whether you’re a techie, a skeptic or just AI-curious, this conversation will leave you thinking long after it ends. “We can’t afford to wait until AI causes harm to start asking the hard questions—we need to build accountability into the system from the start,” Black says during the episode. The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly. The second season will cover technology within the facilities management space. For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please email Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com. Read Shawn's article on robots: https://www.facilitiesnet.com/software/article/The-Future-of-Facility-Management-Teslas-Optimus-Robot--20276Follow us on social media:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt  Youtube: @FacilitiesNet  X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT  Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT 

In the season finale of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez talks with Brian Forde Jr., the chief operating officer for Boston Public Schools about the unprecedented operational challenges schools faced during the early days of the COVID-19. He describes the measures that were taken to maintain safety for all students and their facilities and whether or not education facilities are ready for the next pandemic.  "It wasn’t just about responding to COVID; it was about setting a new standard for resilience and preparedness across our schools," Forde says during the podcast. This concludes the first season of Facilities in Focus, but don't worry, we have a few bonus episodes premiering in the next few weeks. The second season will debut in June and will cover technology within the facilities management space.For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please contact Mackenna Moralez at fnpodcast@tradepress.com Follow us on social media: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt Youtube: @FacilitiesNet X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT 

In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez speaks with Maureen Roskoski, Vice President of FEA about her first-hand experience in the Maui wildfires of 2023. Maureen recounts how she was stranded without communication or clear evacuation routes, and how she relied on emergency preparedness practices from her professional expertise in facilities management. Throughout the discussion Maureen offers actionable advice for facility managers to enhance resilience, emphasizing the growing importance of disaster planning amid climate change. "Facility managers are often the first responders before the fire and police arrive,” Maureen says during the podcast. “They need to be ready to tackle challenges, from evacuations to managing critical infrastructure." To read Maureen’s first-hand account of the Maui wildfires: https://www.facilitiesnet.com/emergencypreparedness/article/Maui-Wildfire-A-First-hand-Account--20148The Facilities in Focus podcast will publish bi-weekly episodes. The first season will cover emergency preparedness. For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please contact Mackenna Moralez at fnpodcast@tradepress.com Follow us on social media:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmtYoutube: @FacilitiesNetX: @FacilitiesNet_NFMTFacebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT

In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez talks with cybersecurity expert and former FBI operative Eric O’Neill. Eric shares insights of his career and why it is important for facility managers to have strong cybersecurity practices within their operations. “Cybersecurity may seem esoteric and mystical, but it’s really just the new battleground between attackers and defenders,” O’Neill says during the podcast. The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly episodes. The first season will cover emergency preparedness. For comments or to be a guest on Facilities in Focus, please reach out to Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com 

In the spring of 2024, the Mount Horeb Area School District in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin prevented an active shooter incident with security processes that they had in place. In this episode of the Facilities in Focus podcast, Mackenna Moralez speaks with Dr. Steve Salerno, superintendent of the Mount Horeb Area School District about the district’s response to the incident, highlighting the importance of preparation and proactive security measures.   “It’s about being proactive instead of reactive because not having a system in place can lead to unnecessary tragedy,” Salerno says during the podcast. To reach out to Salerno about bolstering your emergency preparedness plans, please email him at salernosteve@mounthorebschools.org The Facilities in Focus podcast will publish bi-weekly episodes. The first season will cover emergency preparedness. For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please contact Mackenna Moralez at fnpodcast@tradepress.com 

2025 marks the 20th anniversary since Hurricane Katrina left a devastating impact on the city of New Orleans. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez interviews Doug Thornton, executive VP of stadiums and arenas at ASM Global, which oversees the New Orleans Superdome. Thornton recounts his experience being at the forefront of opening the Superdome as a place of shelter during the hurricane and reflects on how the community came together to rebuild after the storm had passed.  “Everybody was impacted, and they were in the proverbial same boat,” Thornton says during the podcast. “For once, it didn’t matter if you were rich or poor, black or white—this tragedy united us."  The Facilities in Focus podcast will publishes bi-weekly episodes. The first season will cover emergency preparedness. For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please contact Mackenna Moralez at fnpodcast@tradepress.com 

In this episode Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez speaks with Dave Pettit, director of facilities of Joplin Schools about the community’s journey of resiliency and recovery following the devastating 2011 tornado that ravished the town and killed 158 people. In the episode, Pettit reflects on the emotional and physical scars left behind and describes lessons that were learned in the aftermath of the natural disaster.   “What defines us is not the tornado, but the resiliency of the human spirit,” Pettit says in the episode. “It's about how our community came together to rebuild—new schools, businesses, and lives. We can't choose what happens to us, but we can choose our response, and I couldn't be prouder of Joplin for how we overcame.”  The Facilities in Focus podcast will publishes bi-weekly episodes. The first season will cover emergency preparedness. For comments, or if you would like to be a guest on Facilities in Focus, please email fnpodcast@tradepress.com Follow us on social! https://facilitiesnet.com x.com/facilitiesnet_nfmt linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt

Facilities in Focus is back with an exciting previous of season three! Mackenna Moralez kicks things off solo this week, with a sneak peak of the upcoming season covering education facilities. While all facilities bring on unique challenges, there is also a wild, weird and unexpected side of facilities management when it comes to overseeing schools. From taxidermy animals to pipes flooding the hallways, Alishia Jolivette, Gretchen Catlin, John Rimer and Machion Jackson share their downright bizarre stories from the field. Stay tuned for more important topics on the horizon this season. Bi-weekly episodes premier Sept. 30. the wild, weird and unexpected side of facilities management.  The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly. The third season will cover education facilities. For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please email Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com. Connect with Mackenna on LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/mackennamoralezFollow us on social media:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt  Youtube: @FacilitiesNet  X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT  Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT 

Welcome back to a special bonus episode of Facilities in Focus! Mackenna Moralez sits down with the king of NFMT himself, John Rimer of FM360, to talk all things NFMT Remix. With nearly 30 years in facilities management, John shares stories from the field, insights of the industry’s future and why shows like NFMT Remix are essential for personal and professional growth. Whether you’re a seasoned FM or just getting started, this episode is filled with actionable advice and laughs you won’t want to miss. Ready to be inspired, connect with peers and return to work energized? Register for NFMT Remix at www.nfmt.com/remix. You’re facilities future starts here. The third season of Facilities in Focus will premier in September and publish bi-weekly. The third season will focus on education facilities.  For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please email Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com. Follow us on social media:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt  Youtube: @FacilitiesNet  X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT  Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT Connect with Mackenna on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mackennamoralez 

There has been a rise in workplace violence incidents within the healthcare industry since the pandemic first began in 2020. Duke University Health recently installed weapon detection systems at all of their locations to ensure the safety of their buildings. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez talks with Mary Martin, chief operating officer for Duke University Health about what lead to the installation of the weapon detection systems and why more hospitals should implement safety precautions. With candid stories, expert insight and a heartfelt discussion on workplace violence prevention, this episode is a must-listen for anyone concerned with the future of hospital safety and the wellbeing of frontline medical workers. “It was a scary realization for us that we had that many people in our walls that had guns, even if they weren’t intending to do harm at any point in time,” Martin says during the episode.  The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly. The second season will cover technology within the facilities management space. For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please email Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com. Follow us on social media:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt  Youtube: @FacilitiesNet  X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT  Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT 

Welcome back to a bonus episode of Facilities in Focus! Host Mackenna Moralez sits down with Cat Antenucci, one of the 2024 Facility Champions award recipients. Cat discusses her dynamic journey from maritime engineering school to assistant director of engineering for Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa. She shares how her early exposure to facilities maintenance and engineering fueled her rise in a male-dominated industry, the confidence she brings to leadership and how she builds trust and respect with her team. Listeners of all ages will gain insight on the importance of embracing challenges and the empowering impact of showing up authentically in the workplace every day.  “I get that I’m a young female here, and that definitely takes people to shock at least at face value, but I know my stuff,” Cat says during the episode. “You want to quiz me? Go for it. I’ve got nothing to hide.”  Nominations for the fourth annual Facility Champion award is currently open and be submitted at https://www.facilitiesnet.com/lp/champion/. Submissions are free and the deadline for nominations is June 6. Winners will be featured in an upcoming issue of Building Operating Management Interactive, recognized on FacilitiesNet this fall and celebrated during a virtual event.   Learn more about Cat Antenucci here: https://www.facilitiesnet.com/facilitiesmanagement/tip/2024-Facility-Champion-Catherine-Antenucci-Asks-Questions-to-Further-Results--54256  The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly. The second season will cover technology within the facilities management space.   For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please email Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com.     Follow us on social media:    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt    Youtube: @FacilitiesNet     X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT    Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT 

Welcome back to Facilities in Focus! After wrapping up our first season on emergency preparedness, we’re diving headfirst into season two, and this time it’s all about technology and its impact on the facilities management industry.  Before we jump into the new season, we’ve got a special tech horror story special for you! Host Mackenna Moralez is joined by Michael Kashuba, Shawn Black and Alex Carlson as they share their most embarrassing and horrifying encounters with technology. You’ll laugh, you’ll gasp and you might even just feel better about your own tech failures. So, grab your headphones and get ready for a fun preview of what’s to come. Because as we know – in facilities management, nothing ever goes according to plan. The second season of Facilities in Focus premieres on June 4 and will publish episodes bi-weekly. To comment or to be a guest on Facilities in Focus, please email Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com. Follow us on social media:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt  Youtube: @FacilitiesNet  X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT  Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT