Connected FM

In this episode of Connected FM, we dive into the "power of people" with Kati Barklund, Global Chair of IFMA’s Workplace Evolutionaries. Kati shares her insights on why the "one size fits all" approach to workplace design is failing and how facility managers can create high-performing environments by balancing physical, digital, and psychosocial needs. From navigating C-suite perceptions to the im...

In this episode of Connected FM, Dr. Matt Tucker, IFMA’s Director of Research, moderates a student-led discussion on the critical role of well-being in facility management. Featuring three young professionals entering the FM industry, the conversation shifts the focus from simple maintenance to creating spaces where people can mentally, socially and physically thrive. The panel shares personal ins...

In this episode, host Edward Wagoner sits down with global influencer Brian Haines to demystify artificial intelligence for the facility management community. Together they discuss: Practical steps for FMs to get started with AI. A look at autonomous agents that can monitor building control systems and solve problems. Why it is critical to always verify AI-generated work. What to expect as AI evol...

What does it mean to “think like an FM analyst”? In this episode of Connected FM, Dr. Matt Tucker, Director of Knowledge and Insights at IFMA, sits down with Drew DePriest, Director of Workplace Services, Vendor Management at Salesforce, to unpack the evolving role of data, analytics and AI in facility management. Drawing on insights from IFMA’s The Rise of the FM Analyst report, they explore why...

The traditional approach of competing solely on compensation and benefits is no longer enough to remain competitive in today's tightening labor market. In this episode, Jason Wetherford and Quinn Heimann from Aerotek share deep insights into the facility management industry, highlighting a significant shift where job seekers now prioritize opportunities for skills development as a top motivator fo...

Did you know that 62% of communication is nonverbal from signage to the layout? Every detail speaks volumes.  Today we're diving deeper into this topic with host Edward Wagoner and IFMA Global Influencer and operations manager of the IFMA Ghana Chapter, Prince Botwe. Together, they explore the critical role of communication, especially nonverbal cues in facility management, how buildings communica...

In this episode, Edward Wagoner sits down with Joe Scanlin to explore the foundational role of flooring sensors in the rapidly evolving world of Proptech. Scanlin explains how his background in neuroscience led to the creation of building "brains" that use surface-level data to solve complex challenges like HVAC modulation and unauthorized "tailgating" at security points. The discussion highlights...

In today's episode, Eric Dillinger, Vice President of Strategic Consulting at Woolpert and current Convenor for the ISO/TC 267 working group, sits down with industry leaders Skip Vaughn, Assistant Vice President of Facilities Management at American University and member of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group for ISO/TC 267, and Mike Tasker, the Director of Aviation Maintenance for the Port of Seattl...

What does it take to turn a scholarship into a lifelong career? In this episode of Connected FM , host Angela Johnson Culver sits down with Alana Dunoff, Dipin Kasana, and Mahnaz Ensaf i — three former scholarship recipients who have risen to leadership roles within the facility management (FM) world. In this conversation, you’ll hear about: The "Golden Ticket" Moment: How winning a scholarship op...

What happens to your office furniture when it's no longer needed? In this episode, IFMA Global Influencer Michael Amos reveals the staggering reality that 99% of corporate furniture ends up in waste streams, even when it still has significant life left. Michael shares the inspiring journey of Waste to Wonder Worldwide, a hybrid social enterprise that has equipped over 1,500 schools across 50 count...

What does the future of facility management look like in the Asia Pacific region? In this episode, Kenneth Foo sits down with Michael Ng, Don Tze, and Dora Yim to explore how FM is evolving across Singapore and Hong Kong, from government-led digital pushes to the integration of high-level sustainability.  They examine how multinational corporations are utilizing ESG reporting and "well certificate...

As experienced facility professionals retire and workforce demographics shift, the FM industry is approaching what many are calling a demographic cliff. In today's episode, host Wayne Whitzell is joined by researcher and associate professor Dr. Jake Smithwick to break down the data behind shrinking labor pools, rising safety risks and productivity challenges, and why so many new technicians are en...

What does the future of facility management look like in Africa? In this episode, Lara Paemen, Managing Director of IFMA EMEA, sits down with Sheriff Daramola, President of the IFMA Nigeria chapter, and Sampson Opare-Agyemang, President of the IFMA Ghana chapter. Together, they explore how FM is evolving across West Africa, from growing professional awareness and skills development to pressing cha...

In this episode, host Edward Wagoner speaks with Claire Coder, founder of Aunt Flow, IFMA Global Influencer, and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, about why accessible period care should be treated as a basic workplace necessity. They discuss how providing period products alongside other restroom essentials can improve employee experience, productivity, and safety, reduce plumbing and maintenance costs...

What if facility maintenance didn’t just react to problems, but predicted them before they happened? In today’s episode, host Yonatan Rouache joins his colleagues from Office Space, Andres Avalos and Steph Austin, to explore how facility teams are moving from preventative to predictive maintenance using AI and integrated data. They break down why digitizing data matters, how connected systems can...

In this episode of the Connected FM podcast, host Wayne Whitzell, second vice chair of IFMA's Global Board of Directors, speaks with Richard Peterson Senior Director of IFM at Cushman and Wakefield. They discuss how IFMA's educational opportunities, chapter meetings, networking, and credentialing,  have significantly advanced their careers. They recount their journey through the CFM exam and the b...

In this episode, Director of IFMA EMEA, Lara Paemen, interviews one of IFMA's Global Board of Directors and Vice Chairman of EFS Group, Tariq Chauhan, about the rapidly evolving facility management landscape in the Middle East. They discuss major trends reshaping the GCC region — from accelerated market growth and large-scale investment in the built environment to the rise of technology, ESG frame...

How much do you really know about the air circulating in your building right now? In this episode, host Edward Wagoner sits down with Dr. Joseph Allen, associate professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, director of Harvard’s Healthy Buildings Program and and co-author of Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Can Make You Sick—or Keep You Well, to explore why indoor air quality is...

What will facility management look like in 2026, and how does that future differ across regions?' In this episode of the Connected FM podcast, host Wayne Whitzell, Second Vice Chair of IFMA’s Global Board of Directors, is joined by IFMA Global Board of Directors Chair Christa Dodoo and facility management leader Maria Gonzalez-Burgos for a global conversation on the trends, challenges and opportun...

As we close out 2025, we’re revisiting one of our most popular episodes of the year, a timely conversation on artificial intelligence and its role in the built environment. Lorri Rowlandson, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at BGIS, outlines a three-layer approach to AI integration: individual-level desktop AI for job reengineering, operational AI for internal efficiencies, and cli...

In this episode of the Connected FM podcast, host Christopher Bourke speaks with three students from The Hague University of Applied Sciences — Yaslin Schafthuizen, Mauro Kasirin, and Jorinde Drees — about their perspectives on sustainability. The discussion covers their definitions of sustainability, their awareness of sustainable practices fostered within their university, and personal anecdotes...

What does AI really mean for the future of facility management, and how can FMs stay essential as technology accelerates? In this episode, host Edward Wagoner talks with Brian Haines, IFMA Global Influencer and longtime real estate and technology strategist. Brian breaks down why AI is only as good as the data behind it, how natural-language tools are transforming daily FM work, and why maintainin...

Jean-Pierre Segers and Jos Duchamps of Brains and Trees emphasize the critical role of learning and development in facility management. They discuss the diverse educational backgrounds of facility managers and stress the need for ongoing training to bridge skill gaps. Highlighting programs by IFMA, such as the Facility Management Professional Program, they underline the importance of combining man...

In this episode, IBM’s Kal Gyimesi and Vishal Rane explore how AI is redefining efficiency in asset lifecycle management. They share why strong data governance is the foundation for successful AI adoption — noting that only 25% of AI projects meet ROI expectations due to disconnected systems. The conversation breaks down different types of AI, including generative AI, machine learning, chat assist...

In this episode, IFMA’s Director of Research, Matt Tucker, and IFMA EMEA's Managing Director, Lara Paemen, dive into the latest global trends shaping facility management (FM). They explore IFMA’s key research initiatives — from the circular economy to the evolving role of FM analysts — and discuss how regional differences across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America influence sustainab...