Facilities in Focus

Facility managers spend countless hours preparing for emergencies. But what happens when a disaster exposes the gaps you didn't know you had?   In the season premiere of Facilities in Focus, host Mackenna Moralez sits down with Nico Viola, director of facilities at Holden Forests and Gardens to discuss the aftermath of a devastating tornado that tore through the organization’s Cleveland-area c...

In this episode of Facilities in Focus, host Mackenna Moralez takes listeners behind the scenes of one of the facilities management’s leading trade shows NFMT West.  With NFMT West taking place November 3-4 at the Horseshoe Event Center in Las Vegas, she sits down with senior event coordinator Becky Cofta to discuss what goes into creating the conference and why continuing education remains so imp...

What makes a hospital feel safe? What transforms a building into a place of healing? For the season finale of Facilities in Focus, we're ending on a story that puts people at the center of everything facility managers do. How Mackenna Moralez is joined by 11-year-old Kendalynn and her mother, Karissa, to share their journey with Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital.  Born six weeks early...

When someone faces a serious medical condition, having access to world-class care close to home can make all the difference. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez sits down with Travis Laird, a key leader behind the UT Dell Medical Center, to explore the vision, planning and innovation shaping one of the most ambitious healthcare projects in the country.  From advanced technolog...

Hospitals and other healthcare facilities rely on much more than doctors and nurses to keep patients safe. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez sits down with Yanet Vega of El Rio Health to discuss how safety standards and compliance challenges keep hospitals running safely.  Throughout the episode, Yanet explains how compliance goes far beyond checklists, why education and col...

Behind every successful hospital, university or large facility is a team solving problems most people never see. From navigating construction chaos to leading major healthcare facility operations, this episode of Facilities in Focus pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to keep complex buildings running smoothly. Host Mackenna Moralez sits down with Brian Cowperthwaite to discuss renovati...

Accessibility isn’t just a checklist — it’s a human experience, and as America’s population ages, the conversation around accessibility is becoming impossible to ignore. In senior living communities, families want spaces where their loved ones can truly live with dignity, independence and comfort. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez sits down with ADA expert and NFMT presenter...

When a life is saved, most people are quick to thank the doctors and nurses. But what about the teams working behind the scenes that make care possible every second of every day? In the Season Five premiere of Facilities in Focus, host Mackenna Moralez sits down with Bruce Legris and Daniel Wagner of SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital to explore the unseen world of healthcare facilities management — t...

Coming at you live at NFMT East in Charlotte! Host Mackenna Moralez speaks with Claude Harding, security and facilities manager for the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. Claude shares what it takes to maintain a museum filled with priceless artwork while welcoming thousands of visitors each year. From dust control strategies and climate-sensitive operations to emergency preparedness and relationship-...

Access control isn’t just about keycards and locked doors — it’s about ownership, risk and protecting your “baby.” As security threats evolve, facility managers are being asked to step up in ways that they have never before. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez sits down with Michael Gipps, managing director of the Enterprise Security Risk Management practice at Kroll, to discu...

When you’re responsible for a facility that welcomes thousands of people, safety can’t be an afterthought—it has to be built into everything you do. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez sits down with Tony Camarillo, general manager of the Orlando Convention Center at NFMT Remix to discuss how the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando is setting a new standard for emergenc...

Building fires are one of the most serious threats facility managers face, but preparation, maintenance and knowledge can make all the difference. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez is joined by Shawn Mahoney, senior engineer in the technical services division for the National Fire Protection Association, to break down the essential fire safety practices facility managers nee...

What if your building’s current security measures aren’t enough—and you don’t find out until a lawsuit forces the issue? Facility managers are facing growing pressure to rethink building. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez sits down with Kieran Carroll, chief strategy officer at ZeroEyes about a lawsuit that has the potential to change how facilities approach security. Togeth...

One of the main responsibilities of a facility manager is keeping people safe. But what if the PPE meant to protect workers are actually putting them in harm’s way? In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez sits down with Amy Roosa, founder and executive director of The Safety Rack, to unpack a critical and overlooked issue: ill-fitting, non-inclusive personal protective equipment....

What happens when locks don’t lock, communication systems fail, or no one knows who’s responsible for security? Emergency preparedness can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to lockdowns. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez sits down with security expert Brian Higgins, founder of Group 77, to unpack what lockdown drills really are, why they matter and how facility man...

Welcome back to a special bonus episode of Facilities in Focus that was recorded live at NFMT Remix. Host Mackenna Moralez is joined by former Facility Champion and Building Operating Management cover star Leo Bobadilla for a one-on-one discussion on how the industry has evolved in recent years and what it takes to be a champion. Leo breaks down his career highs and how being in the Orlando Conven...

Facility managers are feeling the talent shortage—but where should recruitment really begin? In this bonus episode of Facilities in Focus, host Mackenna Moralez talks with Caroline Horton on why she chose to obtain her master’s degree in facilities management and how her thesis encourages industry leaders to work with local schools to recruit new talent from a young age. She discusses why outreach...

What if your first job could set the stage for a long-lasting career? As the facilities industry faces a significant labor shortage, one school district is preparing the next generation to take over the reigns. Host Mackenna Moralez talks with Keith Watkins, director of facilities III for the City School District of New Rochelle on how student apprenticeship and youth employment programs not only...

What does it really mean to keep students safe in schools? In this candid conversation, host Mackenna Moralez talks with Alishia Jolivette, chief of facilities and maintenance operations for Houston Independent School District on how safety is about more than just securing doors, it’s about creating an environment where students feel protected, comfortable and able to learn. Alishia shares how her...

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...

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 pr...

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 trend...

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...

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 hal...

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 F...