Facility Rockstars

As we get ready to launch our special show series with MMA this February, we wanted to bring back an episode that highlights the kind of leadership and perspective that continues to shape our industry. Jamie’s voice remains an important one, and we’re excited to share this conversation again with our community. Captain Jamie McDonald, Dean of Graduate and Continuing Studies at Massachusetts Mariti...

Alex Agnello, a seasoned technology leader and the founder of True Data Ops, joins host Jay Culbert for this special episode. With a background spanning the U.S. Air Force, medical technology, and defense, Alex brings a "unicorn" blend of deep engineering expertise and approachable insight to the world of facilities management. He discusses the evolution of AI from a source of fear to a vital oper...

As we reflect on this last year, we wanted to re-air this great conversation with David D’Amore, Assistant Vice President – Facility Services at Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.! In this episode, he brings a refreshingly practical and grounded perspective to leadership. His journey illustrates how embracing discomfort, leaning into unfamiliar challenges, and staying aligned with clear organiz...

In this special holiday episode, Jay Culbert offers a message of gratitude, reflecting on the past year and sharing exciting news about the future of Facility Rockstars. The episode begins by thanking the entire community, from weekly listeners to long-time and new members. Jay emphasizes that the show's growth and vitality are a "real testament" to the engagement, feedback, and shared knowledge w...

Max Young, Regional Director of Facilities at ESFM, explores what truly defines effective leadership in facilities management. Drawing from his journey through the trades into executive leadership, Max shares how his hands-on background shaped a people-first philosophy rooted in empathy, authenticity, and connection. Max challenges traditional ideas of workplace culture, explaining why culture is...

Derek Bettencourt, a seasoned facilities and property management professional with over 15 years of experience spanning biotech, life sciences, and commercial properties, shares his unique career path, which literally started at age 12, working in the ditches of his father’s irrigation company, to his most recent role as a Facility Manager at a multi-billion dollar life science company. He emphasi...

Joe Gilliland, a returning guest with over two decades of experience in HSE initiatives, and Paul Timko, a leader in the health, safety, and medical industries with a 15-plus-year career spanning medical device sales, marketing, and strategic growth. The discussion centers on the surprising and often overlooked role of topical pain relief in the workplace, a subject Joe Gilliland only learned abou...

Part two of our special live compilation from the Avalon Bay North Station Sky Lounge dives deeper into the operational and cultural heart of facility management. A major theme in this instalment is the critical importance of cohesive teams and mentorship. Guests shared powerful personal stories: Dr Ashraf Omran highlighted the successful, collaborative effort to build a $2 million Operational Con...

This special first installment of our Avalon Bay event compilation captures the energy, insights, and conversations from the Facility Rockstars live event, hosted 35 floors above the TD Garden at the scenic Avalon Bay North Station Sky Lounge in Boston. The professionals gathered, many of whom are past podcast guests, offered powerful perspectives on the state and future of facility management. A...

Lori Santoli, executive EHS leader, joins "Facility Rock Stars" to share her mission-driven approach to environmental, health, and safety. She details her biggest career lesson: "You get more done by being nice". Lori explains that in a regulatory-driven field, building a collaborative culture where people are invested in solutions and trust leaders enough to raise concerns is the key to creating...

Kahn Chace, Building Maintenance Manager at Milton Academy, shares his incredible journey from starting as a custodian to becoming a facilities leader. He details how his hands-on experience at every level shaped his management philosophy, which is built on two core pillars: communication and teamwork. Kahn emphasizes that clear, honest communication—both up and down the chain—is the key to motiva...

Michael Bernabei, Chief Facilities Engineering Manager for Life Sciences at Hobbs Brook Real Estate. Michael shares his core philosophy, "prepare for the worst and hope for the best,” illustrated by a harrowing story of an arctic chill event that tested his team's emergency preparedness. The discussion centers on the "soft skills" that create a high-performing facilities department, particularly M...

Jessica Goodhue, a seasoned EH&S Manager at Channel Fish Processing, discusses her extensive experience spanning from the manufacturing floors of Massachusetts to the remote and challenging environments of the Alaskan seafood industry. Jessica emphasizes that effective communication is the single most critical lesson from her career, detailing how it builds trust, overcomes significant languag...

In this special edition of Facility Rockstars, we take you inside the recent ISPE event at the iconic Gillette Stadium for a fast-paced compilation of conversations with professionals across biotech, pharma, life sciences, and facilities management. Hosted by the producer of Facility Rockstars, Amanda Goyette, chats with attendees from organizations like CBRE, Moderna, CHA, New England Biolabs, an...

This special episode is a celebration of the incredible women making a significant impact in the facilities management industry. We hear directly from female leaders who are shaping the future of the field with a core philosophy that leadership is about people, not just buildings. These experts share their experiences managing vast, multi-campus institutions by acting as a "conductor" for diverse...

Mark Bloodworth, Founder of Lifeblood Performance and a powerhouse in building high-performing teams,shares his core leadership philosophy, "Tell Less, Ask More," a powerful framework designed to close the gap between management and the workforce. He explains why leaders should stop providing all the answers and start asking questions to unlock their team's "Frontline Intelligence"—the deep, intim...

Captain Jamie McDonald, Dean of Graduate and Continuing Studies at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, shares insights from his extensive career as a marine engineer, educator, and leader. He introduces his core management philosophy that performance is a product of ability multiplied by motivation, providing a framework for diagnosing and solving personnel challenges. Captain McDonald discusses the i...

Mark Netherton, Maintenance Manager at Grower Direct Farms, New England's largest greenhouse, shares insights from his diverse career in chemical and dairy manufacturing, explaining how the core principles of maintenance management translate to the unique environment of a 50-acre indoor farm. He emphasizes that patience is the most crucial lesson he's learned, as priorities on the floor can shift...

Don Bezek, Director of Global Health and Safety at Griffith Foods, shares his core philosophy that safety is ultimately about serving and protecting people, a principle embodied in his company's motto, "Nothing you do here will be as important as going home to your family and loved ones". Don discusses how Lean principles can be powerfully applied to health and safety, viewing injuries as the ulti...

Doug Blake, founder of Rez-Stone Industrial Flooring and the Director of Industrial Flooring at Kaloutas, shares decades of experience, moving beyond the simple "paint it ain't" philosophy to dissect the complex world of high-performance flooring solutions. He covers everything from the critical importance of proper joint repair to minimize downtime and equipment damage to selecting specialized sy...

Ben O'Donnell, the Innovation and Facilities Engineer at Novia Corporation, shares his journey from a six-year-old welder to a hands-on innovator in the metal fabrication industry. He shares his profound belief in the power of long-term solutions over short-term fixes, illustrating his philosophy with real-world examples of process and product innovation at his company. The conversation also explo...

Michael Manning, a seasoned facilities management professional who currently serves as the Facilities Manager at Omega Optical, shares his invaluable insights on transforming a facilities department from a cost center into a key driver of business strategy. Michael takes us on a journey from the boiler room to the boardroom, detailing how effective communication, data-driven decisions, and proacti...

Carrie Battafarano, Maintenance Manager at Noria, shares her extensive experience in facilities and project management within the convenience store industry. She emphasizes the importance of not making assumptions and asking the right questions to solve problems effectively, a lesson she learned through trial and error. Carrie highlights the strong, trust-based relationship between the facilities...

Don Watson, Senior Vice President of Global Real Estate, Facilities, and EHS at Oracle, shares his insights on universal design. He introduces universal design as a framework for creating truly inclusive and productive environments that go beyond basic ADA compliance to serve people with diverse abilities. Centered on his core philosophy of "people, people, people," Don explains how this approach...

Bruce Boyd, the Director of Engineering and Maintenance at Sconza Candy Company, to discuss his extensive experience in the wine and candy industries. Bruce shares his most significant lesson learned: you cannot effectively manage a maintenance department from a desk. He details his journey from managing a large, unionized team at E&J Gallo Winery to his current role, emphasizing the importanc...