Facility Rockstars

In this episode of Facility Rockstars, host Jay Culbert sits down with Jeff Beaudry, the Regional Facility Rockstars Director at Appleton Corporation. With over 19 years of experience managing 30 properties totaling more than 2.6 million square feet, Jeff shares his evolution from a maintenance superintendent in residential housing to a leader overseeing high-tech life science labs. He discusses the "epiphany" that shifted his career from just grinding through tasks to finding true passion in making buildings better for the people who live and work in them.

The conversation dives deep into the philosophy of facility management, emphasizing the importance of becoming the absolute expert on your specific assets. Jeff offers insightful advice on "leading without a title," the necessity of bridging the communication gap between technical operations and financial leadership, and why the future of the industry—even with the rise of AI—will always rely on the "ground up" professional who knows how to keep a building running when the automation fails.

Takeaways:

• Find Your "Why" in the End-User: Focus on the impact your work has on residents or tenants; viewing the building as a product for people’s comfort can drive long-term passion and career success.
• Be the Expert of Your Specific Asset: During new construction or transitions, "lock in" with the MEP and construction teams to understand every system from the basement to the roof. Aim to know the building better than the engineers who drew it.
• Learn the Language of the CFO: When advocating for capital projects or energy initiatives, translate the technical needs into financial impacts, such as labor costs and 12-month ROI, to gain executive buy-in.
• Adopt a "Listen First" Mindset: Especially early in your career, find the smartest person in the room and "shut up and absorb" their knowledge rather than trying to figure everything out through solo grinding.
• Support and "Pour Into" Your Team: Effective leadership requires constant checking in and interpersonal support; ensure the company culture is carried from top to bottom by empowering your team to grow into your own role.
• Lean Into Technology, Don't Fear It: Use AI and new platforms to level the playing field, particularly for written communication and task-based efficiency, but maintain the hands-on skills to operate when technology fails.
• Just "Chill Out" During Crises: When faced with high-pressure failures, avoid over-analyzing or getting emotional. Build a simple plan and jump into action to reduce anxiety and reach the outcome faster.

Quote of the Show:

•  "You have to have the confidence to know that that's your building. You understand the building... You are that building's operator."

Links:

• Email: [email protected]
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-beaudry-a132b311a/ 
• Website: https://appletoncorporation.com/ 

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 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 importance of creating policy to implement vision, using his own efforts to establish new graduate programs—like the "Four plus One" and a potential doctoral degree—as prime examples. He also touches on the significance of financial literacy for engineers, innovative energy projects at the MMA campus, and a harrowing story of surviving a storm at sea that shaped his perspective on overcoming challenges.

Takeaways:

• Diagnose Performance Issues: When an employee is underperforming, determine if it's an ability problem (requiring training) or a motivation problem (requiring a deeper understanding of the individual's circumstances).
• Hire for Passion: When hiring, look for passion in a candidate, as it is a key driver of motivation and can lead to better employee retention.
• Become an Implementer: Recognize that great ideas are common, but the real value lies in being an "implementer" who knows how to navigate systems and enact policy to bring those ideas to life.
• Embrace Financial Literacy: Facility managers should understand financial concepts like present and future value to make sound business and project decisions.
• Practice Active Listening: In meetings and one-on-one conversations, make a conscious effort to "say a little and listen a lot" to ensure people feel heard and to gain a fuller understanding of the situation.
• View Policy as a Tool for Change: Approach policy not as a bureaucratic hurdle but as the mechanism for making substantive changes and driving an organization toward a future vision.

Quote of the Show:

•  "These are the people that we want in the program. Change makers, visionaries, and implementers."

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-mcdonald-6b5872153/ 
• Website: https://www.maritime.edu/ 
• Email: [email protected] 

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 operational tool, explaining that while AI has been around since the 1950s, modern tools like Large Language Models (LLMs) are finally making this technology accessible and "Hollywood-ified" for everyday use.

The conversation dives deep into the practical applications of predictive analytics and IOT sensors. Alex explains how high-frequency data, analyzing thousands of samples per second, can detect issues like pump cavitation or motor failure months before they occur. He emphasizes that the true value of AI lies in its ability to translate complex graphs into a narrative, telling a "story" that allows facility managers to take proactive action rather than just reacting to fires.

Takeaways:

• Start Small, Not Big: Avoid "boiling the ocean" by picking a single project with low visibility but clear success criteria to test AI implementation.
• Use the "Insights" Prompt: When using LLMs (like ChatGPT or Gemini) with your data, use the keyword "insights" to uncover patterns or issues you might have overlooked.
• Anonymize Before You Upload: If your organization has strict data rules, ensure you anonymize sensitive information before sharing it with a public large language model.
• Request Multiple Versions: When using AI to draft professional communications, ask for three different versions so you can pick and choose the best verbiage.
• Layer Your Data: Combine BMS data with external IOT sensors (like vibration or temperature) to fill in the "gaps" and create a more accurate predictive profile for your equipment.
• Time Your Reports: For the highest engagement, push automated data narratives to your team early in the morning (5:00 AM – 6:00 AM) when facility managers have quiet time to plan their day.
• Consider Space Management: Remember that buildings exist for people; use space management data to adjust maintenance schedules based on actual room capacity and usage rather than just fixed calendar intervals.

Quote of the Show:

• "You gotta start small, right? You can't boil an ocean... Pick a project that you don't have a lot of visibility into, and just say, we want to attack this, and we want to show success criteria."

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alessandroagnello/ 
• Website: https://truedataops.com/ 
• Email: [email protected] 
• Phone Number: (617) 936-9800

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 organizational priorities can shape a more capable, confident, and influential facility leader.

In this episode, you’ll hear how David’s philosophy of intentional growth has guided his career and why pushing beyond your comfort zone is essential for developing resilience, strategic clarity, and team cohesion. He also breaks down the pillars that have shaped his approach to managing complex operations, fostering collaboration across departments, and navigating change with consistency and purpose.

Additionally, David offers thoughtful insights on continuous learning, strengthening cross-functional partnerships, and understanding the broader business impacts that facility teams influence every day. 

Takeaways:

• Embrace Discomfort for Growth: David emphasized the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone by taking on new, challenging tasks to experience growth in any role.
• Engage in Cross-functional Collaboration: Avoid silos by encouraging regular communication and collaboration across different departments and teams to enhance problem-solving and innovation.
• Align Personal and Organizational Goals: Understand both your company’s global and departmental goals, and align your personal objectives to contribute effectively to the overall mission.
• Manage Risks Proactively: Identify potential risks early in your projects and work processes, and develop strategies to mitigate them. This includes understanding the impact of your performance on your organization’s goals and reputation.
• Set and Communicate Clear Goals: Establish clear, measurable goals for yourself and your team, ensuring they are aligned with broader organizational objectives to create a sense of purpose and direction.
• Invest in Continuous Learning: Seek out regular learning opportunities, such as books, courses, or certifications, to stay updated and improve your skill set. David recommended resources like Essentials of Finance and Accounting for Non-Financial Managers by Edward Fields.
• Highlight the Value of Tasks: Ensure everyone understands the importance of the tasks they are assigned and how they contribute to the bigger picture, which can boost motivation and reduce burnout.

Quote of the Show:

•  “ You are not truly experiencing growth unless you're uncomfortable.”

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-damore-2262474/ 
• Website: https://www.are.com/ 

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 within the community. He reinforces the core mission of Facility Rock Stars: "honoring the unsung heroes of our everyday lives," facility professionals, and consistently bringing like-minded people together who are actively willing to share and help one another.

Jay also highlights several 2025 events and milestones, including an educational forum hosted by Dan O'Connell and his team at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals in March, the summer Swim with a Mission fundraiser events, which included paintball and a Gold Star dinner, the booth at the ISPE event in Gillette Stadium in October, and the annual fall event hosted by Tim Scarpa and his team at Avalon's Sky Lounge. Jay extends a special thank you to guest speakers, particularly three-time Navy SEAL speaker Sal DeFranco and first-time speaker Wayne, and acknowledges the support from board members of the IFMA and AFE Boston and Worcester chapters. Looking ahead to 2026, the community can anticipate more episodes, an educational collaboration series with Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and more events focused on education, entertainment, and connection. Jay concludes with a warm, happy holiday and New Year wish, encouraging everyone to rest, celebrate, and appreciate their supporters.

Takeaways:

• Contribute to the Show: If you have suggestions, ideas, or stories that would benefit the community, reach out to Jay—he encourages listeners to share.
• Connect with Peers: Remember that the show is built on the "connective tissue" of the community; connecting with others can lead to discovering new business solutions or professional relationships.
• Rest and Reflect: Take the time to rest, celebrate, and appreciate all the people who support you throughout the holiday season.
• Stay Tuned for 2026: Look forward to the special episode collaboration series with Massachusetts Maritime Academy, expected to drop in early 2026 (January or February).
• Attend More Events: Be on the lookout for many more Facility Rock Stars events in 2026, as the community has requested them, and they will incorporate new, fantastic ideas.
• Focus on Best Practices: Continue to engage with episodes, as sharing of best practices and educational aspects will remain a key component of the show.
• Embrace Collaboration: Recognize the true meaning and power of the community: every single member contributes, collaborates, and eagerly looks to connect with others and help.

Quote of the Show:

• "Everyone, every single member, regardless of industry role or seniority, contributes, collaborates, and eagerly looks to connect with others and help. That's the true power and meaning of what we've all built together as a community. It's just awesome."

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-culbert-2675998/ 
• Facility Rockstars Website: https://facilityrockstars.com/ 
• Kaloutas Website: https://www.kaloutas.com/ 

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 not built through annual events but through everyday actions, consistent presence, and intentional leadership. He dives into the concept of subcultures within facilities teams, from engineers to janitorial staff to AV teams, and explains why leaders must understand and respect each group to create a cohesive operation. Throughout the conversation, Max emphasizes the importance of communication, continuous feedback, and succession planning, offering practical insights for leaders at every stage of their careers.

Takeaways:

• Culture Is What Happens Every Day: Stop defining culture by annual events. Culture is built through daily interactions, visibility, and how leaders show up consistently for their teams.
• Be the Connector, Not the Expert in Everything: You do not need to know every system. Strong facilities leaders connect people, empower subject-matter experts, and create space for others to lead.
• Recognize and Respect Subcultures: Facilities teams are made up of multiple subcultures. Take time to understand each group’s priorities, language, and challenges to build trust and cohesion.
• Choose Your Energy Intentionally: Leaders set the emotional tone. “Be the weather” by choosing positivity, resilience, and calm, even when things are broken or stressful.
• Communicate Performance Early and Often: Regular check-ins and quarterly conversations prevent surprises during annual reviews and help employees course-correct in real time.
• Ask People What They Actually Want: Not everyone wants to move into leadership. Have honest conversations about career goals and support growth paths that align with each individual.
• Succession Planning Starts Now: Develop your team with the assumption that they will grow, move on, or replace you. A strong leader leaves systems and people better than they found them.

Quote of the Show:

• “You don’t have to know everything. Sometimes it’s better for the team if you don’t, because it gives others the chance to shine.”

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-young-b3154135b/ 
• Website: https://www.esfm-usa.com/ 
• Email: [email protected] 

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 emphasizes that wearing every single hat in the industry, from technician to lead engineer, has been his greatest strength, allowing him to bridge the "misunderstanding" between vendors, customers, and internal teams through appreciation and empathy.

Derek illustrates the power of this hands-on experience with two phenomenal stories. The first involves a simple sprinkler repair at a historic, multi-faceted Cambridge building that turned into a 45-minute sprint to shut off 150 PSI of cross-fed live street pressure, resulting in a basement swimming pool and a 50-hour cleanup. This catastrophe became the catalyst for him to take full ownership and map out the entire complex system, ultimately leading to permanent solutions. He also discusses his love for tackling challenges, preferring old, complex buildings over new ones, and shares a heartwarming personal story about how fixing a phone stuck in a treadmill led him to meet his wife. Finally, he offers powerful, two-part advice for both new and established professionals, highlighting the importance of mentorship and learning to "love to lose" in the grind of daily facility management.

Takeaways:

• Embrace Every Role for Perspective: Derek’s success stems from working as a grunt, technician, and engineer. To build genuine empathy and effective vendor partnerships, facility leaders should actively seek to understand the day-to-day realities of every person involved in the operation.
• Plant the Flag of Ownership: When a major issue (like the basement flood) occurs, stop all secondary tasks and dedicate resources to solving the core problem permanently. Assign one person to own the system (mapping, documentation, and standardization) to eliminate "band-aid" fixes and prevent recurrence.
• Manage Expectations with Black-and-White Explanations: When a customer or tenant assumes a repair will be "quick and easy," use clear, black-and-white explanations (like the snow plow example) to show exactly what went wrong and what the real scope of work is. This transparency builds trust and grants the necessary grace for successful completion.
• Mentor the Next Generation: For seasoned professionals, Derek advises remembering what it was like to be new. Invest time and trust in cross-training younger team members. Teaching them to grow and get better is not only rewarding but creates reliable teammates, allowing you to take time off without worrying.
• Mainstream Preventable Maintenance: Look for annual or recurring "dreaded" tasks (sprinkler tests, filter changes, shutdowns) and optimize their process. By implementing permanent solutions and streamlining the workflow, you reduce headaches and earn recognition as the leader who made the process painless.

Quote of the Show:

• "It's all about the grind. You gotta wake up the next day. You gotta keep grinding... It's not about how many times you get knocked down. It's how many times you get backed up."

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-bettencourt-27597a59/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brickwallbettencourt/?hl=en 

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 about six months prior, despite his 27 years in the field.

Joe and Paul discuss how topical pain relievers, particularly those using menthol, are a vital, non-disruptive, and cost-effective tool for HSE professionals. Traditional treatments for musculoskeletal disorders or impact injuries involve oral pain relievers, ice, and time away from work. In contrast, topical pain relief allows an employee to get immediate care, apply the ointment, and quickly return to work, ultimately reducing downtime. Paul explains the science, noting that menthol topicals are FDA-regulated OTCs that have two mechanisms of action: local cryotherapy and interrupting the pain signal by attaching to the TRPM8 receptors. Critically, as Joe points out, these products treat symptoms without triggering OSHA recordability, which is a significant advantage for safety and health managers looking to keep injury rates down. The speakers encourage listeners to drop the historical stigma and recognize the clinical foundation and recent innovation in these products as a proactive health and wellness tool.

Takeaways:

• Expand Your Pain Relief Toolkit: Consider incorporating FDA-regulated, over-the-counter (OTC) topical pain relievers into first aid kits as an alternative to traditional oral medications like ibuprofen for initial musculoskeletal or impact injuries.
• Prioritize Immediate Treatment: Utilize topical solutions to provide immediate care to employees who experience pain, allowing them to apply the product and return to work quickly, thus reducing downtime.
• Understand the Science: Educate yourself and employees on the science behind menthol-based topicals, which function through local cryotherapy and by interrupting the pain signal at the TRPM8 (menthol) receptors.
• Combat the Stigma: Challenge the old perception that topicals "mask the pain" by highlighting the clinical data and the scientific mechanism that actively interrupts the pain signal.

Quote of the Show:

• "I would encourage anybody to be proactive. Don't wait for a pain occurrence to happen. Get educated, try things out. They're very cost-effective." - Paul Timko

Links:

• Paul Timko 
  • Cellphone: (440) 396-4361 
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultimko/ 
  • Website: https://shor.by/spc 

• Joe Gilliland
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-gilliland-544b1611/ 

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 Controls Lab at Mass Maritime, which is now inspiring high schools to build their own labs. Paul Donhauser, whose facilities remit spans 173 countries, detailed the intense challenge and incredible return of integrating siloed global teams into a single, high-performing unit. The discussion emphasized that the facility world often feels like running a "floating city," requiring diverse skills and mutual respect.

Innovation and future challenges remain top of mind. Andrew DelPrete reinforced the conversation around AI and automation, describing the next evolution of Building Automation Systems (BAS) where AI sensors allow FMs to literally "have a conversation with your building." Frank Rhodes II from IFMA Boston addressed the pressing, specific Boston-area challenges of sustainability, electrification (like "Alberto 2.0"), and capital planning against the constraints of the local grid. Most profoundly, guests celebrated the Facility Rockstars community itself, describing it as an essential forum where professionals can escape the feeling of being an "unsung hero" and sacrifice their own time and energy to help one another, fostering a genuine, mission-driven team mentality across the entire industry.

Takeaways:

• Break Down Silos Globally: If managing a large or global portfolio, actively work to integrate siloed functions (like operations, EHS, security, and capital projects) to ensure mutual respect and unified goals, dramatically increasing team performance.
• Invest in Next-Gen BAS/AI Integration: Move beyond basic Building Automation Systems (BAS). Start planning to layer in fault detection, diagnostics, and AI sensors (e.g., on pumps) to enable real-time, predictive maintenance and "talk" to your equipment.
• Prioritize Electrification and Sustainability Planning: If operating in constrained markets, immediately focus capital planning on long-term investments that address grid constraints, sustainability mandates, and electrification efforts. Competing priorities must not delay this crucial future-proofing.
• Leverage Projects as Training Tools: Use large, complex projects (like the Amgen job or the lab build) as opportunities to mentor and grow your team's careers. Providing high-stakes, successful experiences builds loyalty and deep passion among employees.
• Be a Community Mentor: Embrace the "team mentality" of the industry. Be willing to sacrifice time to help a colleague—even if they are outside your company—whether through introductions, advice, or emotional support. This strengthens the entire FM profession.
• Inspire the Youngest Generation: Actively engage with local high schools or colleges (like Mass Maritime) to expose students to the complexity and opportunity of facilities engineering, ensuring a robust talent pipeline for the future.

Quote of the Show:

• "One of the things I would say that was a super challenge is taking siloed functions, bringing them together, and making sure that everyone shares mutual respect and appreciates what each other brings to the table and works cohesively as a team." - Paul Donhauser

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 dominant theme was the immediate impact and future potential of AI, with guests like Michael and Harvey confirming they are already using it daily for tasks ranging from proposal analysis and optimizing emails to pulling data from Internet of Things (IoT) devices and Building Management Systems (BMS). They envision AI becoming a mainstream, cost-effective tool within the next three to five years, significantly improving efficiency.

Beyond technology, the discussion highlighted significant workforce and community dynamics. Matt pointed to the blending of the experienced, retiring workforce with a new generation as the biggest current challenge, noting the shift in how the new generation operates. Several guests, including Dave and Mike, emphasized the critical nature of teamwork and community, sharing recent project challenges (like coordinating complex floor installations or defense contracting projects) that required intense, multi-departmental cooperation. They universally praised the Facility Rockstars community for providing a crucial forum where professionals, who often feel "alone on an island," can share experiences, solve common problems, and develop professionally.

Takeaways:

• Begin Integrating AI Now: Start experimenting with AI for smaller, daily tasks like optimizing email communication and analyzing vendor proposals. Don't wait for massive enterprise rollouts; get comfortable with the toolkits available today.
• Future-Proof with IoT Data: Focus on collecting and utilizing data from your BMS systems and electrical meters. This "Internet of Things" data is the fuel that will allow future AI and analytics tools to deliver massive efficiency gains.
• Bridge the Generational Gap: Actively implement strategies to blend the incoming new workforce with retiring, experienced tradespeople. Create mentorship programs to ensure crucial institutional knowledge is passed down effectively before it's lost.
• Prioritize Cross-Team Communication: For complex projects, mandate regular coordination across companies and internal departments. Effective, persistent communication is the key to quickly identifying and resolving unexpected issues (like a floor installation problem).
• Utilize Community for Problem Solving: Actively engage with the FM community to share challenges and avoid "reinventing the wheel." Recognize that most FM professionals face the same core issues, and collective wisdom is the fastest path to solutions.
• Seek Out Startup Innovation: Stay alert for new startup companies entering the facilities market. These groups often bring novel, technology-driven solutions that could solve persistent operational challenges.

Quote of the Show:

• "I think the biggest challenge is the change in the workforce from the experienced trades that have been around for a long time that are now transitioning out into retirement, and the new workforce coming in and how they blend those new workers in." - Matt Twerdy