FMForward: Dedicated to the Rapidly Changing Landscape of Facility Management

In this episode Kate launches the new podcast season which is dedicated to the FM Talent Gap by defining the problem and discussing it with a panel of experts.  If you have had trouble finding skilled talent lately, you are not alone!  Stay tuned to hear from industry experts about labor shortages in the industry - why they exist and what some organizations are doing about it.

Panel Introductions:

Jake Smithwick  - (1) Jake Smithwick | LinkedIn

[email protected] 

Associate Professor, Graduate Program Director, University of North Carolina / Charlotte

Collaborator with the Simplar Foundation and IFMA’s “Ask the FM Doctor” podcast, did a podcast last year on navigating labor shortages in FM

Theresa (Terry) Gruber-Tapsoba - (1) Theresa (Terry) Gruber-Tapsoba | LinkedIn

[email protected] 

Executive Account Director, Global Occupier Services at Cushman & Wakefield

Frank Rhodes II - (1) Frank Rhodes II, CFM | LinkedIn

[email protected] 

Area Director, Marriott International | Team Building, Facilities Management

President of the Boston Chapter of IFMA

Host: Kathryn (Kate) Thibeault - (1) Kate (VP Workplace and FM - Americas) Thibeault | LinkedIn

[email protected] 

Adjunct Faculty, Wentworth Institute of Technology / Facilities Management 

Former VP Workplace and FM - Americas, Pearson

Thank you to our sponsors who make the FMForward podcast possible:  

Swipedon | [email protected]

Tecta America Roofing | [email protected]

In this episode Kate showcases IFMA Boston vendor partner, Tecta America with Anthony Moura, Regional Sales Manager.  Kate approaches the conversation from an FM perspective to fully understand the value of partnering with a roofing company such as Tecta America. 

Anthony Moura
Regional Sales Manager
Tecta America New England
[email protected]
C: 508-649-4715
O: 781-982-5684

North Billerica, MA - Commercial Roofing - Tecta America New England

Jackie Falla, long time host of the FMForward Podcast introduces Kate Thibeault, CFM as the new host. 

We would like to thank our partners who have underwritten today's episode.

Swipedon | [email protected]

Tecta America Roofing | [email protected]

To learn more about IFMA Boston visit www.ifmaboston.org 

Welcome to the FMForward podcast and a mini series called FM Stories. The journey into the facilities management profession is rarely direct and incredibly varied. But we recently sat down to talk with four of our experienced members to understand how they found themselves in their current positions, what have they learned, what they would changed, and what advice they have for those that are coming up in the ranks. Each interview is heartfelt and incredibly authentic and we are so happy to share their stories with you. But first, let’s hear from one of our supporters.

This week we sat down with Phil Donahue, Senior Manager of Corporate Support Services at Staples Incorporated.

Phil came to facilities by way of the manufacturing floor at Polaroid. He built his career on maximizing the opportunities that were available within Polaroid with internal job postings and never being afraid of trying something new and being willing to do the work that others didn't want to do.

To learn more about the Facilities Management profession and how to get more support in your own FM career, visit: http://www.ifmaboston.org

We would like to thank the partner that has underwritten today's episode.
Tecta America | [email protected]

Welcome to the FMForward podcast and a mini series called FM Stories. The journey into the facilities management profession is rarely direct and incredibly varied. But we recently sat down to talk with four of our experienced members to understand how they found themselves in their current positions, what have they learned, what they would changed, and what advice they have for those that are coming up in the ranks. Each interview is heartfelt and incredibly authentic and we are so happy to share their stories with you. But first, let’s hear from one of our supporters.

This week we had the pleasure of talking with Joanne Trask, CFM Manager of Workplace Services at Mass General Brigham.

Joanne started her journey through administration and got her first position by noticing what needed to be done and creating a position for herself. She shares with us the struggles she had as a single mom working her way through her career, and what she wants young girls to know as they join the workforce.

To learn more about the Facilities Management profession and how to get more support in your own FM career, visit: http://www.ifmaboston.org

We would like to thank the partner that has underwritten today's episode.
Tecta America | [email protected]

Welcome to the FMForward podcast and a mini series called FM Stories. The journey into the facilities management profession is rarely direct and incredibly varied. But we recently sat down to talk with four of our experienced members to understand how they found themselves in their current positions, what have they learned, what they would changed, and what advice they have for those that are coming up in the ranks. Each interview is heartfelt and incredibly authentic and we are so happy to share their stories with you. But first, let’s hear from one of our supporters.

This week's episode is a deep dive with John Boucher, director of Facilities Planning and Management at the Harvard Art Museums. John followed his passion for all things electrical and came into FM by way of the electrical trades. After serving in the military, John shares how he leveraged educational opportunities throughout his career to help him advance within the profession.

To learn more about the Facilities Management profession and how to get more support in your own FM career, visit: http://www.ifmaboston.org

We would like to thank the partner that has underwritten today's episode.
Tecta America | [email protected]

Welcome to the FMForward podcast and a mini series called FM Stories. The journey into the facilities management profession is rarely direct and incredibly varied. But we recently sat down to talk with four of our experienced members to understand how they found themselves in their current positions, what have they learned, what they would changed, and what advice they have for those that are coming up in the ranks. Each interview is heartfelt and incredibly authentic and we are so happy to share their stories with you. But first, let’s hear from one of our supporters.

In this week’s episode we sit down with Kofi Williams, Senior Project Manager in Project & Development Services at Cushman & Wakefield.

Kofi’s origin story starts in Ghana Africa and entered FM by way of architecture. Kofi imparts the impact mentorship had on him and his journey, his success and how it is a model of how he plans to pay it forward.

To learn more about the Facilities Management profession and how to get more support in your own FM career, visit: http://www.ifmaboston.org

We would like to thank the partner that has underwritten today's episode.
Tecta America | [email protected]

In the second half of our 4th season, Jackie digs deep into climate, how to plan for change, reduce greenhouse gas, and work on bringing our facilities in line with governmental mandates. In this episode, Jackie talks with John Powers, Founder of Extensible Energy and Elizabeth Larsen, Sustainability Engineer at Bala Consulting Engineers where they get down to the brass tacks of energy...what it costs, why we need and how can we reduce our carbon usage.

We would like to thank our partners who have underwritten today's episode.
Tecta America | [email protected]
MovePlan Group | [email protected]

To learn more about IFMA Boston visit www.ifmaboston.org 

In the second half of our 4th season, Jackie digs deep into climate, how to plan for change, reduce greenhouse gas, and work on bringing our facilities in line with governmental mandates. In this episode, Jackie talks with Andy Wu, Senior Corporate Sustainability Consultant from Liberty Mutual. With over 800 locations across 20 countries, Liberty Mutual it took a very coordinated group effort to arrive at their energy reduction goals. Andy talks about what it took and the impact that it has had on the organization.

We would like to thank our partners who have underwritten today's episode.
Tecta America | [email protected]
MovePlan Group | [email protected]

To learn more about IFMA Boston visit www.ifmaboston.org 

In the second half of our 4th season, Jackie digs deep into climate, how to plan for change, reduce greenhouse gas, and work on bringing our facilities in line with governmental mandates. In this episode, we are joined by individuals from Bentley University and Greener U. They worked together to create a comprehensive climate action plan for the university that helped them in achieving its 2020 goal of reducing their carbon footprint by 70% (from a 2008 baseline) one year early.

Greener U helps their partners navigate the steps to climate neutrality. It is like assembling a 7,500-piece puzzle...with no edge pieces. From big-picture planning and programming to detail-driven project orientation, GreenerU helps institutions navigate the organizational, operational, and infrastructure changes required to reach climate neutrality.

We were happy to welcome:
Sophie Rodgers, Senior Manager of Sustainability, Bentley University
Crystal Johnson, Project Director and Senior Environmental Planner, Greener U

We would like to thank our partners who have underwritten today's episode.
MovePlan Group | [email protected]
Tecta America | [email protected]

To learn more about IFMA Boston visit www.ifmaboston.org