TechTalks in CMMS

Tracy Bristow from Ballparks of America in Branson, Missouri, discusses one of the most unique youth sports complexes in the country. Tracy explains their "stay and play" model, where 11- to 13-year-old teams live in on-campus dorms for week-long, World Series-style tournaments. Unlike traditional venues, the fun at Ballparks of America doesn't end when the game is over. The lights stay on until midnight for wiffle ball, flag football, and team bonding. The facility features five incredible replica fields, including a "Boston" field complete with its own Green Monster, allowing kids to feel like they’re playing in the big leagues. Tracy highlights the full-service nature of the campus, which includes a dedicated cafeteria for players, a restaurant for parents, and a nostalgic ice cream shop. Visit BallparksofAmerica.com to view upcoming summer tournaments and book your team's next big trip.

Joseph Bilik, CEO and Founder of Bluebird Procurement, discusses an exciting new strategic partnership with Maintenance Care. Joe explains how Bluebird’s expertise in strategic sourcing and vendor management integrates seamlessly with the Maintenance Care platform, creating a "central repository" for all facility data. This collaboration allows multi-site operators to eliminate fragmented data, and gain total visibility over their assets, contracts, and PM schedules. By utilizing Bluebird’s vetted vendor network alongside Maintenance Care’s software, facility managers can master forward capital planning. Visit BluebirdProcurement.com to see how this partnership can transform your portfolio management.

Rita Mitchell, Regional General Manager for Sports Facilities Companies, talks about managing some of the most complex recreation spaces in the world. Rita oversees the revolutionary Davis Center at Harlem Meer in Central Park, which transforms from an ice rink in the winter, a turf field in the spring, and a swimming pool in the summer. Rita explains the technical challenges of maintaining indoor ice in the summer, emphasizing the critical role of humidity control and high-efficiency refrigeration. From her 35 years of experience, to the intricate ecosystem-integrated architecture of Central Park, Rita offers a fascinating look at the cutting edge of facility management.

Joe Bilik, Founder and CEO of Bluebird Procurement, details the rigorous standards behind their "Strategic Vendor Partner Program." Joe explains that Bluebird goes beyond simple buying power, by vetting vendors through strict history checks, proactive management styles, contractually binding Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). This deep level of quality control ensures that every service call and preventive maintenance task is clearly documented and compliant with safety and liability requirements. By integrating this trusted vendor network with the Maintenance Care platform, facility owners gain a transparent, high-visibility solution that guarantees both operational excellence, and essential risk management

Edward Robeznieks, the VP of Sales and Marketing at Surge Learning, explains how their platform provides essential compliance training for healthcare workers. He emphasizes that the system helps facilities avoid penalties and ensures patient safety by keeping their training and policies current with government regulations.

Joseph Bilik, Founder and CEO of Bluebird Procurement, discusses the vital intersection of maintenance and strategic sourcing. He shares his journey from leading global portfolios to launching his own firm, driven by the belief that procurement should be a strategic partner rather than just a cost center. Joe explains how Bluebird Procurement helps facility leaders who manage large, multi-site portfolios ranging from 5 to 100 million square feet, unlock massive value through tailored vendor partnerships. From core OpEx services like HVAC and janitorial, to large-scale CapEx construction projects, Joe reveals his process for vetting trusted partners based on decades of relationship building. Visit BluebirdProcurement.com to learn more.

Marie-Anne Bazerghi discusses the innovative non-pharmaceutical dementia care offered by Eugeria, such as interactive projectors and hydroponics for purposeful activities to manage difficult behaviors, and ease staff burden. Eugeria provides these tested products and training globally for positive outcomes in long-term care homes.

Lolo Chiweshe, a Personal Support Worker (PSW) in a long-term care dementia unit, and also serves as a PSW champion for continuing education school boards in Ontario. Lolo shares her passion for her job, explaining that she resonates with the elderly's frustrations, due to her own past experience with postpartum anxiety, mental health, and depression. She discusses how her personal journey led her to become a PSW, and highlights the critical need for more PSWs in the industry, aiming to inspire high school students to consider a career in healthcare, even if it's a stepping stone to becoming a nurse or doctor.

Jean Bonnet, who previously worked as a senior claims analyst, talks with Dan about his personal journey, and satisfaction with his new career. Jean sought a new challenge, and a more fulfilling role where he could directly interact with people, as his previous job left him feeling "invisible" behind a computer. He highly recommends the PSW profession to anyone seeking a rewarding and satisfying way to make a living.

Dan Roberge interviews Dino Roberge, discussing the significant growth and evolution of their company, Maintenance Care CMMS, over the past four years. Dino highlights the transformation from basic, direct lead generation and support calls to a more diverse and process-driven operation with a focus on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and streamlined client interactions. They detail the expansion of their team, particularly in sales, from a handful of staff to dedicated departments for sales, training, and IT, leading to a more "well-oiled machine." Dino emphasizes the improved customer experience, noting that clients now interact with multiple specialists throughout their journey, from lead inquiry to software implementation and ongoing support. He attributes their growing success and rise in the CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) industry to their exceptional service, prompt responsiveness, and ability to cater to a global client base, including major chains in North America and international clients in places like Qatar and Australia.