Watching Paint Dry

Scott Lewis Judkins is the Head of Facilities Management for Fortinet’s Global Head Quarters at C&W Services, a leading integrated facility services provider. Fortinet is the global leader of cybersecurity solutions and services. As a highly accomplished construction and facilities executive, Scott’s experience includes serving as the Regional Facilities Manager for the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, where he managed 14 historic buildings and grounds. He specializes in planning, building, and renovating facilities with complex electrical, mechanical, and automated building systems.

When it comes to developing buildings or office spaces, sustainability is a priority for many businesses. So, what do you need to consider when establishing sustainable sites to ensure optimal comfort and operational effectiveness?

Adopting sustainable practices requires implementing automated technology to monitor carbon monoxide levels, measure air quality, and reduce carbon footprints. Scott Lewis Judkins affirms the importance of conducting examinations, engineering, and testing to determine the precise demand for this type of innovation. Facilities managers must acquire the range of knowledge needed to execute these projects successfully.

Join Greg Owens in today’s episode of Watching Paint Dry as he interviews Scott Lewis Judkins, Head of Facilities Management for Fortinet's Global Head Quarters at C&W Services, about how facilities managers should consider sustainability. Scott shares how Fortinet designs workspaces to fulfill its organizational goals, key considerations and functions of sustainable airflow technology, and advice for aspiring facilities managers.

Dave Scroggins is the Facilities Manager at Cushman & Wakefield, a global commercial real estate services firm. In his role, Dave manages two office locations. Before Cushman & Wakefield, he was the Facilities Manager at Hines Building Maintenance, the Maintenance Team Lead at Silicon Valley International School, and the Operations Manager at The Training Zone.

Nic Guedenet is the Vice President of Operations at Hines Building Maintenance, a facilities service company. He was promoted to this position from Director of Facilities in May 2022. In his role, Nic works with clients to ensure the successful implementation of a preventative maintenance program. Before Hines Building Maintenance, he was the Director of Facilities and Facilities Manager at International School of the Peninsula.

The pandemic has created hybrid work models and the need to condense or expand building spaces. So, how can you reconstruct your facilities to overcome these challenges and comply with demands for innovative work styles?

When developing new spaces, it’s imperative to modernize your facilities to accommodate collaboration and encourage a smooth transition back to the office. These renovations require shutting down areas that no longer serve a purpose to make room for open spaces with inviting and comfortable environments. Through careful consideration of contemporary work approaches, you can manage your facilities effectively.  

In today’s episode of Watching Paint Dry, Greg Owens sits down with Dave Scroggins of Cushman & Wakefield and Nic Guedenet of Hines Building Maintenance to discuss preparing facilities for expansion. Together, they share the challenges of managing projects, material shortages, and inflation, how hybrid work models affect facility spaces, and the process of managing corporate and other public facilities.

Nirmala Kovvali is the Director of Facilities and EHS at Carbon, a 3D printing technology company helping businesses develop products to bring to market. In her current role, Nirmala is responsible for real estate, facilities management, and engineering. She is involved in facility strategic planning for research and development, amenities/site services, vendor management, and environmental health and safety. Before Carbon, Nirmala was the Operations Manager at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and the Senior EHS Consultant at EORM.

Facilities management requires understanding the diverse processes and roles within an organization. Yet, many facilities managers lack knowledge in these areas and struggle to collaborate with their associates. So, how can you ensure consistent performance across all channels?

When supporting a business at each stage of its process, it’s important to remain curious. Consistently striving to learn new things about both the business and the industry allows you to acquire the technical knowledge needed to solve problems. And, by communicating productively with your colleagues, you can form connections with industry and trade experts to manage your operations seamlessly.

Tune in to this episode of Watching Paint Dry as Greg Owens sits down with Nirmala Kovvali, Director of Facilities and EHS at Carbon, to discuss efficiency in facilities management. Nirmala shares the value facilities managers bring to corporations, tips for reorganizing your team and processes following the pandemic, and essential skills for facilities managers.

Jeffrey Holton is the Facilities Operations Manager at The Doctors Company, the nation’s largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurer. He has a background in game development and project management. During the Clinton administration, Jeffrey served in the U.S. Army as a multi-channel transmission systems operator. He currently serves on the board of the City of Santa Rosa Planning Commission.

As a facilities manager, it’s necessary to establish communication between your vendors and subordinates to ensure seamless operations for your buildings. So, how can you communicate clearly while maintaining authority in your position? 

Jeffrey Holton urges facilities managers to build mutually beneficial relationships with their associates. This requires taking the time to get to know them personally and offering your assistance. By demonstrating loyalty and consideration for their needs, your colleagues are more likely to respect your work and provide you with professional services. 

Join Greg Owens in today’s episode of Watching Paint Dry as he talks with Jeffrey Holton, Facilities Operations Manager at The Doctors Company, about how to manage your facilities effectively. Jeffrey shares his tips for overcoming challenges in facilities management, the importance of building relationships with your vendors and subordinates, and his innovative solution to a complex repair problem.

Bryan Garza is the Director of Facilities at Filoli, a National Trust historic house, garden, and nature preserve. As the overseer of Filoli’s infrastructure and property, Bryan supports the activities of all operations and programs. He leads an innovative team that focuses on high-quality solutions while maintaining national standards for historic preservation. Before joining Filoli, he served as the Technology Project Manager for the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

Are you interested in a career in facilities management? Do you have a background in horticulture and think you can rise to the challenge?

Consult with Bryan Garza, a skilled facilities manager with a background in horticulture and project management. Bryan fell in love with Filoli’s nature preserve and now lives and works on site. His passion for nature allows him to excel as Director of Facilities, where he continuously works to gain additional knowledge of the horticulture industry. Bryan will teach you how to gain the skills needed for a successful career in facilities management. 

In this episode of Watching Paint Dry, Greg Owens sits down with Bryan Garza, Director of Facilities at Filoli, to discuss how facilities management and horticulture can build off one another. Bryan will divulge how he became Filoli’s new Director of Facilities, the management style he uses to maintain Filoli’s historic site, and the problem-solving skills he uses to innovate and maintain the historic premises. 

Bruce Mace is the Executive Director of Facilities and Support Services at UCSF Health, one of the nation’s top 10 hospitals. Bruce has extensive experience in architecture, 2D and 3D design, construction, and project delivery. Over the past 15 years, Bruce turned to healthcare operations and has developed dedicated teams of professionals in the areas of safety, energy, leasehold, construction, call center, operations, and business applications.

How would you like to maintain your client’s buildings with well-structured, well-executed facilities management programs? Better yet, would you like to improve them?

Bruce Mace has experience in architecture, 2D and 3D design, construction, health operations, and project delivery, which he uses to manage and upgrade his client’s buildings. Today, he shares lessons he has learned over the past 15 years to help others refine their facilities and boost their business. 

In this episode of Watching Paint Dry, Greg Owens sits down with Bruce Mace, the Executive Director of Facilities and Support Services at UCSF Health, to discuss ways brands can maintain and improve their facilities. Bruce talks about the challenges they’ve faced expanding UCSF Health during the pandemic, the lessons they’ve learned and the importance of having a backup plan, and new technology and tools in the construction industry.

Mark Hiddleson is the Owner of Specialized Storage Solutions Inc., which provides industry-leading warehouse storage solutions nationwide. Mark has been a storage racking industry professional since 1996. He became a top salesperson in the industry, working with a leading company that served Northern California before founding Specialized Storage Solutions Inc. in 2004. 

Mark holds a master’s degree in holistic health education, which has helped him build a successful business model based on holistic principles and trust-based relationships. According to Mark, the more we nurture business relationships, the more successful the entire business ecosystem will become.

Relationships are one of the most important facets of a business. But cultivating and nurturing great relationships can be difficult without the necessary skills. So where can leaders turn to gain expertise and grow their business holistically?

With a master’s degree in holistic health education, Mark Hiddleson knows exactly what it takes to shape a business model based on holistic principles and trust-based relationships. One of the main factors that continues to help Mark’s business thrive is his practice in the Japanese martial art, Aikido. One of its main tenets is the emphasis on not only defending yourself, but protecting the attacker. How does this apply to business? Mark is here to tell you. 

In this episode of Watching Paint Dry, Greg Owens sits down with Mark Hiddleson, Owner of Specialized Storage Solutions Inc., to talk about applying holistic health practices in any industry. Mark shares how he got into storage solutions, his advice for others wanting to begin their career in the industry, and how holistic and relationship-based practices can benefit your business.

Jeremy Salles is the Senior Director of Facilities and Real Estate at Sony Interactive Entertainment, known to most as the company responsible for the PlayStation brand. Having previously worked in facilities management for UPS, eBay, and Cisco, he’s honed his skills in workplace services, property management, employee experience, and more. As a Bay Area local, Jeremy’s job has become increasingly unique as tech companies shift course to accommodate their newly-remote workforces.

What are tech companies planning to do with their properties in the aftermath of the pandemic-driven shift to remote work? Can and should higher-ups convince happy and comfortable remote workers to return to the office? Is workplace camaraderie soon to be a thing of the past?

Greg Owens starts a conversation on these topics and more with Jeremy Salles, Senior Director of Facilities and Real Estate at Sony Interactive Entertainment — better known as the providers of PlayStation. With a vast portfolio of facilities management experience spanning prestigious companies like Cisco and eBay combined with a steadfast heart for helping others, Jeremy weighs the pros and cons of remote workforces in tech.

In this episode of Watching Paint Dry, host Greg Owens is joined by Jeremy Salles, Senior Director of Facilities and Real Estate at Sony Interactive Entertainment. With Sony PlayStation locations worldwide, Jeremy travels often and offers unique insight into how facilities management trickles down to affect all workers in the tech field. He explains how remote work has changed the industry for better and worse, the role of camaraderie in a healthy workplace, and how you can get into his line of work.

Roger Silveira is the Director of Facilities Maintenance and Operations at East Side Union High School District and the Founder of We Need Fresh Air. We Need Fresh Air is an organization focused on reducing the health problems caused by indoor air pollution and poor ventilation in the classroom. 

He has been in the construction and building maintenance industry for over 30 years. Roger found his true calling in education and helping to deliver a healthy learning environment for students.

What is the importance of building proper ventilation in classrooms? What are the benefits? Do school CO2 levels matter when it comes to education?

For Roger Silveira, proper ventilation and monitoring of CO2 levels have been at the forefront of his work, especially as we navigate through the pandemic. According to Roger, there is a correlation between student achievement, attendance, and the levels of CO2 in the classroom. Air quality can play a role in your feelings and cognitive abilities — and in the classroom environment, mental sharpness is essential for children. When the air is properly filtrated, test scores and student performance increase. 

In this episode of Watching Paint Dry, Greg Owens talks with Roger Silveira, Director of Facilities Maintenance and Operations at East Side Union High School District and Founder of We Need Fresh Air, about the importance of recirculation systems inside the classroom. Roger discusses funding the filtration systems, the correlation between CO2 levels and the student environment, and techniques to promote the education of air purification systems.

Bill Martorana is the Director of Facilities at IGM Biosciences. He has over 15 years of experience managing multi-site and multi-building facilities. Throughout his career, he’s worked to create a culture of trust with his team, build connections, and ensure assets and people are safe. He previously served as the Head of Facilities and EHS for ViewRay, Director of Facilities, Security, and EHS for Velodyne Lidar, Global Senior Manager of Facilities and Real Estate for Rambus, and the Associate Director of Facilities Operation for Nektar Therapeutics.

Have you ever wondered what a workday is like at a cancer research facility? Are you thinking of beginning a career in lab facility operations, but you’re not sure where to start? Bill Martorana, Director of Facilities at IGM Biosciences, is here to walk you through his day and tell you how to begin. 

Bill has created a culture that drives workforce dedication by cultivating trust with his team. Working with scientists, time is of the essence when something needs addressing. Bill says having a partnership with your vendors is crucial for the success of a facility, especially when the clock is ticking. So if you’re wanting to start in lab facility operations, what do you need to do?

In this episode of Watching Paint Dry, Greg Owens sits down with Bill Martorana, Director of Facilities at IGM Biosciences, to talk about creating a culture built on trust and dedication. Bill discusses finding balance and developing a mindset of trust with your team, how technology has helped shape the facilities management industry, and his advice for anyone looking to begin a career in facilities management. Stay tuned!