Ep. 168: "Deep Dive into Technology" – Delivering World Class Facility Management Services in the Middle East with Carl Fennell of Serco

Carl Fennell is General Manager at Serco serving a client in the capital city of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. With over two decades of operational leadership experience, Carl is passionate about creating environments where people feel safe to think, speak, and grow. Mike Petrusky asks Carl about his facility management career journey which led him to move from his home country of the United Kingdom to pursue an opportunity in the UAE. They explore the importance of combining technical accuracy with people-centered leadership in facilities and asset management today while emphasizing the need for professionals to take a deep dive into new worktech tools. Carl shares about the UAE's initiatives to deliver ongoing training and support for UAE nationals and he explains some of the challenges that confront organizations as they care for the built environment. When facing high expectations and skilled labor shortages, FM technologies like predictive maintenance and IoT sensors will play a larger role, so Mike and Carl offer practical advice and the encouragement you will need to be an Asset Champion in your organiaztion! Connect with Carl on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-f-operations/ Learn more about Serco: https://www.serco.com/ Explore Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/asset-champion/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/  

Jon Towers is Policy Director at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck where he is a strategist and advisor to top government officials and institutions, with years of experience serving The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Mike Petrusky asks Jon about the significant challenges facing the VA as it manages its vast portfolio of assets, including many aging and outdated facilities. They explore how technology, including AI and worktech solutions, can play a crucial role in helping the federal government optimize its assets and improve efficiency. The modernization of VA facilities must be a priority, so Jon emphasizes the need to configure real estate assets to meet the changing needs of veterans across the country. Engagement and collaboration between government officials, industry experts, and other stakeholders are essential for addressing these complex issues, so Mike and Jon offer the inspiration and encouragement you will need to be an Asset Champion in 2026! Connect with Jon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-towers1/ Learn more about Brownstein: https://www.bhfs.com/ Explore Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/asset-champion/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/  

Laura Kuhn, ProFM, FMP, SFP is Director of Fleet & Facilities Management at Jefferson County Commission, WV where she is passionate about caring for government buildings so her community can come together to celebrate modern, accessible, and welcoming spaces. Mike Petrusky asks Laura about her thirty-year career in FM and they explore some of the challenges when managing a mixed set of assets, including both historic structures as well as newer government facilities. Laura believes that the heart of facility management is the people, not just the technology or infrastructure, so she shares why long-term planning and asset management are essential. Technology, such as AI and smart building systems, can improve facilities maintenance, so continuous learning and professional development are essential for FM professionals. The IFMA community offers the credentials and networking and necessary to provide valuable insights and opportunities for growth, so Mike and Laura offer the inspiration and encouragement you will need to be an Asset Champion in your organization! Connect with Laura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-kuhn-029a0a265/ Discover Jefferson County, WV: https://www.jeffersoncountywv.org/ Learn more about IFMA: https://www.ifma.org/ Explore Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/asset-champion/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/  

Ryan Linthicum is Managing Principal and Brett Milburn, GISP is Principal and Director of Digital Solutions at Langan Engineering & Environmental Services where they are passionate about guiding clients through the strategic implementation of cutting-edge technologies, including AI, machine learning, geospatial analytics, and enterprise system integration. Mike Petrusky asks his guests about the role of digital solutions in asset management and the impact of emerging technologies on the built environment. They explore some of the top trends and challenges in facility and asset management industry and offer strategies for managing the asset life cycle using the latest technology solutions. Topics of interest include governance and standardization, proactive stewardship and intentional design in managing assets, and the potential of emerging technologies such as AI, digital twins, and IoT sensors. Mike, Ryan and Brett emphasize the value of partnerships and collaborations in scaling technology solutions, so they offer the encouragement you will need to be an Asset Champion in your organization! Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-linthicum-3633b86/ Connect with Brett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-milburn-gisp-6b738517/ Learn more about Langan: https://www.langan.com/ Explore Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/asset-champion/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/  

Billy Holder, CFM is Founder & CEO at Project Aidra where he is as a dynamic and tech-savvy facilities professional who is passionate about driving facility management innovation. Mike Petrusky asks Billy about his FM career journey and how it led to the founding of Project Aidra, a company dedicated to building a future where more intelligent, automated, and precise property inspection is possible. They explore the importance of taking a holistic view of the built environment, including the people occupying our facilities. Billy says the challenges facing the FM industry include staffing shortages and the need to leverage technology but he encourages us to keep technology "human-centered," ensuring it augments rather than replaces human intuition and knowledge. There is great potential for technologies like AI, reality capture, and IoT sensors to improve asset management and facility condition assessments, so Mike and Billy offer the inspiration you will need to be an Asset Champion in your organization! Connect with Billy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billy-holder-project-aidra/ Learn more about Project Aidra: https://projectaidra.net/ Explore Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/asset-champion/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/  

Colette Temmink is a corporate real estate, facilities and operations leader at Voxel committed to making a positive impact championing safe, efficient and sustainable workplace technology. Mike Petrusky asks Colette about how asset and facility management has evolved from a purely tactical focus to a more strategic and technology-oriented profession, influenced by trends such as digital twins, AI, and sustainability. They discuss how FM professionals should not be afraid to embrace new technologies and innovations, but they need to ask what they are solving for and explore technologies that align with their organization's needs and data requirements. A holistic asset lifecycle approach to managing buildings and assets can provide multiple benefits and insights, not just for FM departments but for the entire organization. Colette believes that human connections and professional relationships remain critical in an increasingly AI-driven industry and she emphasizes the importance of being a lifelong learner and staying informed about technological advancements to maintain relevant in the field. FM professionals should shift from reactive maintenance models to more data-informed, AI-driven decision-making processes, so Mike and Colette offer the practical advice and encouragement you need to be an Asset Champion in your organization! Connect with Colette on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colettetemmink/ Learn more about Voxel: https://www.voxelai.com/ Explore Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/asset-champion/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/  

Lalit Agarwal is President and CEO of APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities, the association supporting educational facilities professionals worldwide. He brings over two decades of experience in facilities management, including leadership roles at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and EnergyCAP, an energy management and sustainability company. Mike Petrusky asks Lalit about his career journey from an engineer to facilities manager to the CEO of APPA, where he is passionate about building business partnerships and professional development opportunities for the FM community. He shares how APPA is focusing on aligning its programs with the current needs of FM professionals while ensuring they stay relevant, especially in the face of rapid technological advancements and budgetary constraints. Lalit believes that facility management leaders must upskill and embrace AI as a tool to augment human capabilities rather than replace them by emphasizing that basic technological foundations are in place first. Mike and Lalit agree that curiosity and willingness to collaborate with others are essential for success in the complex and evolving world of facility management, so they offer advice and inspiration to help you be an Asset Champion in your organization! Connect with Lalit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalit-agarwal-1961426/ Learn more about APPA - Leadership in Educational Facilities: https://www.appa.org/ Explore Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/asset-champion/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/  

Joseph Aamidor is Senior Product Management Consultant and Managing Director at Aamidor Consulting where he provides market strategy guidance to building owners and operators, established building management firms, technology providers, investors, and early-stage innovators. Mike Petrusky asks Joe about the state of the facilities management industry and why it is experiencing fragmentation in available technology solutions, making it challenging to choose the right tools. They explore how the industry is in a trial and error phase with AI and discuss ways that asset management leaders can focus on continuous learning and understanding the broader mission of their organizations to enhance the built environment and occupant experience. Joe believes that open dialogue and informal peer groups are valuable for experimenting with and improving new solutions and providing feedback to vendors is crucial for the development of better products and the health of the industry. Mike and Joe agree that data readiness, including organization and normalization, is a significant challenge for organizations looking to implement AI solutions, so they offer advice and inspiration to help you be an Asset Champion! Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaamidor/ Learn more about Aamidor Consulting: https://www.aamidorconsulting.com/ Subscribe to Joe's Newsletter: https://smartbuildinginsight.substack.com/ Explore Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/asset-champion/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/  

Vaughn Halliday, MSc, CFM, SFP, FMP, PMP, ProFM is Manager of Support Services and Facilities for the Central Bank of Trinidad & Tobago where he is a seasoned management executive with a specialized focus on facilities and project management, underpinned by a fervent commitment to sustainability. Mike Petrusky asks Vaughn why he believes that FM professionals need to lead with purpose, adapt with precision, and invest in people as much as they do in technology. They discuss the constant tension between short-term operational demands and long-term asset stewardship which often leads to deferred maintenance and reactive decision-making and Vaughn shares how the effective use of data from CMMS and BMS platforms is essential for driving strategic outcomes. He says that facility managers should move beyond a maintenance mindset and embrace FM as a strategic enabler of business outcomes by investing in training and credential programs at events like IFMA's World Workplace. The future of FM is already here, with AI, IoT, and smart systems reshaping how assets are managed, so Mike and Vaughn encourage and inspire you to be an Asset Champion in your organization! Connect with Vaughn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaughn-halliday/ Learn more about IFMA: https://www.ifma.org/ Explore Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/asset-champion/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/  

Podcast host Mike Petrusky shares an update on his future plans for the show, industry conferences happening this fall, and the need for continuous learning in our asset and facility management journey. He discusses recent themes that have come up this past year, especially the impact of artificial intelligence and AI agents on the built environment and reminds us that we often overestimate short-term technological changes while underestimating long-term change. Digital Twins and BIM (Building Information Modeling) are key technologies that will enhance data management and provide a more holistic view of asset life cycles, so Mike recommends a philosophy of lifelong learning, networking, and participation in professional organizations for professionals in the FM industry. Upcoming conferences such as Autodesk University and IFMA's World Workplace offer valuable opportunities, so Mike shares his appreciation for recent recognition from the IFMA community and looks to continuously improve his podcasts as he tries to inspire you to be an Asset Champion in your organization! Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/ Tune in to the "Workplace Innovator" Podcast: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/workplace-innovator/ Register for Autodesk University: https://www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/ Join Mike at IFMA's World Workplace: https://worldworkplace.ifma.org/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/asset-champion/