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: jbeaudry@oconnells.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-beaudry-a132b311a/
- Website: https://appletoncorporation.com/