The Clean Slate

We sat down with Gyan Awuku-Sao, a Facility Manager currently living in Ghana, Africa, working for Luxembourg-based Majorel. This company builds and delivers end-to-end customer experience solutions for leading brands. Gyan has the global background to explain why and how sustainability in FM is paramount for everyone to understand, wherever they live and whatever they do.
Gyan talks about how we can help people pay attention to the changing environment and, most importantly, change their behavior. The little changes we can make will impact things like climate change. If you’re feeling like there is nothing anyone can do to help the Earth from pollution or negative human impacts, Gyan will give you a reason to believe that you, yes you, can help.
To learn more about Gyan Awuku-Sao, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/gyan-awuk...
To learn more about Majorel, please visit https://www.majorel.com/ Follow OpenWorks and Trista on social media and check out the website: Website: https://www.openworksweb.com/
YouTube: @openworksfm
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/open...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/openworksaz/
Trista: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristasob...
For more stories and deep dives into facilities management profession and all that it entails subscribe to The Clean Slate wherever you listen to podcasts.

How does someone even get into facilities management as a career? You never hear a kid say, “I want to be a facilities manager when I grow up?!” Why is that, and how can we encourage more people to enter the field? Traditionally known as a career that you “fall into” by luck or by being in the right place at the right time, facilities management has evolved into a lucrative and rewarding career that now features formal education with accredited degrees from major colleges and universities.

Dean Stanberry, Dean Stanberry, Chairman, IFMA Global Board of Directors, has a storied career starting in IT and tech when his company needed someone to oversee facilities that housed intellectual property. As IFMA’s newest Chairman, he aims to spread FM education as far as he can to a new generation of career seekers.

Dean chats with us about the many options that facilities management offers. He also talks about IFMA and the advantages membership brings. Dean explains what digital transformation means to FM and the real estate community and how to get the digital skills current professionals may not upskill themselves. Cyber security is a big area, as is AI. Dean explains how to learn what separates the hype from the reality. We also discuss the work-from-home trend and where knowledge workers will ultimately decide to work.

Timestamp Breakdown of Topics

2:34 – IFMA and its goals

4:00 – FM as the accidental profession

9:00 – Degree programs, certifications, and getting into FM; jobs and functions in FM

14:30 – Trends in the industry, including digital transformation

20:49 – Hybrid and flex working and the impact on buildings
Lean more about IFMA at www.ifma.org Find out more about Dean at https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanstanberry/
Follow OpenWorks and Trista on social media and check out the website:
Website: https://www.openworksweb.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@openworksfm
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openworks/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/openworksaz/
Trista: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristasobeck/

For more stories and deep dives into facilities management profession and all that it entails subscribe to The Clean Slate on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Did you know the air inside your home or office could be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air? Join us for an in-depth conversation with Lisa Greenfield, a National Indoor Air Quality Specialist with ErLab USA, as we uncover the hidden factors affecting indoor air quality (IAQ) and what you can do to foster healthier living and working spaces.
Lisa shares how her background as an educator led her to discover the crucial importance of IAQ, especially in schools and older buildings. From mold and moisture issues to understanding radon, wildfire smoke, and proper ventilation, Lisa’s insights are both eye-opening and practical.
Whether you’re a facility manager, a concerned homeowner, or simply someone who spends a lot of time indoors (that’s most of us!), this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you breathe easier.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
The Basics of IAQ: What indoor air quality is and why you should care.
The Hidden Dangers: How mold, radon, and poor ventilation impact your health.
Personal Insights: Lisa’s firsthand experience of how poor IAQ led to health issues and inspired her career change.
Practical Advice: Tools and methods for assessing and improving air quality in homes and workspaces.
Tech to Watch: The role of IAQ monitors and tools like Poppy and ASHRAE 241 in diagnosing indoor air issues.
Timestamps for Key Segments:
(00:02) Trista’s intro and conversation starter with Lisa
(01:20) Meet Lisa Greenfield and her career path to becoming an IAQ expert
(03:49) Why indoor air quality matters (wildfires, COVID, and more)
(04:29) Lisa’s personal story of illness linked to poor air quality in schools
(07:02) Signs facility managers should look for to identify poor air quality
(08:00) Exploring tools like IAQ monitors and real-time assessments
(11:10) Deep dive into issues like radon and its health impacts
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
ErLab USA - Learn more about their work in IAQ solutions.
ASHRAE 241 - Guidelines on ventilation for reducing infectious aerosol spread.
Poppy Monitors - Get real-time assessments of ventilation and air quality.

In this episode of The Clean Slate podcast, we host Amanda Thies, Director of School Business Operations at Spring Education Group. In her role, Amanda manages capital expenditure budgets, ensures efficient facility management, and fosters communication between business operations and school administrations. We discuss the funding challenges that charter schools face and their impact on facility management, emphasizing the significance of budgeting and contractual responsibilities in ensuring the smooth operation of schools. Amanda even shares her personal experience transitioning from being a police officer to an educator and the similarities in problem-solving skills required for both roles. Today, she compares her role to "Santa Claus" – for reasons you'll have to listen to find out!
Follow OpenWorks and Trista on social media and check out the website:

Website: https://www.openworksweb.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@openworksfm

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openworks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/openworksaz

Trista: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristasobeck

Find more episodes of The Clean Slate at: https://www.openworksweb.com/podcast‍

To be a guest on the podcast or submit general business inquiries: [email protected]

Every facility must practice some type of maintenance. And, more than likely, has a maintenance schedule. But, are you just checking a box or following a thorough framework? If you find yourself continually replacing items because “it’s time” or experiencing failure after failure, even after a maintenance check, it’s time to rethink your maintenance strategy. Listen as we chat with Erik Hupjé, owner of Road to Reliability, to discuss finding solutions to make your maintenance program more efficient and effective. Learn more about the importance of planning, scheduling, training, and establishing a solid preventative maintenance program.

Follow Road to Reliability and Erik on social media and check out the website:

Website: https://roadtoreliability.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikhupje/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roadtoreliability

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReliabilityAcademy

Email: [email protected]

Follow OpenWorks and Trista on social media and check out the website:

Website: https://www.openworksweb.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@openworksfm

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openworks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/openworksaz/

Trista: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristasobeck/

Find more episodes of The Clean Slate at: https://www.openworksweb.com/podcast

To be a guest on the podcast or submit general business inquiries: [email protected]