Facilities in Focus

What Facilities Management Looks Like Inside a World-Class Art Museum

Coming at you live at NFMT East in Charlotte! Host Mackenna Moralez speaks with Claude Harding, security and facilities manager for the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. Claude shares what it takes to maintain a museum filled with priceless artwork while welcoming thousands of visitors each year. From dust control strategies and climate-sensitive operations to emergency preparedness and relationship-building with contractors, Claude offers practical insights that facility managers in any industry can apply to their own buildings. Filled with real-world stories and relatable facility management challenges, this episode offers an inside look at how preparation, communication, and trust keep complex facilities operating successfully.  “I look at my building as a living, breathing entity all on its own,” Claude says during the podcast. “You have to know your building. What does your building sound like? What does the air feel like? What does it smell like? Every building has its idiosyncrasies.”  The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly. The fifth season will cover healthcare facilities with new episodes premiering in June.  For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please email Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com [fnpodcast@tradepress.com].  Connect with Mackenna on LinkedIn:   www.linkedin.com/in/mackennamoralez Follow us on social media:   LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt   Youtube: @FacilitiesNet   X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT   Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT

Access Control Strategies Every Facility Manager Needs

Access control isn’t just about keycards and locked doors — it’s about ownership, risk and protecting your “baby.” As security threats evolve, facility managers are being asked to step up in ways that they have never before. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez sits down with Michael Gipps, managing director of the Enterprise Security Risk Management practice at Kroll, to discuss how facility managers can identify hidden vulnerabilities, communicate the “why” behind security decisions and balance safety with occupant experience.   Through real-world examples and practical advice, Michael explains how facility managers can move beyond the “we’ve always done it this way mindset” to building new access control strategies rooted in risk assessment, communication and collaboration with tenants. If you’re responsible for a building, this episode will challenge how you approach your role in security and give you the actionable steps to strengthen your position.   “If you’re a facility manager for a building and you have tenants, you are responsible for everything,” Michael says during the podcast. “There’s a lot of nuances and ins and outs there. It’s a difficult job, and it’s a very important job to have.”  Follow us on social media:   LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt   Youtube: @FacilitiesNet   X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT   Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT

Communication Has an Essential Role in Emergency Drills

When you’re responsible for a facility that welcomes thousands of people, safety can’t be an afterthought—it has to be built into everything you do. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez sits down with Tony Camarillo, general manager of the Orlando Convention Center at NFMT Remix to discuss how the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando is setting a new standard for emergency preparedness. After becoming the first convention center in the U.S. to conduct a large-scale safety exercise, the facility partnered with agencies like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Orange County Fire Rescue and the Orange County Sheriff's Office to simulate a coordinated attack and test its response plans.  From advanced security technology to coordinated crisis communication, learn how facility leaders are preparing for the unexpected while keeping events running smoothly.  “It’s [communication] got to be the foundation they do their job on,” Tony says during the podcast. “It’s something that I’ve been stressing since I walked through the door. Develop the relationships in your world, whether it’s first responders or local government. Keep improving upon your guidelines so you can learn where your deficiencies are and where you can improve.”  Learn more about the Orange County Convention Center emergency drill: https://www.facilitiesnet.com/emergencypreparedness/article/Why-Facilities-Need-to-Perform-Emergency-Drills--20530 Follow us on social media:   LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt   Youtube: @FacilitiesNet   X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT   Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT

What Facility Managers Must Know About Fire Protection

Building fires are one of the most serious threats facility managers face, but preparation, maintenance and knowledge can make all the difference. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez is joined by Shawn Mahoney, senior engineer in the technical services division for the National Fire Protection Association, to break down the essential fire safety practices facility managers need to know. From understanding sprinklers and fire alarm systems to knowing your role during an emergency and coordinating with the fire department, this conversation delivers practical fire safety strategies facility managers can apply immediately. This episode provides essential insights to help facility managers protect people, reduce risk and ensure fast recovery after a fire event.  “If there’s a fire in your building, hopefully you’ve prepared for this — it’s not necessarily a crisis, it’s something you’re ready to get through,” Shawn says during the episode.  The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly. The fourth season will cover safety and security.  For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please email Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com [fnpodcast@tradepress.com].  Follow us on social media:   LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt   Youtube: @FacilitiesNet   X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT   Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT

A Lawsuit That Could Change Building Security Forever

What if your building’s current security measures aren’t enough—and you don’t find out until a lawsuit forces the issue? Facility managers are facing growing pressure to rethink building. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez sits down with Kieran Carroll, chief strategy officer at ZeroEyes about a lawsuit that has the potential to change how facilities approach security. Together, they unpack what the case reveals about video surveillance, access control, emergency communications and third-party security contracts and where liability may fall. Kieran offers practical insights on where many facilities may have hidden gaps—and how those gaps could translate into real risk. This episode offers timely insights for anyone responsible for building safety in today’s risk-conscious environment.  “If you’re a proactive facility manager and the corporation is looking at it from a risk perspective, you’re almost certainly going to want to investigate the capability gaps mentioned in the lawsuit—before any future regulatory action hits,” Kieran says.  The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly. The fourth season will cover safety and security.  For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please email Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com [fnpodcast@tradepress.com].  Follow us on social media:   LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt   Youtube: @FacilitiesNet   X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT   Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT