Facilities in Focus

The Future of Accessibility in Senior Care Facilities

Accessibility isn’t just a checklist — it’s a human experience, and as America’s population ages, the conversation around accessibility is becoming impossible to ignore. In senior living communities, families want spaces where their loved ones can truly live with dignity, independence and comfort. In this episode of Facilities in Focus, Mackenna Moralez sits down with ADA expert and NFMT presenter Joan Stein to explore the future of senior care facility design, from the hidden flaws in everyday architecture to the growing demand for universal design that works for everyone.  During the episode, Joan explains how meeting minimum code is not enough and how poor design choices can fail aging adults. She advises facility managers how they can create environments that are both functional and welcoming as seniors age into their new homes. From frustrating accessibility failures to the dream of fully connected, walkable communities designed for aging in place, Joan paints a compelling picture of where senior living could be headed. She challenges facility leaders to think beyond compliance and create spaces that are welcoming, practical and genuinely inclusive.  “We are not going to age gracefully and quietly. Baby boomers are going to demand better spaces — and they’re going to demand them instantly,” Joan says during the podcast.  Whether you’re a facility manager, healthcare professional, designer or someone thinking about the future of aging, this episode will challenge the way you look at the built environment.  The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly. The fifth season will cover healthcare facilities.  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

Protecting the Most Vulnerable: Inside the NICU

When a life is saved, most people are quick to thank the doctors and nurses. But what about the teams working behind the scenes that make care possible every second of every day? In the Season Five premiere of Facilities in Focus, host Mackenna Moralez sits down with Bruce Legris and Daniel Wagner of SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital to explore the unseen world of healthcare facilities management — through the lens of Mackenna’s own high-risk pregnancy and her son’s stay in the NICU.  From maintaining clean air and reliable power to protecting the hospital’s most vulnerable patients, Bruce and Dan share the emotional responsibility that comes with operating critical care environments. It’s a heartfelt reminder that healing depends on far more than what happens at the bedside.  “When anything happens critical on our side with the power plant, there’s little ones on the other side of the road that we’ve got to worry about and make sure the power’s on at all times,” Bruce says during the podcast.   Whether you work in facilities management, healthcare, or simply want a powerful story about compassion, resilience, and the people behind the scenes, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.  The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly. The fifth season will cover healthcare facilities.  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

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