Facilities @ Management

2.7 A Perspective on Facilities Management (FM)

Stormy Friday

Welcome to Facilities Management

The year was 1982 and yours truly considered herself to be a hotshot management consultant whose most recent accomplishment was the reorganization of the 200-person US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Human Resource (HR) Department. Then came the call. The individual who engaged me to work on the HR project suggested to the new EPA Administrator that I might be a candidate to help with other reorganizations.

The meeting with the Administrator was memorable. More so than any meeting I have had after that day. She boldly told me she had a difficult organization that did some “light dusting” and other “housekeeping chores” and asked if I would be interested in helping her “fix” the problems within the organization. She called the organization Facilities and Support Services and asked if I would become the Director in an administratively appointed position that did not require confirmation by the Senate but approval by the White House. I had fond memories of collaborating with my dad on house maintenance projects but knew nothing about light dusting and other housekeeping duties. Could light dusting really be the organization’s main purpose and function? Would I be able to tackle the problems within this organization?

Against my better judgment at the time, my consulting bravado jumped into high gear and without much hesitation I said yes, I would take on the assignment. As it turned ...