Mike Petrusky hosted a Chief Facilities Officer panel discussion at the 2025 Annual Conference for the Virginia Chapter of APPA where the theme was “Holistic Facility Solutions: Balancing Operational Efficiency with Health and Wellness Priorities”. The panelists were Ken Copeland, Vice President for Business Affairs and Finance at Hampden-Sydney College, Steve L’Heureux, Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Management Services at VCCS, Chip Filer, Vice President for Facilities and Campus Operations, at Christopher Newport University, Keith Jarvis, Director of Facilities Management at Virginia Military Institute and Lalit Agarwal, President & Chief Executive Officer for APPA. They explored the many ways the education facilities management industry is facing significant challenges, including declining enrollment, budget cuts, and the need for skilled professionals with a different set of skills due to technological advancements. APPA emphasizes the importance of balancing operational efficiency with health and wellness priorities and effective communication and collaboration among various departments are crucial for aligning with the institution's mission and ensuring the well-being of campus communities. The panel offers their insights and experiences as FM leaders and encourages you to being curious and ask questions as you seek to be an Asset Champion in your organization!

Visit the Virginia Chapter of APPA conference website: https://virginia-appa.org/2025-vappa-conference/

Discover more about APPA: https://www.appa.org/

Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/

Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/asset-champion/

Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/

Darrell Rounds FMA, C.E.M. is Director of Facilities Management for North America Manufacturing Operations at Stellantis where he is passionate about leveraging global cross functional collaboration, lean implementation, project management, problem solving, and data analysis. Mike Petrusky asks Darrell to share about his current role and perspectives on the state of the facilities management industry as they catch up on their recent discussions, offering inspiration for FM leaders in all organizations. Darrell emphasizes the importance of taking care of people in any enterprise to ensure business success and recognizes the challenge of workforce availability in today’s marketplace. He has been prioritizing the standardization and optimization of processes in FM to drive efficiency and eliminate waste and believes that innovation comes when you push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Mike and Darrell explore the role of AI and machine learning in predictive maintenance to improve investment decisions and operational efficiency, and they offer some practical steps to help you be an Asset Champion in your organization!

Connect with Darrell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrellrounds/

Find Darrell’s articles in Facility Maintenance Decisions Magazine: https://www.facilitiesnet.com/

Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/

Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/asset-champion/

Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/

Susan Clarke is Senior Manager of Building Operations Strategy at Autodesk and Erik Zink is VP of Worktech Consultancy & Corporate Development at Eptura where they work to serve the marketplace with a strong alliance between the two companies. Mike Petrusky asks Susan and Erik to share the latest trends and challenges in asset management, the opportunity for collaboration between different teams, and what it takes to be a facility management leader today. They discuss the importance of data quality, the role of AI in improving workflows, and the need for a holistic approach that considers the entire asset lifecycle. Quality data in asset management is a "team sport" that requires collaboration across multiple teams, including architecture, construction, and operations, so the guests share a framework for enhancing data management by focusing on stakeholders, standards, and skills. Susan and Erik offer practical advice for facility and asset management leaders on how to start small with digital transformation projects as they give you the tools you will need to be an Asset Champion in your organization!

Connect with Susan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-clarke-79b3a225/

Connect with Erik on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ezink/

Learn more about Autodesk: https://www.autodesk.com/

Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/

Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/asset-champion/

Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/