Lalit Agarwal is President and CEO of APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities, the association supporting educational facilities professionals worldwide. He brings over two decades of experience in facilities management, including leadership roles at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and EnergyCAP, an energy management and sustainability company. Mike Petrusky asks Lalit about his career journey from an engineer to facilities manager to the CEO of APPA, where he is passionate about building business partnerships and professional development opportunities for the FM community. He shares how APPA is focusing on aligning its programs with the current needs of FM professionals while ensuring they stay relevant, especially in the face of rapid technological advancements and budgetary constraints. Lalit believes that facility management leaders must upskill and embrace AI as a tool to augment human capabilities rather than replace them by emphasizing that basic technological foundations are in place first. Mike and Lalit agree that curiosity and willingness to collaborate with others are essential for success in the complex and evolving world of facility management, so they offer advice and inspiration to help you be an Asset Champion in your organization!

Connect with Lalit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalit-agarwal-1961426/

Learn more about APPA - Leadership in Educational Facilities: https://www.appa.org/

Explore 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/

Joseph Aamidor is Senior Product Management Consultant and Managing Director at Aamidor Consulting where he provides market strategy guidance to building owners and operators, established building management firms, technology providers, investors, and early-stage innovators. Mike Petrusky asks Joe about the state of the facilities management industry and why it is experiencing fragmentation in available technology solutions, making it challenging to choose the right tools. They explore how the industry is in a trial and error phase with AI and discuss ways that asset management leaders can focus on continuous learning and understanding the broader mission of their organizations to enhance the built environment and occupant experience. Joe believes that open dialogue and informal peer groups are valuable for experimenting with and improving new solutions and providing feedback to vendors is crucial for the development of better products and the health of the industry. Mike and Joe agree that data readiness, including organization and normalization, is a significant challenge for organizations looking to implement AI solutions, so they offer advice and inspiration to help you be an Asset Champion!

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaamidor/

Learn more about Aamidor Consulting: https://www.aamidorconsulting.com/

Subscribe to Joe’s Newsletter: https://smartbuildinginsight.substack.com/

Explore 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/

Vaughn Halliday, MSc, CFM, SFP, FMP, PMP, ProFM is Manager of Support Services and Facilities for the Central Bank of Trinidad & Tobago where he is a seasoned management executive with a specialized focus on facilities and project management, underpinned by a fervent commitment to sustainability. Mike Petrusky asks Vaughn why he believes that FM professionals need to lead with purpose, adapt with precision, and invest in people as much as they do in technology. They discuss the constant tension between short-term operational demands and long-term asset stewardship which often leads to deferred maintenance and reactive decision-making and Vaughn shares how the effective use of data from CMMS and BMS platforms is essential for driving strategic outcomes. He says that facility managers should move beyond a maintenance mindset and embrace FM as a strategic enabler of business outcomes by investing in training and credential programs at events like IFMA’s World Workplace. The future of FM is already here, with AI, IoT, and smart systems reshaping how assets are managed, so Mike and Vaughn encourage and inspire you to be an Asset Champion in your organization!

Connect with Vaughn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaughn-halliday/

Learn more about IFMA: https://www.ifma.org/

Explore 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/