Welcome back to a special bonus episode of Facilities in Focus that was recorded live at NFMT Remix. Host Mackenna Moralez is joined by former Facility Champion and Building Operating Management cover star Leo Bobadilla for a one-on-one discussion on how the industry has evolved in recent years and what it takes to be a champion. Leo breaks down his career highs and how being in the Orlando Convention Center brought back memories from the start of his career.

The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly. The fourth season will cover safety and security with new episodes premiering in February.

For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please email Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com.

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Facility managers are feeling the talent shortage—but where should recruitment really begin? In this bonus episode of Facilities in Focus, host Mackenna Moralez talks with Caroline Horton on why she chose to obtain her master’s degree in facilities management and how her thesis encourages industry leaders to work with local schools to recruit new talent from a young age. She discusses why outreach matters and what facility managers can realistically do to raise awareness of FM careers. This conversation offers facility managers fresh ideas for talent development and a new perspective on strengthening the pipelines for the new generation.

“Reaching students in high school—and even middle school—is where real awareness of facilities management begins,” Caroline says. “If students don’t know facilities management exists, they can’t choose it as a career.”

The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly. The fourth season will cover safety and security with new episodes premiering in February.

For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please email Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com.

Follow FacilitiesNet on social media:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt

Youtube: @FacilitiesNet

X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT

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What if your first job could set the stage for a long-lasting career? As the facilities industry faces a significant labor shortage, one school district is preparing the next generation to take over the reigns. Host Mackenna Moralez talks with Keith Watkins, director of facilities III for the City School District of New Rochelle on how student apprenticeship and youth employment programs not only teach teenagers valuable life and trade skills, but also address the industry’s looming workforce gap. From mentoring 14–18 year-olds on everything from cleaning and HVAC basics to shadowing electricians, Keith explains how early exposure to facilities work can spark lifelong careers, instill responsibility, and even change the way students see their own schools. This conversation is a powerful look at how mentorship and hands-on learning are shaping the future of facilities management.

"Finding out what you don’t want to do is just as important as finding out what you do want to do. Early exposure helps young adults figure out if this is an option for them," Keith says.

The Facilities in Focus podcast publishes bi-weekly. The third season will cover education facilities.

For comments or to be a guest on the Facilities in Focus podcast, please email Mackenna at fnpodcast@tradepress.com.

Connect with Mackenna on LinkedIn:

linkedin.com/in/mackennamoralez

Follow us on social media:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/facilitiesnetnfmt

Youtube: @FacilitiesNet

X: @FacilitiesNet_NFMT

Facebook: Facebook.com/FacilitiesNetNFMT