CREJ - Property Management Quarterly - August 2015
In 2014, we formed a group in which office and hotel building engineers could have a free-form discussion about best practices in managing the operational side of a property. The group, - Denver Engineers and Facilities Conversation, meets monthly with the purpose of providing a consistent and trustworthy place for facility engineers and managers to share ideas. The group aims to provide an educational opportunity for all levels of experience. Because of the many disciplines and areas of expertise required to operate a building, there are infinite opportunities to learn from other engineers and benefit from their experience. Many of the engineers attending the meetings have been in the industry for decades and have developed hard-won experience from trial and error during their careers. The discussions revolve around myriad problems that may be encountered when operating a building as well as time-tested solutions that are shared or presented by the group. Some of the recent discussions have included: 1. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning 2. Building automation systems 3. Fire safety and emergency preparedness 4. Energy management 5. Mold remediation 6. Communication capital requirements to building owners and managers 7. Worst-case scenario and emergency planning The group is in its second year and is growing slowly but consistently. The focus is not on becoming a large group, but instead on providing consistent, timely and relevant information to members through informal discussions. The meetings are designated as a safe zone where members are free from the pressures of salespeople and products, unless there is value to the ongoing discussion and the salesperson was invited to do so. That is not to say we do not value contractors and salespeople, but we prefer not to have them as part of the conversation. Networking is a large part of the group as well. The information shared should be helpful for engineers when making future decision at their facilities. The last part of the group consists of providing a place to learn for those who are just starting out and are new to facilities maintenance. The group provides a place to assist members in becoming proficient in their positions. At DEFCON, this is believed to be an important piece and something that was lacking in the Denver area. The group continues to progress in both the learning efforts and knowledge sharing to provide this valuable tool to the facilities maintenance engineer. All facility-engineering professionals are welcome to participate. Upcoming topics for discussion include employee recruitment, training and retention, and comprehensive approaches to capital projects. We also plan to discuss budget management, the human side of engineering and how best to go after rebates for energy reduction. If you would like to become part of the group and attend the educational meetings with the purpose of enhancing your knowledge and career, please contact bryan.wilske@hilton.com for more information.