In episode 104 of Asset Champion, host Mike Petrusky talks with Maureen Roskoski, Vice President at Facility Engineering Associates (FEA) and Patrick Dale, Management & Program Analyst at GSA/OGP Office of Federal High Performance Green Buildings. They cover the Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act (FBPTA) and how it benefits asset and facility management professionals. After discussing the challenges facing federal agencies, they share insights into the long-standing partnership between FEA and the General Services Administration (GSA).
Agenda
- Overview and explanation of the FBPTA
- FBPTA’s impact on asset and facility management
- Importance of workforce development and training
- Industry including human health and cybersecurity
What you need to know: Facility and maintenance takeaways
Takeaway 1: The role of FBPTA in enhancing asset management and workforce development
You can think of the FBPTA as a set of tools that help organizations identify skills gaps within their workforce, specifically in facility and asset management, and provide targeted training to address these gaps. The program promotes the continual development and training for facility professionals, enhancing their ability to operate and maintain assets efficiently, saving costs and increasing occupant satisfaction.
“Responsible asset management requires continuous workforce development, and if you are not engaged in continually developing the skills of your facilities professionals, you are not serving the occupants or your stakeholders or shareholders,” explains Dale. “Biggest takeaway from all of this is that there are tools out there to help you develop your workforce development program,” adds Roskowski.
Takeaway 2: The focus on enhancing human health in the built environment in asset management
The well-being of occupants within the built environment is becoming a focal point in asset management — especially for the federal government — with an emphasis on creating healthy and satisfying environments for occupants.
Dale explains why: “If you have healthy, happy occupants, the idea is that that increases productivity.”
The trend represents an important shift in the field of asset management, where the health and satisfaction of the occupants have become as important as the efficiency and effectiveness of facility operations.
Takeaway 3: The need for continuous learning and up-to-date competency models in facility management
With rapid changes in technology and the built environment, continuous learning and staying up to date with relevant competencies is essential for facility professionals, the guests explain. The FBPTA provides an annually updated competency model to ensure that facility professionals keep abreast of the latest knowledge and skills needed in the industry.
“There are tools out there to help you develop your workforce development program. There are tools out there to help you figure out the skills gaps in your workforce specific to facility management and asset management. So, take advantage of those tools,” advises Roskowski.
Asset management insights
- The FBPTA can enhance asset management by improving the ability of the workforce to operate and maintain assets efficiently.
- The act includes a competency model that outlines the skills and knowledge required for professionals working in facilities, which organizations can use to identify skill gaps and find suitable training.
- The act has helped to incorporate emerging trends such as cybersecurity and decarbonization into the competency model, ensuring that professionals are prepared for current and future industry trends.
- There is an increasing focus on enhancing human health in the built environment, which can lead to increased productivity.
Listen to the full podcast here.
Go deeper. Dive into more episodes of Eptura’s Asset Champion podcasts.
By Jonathan Davis
Jonathan writes about asset management, maintenance software, and SaaS solutions in his role as a digital content creator at Eptura. He covers trends across industries, including fleet, manufacturing, healthcare, and hospitality, with a focus on delivering thought leadership with actionable insights. Earlier in his career, he wrote textbooks, edited NPC dialogue for video games, and taught English as a foreign language. He hold a master's degree in journalism.
