Advertise on podcast: Facility Voices

What does it take to go from digging ditches to leading hospital operations? In this episode of Facility Voices, Jordan Smith, VP & Chief Operations Officer at AdventHealth Riverview, shares his unconventional journey from the skilled trades to the healthcare C-suite. From plumbing and construction to facilities management and executive leadership, Jordan reflects on how hands-on experience, strong relationships, and teamwork shaped his career. Jordan discusses the challenges of opening a new hospital, building a team from scratch, and connecting facilities professionals to the impact they have on patient care. He also shares insights on building trust with executives, planning for long-term facility needs, and embracing AI to improve operational efficiency. Throughout the conversation, Jordan emphasizes the importance of mentorship, communication, and creating a culture where people feel valued and motivated to succeed. Tune in to hear Jordan Smith’s story and insights from the front lines of facilities management. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Each episode of Facility Voices includes supplementary content that expands on key themes and insights from the conversation. You can find that additional material at: https://www.arcfacilities.com/facilityvoices  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jordan Smith brings more than a decade of experience in healthcare operations, facilities management, and large-scale construction projects. From founding a successful contracting business in his early twenties to leading operations at a newly built hospital, Jordan has built his career on developing high-performing teams, improving operational efficiency, and building strong partnerships. He holds an MBA from the University of South Florida, along with multiple professional certifications. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Jordan is passionate about mentorship and giving back to his community. He lives in the Tampa Bay area with his wife, Julie, and their three children. Thanks for listening. Follow David Trask on LinkedIn to share feedback. Visit the ARC Facilities LinkedIn page ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The views and opinions expressed by third-party guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of ARC Facilities and ARC Document Solutions. We provide a platform for diverse perspectives and discussions and ARC Facilities/ARC Document Solutions assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content provided by our third-party guests.

In this episode of Facility Voices, Nico Viola, Director of Facilities at Holden Forests & Gardens, shares how a childhood spent working alongside his grandfather helped shape a career in construction, project management, and ultimately facilities management. Nico takes listeners behind the scenes of two remarkably different campuses: the Cleveland Botanical Garden and Holden Arboretum. From maintaining complex biome environments and research laboratories to managing rural infrastructure, roads, equipment, and private water systems, his team supports an operation where facilities directly impact scientific research and the visitor experience. The conversation explores the importance of designing flexible research spaces, building infrastructure redundancy, supporting volunteers and educational programs, and using data and technology to make smarter operational decisions. Nico also reflects on the larger purpose behind the work: creating spaces where research can thrive and people can connect with nature. Tune in to hear Nico Viola’s story and insights from the front lines of facilities management. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Each episode of Facility Voices includes supplementary content that expands on key themes and insights from the conversation. You can find that additional material at: https://www.arcfacilities.com/facilityvoices  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nico Viola brings over 20 years of experience across real estate, construction, and facilities management, with a proven track record of delivering projects nationwide. Known for his deep industry knowledge and hands-on approach, he has built a reputation for leading complex initiatives with professionalism, precision, and a passion for the built environment. His expertise spans project management, estimating, production oversight, and program development, supported by active involvement in industry associations and ongoing professional education. Nico currently serves as President of the IFMA Museums and Cultural Institutions Council and was honored as a recipient of the 2022 Facilities Champion Award. As a speaker, he shares practical insights drawn from real-world experience, helping organizations navigate challenges and elevate performance across the built environment. Thanks for listening. Follow David Trask on LinkedIn to share feedback. Visit the ARC Facilities LinkedIn page ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The views and opinions expressed by third-party guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of ARC Facilities and ARC Document Solutions. We provide a platform for diverse perspectives and discussions and ARC Facilities/ARC Document Solutions assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content provided by our third-party guests.

In this episode of Facility Voices, Kim Thompson, Director of Facilities Management at CommonSpirit Health, shares the career journey that took her from architecture and K–12 facilities into the complex, always-on world of healthcare. Kim reflects on how moving from design to facilities changed her perspective, teaching her to think beyond aesthetics and function to the long-term realities of maintaining buildings and supporting the people inside them. She discusses the unique demands of healthcare facilities, where 24/7 operations, complex building systems, and careful coordination all play a role in supporting patient care. The conversation also explores Kim’s approach to leadership, from listening to and learning from her team to collaborating with other facilities leaders across the organization. She shares how tools like SBAR help communicate needs to leadership, build stronger business cases, and connect infrastructure investments to their real-world impact. Tune in to hear Kim Thompson’s story and insights from the front lines of facilities management. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Each episode of Facility Voices includes supplementary content that expands on key themes and insights from the conversation. You can find that additional material at: https://www.arcfacilities.com/facilityvoices  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kim Thompson is a Facilities Director with more than 26 years of experience spanning design, education, higher education, and healthcare. With a B.S. in Architectural Studies from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, she brings a unique design perspective to facilities management, focusing on long-term maintainability, operational efficiency, and collaboration. For the past eight years, Kim has worked in higher education and healthcare, where she is passionate about supporting safe, reliable facilities that directly contribute to patient care. Thanks for listening. Follow David Trask on LinkedIn to share feedback. Visit the ARC Facilities LinkedIn page ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The views and opinions expressed by third-party guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of ARC Facilities and ARC Document Solutions. We provide a platform for diverse perspectives and discussions and ARC Facilities/ARC Document Solutions assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content provided by our third-party guests.

In this episode of Facility Voices, Walt Kanzler, Senior Director of Project Quality Management at the University of California, San Diego, shares how a career that began in architecture evolved into a focus on project quality, sustainability, and smarter facility operations. Drawing on experience in private architecture, higher education, and corporate facilities, Walt explains how UC San Diego manages standards and project delivery across a complex portfolio of more than 760 buildings. He explores how detailed design guidelines, specifications, commissioning, and closeout processes help create facilities that operations teams can maintain long after construction ends. Walt also discusses the importance of bringing facilities teams into projects early, creating feedback loops around lessons learned, and extending commissioning into the warranty period. At the center of it all is collaboration—between project managers, operations teams, designers, contractors, and subject matter experts—to improve handoffs and continuously refine campus standards. Tune in to hear Walt Kanzler’s story and insights from the front lines of facilities management. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Each episode of Facility Voices includes supplementary content that expands on key themes and insights from the conversation. You can find that additional material at: https://www.arcfacilities.com/facilityvoices  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Walt Kanzler is the Senior Director of Project Quality Management at UC San Diego, where he focuses on strengthening the connection between capital projects and long-term facilities operations. A licensed architect and LEED Fellow with more than 25 years of public- and private-sector experience, Walt has built his career around bridging design, construction, sustainability, and facility performance. He also contributes to the University of California Green Building Working Group, helping advance sustainability and decarbonization efforts. At UC San Diego, Walt develops standards and processes that improve project closeouts, strengthen collaboration, and ensure maintenance teams have the information and infrastructure needed to operate efficient, resilient, high-performing facilities from day one.  Thanks for listening. Follow David Trask on LinkedIn to share feedback. Visit the ARC Facilities LinkedIn page ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The views and opinions expressed by third-party guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of ARC Facilities and ARC Document Solutions. We provide a platform for diverse perspectives and discussions and ARC Facilities/ARC Document Solutions assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content provided by our third-party guests.