Ep. 400: "Do or Do Not" – Celebrating Star Wars, Facility Management and the Future of the Workplace with Friends from our IFMA Community

Host Mike Petrusky welcomes six past guests from the show to reflect on his past decade of podcasts, the current state of FM, and the future of the workplace as we celebrate our 400th episode. Recorded in San Francisco during IFMA's Facility Fusion 2026, the conversation centers on how the facility management landscape has dramatically shifted over the years with the need for leadership, culture-building, and understanding human behavior becoming essential for success in the workplace today. Mike and his guests explore how AI and automation are reshaping the FM industry enabling professionals to focus more on strategic work, their personal upskilling, and delivering value beyond transactional tasks. Relationships in the IFMA community enable professional growth, collaboration, and innovation as we emphasize the need for resilience, optimism, and human connection as we care for the built environment. Music and pop culture serve as unifying elements as Mike and his guests share stories from the show, along with the encouragement and the inspiration you need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization! Connect with René Jackson, MBA, CFM on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rene-jackson/ Connect with Lena Thompson, IFMA Fellow, FMP, SFP on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lena-thompson-fmp-sfp/ Connect with Amanda Muzzarelli on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandamuzzarelli/ Connect with Vik Bangia, MCR on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vik-bangia-mcr-0b54522/ Connect with James Waddell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcwaddell/ Connect with Wayne Whitzell, CFM, FMP, SFP, LEED AP, BEP, IFMA Fellow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayne-whitzell-cfm-fmp-sfp-leed-ap-bep-ifma-fellow-147870b/ Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSkmmkVFvM4H3pwnlU2AuqynuRDpvnh4J Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/workplace-innovator/ Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/ Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/