How Facility Managers Can Earn a Seat at the Decision-Making Table episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 11, 2026 · 36 MIN

How Facility Managers Can Earn a Seat at the Decision-Making Table

from Connected FM · host Wayne Whitzell, Grant Sommerfeld, Elizabeth Shelton

Host Wayne Whitzell, Senior VP Strategic Accounts, SOLID Surface Care and First Vice Chair on IFMA's Global Executive Board welcomes Grant Sommerfeld, president of IFMA's FM Consultants Council and founder of Executive FM, for a conversation about the challenges facing facility managers today. Drawing on his experience leading FM transformations across healthcare, municipal government and higher education, Grant shares why many organizations remain trapped in reactive operating models and what leaders can do to break the cycle. The discussion explores the importance of data driven decision making, the communication gap between FM teams and executive leadership, and why facility managers need a stronger voice before major organizational decisions are made. Grant also explains how consultants can help organizations build internal capabilities, improve stakeholder communication and create more sustainable operating models that don't rely on individual heroics to succeed. Resources: Connet with Grant on LinkedIn Connect with Us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ifmaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFacilityManagementAssociation/Twitter: https://twitter.com/IFMAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifma_hq/YouTube: https://youtube.com/ifmaglobalVisit us at https://ifma.org

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 11, 2026

Embed this episode

Facility management teams are often expected to solve problems they didn't create while operating with limited influence over key decisions. In this episode, Wayne Whitzell sits down with consultant and FM Consultants Council President Grant Sommerfeld to discuss why FM leaders must move beyond reactive operations, use data more effectively and communicate differently with executive leadership.

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.

Ready to play

How Facility Managers Can Earn a Seat at the Decision-Making Table

0:00 36:31

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Connected FM?

This episode is 36 minutes long.

When was this Connected FM episode published?

This episode was published on August 11, 2026.

Can I download this Connected FM episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!