How Trena Ellis Led Facility Management Projects in California and India episode artwork

EPISODE · Oct 21, 2025 · 35 MIN

How Trena Ellis Led Facility Management Projects in California and India

from Connected FM · host Trena Ellis, Elizabeth Shelton, Wayne Whitzell

What does it take to grow from hands-on project work to leading teams and shaping strategy? In this episode, Second Vice Chair President on IFMA's Global Board of Directors, Wayne Whitzell, interviews Trena Ellis, Vice President of Facilities and Physical Security at Safe Credit Union, who shares her career journey across local builds in Northern California to international projects in Bangalore, India.Trena opens up about the shift from being a doer to becoming a delegator, the power of networking and strong vendor partnerships, and how involvement with organizations like IFMA has expanded her perspective. Along the way, she offers valuable insights for both seasoned leaders and professionals just starting their FM careers.Sponsor:This episode is sponsored by ODP Business Solutions!Time stamps:00:00 Introduction and Career Beginnings00:11 Welcome to Connected FM01:30 Guest Introduction: Trena Ellis02:39 Early Career and IFMA Involvement04:04 Memorable Moments and Lessons Learned08:04 Major Projects and Challenges12:24 International Experience in India20:01 The Importance of Networking and Vendor Relationships27:55 Leadership and Delegation33:19 Advice for Aspiring Facility Managers34:55 Conclusion and Farewell 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 Oct 21, 2025

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Trena Ellis, Vice President of Facilities and Physical Security at Safe Credit Union, shares her career journey from local projects in Northern California to global work in Bangalore, India. She discusses leadership growth, the value of networking and vendor relationships, and how involvement in organizations like IFMA can open doors for FM professionals.

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