The Clean Slate

Have you ever wondered how clear processes can transform your business? Today’s episode features Jacqui Jones, the CEO and founder of Way We Do, a process management platform helping businesses and franchisees build consistency and efficiency.  This engaging conversation highlights why processes and SOPs aren't just documents—they’re the foundation of a thriving business. Jacqui offers practical advice on how leaders can inspire teams to follow procedures, tackle resistance to change, and continuously improve workflows.  Whether you're a franchisee trying to stick to established playbooks or an entrepreneur looking to streamline operations, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you create a well-oiled business machine.  What You’ll Learn in This Episode:  Why clear, consistent processes are the backbone of every successful business  Strategies for encouraging teams to adopt and follow procedures  How to identify and improve inefficient workflows  The role of leadership and change management in process adoption  Tips for fostering open communication and collaboration within teams  Jacqui also touches on the behavioral challenges when it comes to getting people on board with processes, offering insightful ways to overcome resistance and create alignment.  Key Takeaways:  Leadership is Key: Leaders must not only communicate the importance of processes but also actively guide teams through training and change management.  Open to Change: Processes should be adaptable. Always listen to on-ground feedback and refine where necessary.  Clarity Equals Consistency: Providing clear, actionable procedures ensures everyone is aligned toward organizational goals.  Resources & Links  Learn more about Way We Do → Way We Do Website  Check out Jacqui’s recommended book from the episode → "The E-Myth : Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It," by Michael E Gerber (We are not amazon affiliates and will not earn commission on your purchase)Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to share your thoughts and leave a review! ⬇ Hope you enjoy the listen 🎙️.

Episode 16: Designing Soundscapes for Workplace Productivity with Fran BoardWelcome to Episode 16 of the OpenWorks Podcast!In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of soundscaping and how it can transform workplaces into havens of productivity and well-being. Our special guest, Fran Board, Marketing Director at Moodsonic, takes us on a deep dive into the science and art of creating personalized soundscapes that enhance the work environment.Episode Highlights:Understanding Soundscaping: Fran shares her intriguing career path from visual design to her passion for multisensory design. She explains how soundscaping differs from traditional acoustics and noise mitigation, offering a holistic approach to enhancing our auditory environment.The Power of Nature Sounds: Discover why nature sounds play a crucial role in soundscaping and how they can be integrated into workspaces to create calming and productive atmospheres. Fran also discusses the trend of biophilic design and its connection to sound.Creating Dynamic Soundscapes: Learn about the technology and techniques behind Moodsonic's innovative soundscapes. Fran explains how they use a vast library of nature sounds, layering and adjusting them in real time to suit the environment and activity levels.AI and Real-Time Adaptation: Fran sheds light on how AI allows Moodsonic's soundscapes to respond dynamically to changes in the workplace environment, ensuring a seamless and beneficial auditory experience.Meet Our Guest:Fran Board has a unique blend of expertise in music, multisensory design, and marketing. With over a decade of experience in soundscaping across industries like retail and healthcare, Fran brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity to Moodsonic. Her enthusiasm for sound's impact on our lives is palpable, making this episode both informative and inspiring.Explore More:Follow us on Social: Stay updated with OpenWorks by following us on social media for more insightful content and updates.Explore Moodsonic: Discover how soundscaping can benefit your workspace by visiting Moodsonic's website for more information and resources.Tune in now to explore how soundscapes can enhance your work environment and boost productivity. Whether you're looking to optimize your office or simply intrigued by the sensory world, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice. Connect with Us!OpenWorks Website: https://www.openworksweb.com/resources Moodsonic Website: https://www.moodsonic.com/Trista Sobeck LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristasobeck/ Fran Board LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fran-board/

In this episode of Clean Slate, we welcome Ryan Fountain, the Director of Facilities at VXI, a global call center solutions provider. Ryan shares his insights and experiences about the importance of relationship building in facilities management and how it impacts overall business operations. Tune in to learn about the behind-the-scenes work that keeps VXI running smoothly, and why robust partnerships are crucial for success. Guest Bio Ryan Fountain, Director of Facilities, VXI Ryan Fountain is a results-oriented facility professional with a 15-year track record of direct facility management experience in both public and private sectors. He believes in building strong partnerships to enhance overall business operations. Don't miss this insightful discussion on the importance of relationship building in facilities management. Listen now and discover how strong partnerships can make a significant impact on your business operations.  For more episodes and updates, follow us on social media and subscribe to Clean Slate.  Connect with Us OpenWorks Website: https://www.openworksweb.com/resources VXI Website: https://vxi.com/ Trista Sobeck LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristasobeck/ Ryan Fountain LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ryan-fountain-a0b70130 Subscribe & Review If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us bring more valuable content to you!

Today we speak with Claire Coder, the CEO and Founder of Aunt Flow. Claire has been a pioneer in providing free period care products for those who menstruate and has been at the forefront of advocating for accessible menstrual products in public bathrooms for over eight years.Hear about Aunt Flow's mission, the recent legislative changes in menstrual product accessibility, and how partnerships with facility management companies are reshaping the bathroom experience. Claire shares insights on the ease of ordering these products and the company's evolution over the years.Follow OpenWorks and Trista on social media and check out the website:Website: https://www.openworksweb.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@openworksfmLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openworks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/openworksaz/Trista: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristasobeck/Find more episodes of The Clean Slate at: https://www.openworksweb.com/podcastTo be a guest on the podcast or submit general business inquiries: Trista.sobeck@openworksweb.com

In this episode, we sit down with Geoff Snavely from Millicare for an insightful conversation that ranges from practical floor care tips to the philosophical aspects of facility management.We discuss best practices for keeping your floors clean and why it's essential, how vendors can be better partners for facility managers, aiming for the same goal of maintaining immaculate work environments, and the importance of back-to-work strategies in current times and how facility management plays a crucial role.Don't miss out—tune in now and elevate your facility management game!Follow OpenWorks and Trista on social media and check out the website: Website: https://www.openworksweb.com YouTube:  @openworksfm  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openworks/Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/openworksaz/Trista: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristasobeck/Find more episodes of The Clean Slate at: https://www.openworksweb.com/podcast‍ To be a guest on the podcast or submit general business inquiries: Trista.sobeck@openworksweb.com

In this episode of The Clean Slate podcast, we host Amanda Thies, Director of School Business Operations at Spring Education Group. In her role, Amanda manages capital expenditure budgets, ensures efficient facility management, and fosters communication between business operations and school administrations. We discuss the funding challenges that charter schools face and their impact on facility management, emphasizing the significance of budgeting and contractual responsibilities in ensuring the smooth operation of schools. Amanda even shares her personal experience transitioning from being a police officer to an educator and the similarities in problem-solving skills required for both roles. Today, she compares her role to "Santa Claus" – for reasons you'll have to listen to find out! Follow OpenWorks and Trista on social media and check out the website: Website: https://www.openworksweb.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@openworksfm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openworks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/openworksaz Trista: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristasobeck Find more episodes of The Clean Slate at: https://www.openworksweb.com/podcast‍ To be a guest on the podcast or submit general business inquiries: Trista.sobeck@openworksweb.com

Small Business Ownership is hard, but that doesn’t stop Marcus from engaging every day with focus and determination to deliver the best experience possible to his customers, employees, and himself. Marcus chats with us about what makes him successful, how he began his entrepreneurial journey, and what it takes to be a business owner responsible for the lives and experiences of so many he interacts with daily.  Follow OpenWorks and Trista on social media and check out the website:Website: https://www.openworksweb.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@openworksfmLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openworks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/openworksaz/Trista: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristasobeck/ Find more episodes of The Clean Slate at: https://www.openworksweb.com/podcastTo be a guest on the podcast or submit general business inquiries: Trista.sobeck@openworksweb.com

Welcome to the latest episode of our podcast, where we took a deep dive into the fascinating world of biophilic design with expert Paige Tisdale. Paige, a biophilic designer and educator, shares her profound knowledge on how plants can boost mental energy and overall wellness. From the history of her family business, Dennis' 7 D's, to exploring the integration of plant life within urban landscapes, this episode is packed with green insights. Paige discusses how plants are integral to not just physical spaces, but our mental and emotional well-being. Plus, get tips on how to incorporate plant life into your living and workspaces in innovative ways.Like what you hear? Be sure to leave us a review on your preferred podcast platform and share this episode with your fellow plant lovers and design enthusiasts.

In this episode, we have special guest Lauren Click from Let's Go Compost, who will be sharing her passion for sustainability and composting and how it ties into our daily lives. She’s on a mission to help educate schools and professionals about composting and the benefits it provides. As a bonus, a compost plan can help you meet some of your ESG goals!  Breakdown of Topics Lauren’s story  For the Love of Worms Helping the Community Food waste and greenhouse gases ESG Starting a Composting Program Partnering with Your City Learn more about Let’s Go Compost at https://www.letsgocompost.org/ Find out more about Lauren at https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenclick/  Follow OpenWorks and Trista on social media and check out the website:  Website: https://www.openworksweb.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@openworksfm  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openworks/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/openworksaz/  Trista: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristasobeck/ For more stories and deep dives into the facilities management profession and all that it entails subscribe to The Clean Slate on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Taylor Moody from Lysol joins us to discuss the impact of the work-from-home movement on commercial buildings and the cleaning industry. We explore the challenges faced by commercial buildings with reduced occupancy and the economic effects on property managers and urban environments. The conversation emphasizes the need for adaptive cleaning strategies to meet the changing demands of hybrid workplaces. It highlights the importance of clean buildings for mental wellness and the role of effective cleaning products in cost control. We also touch on the significance of standard operating procedures and inspection systems in maintaining cleanliness standards. We round it out with a discussion on the future of working from home and the potential benefits and challenges it presents.

We sat down with Gyan Awuku-Sao, a Facility Manager currently living in Ghana, Africa, working for Luxembourg-based Majorel. This company builds and delivers end-to-end customer experience solutions for leading brands. Gyan has the global background to explain why and how sustainability in FM is paramount for everyone to understand, wherever they live and whatever they do.Gyan talks about how we can help people pay attention to the changing environment and, most importantly, change their behavior. The little changes we can make will impact things like climate change. If you’re feeling like there is nothing anyone can do to help the Earth from pollution or negative human impacts, Gyan will give you a reason to believe that you, yes you, can help.To learn more about Gyan Awuku-Sao, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/gyan-awuk...To learn more about Majorel, please visit https://www.majorel.com/ Follow OpenWorks and Trista on social media and check out the website: Website: https://www.openworksweb.com/ YouTube: @openworksfm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/open... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/openworksaz/ Trista: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristasob...For more stories and deep dives into facilities management profession and all that it entails subscribe to The Clean Slate wherever you listen to podcasts.

How does someone even get into facilities management as a career? You never hear a kid say, “I want to be a facilities manager when I grow up?!” Why is that, and how can we encourage more people to enter the field? Traditionally known as a career that you “fall into” by luck or by being in the right place at the right time, facilities management has evolved into a lucrative and rewarding career that now features formal education with accredited degrees from major colleges and universities.Dean Stanberry, Dean Stanberry, Chairman, IFMA Global Board of Directors, has a storied career starting in IT and tech when his company needed someone to oversee facilities that housed intellectual property. As IFMA’s newest Chairman, he aims to spread FM education as far as he can to a new generation of career seekers.Dean chats with us about the many options that facilities management offers. He also talks about IFMA and the advantages membership brings. Dean explains what digital transformation means to FM and the real estate community and how to get the digital skills current professionals may not upskill themselves. Cyber security is a big area, as is AI. Dean explains how to learn what separates the hype from the reality. We also discuss the work-from-home trend and where knowledge workers will ultimately decide to work.Timestamp Breakdown of Topics2:34 – IFMA and its goals4:00 – FM as the accidental profession9:00 – Degree programs, certifications, and getting into FM; jobs and functions in FM14:30 – Trends in the industry, including digital transformation20:49 – Hybrid and flex working and the impact on buildings Lean more about IFMA at www.ifma.org Find out more about Dean at https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanstanberry/ Follow OpenWorks and Trista on social media and check out the website: Website: https://www.openworksweb.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@openworksfm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openworks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/openworksaz/ Trista: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristasobeck/For more stories and deep dives into facilities management profession and all that it entails subscribe to The Clean Slate on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

AI and Technology has recently been elevated by lofty national headlines. However, the shift in technology hasn’t been an overnight change. Facility Managers everywhere are leading the charge into the future of Digital Twins – a digital replica of the physical world we oversee. Our guest, Peter Costanzo, has been just one participant in the digital change happening all around us. Listen as he provides insights for where we are going and how far we’ve come in managing our buildings from a digital and data focused perspective. Follow Peter, ROI Consulting, and IFMA on social media!Peter Constanzo (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterjcostanzo/ROI Consulting (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/company/r.o.i.-consulting-group/IFMA (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/company/ifma/IFMA Digital Twin Survey (closes 7/10/23): https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/2kCNkg Follow OpenWorks and Trista on social media and check out the website:Website: https://www.openworksweb.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@openworksfmLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openworks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/openworksaz/Trista: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristasobeck/ Find more episodes of The Clean Slate at: https://www.openworksweb.com/podcastTo be a guest on the podcast or submit general business inquiries: Trista.sobeck@openworksweb.com

Facility managers have the opportunity to bring people together in beneficial ways. Listen as we chat with Aykean Matthews, Facility Director, International School, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago about why community is important and how you can build your own community regardless of where you work. Follow OpenWorks and Trista on social media and check out the website:Website: https://www.openworksweb.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@openworksfmLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openworks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/openworksaz/Trista: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristasobeck/ Find more episodes of The Clean Slate at: https://www.openworksweb.com/podcastTo be a guest on the podcast or submit general business inquiries: Trista.sobeck@openworksweb.com

Every facility must practice some type of maintenance. And, more than likely, has a maintenance schedule. But, are you just checking a box or following a thorough framework? If you find yourself continually replacing items because “it’s time” or experiencing failure after failure, even after a maintenance check, it’s time to rethink your maintenance strategy. Listen as we chat with Erik Hupjé, owner of Road to Reliability, to discuss finding solutions to make your maintenance program more efficient and effective. Learn more about the importance of planning, scheduling, training, and establishing a solid preventative maintenance program. Follow Road to Reliability and Erik on social media and check out the website:Website: https://roadtoreliability.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikhupje/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roadtoreliability YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReliabilityAcademy Email: erik@r2reliability.com  Follow OpenWorks and Trista on social media and check out the website:Website: https://www.openworksweb.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@openworksfmLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openworks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/openworksaz/Trista: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristasobeck/ Find more episodes of The Clean Slate at: https://www.openworksweb.com/podcastTo be a guest on the podcast or submit general business inquiries: Trista.sobeck@openworksweb.com

Control. Everyone wants it and not everyone has it. As a manager or director of a building, you need that everyday control. From monitoring security to overseeing maintenance, it's on you if it doesn't get done. But, unfortunately, when it comes to your commercial cleaning team, if you insource, you may not have the control you want. But why? Listen to what, Mary Torrado, a 15-year veteran of the commercial cleaning industry in operations, has to say about how you can get--and keep--control.Find more episodes of The Clean Slate at: https://www.openworksweb.com/podcastTo be a guest on the podcast or submit general business inquiries: Trista.sobeck@openworksweb.comFollow Trista and Mary on social media!Trista: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristasobeck/Mary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-torrado-0bba1755/Follow OpenWorks on social media and check out the website:Website: https://www.openworksweb.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openworks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/openworksaz/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@openworksfm