Meet the Manager: Debra Howell of JLL
At DPM Care, we are honored to work closely with incredible facility managers and property managers across the Southeast. And we know you have a tough job. Every company has unique needs. And it’s your job to make sure your facility meets the demands of your team – which is no small task.
Our Meet the Managers series continues with Debra Howell. Debra began in March 2010 as the Senior Facility Manager with JLL in Nashville, TN. Read on to hear from her about what it’s like to manage the facilities for the leading innovator in the global real estate market.
Meet Debra Howell of JLL
What is your role as senior facility manager?
I oversee the management and services for a portfolio in eight states, encompassing; administrative sites, call centers and critical environment data centers.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Every day can look different. Within my role, some weekends I am on call because we need to be able to respond to our client quickly. Since I oversee a critical data center facility, all equipment has to be 100% operational at all times. We take this very seriously and if there is a disruption to the equipment we respond immediately, even if it is in the middle of the night.
How big is your facility?
Over one million square feet. I manage over 30 buildings across eight states.
What is the biggest challenge you face in your role?
Individuals not adhering to the corporate standards and being mandated to use the national contractors.
What is your best piece of advice to other facility managers?
Anticipate your client’s needs. Also, every Monday we have a motivation meeting as a team. Within this time we talk about our customers and how we can improve those relationships. We have five fundamentals to building relationships with clients – provide quality, maintain integrity by keeping our commitments, communicate effectively, keep focus but be adaptable, and become a long-time partner with your client.
What is your favorite part of your job?
The people and the resources that are available to me. I have an amazing client that I get to work with.
How does having a clean building help your business?
We all want to work in a clean environment and it also helps to improve performance.
How does preventative maintenance create value for you, or your business?
Pre-scheduled preventative maintenance allows the Facility Manager more time to concentrate on other critical issues.
How has DPM Care’s service impacted your business?
DPM professionals are such a pleasure to work with and based on the green method of cleaning that DPM uses, my client experiences a clean environment and no residual harsh odors.