Meet the Facility Manager – Nick Lemm of U.S. Xpress
What is it like to manage the real estate and facilities for largest privately held truckload carrier in the country? You’ll find out in this edition of Meet the Facility Manager.
Today, we are pleased to introduce you to Nick Lemm, Director of Corp. Real Estate & Facilities for U.S. Xpress, Inc., which is based out of Chattanooga. We are honored to call U.S. Xpress a client of DPM Care. And we are excited to feature Nick and the great work he is doing on the blog today.
Meet Chattanooga Facility Manager Nick Lemm
What is your role at U.S. Xpress, Inc.?
I oversee all site selection, real estate transactions, construction & development, and facilities maintenance for the company.
How did you get involved with facility management?
The facilities responsibilities at the company were merged with the existing real estate department.
What is the biggest challenge you face in your current role?
Balancing workload & limited resources to meet expectations.
What has been your biggest success story in your current role?
A strategic long-term lease negotiation on a property where we achieved below-market rental rates for several years.
What is your best piece of advice to others in facility management?
Never stop improving and focus on providing optimum solutions.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
I really enjoy the construction and development aspect of my job.
What’s unique about your specific role with your company that may be different from another facility manager’s role?
The real estate aspect. My role is a one-stop-shop for everything related to properties. It begins from inception at the site selection, onto purchase/lease, construction/renovation, and ongoing maintenance.
Describe what a day in your role looks like.
Multitasking, problem resolution, budgeting, purchasing decision making, workload prioritization, and significant communication.
How does having a clean building help your customers businesses?
It improves employee morale and it creates an overall respect for the workplace while setting a standard.
How does preventative maintenance create value for you or your business?
It allows us to reduce downtime, plus it prolongs the life of equipment/furnishings/carpet.
How has DPM Care’s service impacted your business?
DPM has extended the life of our carpet which has delayed a significant capital expenditure of replacing our existing flooring.
What is the biggest facility management trend you are seeing right now?
Real-time work order management.
Thank you for sharing with us, Nick!