Meet the Facility Manager: Jeff Rutherford of Meadows & Ohly
Although facility and property managers share similar roles within their companies, their work can vary greatly depending on the type of buildings they manage.
That is definitely the case for today’s featured facility manager, Jeff Rutherford of Meadows & Ohly. Today, we’ll get a closer look at what it takes to manage medical office spaces and the facility trends in the healthcare space.
We’re excited to shine the spotlight on one of the great people we work with from the Atlanta office of DPM Care. We love the opportunity to highlight the great people that we get to work with each and every day.
Keep reading to learn more about Jeff and his experience as a facility manager.
Meet Atlanta Facility Manager Jeff Rutherford of Meadows & Ohly
What is your role at Meadows & Ohly, LLC?
I am a senior portfolio manager at Meadows & Ohly. In this role, I oversee the management and leasing of 1.1 million square feet of medical office space for a large hospital system in Atlanta.
How did you get involved with facility management?
I was introduced to our firm through a contact at our church and I started without any knowledge of commercial real estate. I’ve learned many things over the past ten years, and I look forward to continually learning in this role.
How many square feet do you manage?
I oversee a portfolio of 17 buildings totaling 1.1 million square feet.
What is the biggest challenge you face in your current role?
Juggling operations, leasing and tenant relations can be difficult. Making sure that each tenant feels like their concerns are my only concerns is difficult as well, but necessary.
What is your best piece of advice to others in your role?
Get to know your tenants. When issues arise, it is much easier to explain problems to someone you know.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
I love that each day is different. In our roles, there are many variables in play constantly and something is always requiring attention.
What’s unique about managing medical offices?
We handle medical office facilities only, so we’re working with physicians and health systems daily. We aim to create environments that are calm for patients while allowing physicians to deliver world class healthcare.
Additionally, our standards for cleanliness are much higher than standard office buildings.
Describe what a day in your role looks like.
It’s difficult to describe a typical day as they are all different. My favorite days are spent at our buildings where I can interact with tenants and our building management team.
What facility trends are you seeing in the healthcare space right now?
The trend in healthcare continues to move towards higher end suites and finishes. Patient experiences are influenced by not only their physician visit, but by the condition of the suite and the overall look of the building/office.
How does having a clean building help your clients?
First impressions are everything in our roles. Hospitals receive patient feedback regarding their entire experience and our buildings are involved in their responses. If our facilities are not cleaned and maintained, the impression to patients is that the hospital is also not well kept.
How does preventative maintenance create value for your clients?
Preventative maintenance extends the useful life of components from carpets to HVAC units. Investing in preventative maintenance is a no brainer in our business. We have taken over buildings where PM programs were not in place and expensive components needed replacement well before their useful life.
How has DPM Care’s service impacted your business?
DPM has cleaned our carpets and tile for a few years now. Their approach and customer service is top notch and our facilities look great!
Thank you, Jeff, for the opportunity to shine a light on your work. We appreciate you sharing your experience with our readers!