Construction Experience Paves Way to Facilities

11/6/2025

Barry Brandenburg’s role as maintenance manager at the expanding Medical College of Wisconsin is rooted in his early experiences in the trades, construction and project management, which have prepared him for the challenges of overseeing projects and preparing for inevitable surprises.

Facilities Maintenance Decision: What was your first facilities-related job? How did you find it? 

Barry Brandenburg: I started my career on the supply side of the trades, which gave me solid grounding in operations management. That work naturally included elements of project management, and over time, I gained valuable experience overseeing a wide range of construction and maintenance projects. 

After moving to the Milwaukee area, I took on the role of facilities director at Mount Mary University. It’s a relatively small campus with student housing, a fieldhouse and a number of historic buildings. 

Working within a limited budget meant that maintaining the facilities was a constant challenge but also a great opportunity to become more resourceful and creative in how we got essential work done. 

FMD: What led you from that job to your current position? 

Brandenburg: After several years in that position, I was offered the chance to join the Medical College of Wisconsin as a maintenance manager and network administrator. The larger campus brought with it expanded resources, a broader scope of responsibilities and more opportunities for professional growth. It has been a rewarding transition, allowing me to further develop both my technical and leadership skills while managing increasingly complex projects in a dynamic environment. 

At the Medical College of Wisconsin, our maintenance team supports a diverse mix of spaces, including student areas, research labs, clinical offices and vivariums — often all within a single building. Each of these spaces comes with its own unique environmental and operational requirements. 

Our campus includes older buildings and newly built facilities, which makes for an interesting challenge: integrating legacy systems with modern technologies to ensure smooth, efficient and reliable operations across the board. 

FMD: What projects or other accomplishments in your career are you proud of? 

Brandenburg: One of the accomplishments I’m proudest of is having played a role — albeit a small one — in some of Milwaukee’s more high-profile construction projects, including the Midwest Express Center and Miller Park, both of which have since been renamed. It was meaningful to be part of projects that have had such a lasting presence in the community. 

More recently, during my time with the Medical College of Wisconsin, I’ve been fortunate to be part of the team responsible for the last two major buildings constructed on campus. These experiences have not only been professionally rewarding but also a great source of pride in contributing to long-standing and impactful institutions. 

FMD: What has surprised you the most about facilities management? 

Brandenburg: On any given day, we can get a surprise. One thing I’ve learned in this field is that no two days are ever quite the same. There is always a new problem to solve, and each one is a chance to learn something new. I’m lucky to work with a skilled and dedicated team that is always ready to meet those challenges head-on. 

One ongoing hurdle we face is staffing. While it is often said there is a shortage of good jobs out there, our experience has been the opposite. We’ve had difficulty finding and retaining qualified people, especially as some of our experienced staff approach retirement. It is an issue we are actively working on through recruitment and retention efforts, but it remains a significant challenge. 

FMD: What is one thing you would change about your career if you could?  

Brandenburg: Looking back, if there is one thing I might have done differently, it is choosing this career path sooner. I spent time in another field before discovering my passion for facilities and operations, and sometimes I wonder where I would be now if I had made the switch earlier. 

Are you interested in being featured in Facilities Maintenance decision's Career Path column? If so, please email assistant editor Jeff Wardon, Jr. at jeff.wardon@tradepress.com for more details. 

Dan Hounsell is the senior editor for the facilities market.