FacilitiesNet is debuting the Facilities in Focus podcast hosted by associate editor Mackenna Moralez in February 2025. The first season will cover emergency preparedness, diving deep into topics ranging from disaster recovery, active shooter drills, cybersecurity, wildfire safety and more. Moralez engages with a wide range of guests, including facility managers, delving into the lessons they learned from these events and what advice they have for fellow managers who may be experiencing the same thing.
In this sneak peak of episode 1 of Facilities in Focus, Moralez speaks with Dave Pettit, director of facilities of Joplin Schools about the community’s journey of resiliency and recovery following the devastating 2011 tornado that ravished the town and killed 158 people. In the episode, Pettit reflects on the emotional and physical scars left behind and describes lessons that were learned in the aftermath of the natural disaster.
“What defines us is not the tornado, but the resiliency of the human spirit,” Pettit says in the episode. “It's about how our community came together to rebuild — new schools, businesses, and lives. We can't choose what happens to us, but we can choose our response, and I couldn't be prouder of Joplin for how we overcame.”
The Facilities in Focus podcast will publish bi-weekly episodes starting in February. Future seasons will cover new technologies and education facilities. Listeners can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or listen on FacilitiesNet.com.
