Mark Baker took a nontraditional path through facilities that has brought him to the Denver Art Museum. Along the way, he has found opportunities to learn in the military, corporations and higher education in the Middle East.
FMD: What job or event led you into facilities management?
Mark Baker: I spent 30 years as a U.S. Air Force pilot and commander, retiring at the rank of full colonel in 2012. After retiring from the Air Force, I transitioned into commercial aviation and airports and then more specifically into facilities and infrastructure management.
It was a transferable skill I had acquired and developed while commanding operations in the Air Force, and it provided an entry point for me while transitioning from Air Force blue to corporate gray, as they say. I started by developing a campus facilities operations plan for Zayed University in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to help them build a campus management plan for their institution as part of their accreditation. I was responsible for the campus grounds, classrooms, cafeteria, and conference center.
I then moved on to Denver International Airport as the senior vice president for airport infrastructure management and finally to the Denver Art Museum to help them build their first independent facilities department. In addition to the facilities care and upkeep of two museum buildings, my team also cares for the administrative building and the cultural campus grounds.
FMD: What were your goals when you started your career in facilities management?
Baker: My goal in every job I have ever done has been to leave the campsite better than I found it. It’s something I learned very young as an Eagle Scout in high school. I set the goal of achieving my Certified Facilities Management certification from the International Facilities Management Association as a way of showing potential employers and my team that I knew what I was talking about when it came to the business of facilities management. I think training and education are important elements of what make us a professional operation and not just another job.
FMD: How has facilities management changed since you started?
Baker: I think there is growing recognition of the importance of facilities management when it comes to the success of any business. This was really brought out in a big way as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Business began to realize the healthy and safe operation of the buildings is important to the bottom line, and having a cadre of professionals that know how to make that happen is important.
Gone are the days of us hearing that anyone can do that job. More and more, the value of the facilities department in any organization is being recognized, and that's a good thing. We need more folks willing to go into the skilled trades and work their way up in organizations.
FMD: What has surprised you the most about facilities management?
Baker: How fun the job can actually be. No day is ever the same. If you love problem solving and the chance to do a variety of different things, then this job is for you.
I find a lot of what I learn at work has direct applicability at home and in the community and vice versa. It's rewarding to be able to find a fix to a problem that everyone is then thankful for. There are always multiple opportunities to be the person of the hour when you make a hot place cold or a cold place hot or get the water flowing again. Don’t underestimate the value of functional restrooms to a 24/7 operation.
I wouldn’t change a thing about my career. I have enjoyed every moment that I have been afforded. I would say that we don’t teach young folks about the incredible benefits and career choices that exist in the skilled trades. As a nation we need to get back to respecting and valuing the importance of all those areas of work. Not everyone needs a college education to have an incredible career.
FMD: What would you tell someone entering the profession?
Baker: I would say never pass on an opportunity to learn something new, and always keep striving to explore new challenges. Sometimes, it is scary to take a leap of faith and move to a new job area as part of your career growth, but it is those stretch moments that open the doors to unexpected job offers that can change your world. Be bold, and have confidence in yourself.
Dan Hounsell is senior editor for the facilities market. He has more than 30 years of experience writing about facilities maintenance, engineering and management.
Are you interested in sharing your career path with the readers of Facility Maintenance Decisions? Contact Dan Hounsell at dan.hounsell@tradepress.com.
