Foundational Facility Management Consulting grew out of years of real experience. Stephanie and I never sat down and mapped out a plan to start a consulting company. We kept saying yes to the work in front of us, and over time, we saw the same needs and the same struggles in every facility we worked in. That path eventually led us to create something that could help churches in a very practical way.
How Our Work in Facilities Began
Stephanie and I are originally from Michigan. We spent about seven years in Louisville, Kentucky, and now live in the Tampa, Florida area with our three daughters. Over those years we found ourselves involved in facility care in many different environments, and each one taught us something that helped shape what we do today.
Our first experience came through a company we started in Michigan called Elite Facility Services. We handled commercial cleaning, some residential cleaning, commercial lawn care, and light facility work. We got into it because we had built our own home and enjoyed the trades.
I had also spent more than eleven years in a job where I served as both the facility manager and the purchasing manager. I handled contractor relationships, signed contracts, and coordinated the work being done. Between that and our interest in running our own business, the direction made sense.
One thing that really drove us during those years was the extra level of care we tried to bring to our clients. We took personal responsibility for their facilities. We liked noticing the details and helping things run smoother. Those early experiences taught us the importance of paying attention and staying ahead of problems. That approach carried into everything we have done since.
Serving in Church Facilities
After selling that business, we were planning to move, but an opportunity opened at our church. For almost three years we managed the facility, the janitorial team, event planning, and the cleanup for those events. It came together at the right time for us and for the business manager at the church. We had seen things we thought we could help with, and she was ready to hand off some of the responsibilities.
During that time we saw right away that the church was operating with a reactive plan. Most of the time a reactive plan means there is no plan. You fix something when it breaks. We slowly started to implement a more preventive approach. Even small changes made a big difference. The building improved, the work became more organized, and the staff had fewer surprises.
Facility Experience Across Many Industries
After our time at the church, I continued working in different areas of facility management. I managed YMCA buildings. I worked in county library systems. I served as a lead on teams that would go into counties and universities to tag and document every facility asset so the organization would know exactly what they had.
We also stayed involved in hands-on work and managed facility maintenance for a daycare, and worked in residential and commercial environments.
No matter where we were, the same patterns kept showing up. There was no asset inventory. There was no long-term plan. Maintenance was mostly reactive. The people cared, but they were stretched thin. They needed help building a system that matched their resources.
Why We Created Foundational Facility Management Consulting
After talking with many churches, we realized something important. Most churches have someone who can fix things, but they do not have someone who has the time or the experience to build a customized facility plan. The person doing the hands-on work may not have a background in facility management. Or they simply don’t have enough hours in the day to keep everything running and also sit down to build the plan.
That’s why we started Foundational Facility Management Consulting. I created a facility management framework that any church can customize to their building. We named it Foundational because everything begins with a strong foundation. You cannot start down the road until you start where you are. A facility plan only works when it matches your building, your time, your people, your budget, and your goals.
Our Heart for Churches
Our goal is to help churches move from reactive to preventive maintenance. We want to make the process simpler and less overwhelming. We want you to know exactly what assets you have, what condition they’re in, and what needs to happen next. When you have a plan, everything becomes more manageable. You are more accurate with your budget. You make better decisions. And you can provide a clean, safe, and welcoming facility for the people who walk through your doors.
We offer free consultations because we want churches to know they don’t have to figure everything out alone. Whether you use our templates, work with us directly, or take the steps on your own, getting started is the most important part. Once you begin, you see progress, and progress builds confidence.
If your church needs help getting started or wants guidance on creating a customized facility maintenance plan, Stephanie and I would be happy to talk with you. Contact us or schedule a free consultation call today.
