"Performance Review"     Q & A with Pete Stein of Amplify Federal Credit Union

"Performance Review" is a regularly featured interview with one of our chapter's professional members.  This issue features Pete Stein, Administrative & Facilities Manager for Amplify Federal Credit Union.  Pete was just elected to serve as our chapter's 2nd vice president, and is also the chair of our Public Relations Committee.

Provide some insight on your Employer/Company's core function/service.
Amplify Federal Credit Union is a financial institution chartered by the National Credit Union Administration in 1967.  It was originally known as the IBM Texas Employees Federal Credit Union.

Identify Company's total number, sq. ft., types, and locations of offices, e.g., corporate, industrial, owned, leased, downtown, suburban, local, regional.
Our owned corporate office is 17,000 square feet, and our owned branch on Pond Springs is 10,000 sf.  Our other leased branches are in the three to four-thousand sf size.  We have four branches now, with a fifth under construction.

Identify Company's total number of employees.
116 full time employees.

What are your primary job functions?
I manage most all aspects of facilities and administration, including security and records (imaging) administration.  I'm currently busy coordinating construction of one new branch, while serving on Amplify's Business Contingency Committee as the representative for facilities and security.  I also review our insurance coverage.   

How long have you been in the FM field?
Twenty four years now. I began at Amplify (former IBM Texas employees credit union) in 1983.  When they decided to build their first facility, I was assigned the task of working with the general contractor, and then assumed responsibilities for maintaining the building after construction.  I'm active in IFMA's BICU (Banking Institutions and Credit Unions) Council.

Who do you report to?
The senior VP of Operations.

Who reports to you?
A facilities assistant, records supervisor, and security guards.

Do you outsource any functions? Which ones?
No.

Describe your recycling program, if applicable.
We recycle paper, plastic, and CD's/DVD's to name a few.

Describe any energy conservation measures you have implemented in your facility.
We just installed a new roof which is reducing our utilities bills.

What are some FM challenges you face within your organization?
We're always needing more space, so it's challenging to find ways to move staff around to meet the current need.

Identify some challenges the FM industry as a whole must face in the near future.
Cost containment comes to mind.  Everyone needs more and more, but budgets get tighter and tighter.

What are some of your hobbies and interests outside work?
I'm a big sports fan and enjoy following the Spurs, Cowboys and Astros in particular. I'm also active in my church and enjoy teaching Sunday School.

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    "Cold Call"   Q & A with Nicole Brandt of Southpro Restoration Services

"Cold Call" is a regularly featured interview with one of our associate members.

Name of your Employer.  Is your company affiliated with any other companies? 
Southpro Restoration Services.  We have four locations- Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Brazosport.  We are a Texas owned company that has been in service for nearly 20 years.

Describe your company's core competency.
We specialize in fire, water, and smoke damage restoration as well as mold remediation, air duct, carpet, and upholstery cleaning.

Describe your primary job functions.
Marketing/New Business Development..  My primary role is to develop business partnerships and marketing strategies for the Austin and San Antonio markets.

Describe an average day.
There is no such thing as an average day for me, and no two days are alike.  Typically I go into the office in the morning to check email and touch base regarding upcoming events and current losses.  On the days that remain in Austin, I visit various properties and schedule meetings with potential customers.  If I have meeting in San Antonio (which I do several days a week), I hop in my car and drive south (obeying all traffic laws of course J) and pray to the traffic gods there isn’t a wreck or random box in the road to delay my progress. 

What type of clients you work with?
I primarily focus on Commercial Properties (including Property Managers and Maintenance/ Building Engineers) as well as insurance agents and adjusters.  Our target market includes any building that has four walls J.

What percentage of your work and clients is local/regional/national?
Most of my work is either in Austin or San Antonio, and I make the occasional trek to our Houston office.  Southpro has a catastrophe team that mobilizes in response to emergencies throughout the country.

How long have you been in this field?
I have worked for Southpro for a year.  Before that I lived in San Diego for three years and worked as the Marketing Coordinator for a cosmetic dental office.  I earned BS degrees from the University of Montana in Sociology and Criminology.

Tell us about an interesting situation(s) you’ve encountered related to your current work.  End result? 
The most interesting situation I have encountered thus far would have to be the very first on-site job that I attended.  I was the first on the scene at a water damage in north Austin.  I had never been the first to respond, so I wanted to take charge and just dive in… literally.  Little did I know that the “water” I was standing in was “black water” and full of unmentionables (not good).  When our Project Managers and Crew showed up, they found me sloppin’ around in the muck.  It was so embarrassing when they informed me what I was standing in, but worse yet- I ruined a brand new pair of shoes L.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learned from a client?
Be compassionate in every circumstance.  Period.  When you are in our industry, you are dealing with a matter of personal loss.  Whether it’s a tenant in an office space missing out on valuable work time or a home owner watching everything they own go up in flames, it’s personal, and it’s very difficult to watch.  You can’t expect someone to be happy to see you if they're losing something important to them.  You must be compassionate and caring at all times.

How's business right now?
Business is great.  Keep the rain a’comin' J.  The fact about our industry is that it's inevitable that our services can be utilized at some point.  Fire and flood are bound to happen (unfortunately enough for the customer), so we just try to be as prepared as possible for when disaster does strike.

Tell us about your personal life, family, hobbies and interests outside work.
I recently bought a condo with my long-time boyfriend Jason.  We moved from California last summer with the hopes of raising a family here at some point.  My immediate family all live outside of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming where my dad is the county assessor, my mom is a nurse, and my stepfather is an artist.  I have a sister who is currently eight months pregnant and about ready to burst.  My stepbrother is in the process of moving to the big apple (can’t wait to visit NYC) and my stepsister is a military wife in Seattle.  I love football and spend a lot of time playing board games in my new house.  I am learning to cook (wife lessons) and can be found wandering used book stores in my spare time.

Can we quote you on that?
Blow bubbles.  It forces you to take deep breaths and relax.  No one can be stressed or grumpy when there are bubbles being blown.  Just try it.  I keep a bottle in my desk if you ever want to borrow themJ.

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