Ep. 156: “Empower Your People” – Using Artificial Intelligence to Share Knowledge in Facilities Maintenance with Derek Crager, PMP, CLSS, CSM, AWS-CP of Practical AI
Release Date: 07/18/2025
Ep. 158: “Have a Conversation” – Chatbots, AI and the Future of FM and Asset Management with Entrepreneur and Author Ab DeWeese
Asset Champion Podcast | Physical Asset Management | Facility Management | Facilities Maintenance and Operations
Ab DeWeese is a serial entrepreneur, investor, polymath, and AI educator recognized for his ability to distill complex problems into clear, actionable solutions. Mike Petrusky asks AB about his new book, “Essential AI: Your All-in-One QuickStart to Using AI in Business and The Workplace” where he explains the different types of AI systems, including generative AI and custom-built AI for specific business needs. Mike and Ab explore how AI can significantly enhance the efficiency of maintenance and repair tasks by quickly accessing and summarizing technical manuals, but they caution that...
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Ep. 157: “Find a Partner” – Facility Management, Restoration and the Future of the Built Environment with Steve Willis, FMP of Mooring USA
Asset Champion Podcast | Physical Asset Management | Facility Management | Facilities Maintenance and Operations
Steve Willis, FMP is Vice President for Specialty Services at Mooring USA where his is a team builder, networker and educator in the field of disaster restoration and commercial construction. Mike Petrusky asks Steve about the future role of facility managers as the built environment becomes more complex and demanding due to the integration of new technologies and the aging of buildings. They explore how natural disasters, construction defects, HVAC problems, and plumbing failures can pose significant challenges for FM leaders caring for the occupants of their facilities. Steve believes that...
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Ep. 156: “Empower Your People” – Using Artificial Intelligence to Share Knowledge in Facilities Maintenance with Derek Crager, PMP, CLSS, CSM, AWS-CP of Practical AI
Asset Champion Podcast | Physical Asset Management | Facility Management | Facilities Maintenance and Operations
Derek Crager, PMP, CLSS, CSM, AWS-CP is a visionary AI Solutions Architect & founder of Practical AI, which exists to bridge the gap between people and the knowledge they seek. Mike Petrusky asks Derek about empowering employees with the right knowledge and tools for effective asset and facility management. They explore how Voice AI can act as a singularity point in knowledge, providing instant access to standard operating procedures, safety routines, and tribal knowledge in the built environment. Derek believes that AI will not replace human jobs in facilities maintenance, but it will...
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Ep. 155: “Prevention is Your Best Asset Strategy” – Air Quality, Facilities Maintenance and Safety with Norelle Done of Viking Pure Solutions
Asset Champion Podcast | Physical Asset Management | Facility Management | Facilities Maintenance and Operations
Norelle Done is Director of Marketing at Viking Pure Solutions where she is on a mission to elevate the way we think about health, safety, and sustainability in the spaces we live, learn, and work. Mike Petrusky asks Norelle about the importance of addressing invisible threats in facilities, such as airborne viruses and chemical residues, and how nontoxic cleaners and disinfectants might help to reduce health risks. They explore some key challenges facing facility managers today include staffing shortages, cleaning compliance, and shifting from reactive to preventive approaches in facilities...
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Ep. 154: “Recognize Your Teams” – Effective Facility Management and Maintenance of the Built Environment with Shawn Morgal of The Building People
Asset Champion Podcast | Physical Asset Management | Facility Management | Facilities Maintenance and Operations
Shawn Morgal is Vice President of Facilities Management and Operations & Maintenance at The Building People where he is proudly serving multiple federal and local government agencies in support of the FM and O&M business lines. Mike Petrusky asks Shawn about his career journey and current perspectives on the state of the facility and asset management industries. They discuss the federal government’s focus on savings and reduction efforts and the need for effective life cycle asset management planning and customer alignment in facilities management. The integration of BIM models and...
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Ep. 153: “Start Small and Start Smart” – The Power of RFID Technology in FM and Asset Management with Joe Alvarez of National Office Systems Companies
Asset Champion Podcast | Physical Asset Management | Facility Management | Facilities Maintenance and Operations
Joe Alvarez is President & CEO of National Office Systems Companies where he is passionate about helping to bridge the gap between an organization's processes and technology when considering storage and asset management systems. Mike Petrusky asks Joe about RFID technology and the ways that it offers a more efficient and accurate way to track assets compared to traditional methods like barcodes and manual audits. Joe believes that the biggest challenge in asset management is the fragmentation and inefficiency caused by siloed legacy systems that don't communicate with each other, so he...
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Ep. 152: “The Data to Prove It” – Telematics, Transportation Operations and Fleet Management with Mike Duffy of The University of Virginia
Asset Champion Podcast | Physical Asset Management | Facility Management | Facilities Maintenance and Operations
Mike Duffy is Transportation Operations and Fleet Manager at The University of Virginia where he is passionate about improving UVA FM vehicles and equipment, implementing programs that steward funds while reducing environmental impacts. Mike Petrusky asks Mike to share about his career journey in fleet management, his achievements in the field, and his perspectives on the state of the facilities management industry. The University of Virginia's fleet has received multiple awards, including six consecutive years in the National Association of Fleet Administrators' (NAFA) 100 Best Fleets and...
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Ep. 151: “You Should Feel Empowered” – Holistic Facility Solutions with Chief Facilities Officers at the 2025 Annual Conference for the Virginia Chapter of APPA
Asset Champion Podcast | Physical Asset Management | Facility Management | Facilities Maintenance and Operations
Mike Petrusky hosted a Chief Facilities Officer panel discussion at the 2025 Annual Conference for the Virginia Chapter of APPA where the theme was “Holistic Facility Solutions: Balancing Operational Efficiency with Health and Wellness Priorities”. The panelists were Ken Copeland, Vice President for Business Affairs and Finance at Hampden-Sydney College, Steve L’Heureux, Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Management Services at VCCS, Chip Filer, Vice President for Facilities and Campus Operations, at Christopher Newport University, Keith Jarvis, Director of Facilities Management at...
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Ep. 150: “Understand What Could Be” – Facilities Management Innovation and Optimization with Darrell Rounds FMA, C.E.M. of Stellantis
Asset Champion Podcast | Physical Asset Management | Facility Management | Facilities Maintenance and Operations
Darrell Rounds FMA, C.E.M. is Director of Facilities Management for North America Manufacturing Operations at Stellantis where he is passionate about leveraging global cross functional collaboration, lean implementation, project management, problem solving, and data analysis. Mike Petrusky asks Darrell to share about his current role and perspectives on the state of the facilities management industry as they catch up on their recent discussions, offering inspiration for FM leaders in all organizations. Darrell emphasizes the importance of taking care of people in any enterprise to ensure...
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Ep. 149: “Start Somewhere” – Enhancing Data Management across the Facility Asset Lifecycle with Susan Clarke of Autodesk & Erik Zink of Eptura
Asset Champion Podcast | Physical Asset Management | Facility Management | Facilities Maintenance and Operations
Susan Clarke is Senior Manager of Building Operations Strategy at Autodesk and Erik Zink is VP of Worktech Consultancy & Corporate Development at Eptura where they work to serve the marketplace with a strong alliance between the two companies. Mike Petrusky asks Susan and Erik to share the latest trends and challenges in asset management, the opportunity for collaboration between different teams, and what it takes to be a facility management leader today. They discuss the importance of data quality, the role of AI in improving workflows, and the need for a holistic approach that considers...
info_outlineDerek Crager, PMP, CLSS, CSM, AWS-CP is a visionary AI Solutions Architect & founder of Practical AI, which exists to bridge the gap between people and the knowledge they seek. Mike Petrusky asks Derek about empowering employees with the right knowledge and tools for effective asset and facility management. They explore how Voice AI can act as a singularity point in knowledge, providing instant access to standard operating procedures, safety routines, and tribal knowledge in the built environment. Derek believes that AI will not replace human jobs in facilities maintenance, but it will support and enhance them, so we must seek applications that will help FM and asset professionals deliver value for their people. Leading with empathy and curiosity is key to staying ahead in the rapidly evolving tech landscape, so Mike and Derek share their love of music and classic videos games as they offer advice and the encouragement you need to be an Asset Champion in your organization!
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Connect with Derek on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amazonleadership/
Explore more about Practical AI: https://www.practicalai.app/
Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/
Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/asset-champion/
Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/