Matt Heath is a senior manager of workplace environments at VF Corp., the parent company to a diverse portfolio of apparel, footwear, and accessory brands including Vans, The North Face, Dickies, Timberland, JanSport, and others.
Although VF Corp. has thousands of facilities globally, Heath oversees the company’s corporate headquarters, lab, and warehouse in Denver, managing all the facilities, security, and office services at those locations. Beyond that, he assists with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) issues and projects at other facilities when needed.
Heath has been involved in the facilities management industry for about 10 years. He joined VF Corp. a little more than three years ago, managing retail facilities before moving up to the three corporate locations in Denver. Before that, he worked on the vendor side at Branded Group and Brinco Mechanical as an account manager. He has earned a CFM certification from IFMA and LEED AP O+M designation from the U.S. Green Building Council. He also holds degrees in mechanical engineering and music.
To learn more about Heath and his take on industry issues, please read the “Faces of Facilities” interview below:
How did you get your start in the field?
Honestly it was completely random. I needed a job after college, and a temp agency placed me at Brinco Mechanical. I quickly fell in love with the HVAC industry and how crucial it is within buildings. The owner of Brinco was also a big inspiration to continue working within this field and eventually beginning my studies within mechanical engineering.
Who has been your biggest influence in the industry, and why?
The owner of Brinco Mechanical, Ron Prager. He is an engineer and a great leader. Huge mind that looks at problems through a problem-solving engineering mindset while having a lot of love and care for the employees within his company.
What’s your best mistake, and what did you learn from it?
Hesitation with taking on additional responsibilities (office services) because they don’t utilize my technical skills. I quickly learned that every new responsibility only provides new skills and perspectives.
What are some of the biggest facilities management issues at your organization?
Our biggest challenge across the organization is in how segmented our facilities teams are. Offices, retail, and distribution are all separated and have very little communication with each other. It creates a loss in ability across the company as skill sets are not utilized when they could be.
What’s your favorite part about working in the industry?
Fashion and retail are fast paced, dynamic, and evolve at a rapid rate. It’s great to work around tons of creative people.
What changes would you like to see in the FM industry?
More younger people becoming involved. It’s not as appealing as many other industries, but it provides a great amount of job security and satisfaction in making a physical workspace function.
How can company leaders make facilities management a value within their organization?
By including them in the decision-making process, especially when it impacts our physical spaces. Our leadership team does a great job in this.
Where do you see the industry heading in five years? Are you noticing any major trends?
I see a lot of FMs retiring and an increased demand in the field. The evolving technological complexity in building systems, sustainability, and the return-to-office environment is going to be really exciting to be a part of.
What are you most proud of?
My team and how much they enjoy working at VF. I’m grateful to be a part of that.
Do you have any advice for people entering the profession?
Learn as much as you can, take on as much as possible, and find a mentor.
Are you or a colleague an FM professional interested in being profiled for the “Faces of Facilities” series? Please contact Editor Joe Bebon at JBebon@BLR.com.