Wrap-Up
As we have turned the page to 2026, it’s time to put a bow on our Fall 2025 conference trend series. What started as a simple idea — sharing a few takeaways from the conferences I attended — turned into a seven-part tour through the biggest challenges and opportunities facing our sector right now.
If there was one overarching theme across all the conferences, panels, hallway conversations and client meetings, it was this: the facilities and asset management world is changing fast, and the institutions that are leaning into that change are the ones pulling ahead.
Over the past several weeks, we explored everything from AI to staffing shortages to deferred renewal to cooperative procurement. While each topic stands on its own, together they paint a clear picture of where the sector is heading.
AI is here — even if we’re mostly calling automation “AI.”
Most institutions are still in the early stages, testing what AI means for them. True Large Language Model (LLM) -driven or agentic AI is still a way off for many, but automation is already helping teams do their work more efficiently. And in an industry stretched as thin as ours, even automation alone is a big win.
Talent remains a challenge.
From aging workforces to shallow pipelines, recruiting and retaining strong facilities professionals continues to be a real struggle. Programs like SkillBridge give me hope — not only because they connect institutions with great people, but because they expand the talent conversation in new directions.
Apathy toward Deferred Capital Renewal and Maintenance(DCRM) is growing — and dangerous.
After decades of sounding the alarm, many facilities leaders are finding it harder than ever to get executive attention. But reframing the conversation around impacts, shorter-term risks, and institutional priorities can break through the fatigue. Changing the language to DCRM is part of that reframing.
“Doing More with Less” has finally hit its limits.
For the first time, I heard institutions openly acknowledging “Do Less with Less.” While this is sobering, it’s also a moment of clarity. Being honest about resource constraints is the first step toward setting realistic expectations and advocating for the support teams truly need.
FCAs have gone mainstream — and that’s a good thing.
When half the presentations at major conferences are about FCAs or FCA-driven planning, you know the message has landed. Defensible data is becoming the norm, not the exception. For those of us who’ve been waving the FCA flag for years, it’s a proud moment.
The next frontier is integrating capital and maintenance.
The “Holy Grail” presentation was the most requested topic I delivered in 2025. Institutions are now comfortable with their capital planning processes and are ready to take the next step — aligning maintenance data and capital data to make smarter, more holistic decisions.
And yes… Co-Ops really are for services.
It was encouraging to see fewer surprised faces this year when it came to using cooperative procurement for services. Co-Ops are no longer just for commodities. They’re a powerful, compliant, and cost-effective way for institutions to access the expertise they need without getting bogged down in lengthy procurement cycles.
Looking Ahead
This series reminded me of just how much progress we’ve made as a profession. Ten or twenty years ago, many of these conversations would have felt aspirational. Today, they’re mainstream. And while the challenges ahead are real — aging infrastructure, tight budgets, talent shortages — I continue to be encouraged by the creativity, professionalism, and resilience of the facilities community across North America.
We’ll be shifting gears now and moving into new topics for 2026, but the core message remains the same: Consistent, defensible data and strong asset management practices are the foundation for every great facilities story.
Thanks for coming along for the ride through conference season. As always, if you have topics you’d like me to dig into, questions you’d like explored, or trends you’re seeing in your own travels, please reach out. I’d love to hear them.
See you next week with something new.
