FACILITY PROFESSIONAL SPOTHLIGHT
BROOKE BANO
How did you get into facilities management?
I began my career in teaching, editing, and graphic design in Hong Kong, and pivoted when I returned to the U.S., taking a temporary office administration role that quickly evolved into office and then facilities management. What drew me in was systems building, operational problem-solving, and the constant learning curve. When I started in the tech industry, facilities became a highly dynamic function, requiring resourcefulness, future-focused thinking, and creative solutioning at scale. I was in over my head and loved it. Facilities Management touches every team and business function, and I see it as a strategic partner in enabling performance, culture, and employee experience. I always wanted a career that let me work across disciplines; and facilities management is where that finally came together.
What is one unusual or memorable experience you’ve had in the industry?
Most days in facilities are unusual. If I had a dollar for every time I heard, “Well, that’s never happened before,” I’d have a healthy FM contingency budget. One memorable experience was working in a serviced workspace with very loose pet-in-the-office guidelines. While our company had a robust dogs-at-the-office program, at this location we saw cats, lizards, and even a reported sighting of a small pig. While adorable, it raised real health and safety considerations. I worked closely with partners, employees, and leadership to establish clearer pet guidelines for the site, along with risk mitigation protocols and communication plans that balanced employee experience with workplace safety. Moments like that remind me how much this work depends on strong partnerships and staying focused on solving the problem.
What is a highlight from your facilities or operations career?
A key highlight in my career was joining Elemental Technologies (now AWS Elemental) and learning on my sixth day that the company was being acquired by Amazon Web Services. I had left my previous role specifically to work for a Portland-based company, so I felt conflicted. After experiencing the strength of the Elemental team and culture, I became deeply committed to helping the transition work for employees I barely knew but felt deeply connected to. I led real estate and facilities due diligence and integration and learned an incredible amount. I feel very privileged to have worked with such talented people and to serve as a real estate and facilities advocate during the integration, helping ensure a smooth transition while preserving key culture pillars. Much of the trust built came through small workplace moments, yes, even keeping the good coffee.
