FACILITY PROFESSIONAL SPOTHLIGHT
SHERRI SHARPE, CFM, RPA, LEED GA
How did you get into FM/ Accidental FM?
While working for a job out of high school for 8 years that I was very unhappy at, I saw a local newspaper article highlighting some of the large firms in the area that were hiring. I put a resume together and faxed it to all of the firms in the article (there were 8). Surprisingly, I received a call from Lucas Film and was brought in for an interview as a receptionist. I got the job. The department that I was working for (Video Games) was moving to another location that didn’t have a Facilities group on site, and we were being supported by the Facilities group from the previous location that would come to our office 2x week. That was not sustainable long term, so we needed to create our own on site group. Being part of the large move and coordinating on a regular basis with the previous Facilities team, I understood the day to day. So, it was natural to backfill my position at the desk and start the groundwork for our new Facilities department. We hired 5 people over the next year. I was fortunate enough to be exposed and a large part of building out additional space for other Lucas companies within our new location. I was like a sponge, soaked up everything that I possibly could and took every class that I could get my hands on. I am so fortunate to have fallen into an Industry that I love as a natural fixer. I have continued to grow my career with every opportunity that comes before me. Always learning.
One off or weird Experience in the industry
A one off weird experience is that being a part of the Lucas companies in my early career, I was exposed to so much, so many people, celebrities, George. I have had the privilege of meeting many of them and having 1:1 casual conversations with sweet quiet George in one offs when he would come to visit. It taught me that all people are just people and deserve the respect and space to be allowed to just be a person. I think the biggest one off experience for me based on that is I was working for Lucas at the time they were filming Star Wars Episode 1. Several of us volunteered to join the shoot and were paid for 3 days to play dress up, jump up and down and scream in several takes and became part of the parade at the end of the movie. No credits, no payment (just our daily wage), you can’t even see any of us with a magnifying glass in the movie, but life is about the stories right? Just thankful to have been a part of that side of things for a while. To see behind the scenes. Pretty cool..
A highlight of your facility or operation
After leaving Lucas (owner) I have worked for a 3rd party up to this point in my career. I have had many clients on many accounts so I can’t speak to a building per se. What I can speak to is that over my career what I have learned and enjoy the most to this day is mentoring people and watching them grow and succeed. I can apply all of the goodness and advice that I was given as a young person learning from the ground up and apply it now as a mentor. What I do know is the people on the ground are our MOST important assets and as a leader, you must take care and nurture that growth, safe space for transparency, give credit and learn from mistakes to grow the next culture of our leaders in this crazy Industry.
