FACILITY PROFESSIONAL SPOTHLIGHT
TERESA KOLB, FMP, SFP
How did you get into FM/ Accidental FM?
My career has evolved through change, challenge, and continuous learning, each experience shaping the way I work and lead today. I began by running an in-home daycare so I could stay home with my children while supporting my family, later working as an assistant in a special needs early childhood development center that aligned with my children’s school schedule. After several years in special education, I pursued a long-held goal of earning my real estate license, which allowed me to support my family while remaining present for them. The 2008 financial crisis abruptly ended that chapter, and after losing our home and financial stability, I landed in retail in an entry-level role. Though humbling, that experience fueled my determination to rebuild, and within five years I advanced into a corporate real estate property management position. I later joined a small, women-owned property management firm, where I spent five years managing a large portfolio and strengthening my expertise, ultimately spending a decade reinventing my career and rebuilding financial stability while developing resilience and professional growth including attaining by FMP and SFP from IFMA.
One off weird experience in the industry?
I was managing a coastal property near the beach when I received a frantic call from an HVAC vendor working on the roof. He was out of breath and upset, saying he couldn’t work in those conditions and didn’t get paid enough for it. After asking a few times what was wrong, he finally explained that seagulls were attacking him and he refused to continue until they were gone. I struggled not to laugh but assured him I would find a solution and asked him to stay. Luckily, the building owner was onsite and helped chase the seagulls away while standing guard so the technician could finish the job. I later learned there were nests on a nearby building, and this wasn’t the first time vendors had issues with aggressive seagulls.
What is a highlight from your facilities or operations career?
Growing up in Oregon during the early 1970s, the passage of the Oregon Bottle Bill sparked my early passion for recycling when I eagerly returned bottles for small refunds, a habit that grew into a lifelong commitment to sustainability. When I later entered facilities management, I was invited by Washington County to become a Green Business Leader and quickly embraced the opportunity. At my facility, I inherited overcrowded storage areas filled with years of unused paint, equipment parts, furniture, and obsolete materials that were costing the company thousands annually in storage fees. Inspired by Marie Kondo’s organizational approach, I led a multi-year effort to sort, donate, recycle, or properly dispose of these items, ultimately clearing and organizing the spaces, reducing warehouse storage costs by about $1,000 per month, and most importantly, preventing large amounts of waste from ending up in landfills.
