As Facility Rockstars and IFMA Boston continue to strengthen our partnership, we’re revisiting a conversation that reflects our shared commitment to supporting, connecting, and elevating facilities professionals. Through this growing collaboration, we’re working to bring more industry voices, valuable insights, and opportunities for professional development to the facilities community. This episode is a great reminder of why that mission matters and the importance of learning from the leaders who are helping move our industry forward.
In this episode, Jay Culbert sits down with Colby Fillippelli, Senior Vice President of Facilities at JLL and **President of IFMA Boston**. With over 25 years of facilities management experience, including leadership roles at Dunkin’ Brands, Hasbro, and Novartis, Colby shares his journey from HVAC technician to executive leadership and the lessons that shaped his career. At the heart of his philosophy is a simple but powerful belief: facilities is a people business that just happens to involve buildings.
From navigating unexpected emergencies to using data to build more proactive teams, Colby shares practical insights on leadership, communication, and professional growth. He also emphasizes the importance of mentorship, staying connected to the industry, and giving back to the next generation of facilities professionals.
As Facility Rockstars and IFMA Boston continue working together to strengthen the facilities community, conversations like this highlight what we can accomplish through shared knowledge, meaningful connections, and a commitment to advancing the profession.
And we’re just getting started! Stay tuned for more information about upcoming Facility Rockstars events and opportunities to connect with fellow industry professionals. We may even have a surprise or two in store!
Takeaways:
Be honest and ask questions constantly. Admitting what you don’t know and asking for help isn’t weakness — it’s how you grow. The most effective facilities professionals don’t fake it; they ask, learn, and communicate openly at every stage of their career.
Shift from reactive to proactive using metrics. Tracking patterns in your work orders and recurring issues isn’t just good practice — it drives cost savings, reduces risk, and transforms how your team operates. If you’re not measuring it, you can’t improve it.
Communicate early, even without all the answers. Don’t wait until you have perfect information to update your team or clients. Timely, honest communication — especially during a crisis — builds credibility and keeps everyone moving in the right direction.
Your vendor relationships are your lifeline. Know your vendors personally before you sign a contract. When something goes wrong at 10 PM, those relationships are what keep operations from falling apart. Invest in them the same way you invest in your team.
Know when to defer maintenance — and when you absolutely can’t. Deferring critical infrastructure like HVAC PMs, arc flash updates, or major MEP work is a risk not worth taking. A seasoned facilities leader knows how to make the case for doing it right the first time.
Pay it forward to the next generation. The industry is losing decades of institutional knowledge as Baby Boomers retire. Those with experience have a responsibility to mentor, educate, and actively invest in emerging professionals — both inside their organizations and through groups like IFMA.
Mindset and attitude are as important as technical skills. Showing up with energy, professionalism, and a team-first mentality isn’t optional — it’s what makes everything else work. As Colby puts it: you’re not curing cancer, so bring some levity to the work.
Quote of the Show:
“Follow-through matters more than intent, and your reputation compounds over time.”
Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colby-fillippelli-cfm-8591097/
Company Website: https://www.jll.com/en-us/
IFMA Boston Website: https://ifmaboston.org/