Matthew Ross is a Senior Facilities and Engineering Management professional with leadership expertise in Service Excellence and Customer Experience. Matthew has proven career successes in Building Operations and Maintenance, Project and Contract Management, and Continuous Improvement, providing safe, productive and compliant facilities and services. He is a highly-organized relationship-builder and collaborative leader of cross-functional teams. He partners with senior leaders and internal and third-party stakeholders with a focus on maintaining client, customer and staff relationships. He is a trusted Advisor who proactively adds value by effectively managing cost-efficient, compliant facilities and processes while ensuring a culture of operational excellence.
Currently Matt is Sodexo’s Director of Facilities Operations for ADP in Allentown and Coraopolis, PA. He oversees over 500,000 sf of Class A office spaces.
Matt was Sodexo’s Director of Facility Operations leading facility services at GSK’s 1.1 million sf US Research and Development hub. He was responsible for client and customer relations, financials, KPIs, business development, innovation and operational excellence, staff development, and safety and quality compliance. He provided client single point of contact and managed a $9.7MM annual operating budget that provided Distribution and Logistics, Janitorial, GxP Cleaning and Waste Management, Conference and Meeting Services, Landscaping and Snow Removal, Pest Control, Food and Fitness Services, and Scientific and Laboratory Support Services.
Prior to this, Matt was the Facilities and Engineering Manager at Delavau Pharmaceutical Partners, a contract pharmaceutical manufacturer and packager. With his collaborative leadership style, Matt successfully led the operations of buildings, grounds, utilities, and manufacturing and laboratory equipment for 24/7 manufacturing, packaging and R&D facilities. Matt developed detailed scopes of work, operating and capital budgets, and project schedules. Additionally, he coordinated regulation, compliance, validation, and EHS including FDA, cGxP, EPA and OSHA.
Matt’s key accomplishments include:
Matt holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Temple University and is a Registered Architect. He is certified as a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, ServeSafe Manager, and OSHA General Industry 10 hour. He is a member of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA).
How did you get into Facilities Management?
I took a roundabout route to FM. I’m a Registered Architect. I was doing design work for a pharmaceutical client who was expending. They asked me to join them and start their Facilities and Engineering Department. I accepted the role so addition to design work I oversaw the strategic and daily operation of the facilities and equipment. I was there for 17 years so it turned out to be the right move.
Tell us about your favorite project.
As a 3rd party Facilities Management service provider, my team worked with the client as they redeveloped the interior of the 1.4 million sf campus from closed, personal space to open, collaborative space. We redesigned the way soft FM services were delivered to the associates with an enhanced employee experience approach including concierge services, mail and package delivery, meeting and conference services. Seeing improved efficiencies and satisfaction was quite rewarding.
What is your greatest success story?
Facilities Management is about people. My greatest successes are creating an environment for people around me to succeed. I measure this by the growth of my staff and the internal promotions they achieve, from the frontline to supervisor, then to manager, and from service line manager to operations manager to general manager and beyond.
Tell us about a challenge or obstacle that you faced in the Facilities field and how you overcame it.
I came to FM through architecture and a professional path. I manage many people who come from a technical, mechanical background. I had to earn their trust and confidence. I did this by listening, letting them know that I didn’t know everything, and including them in the decision-making process. I gave them the respect they deserved.
What is something that most people do not know about you.
I’ve sailed all my life. For my 50th birthday, I sailed from Bermuda to Annapolis, 6 days at sea. Sailing requires you always be prepared for the unexpected, which is true for facilities management as well.
What learning experience would you pass onto future FM’s?
FM is too broad a field to know everything. Find a diverse set of mentors to learn from, ask lots of questions, and don’t be afraid to fail (with a backup plan). Then, be a mentor to someone behind you.
Matthew Ross is a Senior Facilities and Engineering Management professional with leadership expertise in Service Excellence and Customer Experience. Matthew has proven career successes in Building Operations and Maintenance, Project and Contract Management, and Continuous Improvement, providing safe, productive and compliant facilities and services. He is a highly-organized relationship-builder and collaborative leader of cross-functional teams. He partners with senior leaders and internal and third-party stakeholders with a focus on maintaining client, customer and staff relationships. He is a trusted Advisor who proactively adds value by effectively managing cost-efficient, compliant facilities and processes while ensuring a culture of operational excellence.
Currently Matt is Sodexo’s Director of Facilities Operations for ADP in Allentown and Coraopolis, PA. He oversees over 500,000 sf of Class A office spaces.
Matt was Sodexo’s Director of Facility Operations leading facility services at GSK’s 1.1 million sf US Research and Development hub. He was responsible for client and customer relations, financials, KPIs, business development, innovation and operational excellence, staff development, and safety and quality compliance. He provided client single point of contact and managed a $9.7MM annual operating budget that provided Distribution and Logistics, Janitorial, GxP Cleaning and Waste Management, Conference and Meeting Services, Landscaping and Snow Removal, Pest Control, Food and Fitness Services, and Scientific and Laboratory Support Services.
Prior to this, Matt was the Facilities and Engineering Manager at Delavau Pharmaceutical Partners, a contract pharmaceutical manufacturer and packager. With his collaborative leadership style, Matt successfully led the operations of buildings, grounds, utilities, and manufacturing and laboratory equipment for 24/7 manufacturing, packaging and R&D facilities. Matt developed detailed scopes of work, operating and capital budgets, and project schedules. Additionally, he coordinated regulation, compliance, validation, and EHS including FDA, cGxP, EPA and OSHA.
Matt’s key accomplishments include:
Matt holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Temple University and is a Registered Architect. He is certified as a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, ServeSafe Manager, and OSHA General Industry 10 hour. He is a member of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA).
How did you get into Facilities Management?
I took a roundabout route to FM. I’m a Registered Architect. I was doing design work for a pharmaceutical client who was expending. They asked me to join them and start their Facilities and Engineering Department. I accepted the role so addition to design work I oversaw the strategic and daily operation of the facilities and equipment. I was there for 17 years so it turned out to be the right move.
Tell us about your favorite project.
As a 3rd party Facilities Management service provider, my team worked with the client as they redeveloped the interior of the 1.4 million sf campus from closed, personal space to open, collaborative space. We redesigned the way soft FM services were delivered to the associates with an enhanced employee experience approach including concierge services, mail and package delivery, meeting and conference services. Seeing improved efficiencies and satisfaction was quite rewarding.
What is your greatest success story?
Facilities Management is about people. My greatest successes are creating an environment for people around me to succeed. I measure this by the growth of my staff and the internal promotions they achieve, from the frontline to supervisor, then to manager, and from service line manager to operations manager to general manager and beyond.
Tell us about a challenge or obstacle that you faced in the Facilities field and how you overcame it.
I came to FM through architecture and a professional path. I manage many people who come from a technical, mechanical background. I had to earn their trust and confidence. I did this by listening, letting them know that I didn’t know everything, and including them in the decision-making process. I gave them the respect they deserved.
What is something that most people do not know about you.
I’ve sailed all my life. For my 50th birthday, I sailed from Bermuda to Annapolis, 6 days at sea. Sailing requires you always be prepared for the unexpected, which is true for facilities management as well.
What learning experience would you pass onto future FM’s?
FM is too broad a field to know everything. Find a diverse set of mentors to learn from, ask lots of questions, and don’t be afraid to fail (with a backup plan). Then, be a mentor to someone behind you.
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