This mentorship luncheon will feature a panel of experienced facilities leaders sharing their career journeys, leadership insights, and the role mentorship has played in their professional growth. The discussion will be an open, conversational forum designed for early- to mid-career professionals, as well as those exploring careers in facilities management. Our goal is to provide attendees with practical insights on career development, leadership, skill building, and lessons learned from experienced industry professionals. We will have some questions prepared, but the floor will be open for other questions and discussion.

Bring anyone interested in a Facility Management career.  First time visitors can come for free. Just use the code BeOurGuest at checkout.

MEET OUR PANELIST: 

Michael Gann
Michael has 30 plus years of experience in Facility Management.  The last 23 years I have worked for Volvo Trucks managing properties across North America.  Locations include the North American Headquarters for Volvo Trucks and Mack Trucks Global Headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina.  Volvo Penta’s NA Headquarters in Chesapeake Va.  Volvo Penta’s testing ground/Marina in Suffolk VA.  And Volvo Penta’s manufacturing facility in Lexington Tn.  My current position since October of 2025 is Security Manager for Volvo Trucks NA HQ and Mack Trucks World HQ in Greensboro, NC.

Michael also serves as the Treasurer for our IFMA Chapter.

Raymond Fletcher
Raymond joined Elon University Facilities Management in August 2018 and has served as Senior Director of Facilities Management since 2023. In this role, he provides executive leadership for all aspects of campus facilities operations, including custodial services, warehouse operations, transportation and automotive services, facilities maintenance and engineering, and event support services.

Prior to joining Elon, Raymond served for 20 years in the United States Navy, including 14 years in the Civil Engineer Corps, where he led the planning, maintenance, and management of shore infrastructure at installations around the world.

Raymond holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Purdue University and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Arkansas. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Arkansas and is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP).  Raymond and his wife, Rona, reside in Browns Summit, North Carolina, and have three daughters: Cortni, Olivia, and Rylee.

Steven Gittis
Senior Manager Facilities and Construction for Kontoor Brands, Greensboro, NC.  7 years

As the Facilities Manager I break my thoughts into three buckets:

Daily

• What is happening on site that needs to be addressed.  This would include active projects and active problems. 
• Where are resources needed to support the buildings and our customers?
• Are there problems/complaints that need to be addressed to ensure the customers feel good about their work environment. 
• Are there requests from our customers that need to be addressed weekly.
• Are there any issues with any suppliers that need to be addressed.

Short Term

• What is happening with projects that are in process? 
• Are there any scheduling conflicts that need to be managed. 
• Are there projects about to start that need to have certain action items completed (such as building notifications). 
• Who, inside or outside the company, needs to be communicated with to ensure that the item is being addressed and will not cause any issues?
• Have there been any incidents that need to be investigated, understood and addressed?

Long Term

• Are there contracts about to expire or need to be bid?
• Are there review meetings for PM’s that need to be scheduled?
• Are there any issues with any suppliers that need to be addressed?
• When are budgets due?  Have items needing to be budgeted been discussed?
• Are there any long-term plans that have been shared and need to be worked?  Should these be added to the budget?
• How is the team functioning?  Are they up to date with what is happening?  How are they feeling?  Are they functioning at their highest level?  Are they being properly recognized?

Nicole Velasquez
Nikki is a Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) Coordinator at Linde Gas & Equipment with more than 20 years of experience in health, safety, security, and emergency management. She is passionate about fostering a culture of safety through OSHA compliance, environmental stewardship, and proactive risk management. Nikki has extensive experience developing safety programs, implementing policies, and supporting emergency preparedness initiatives. She holds OSHA 30-Hour and RCRA Hazardous Waste certifications and is dedicated to protecting employees, strengthening operational excellence, and promoting continuous improvement in workplace health, safety, and environmental performance.

Alacyia Fields
Alacyia Fields is the Safety & Health Director at Nucor Steel Lexington, a proud wife, and the devoted mother of three amazing children. She began her career in operations at Nucor Steel Louisiana in 2013 and has since grown through several leadership roles within Nucor. A former member of the Army National Guard, Alacyia served for eight years, carrying forward values of service, grit, and resilience into every aspect of her life and career.

She currently serves as the Events Director on the Women in Manufacturing North Carolina Board, where she champions opportunities for connection, growth, and representation for women in industry.

 Alacyia leads with heart and purpose. Her passion for cultivating a culture of safety excellence is matched by her belief in the power of people, creating spaces where every teammate feels seen, heard, and empowered.  Whether at home or on the job, Alacyia is fueled by a desire to grow, inspire, and create meaningful impact, proving every day that motherhood and leadership go hand-in-hand when driven by purpose.

Tickets

$25.00 Non-Member Ticket

$15.00 Member Ticket