For Adam Bregenzer, a career in facilities management has been a progression of learning and developing a better understanding of how much goes into keeping an organization running safely and efficiently. In his role as the facilities coordinator for Fidelity Bank, he has gained a strong appreciation for the importance of the physical environment. A small facility issue can quickly affect employees, customers and business operations, and it’s the job of facilities personnel to rectify it.
“As my responsibilities grew, I became more involved in projects, budgeting, planning and long-term facility needs,” Bregenzer says. “That transition helped me realize that facilities management is much more than fixing things when they break – it's about planning ahead, protecting the organization’s assets and creating an environment where people can do their jobs effectively.”
Bregenzer is one of eight facility professionals to be named to FacilitiesNet’s fifth annual Facility Champion award. The Champions play a critical role in ensuring the efficient and effective operation of buildings across the country, all while exhibiting strong leadership and pride within the industry.
“It’s an incredible honor (to be named a Facility Champion),” he says. “I'm proud of the work I've been able to do in my career, but I also recognize that facilities work is a team effort, and I couldn’t have gotten here if it weren’t for my team.”
To Bregenzer, facility managers are tasked with far more than just overseeing maintenance. The role has shifted into a strategic business function that requires a broad understanding of how the building best supports people, organizational goals and operations. Decision makers must consider their impact on day-to-day operations and building occupants, making the industry that more complex. However, Bregenzer sees this added responsibility as more strategic and valuable in the long run.
“Taking on responsibilities beyond the traditional maintenance role was an important turning point for me,” he says. “As I became more involved in projects, budgeting, planning and working with contractors and leadership, I realized that I wanted to continue developing in facilities management rather than simply focusing on the immediate maintenance issues in front of me.”
In order to see career growth in facilities management, Bregenzer believes that remaining curious is a must. He asks questions, talks to vendors and contractors, attends training and conferences while also prioritizing learning from other professionals in the industry. But something that sets him apart from his peers: he’s willing to admit when he doesn’t know something.
“I think that’s an important part of learning. You don’t have to know everything – you have to know how to find the answer,” Bregenzer says.
Leadership came gradually to Bregenzer as more people came to him to help make decisions or solve a problem. To him, leadership isn’t necessarily about having all the answers, rather willing to take ownership, listen, find the right resources and follow through.
This all came to a head when a sudden power outage affected a bank branch in his municipality that disrupted all operations. Bankers could not serve clients, the ATM was unavailable and customers could not access their funds. As the situation unfolded, Bregenzer found himself taking the lead in coordinating the response. Focusing on what they could control in that moment, he worked to obtain updates from the electric supplier, directed communication to nearby branches so they could prepare for increased customer traffic, shared timely updates to internal personnel and helped coordinate support for other branches.
During the outage, his leadership allowed for clarity and structure in a moment when there was none. Rather than allowing the outage to become a broader issue, he was able to quickly align priorities, communicate and support clients through alternate locations. Calm decision making and staying accountable until operations were fully restored helped ensure that the building would be reopened by the following morning.
“I don't think my legacy will be represented by one building,” Bregenzer says. “I would rather it be represented by the improvements made across Fidelity Bank's facilities and the systems and processes put in place to maintain them. Every project, both small and large, adds to the overall condition and performance of our facilities. If I can leave our facilities better than I found them and help establish a stronger approach to maintaining and planning for them in the future, I'll consider that a successful legacy.”
Bregenzer is one of eight 2026 Facility Champions who will be profiled on FacilitiesNet leading up to the webcast, “What Great Facility Leaders Do: Lessons from the Field” that will honor the recipients. The webcast will air on November 24 at 12 p.m. CST on FacilitiesNet. You can register to view the webcast here.
Mackenna Moralez is the managing editor of the facilities market and the host of the Facilities in Focus podcast.
