From Crisis to Confidence: Turning Facilities Failures into a Future-Ready Campus (Partnership with Siemens)

“You learn a lot more when things don’t go well than when they do.” -Bill Belichick 

Across higher education, operational disruptions can quickly escalate into reputational crises, drawing unwanted media attention and eroding trust with stakeholders and the surrounding community.  

This webinar examines how Loyola University New Orleans transformed a major infrastructure failure and public relations nightmare into a catalyst for stronger financial planning and a more resilient, future-ready campus.  

While the story is told through an infrastructure lens, the lessons extend far beyond facilities. Senior finance and operations leaders will gain practical insights for strengthening risk management, improving long-range planning, and turning crisis into strategy opportunity—and learn how to apply them to any situation, regardless of office.

Key Takeaways: 

• Build more accurate, defensible budgets using real asset condition data
• Shift spending from reactive fixes to strategic, long-term investments
• Strengthen your risk visibility and improve operational resilience
• Develop long-term strategies that support sustainability and financial stability

Kyle Gregore is a mission-driven facilities leader whose career bridges higher-education operations, military service, and a deep commitment to strengthening the critical infrastructure that communities depend on. As Director of Facilities at Loyola University New Orleans, he oversees operations across two campuses, leads a 27-person team, and manages more than $155 million in construction, modernization, and energy-efficiency projects. His leadership has produced significant operational gains, including a 12% reduction in utility consumption and a transformed, data-informed preventative maintenance and asset-management program.

Kyle’s leadership philosophy was shaped over 20 years in the Louisiana Air National Guard, where he rose to Senior Master Sergeant (E-8) in civil engineering and operations management. During Hurricane Katrina, he served inside both the Superdome and the New Orleans Convention Center, witnessing firsthand what it means for infrastructure to fail under extreme conditions. Those experiences permanently influenced his approach to facilities management: they taught him that critical infrastructure is not just physical—it is a lifeline for safety, dignity, and human resilience. They also forged his reputation for calm, decisive leadership in high-pressure environments, a trait that continues to define his work today.

Now pursuing his MBA at Loyola, Kyle integrates strategic communication, financial analysis, and organizational leadership into every project he leads. He is dedicated to modernizing campus systems, elevating operational reliability, and developing high-performing teams who take pride in supporting the university’s mission and its community.

Kyle is driven by a simple idea: exceptional facilities work doesn’t just maintain a campus—it transforms it. His career reflects the belief that disciplined leadership, purpose-driven innovation, and a deep respect for critical infrastructure can elevate not just buildings, but people, culture, and entire institutions.

Katie Gramajo is an APPA Certified Educational Facilities Professional (CEFP) and Senior Education Specialist at Siemens (formerly Brightly Software). She develops technology-driven solutions for school facilities management and capital planning. With more than 16 years in maintenance and operations, and 12 years leading school facilities and operations at The Windward School and Campbell Hall School, she has advanced facilities master plans through major renovations and comprehensive staff management across multiple campuses. Her expertise spans facilities operations, sustainability project management, and strategic technology integration for educational institutions, driving innovative approaches to work order management and funding prioritization. A seasoned facilities leader with a background in maintenance operations and a former professional opera singer, Katie brings a unique blend of strategic thinking and creative problem-solving to the educational facilities sector.