The New Gold Standard: Right-Sizing Custodial Operations through Data, Systems, and Empathy

Declining enrollment is a pressing challenge across public school districts and higher education institutions, but bold facility leadership might be the unexpected solution. In this insightful session, Chris Brablc speaks with Rob Lamecker, Head of Facilities at Stillwater Public Schools, who shares his unique perspective on how to combat this trend by flipping the script on custodial culture. Making public perception of facility cleanliness a critical frontline strategy for attracting and retaining students. Drawing from his background in IT infrastructure and database management, Rob breaks down how to replace rigid "gold-standard" traps by employing a unique blend of empathy & data-backed decisions to achieve what he calls "operational sufficiency."
Attendees will explore how facilities act as a primary public marketing tool—starting at the curb and moving through “concentric rings of influence” into the classroom. Rob will demonstrate how capturing clear operational data and leveraging technology (like QR code scanning and operational tracking) serves as a shield to protect and empower frontline workers to create the environments where students are best suited to achieve academic success.

Presenters:

Chris Brablc, VP of Marketing Insights, CrowdComfort
chris.brablc@crowdcomfort.com

Chris Brablc leads marketing at CrowdComfort, evangelizing innovation in cleaning operations with market research and emerging trends in keeping buildings healthy, clean and safe for occupants.

Chris specializes in identifying market opportunities and trends that lead to product differentiation while driving value and efficiency for end users and customers. He brings over 15+ years of experience in leading marketing efforts at high growth SaaS companies, evangelizing new product categories for tank monitoring at Tank Utility and recruitment marketing at SmashFly among other organizations.

He is an alumnus of Boston College, where he received a BA in Business and has been a volunteer Assistant Coach for the Saugus Girls Varsity Basketball team the past 10 years.

Rob Lamecker, Finance and Operations Officer, Stillwater Public Schools
chris.brablc@crowdcomfort.com

Rob Lamecker, CEFP, CSPM, serves as Finance and Operations Officer for Stillwater Public Schools in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He spent nearly two decades in information technology — including 16 years as the district's Assistant Technology Director — before moving into facilities leadership, first as Director of Facilities Management and now overseeing finance and operations districtwide. 

Rob is currently pursuing an MBA at LSU Shreveport, where his research into K-12 enrollment trends in Oklahoma sharpened his focus on the link between building condition and student retention. He serves on the National School Plant Management Association (NSPMA), working to professionalize facilities management across the industry.