Greg Owens 26:25
that everybody had the same idea at the same time. It’s so funny, because we’re in that situation where I’m having to deliver bad news on a regular basis, right? Yeah. We ran out of pain. Oh, no, no, we can’t go to the store. There’s no page at any of the stores. Right. Yeah. And so it’s, it’s, you know, being that bad news. But it’s funny, because I I try to remind a lot of people that, Hey, remember two months ago, when I was calling you saying, Hey, can we get started on some of this stuff looked at because like, I’m really concerned, it’s all gonna pile on here super fast. And right now the buildings are empty, we can just run through and take care of and they couldn’t get things approved. And now they’ve all proved everything.
Kate Peevey 27:06
Yeah. And now, you know, you can’t get anything you need to start. Yeah,
Greg Owens 27:13
exactly. Everybody’s running around looking for stuff, right? I mean, I make so many phone calls, looking for just simple items, you know, because I’m trying to help help my employees as much as possible. Cuz I know that such a labor intensive, you know, burden to like, make those calls and try to procure just stuff. What is it that you’re What are you guys hearing is the reason for these things like the furniture and that kind of stuff.
Kate Peevey 27:40
So I’m on the the programs that we have opening. Right now, our furniture providers have said that everybody is ordered new furniture, because they’re going back to work. And that, that it has to do with the docks. So my understanding is, is that a lot of this furnitures imported right from overseas, and they either are not able to find a place to dock to unload the furniture, or like the slip for the dock is so far out, because so many people are ordering things, and so many shipments are coming in. And then just the manufacturing supply, right. So people are ready, and they want something and now companies have laid off. You know, we’ve even seen this like with our limited suppliers, right? So even outside of furniture, like linen really became impacted too, because they started laying off all these people, right? restaurants weren’t in business. Hotels weren’t, you know, thriving like they were. So even though we’re getting linen deliver regularly. The big suppliers, the big, big companies that ordered linen, hospitality and and stuff, they started laying off people and then the restaurants open back up and they don’t have the staff to accommodate. That was also the same with furniture. So people weren’t ordering office furniture anymore, because everybody was working from home. And then because of the demand for it, they just didn’t have the manpower to to produce it as fast,
Greg Owens 29:24
right? And I can only imagine to that they’re ordering a lot more. Like instead of one couch, like hey, we have space for three couches. And since we’re trying to social distance, we should buy all three. Yeah, everybody thinking the same way. It’s interesting because I was just traveling and going to the airport. There’s still this weird feeling like, you know, come around. I was like, Oh, cool. I know this. I know Chicago. There’s a Starbucks around this corner and it’s closed. Right? And I’m like, there’s endless people here and they have a little sign saying hey, do the pandemic right. We’re struggling to get people back to work into here. Yeah, yeah. You know, And that’s like, that’s Starbucks, right. And then the other thought that I had I was in North Carolina and and there’s these furnitures, North Carolina used to be once upon a time major manufacturer of furniture, right? But there’s all these mom and pop old sort of furniture stores, right. And I mean, they make new furniture, and they make it by hand there and that kind of thing. But their stores are filled with furniture, but they’re not very good at, like marketing it and getting it out there. And, you know, shipping it across the country. They have a, probably a huge opportunity right now if they can get the comeback, right?
Kate Peevey 30:33
They do. Yeah, yeah, they do. Um, you had said something about travelling in it. Anyway, maybe it’ll come back.
Greg Owens 30:41
Yeah. And so what are you excited about this summer with within work or in your personal life or whatever? what’s what’s going on for you and coming up? Um,
Kate Peevey 30:55
well, I am, I’m really excited just to be back into the swing of things. That’s been one of the things I’ve loved about my job is the travel, and just being able to reconnect with people in our company, you know, in other states, and, and just being able to support them in ways that we haven’t been able to in the past, you know, year is, is really exciting, cuz you always think like, Oh, you need a break from people, and then you, and then you get this break, and you’re like, Oh, my gosh, I just miss it. Like, I missed the interaction. And and, you know, so much of what we did was over conference and video conferencing or phones, and, and although you’re there and you’re communicating, it’s still it’s still not the same.
Greg Owens 31:58
It’s not the same. And it seems like it takes longer. Yeah, like over over zoom. Right? It seems like when we’re collaborating, we’re having like multiple I just said this to a group we were working on a thing together was for a nonprofit. And I was like, you know, back in the old days, we used to just fly in somewhere and spend one day and hammer this whole thing out, right and have a hunt and create a new program for the nonprofit over like a dinner, and then a day of work. And maybe another dinner at the end and you really bonded and and you really just like got in there and got the work. Now we’re having like six zoom calls.
Kate Peevey 32:35
Yeah. Oh, I know. I know. Because so much of what so much of what we do depends on relationships, right? So it’s not just relationships with our administrators or programmes or customers, but it’s our relationships with contractors and subcontractors and kind of this community of people that you build. And it’s it’s very challenging to keep that community restored. When when you don’t have that interface time.
Greg Owens 33:08
Right. That’s so true. We did. We tried to do a few walkthroughs over zoom, and that ended quickly. Yeah, oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Don’t look at a facility to paint it that got it. They mean, it’s something completely different. If I can be there and look, walkthrough and see how to, you know how he just even just getting in and out of the building is going to be in what the security situation is like, and meeting the guards and, and knowing what we’re going to need to do to get through it. We can smooth out so many of the rough edges, right?
Kate Peevey 33:39
Yeah, yeah. There are definitely more surprises when you’re trying to do everything virtually.
Greg Owens 33:44
Right. Right. You didn’t show me that other corner? Oh, I didn’t realize there was this whole other part behind you, you know, yeah. So much smoke and mirrors. And so, you know, and one of the things I’ve been really trying to highlight and bring awareness to on this on this podcast has been how people come into these careers. Right. And it’s been really interesting to hear sort of the origin stories. What was what was it for you you mentioned it earlier a little bit that you didn’t know you’re it wasn’t something you were seeking healthcare, but you’re finding it very gratifying. What What was your path?
Kate Peevey 34:22
So, um, I, I started out my backgrounds in architecture. So I went to architecture school, that’s what my degrees in and I got out of college and started working for an architectural firm that did construction drawings for mental health. So I ended up working really on two sides of the fence. Because my early years I was doing construction drawings and design and permitting for many mental healthcare facilities. And then through that one of the companies Telecare was a company that I worked closely with, asked me if I wanted to come over on to, you know, the owners rep side, um, to work with them in house. So I just kind of started saying yes to these opportunities, you know, maybe not really understanding what they were at the time. But it just sounded interesting. And I, I loved working with Telecare when I worked for this architectural firm. And so the transition was really easy, because I had already been working with some of these folks for, you know, three or three or four years.
Greg Owens 35:46
Right. And I can, I can only imagine that if you’re working as an architect in that building healthcare facilities like that, that it takes a little while to get the lingo down. Even though you’re educated and all of this, there’s, there’s certain considerations and kind of some of the things that you went through, and I can see how that was a real, you know, real benefit for Telecare to reach out to you and bring you in, right, because you have all that knowledge base now.
Kate Peevey 36:15
Yeah, so it was it was a curse and for our blessing and a curse probably at the same time. Because they, they have their ways of doing things. And coming from coming from that background, there were a lot of things that I probably overcomplicated that didn’t need me to be there. And it took me a little while to adjust from coming from that background into into pretty much a completely different style role. Right. So I had project management experience, but it was with contractors and subcontractors and you know, leading construction projects, but then you come into a facility management role. And it’s, you’re managing other types of, of people now also, right, so there’s compliance and, you know, special testing for licencing. And, and that really was a lot of my job at the beginning. With construction being like a small piece designing construction being a small piece. So yeah, we just kind of worked it out. And, and it’s been really, really good. So
Greg Owens 37:33
that’s awesome. And, and if you were to talk to somebody, you know, like young people, or somebody transitioning that’s looking at a career here, what would you say, you know, what would you What advice would you give to that kind of a person?
Kate Peevey 37:49
Um, what would I say? I would just say, say yes to opportunities, and figure everything else out later. Right? Don’t Don’t overthink it. Because the opportunities that I’ve had in my career, I think, if I over, thought it, I wouldn’t have ended up where I am today. I just, you know, kept saying yes. And, and, and just went for it. Right. So I would say that, and then just keep learning. It’s a dynamic environment, construction, facility management is always changing, always. The regulations are changing requirements, codes, expectations, so it really is not a place where you can just sit and kind of perch and just be comfortable. You always have to be you always have to be learning something new.
Greg Owens 38:56
Yeah. And it sounds like one of the joys you have of that is that always learning something new and always moving to you have so many facilities and each facility is got a unique perspective and a unique offering. And you have to sort of, you know, problem solve per each and every facility. Yeah,
Kate Peevey 39:14
yeah. Yeah, exactly. And no two places are alike, right? Whether it’s because of the dynamics of the personalities of people running them, right, because that’s a huge facility management. Yeah. is being able to, to work with tonnes of different types of personalities and, and really, really be a good listener. Right? Because, um, you know, what, what we’re essentially doing is providing support for them. So if you’re, you know, if your fears aren’t open and And you’re not really listening or understanding the needs or requests coming from everyone, then you know, you’re gonna run into some challenges for sure.
Greg Owens 40:13
Yeah, I can see, you know, it’s so amazing. Because, you know, you sometimes think about these buildings having this sort of one personality, let’s say, but if you had two identical buildings built in two different cities, and you’ve then staffed them with a different staff and your staff, and then you have the different patients coming and going, and everything, each one is going to feel completely different.
Kate Peevey 40:38
Yeah, yeah, they really do. They really do. And and what’s interesting that you say that is because each demographic provides a different type of clientele, even if it’s the same service provider, right. So in some of our cities, we can have a facility that, that the clients are just way more acute way more severe cases. But it can be the same exact type of clientele in a completely other city. And they don’t have that level that they need to meet yet. Although it seems across the board, it is increasingly getting increasingly more challenging, and the level of care is becoming a little more acute. But yeah, yeah, it’s really true.
Greg Owens 41:35
Yeah, there’s a lot of changes out there going on in the world. And you know, and I can only imagine how much COVID is going to impact people’s mental health going forward, right, or, right, I can only I have my nephew with me now. And he’s 11. And I can just see it when he’s 26 years old, and he’s sitting down with his therapist needs like, Oh, yeah, was that COVID year that I had to wear a mask? Like, couldn’t go to school? And it’s messed me up for life? Maybe not yet. He’s pretty good. Yeah, you know, there’s gonna be there’s gonna be Fallout, right. 10 years from now, continuous sort of challenges, right? Oh, yeah. Yeah, this was, again, a period of time, right. And we don’t know how it affects people long term. The mental side of things, right. Yeah. Or even even the illness side of things. And we still try to figure that stuff out.
Kate Peevey 42:34
Right, right. I know, I always think about like, I have a niece and nephew. And my niece is seven. So I feel like she will definitely remember parts of, of what’s been going on. Yeah. And just how, you know how that’s gonna kind of shape her mentality or shape her mind in terms of comfortability with people or, or germs. You know, you just think
Greg Owens 43:04
how many how many germaphobic are gonna come out of this? Yeah, exactly. Oh, you know, your cough. Right. Right. Where they get to the extreme side of it. Right? Where? Yeah, every five minutes, they’re washing their hands or something. Yeah, I can, I can only imagine. Right. So it’s, it’s wonderful. You guys are providing such a needed service out there to the world?
Kate Peevey 43:25
Yeah. Yeah, it is. It is and more people are getting on board, which is, which is wonderful. Mental health is it’s part of it. Right? Right. physical, mental. It’s all encompassing. So it’s good that it’s starting to be recognised.
Greg Owens 43:42
Right. And then, you know, and people don’t always think about it in that way that facilities provide part of that care. Right? Because Because, you know, if it’s if it’s a facility, like those kind that we saw in the movies, when in the 90s, and that kind of thing, or 80s, or 50s, right, those things look creepy. Yeah, well, right. How are you going to get better in there? Yeah. How are you going to get better in there? Right. Right. Right. Right. And I think they’ve learned more and more to have if you can create that home home home, like feeling and care and people have you know, that they can connect, then yeah, then there’s a better chance.
Kate Peevey 44:23
Right, right. Which is, which is what makes it so interesting coming from an architectural background, right? And really, why I think I I love being in it so much is because it’s really fascinating to constantly think about how your built environment actually affects your, you know, your mental health development and now with all of our clients their recovery process, right, what’s the impact of the physical space?
Greg Owens 44:56
Right, right. Yeah, well, this has been absolutely Super fun conversation to have. Yeah, on a Friday right before the Fourth of July. I really enjoyed talking to you, Kate, and have a have a wonderful weekend up there in the mountains. It looks great. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you so much for having me on. I’ve enjoyed it as well. Yeah. And you’ve everybody out there. You’ve been listening to the Watching Paint Dry podcast with Kate Peevey. Super, super fun. Thank you.
Outro 45:26
All right. Thank you. Thanks for listening to the Watching Paint Dry podcast. We’ll see you again next time and be sure to click subscribe to get future episodes.