July 15, 2026 — In this episode of the Facility Voices Podcast, host David Trask, at ARC Facilities, sits down with Trey Adams, Director of Physical Plant at the Southern College of Optometry, to talk about the lessons learned from a career built in the electrical trade and shaped through years in facilities management. Trey shares how his background running service trucks and troubleshooting in the field prepared him for the people-first side of facilities leadership, where listening, communication, and trust matter just as much as technical skill.
The conversation explores the culture Trey has worked to build at Southern College of Optometry, centered around teamwork, adaptability, and a “whatever it takes” mindset. He also discusses the challenge of replacing long-tenured team members, preserving institutional knowledge, and using technology to support both experienced staff and new hires. From mentoring employees to solving unexpected maintenance emergencies, Trey offers a grounded perspective on leadership, accountability, and creating opportunities for teams to succeed.
Trey Adams is the Director of Physical Plant at the Southern College of Optometry. After starting his career in the electrical trade in 1999, he spent 10 years gaining experience in residential, commercial, and light industrial systems before joining SCO in 2009 as Maintenance Supervisor. Adams later advanced to Director, where he leads a team known for its “whatever it takes” approach to facilities operations, teamwork, and customer service.
Tune in to the May 26 episode, “Building a Proactive Team Culture in Facilities,” to hear Samantha Green’s story and insights from the front lines of facilities management.
Each episode of Facility Voices includes supplementary content that expands on key themes and insights from the conversation. You can find that additional material at: Access Episode Takeaways on ARC Facilities.
Connect with host David Trask on LinkedIn.
