Brooke M. Pugh, CAFM

I attribute much of my success to my mom, who has always been my biggest role model. Growing up, she showed me what it truly means to be an independent woman—someone who sets a goal and pursues it, regardless of outside opinions or obstacles. She instilled in me the belief that if you know what you want, you have the power to make it happen through determination and hard work. She also encouraged me to pursue higher education, which played a significant role in shaping my path. Her influence has been especially meaningful as I’ve built a career in a traditionally male-dominated field. The independence and confidence she taught me have helped me advocate for myself, speak up, and ensure my voice is heard. I’m incredibly grateful for her guidance and the foundation she gave me—it has shaped the person and leader I am today.

One of the most valuable pieces of career advice I received came when I was applying for my current position. As the process narrowed to the final five candidates, I became aware of another individual in the pool who I believed was more qualified, given their longer tenure at the university.

At that point, I seriously considered withdrawing. The selection process for a leadership role was extensive—multiple rounds of presentations, one-on-one interviews with business leaders, meetings with the executive leadership team, and ultimately an interview with the vice president. It was a significant time commitment that spanned several months, and I questioned whether it was worth continuing when I doubted my chances.

I shared these concerns with my predecessor, and the advice I received was simple but impactful: you won’t know unless you try. That perspective encouraged me to stay in the process—and I’m incredibly glad I did.

That experience reinforced a lesson I carry with me today: don’t limit yourself based on assumptions. You never truly know what’s possible until you put yourself forward and give your full effort. Even if the outcome isn’t what you hoped for, the experience itself is invaluable. It builds confidence, sharpens your skills, and better prepares you for future opportunities.

Sometimes, the most important step in your career is simply deciding to stay in the race.

The best advice I would give is to make sure your voice is heard. That doesn’t mean speaking the loudest or dominating a conversation—it means confidently contributing, making your presence known, and recognizing that you earned your place in the room just as much as anyone else.

In my experience, I’m often in environments that are male-dominated, where I may be the only woman at the table. At times, I’ve even been questioned about why I’m there. Moments like that reinforce how important it is to trust your value, stand firm in your perspective, and not hesitate to speak up.

Know that your voice matters. You bring a unique perspective, and you deserve to be part of the conversation. Don’t be afraid to use that voice.

One significant opportunity I’m currently leading is the development of a new Transportation Services facility at Michigan State University. This project will bring together our Motor Pool, Campus Bus Operations, and a new service garage into one centralized location.

With an estimated investment of $23 million, this is a major initiative and an exciting opportunity for me to lead a project of this scale and impact.

This effort is driven by longstanding challenges within our current service garage, where limitations in space and functionality have restricted our ability to fully support our operations. The new facility will address those gaps and position us to operate more efficiently and effectively moving forward.

At present, this project represents a significant focus of my time as we work through planning, coordination, and execution.

One of the most important values in both my professional and personal life is the importance of team, trust, and culture. I strongly believe that success is never the result of one individual—it takes a collective effort from a group of people who feel connected, supported, and aligned around a common purpose.

In my role, I prioritize creating an environment where my team feels valued and understands that their contributions truly matter. I want every individual to feel a sense of ownership and purpose in the work we do, knowing that we succeed together—not as individuals working in silos.

I also place a high value on building relationships beyond day-to-day tasks. By creating opportunities for our team to connect on a personal level, we’ve developed a culture that feels more like a community. That foundation has helped foster mutual respect, open communication, and a willingness to support one another. When someone on the team is overwhelmed, the response is not “that’s not my responsibility,” but rather, “how can I help?”

Trust is at the core of all of this. I am continually focused on building and maintaining that trust—ensuring my team feels supported, heard, and empowered. I make it a point to demonstrate that I value them, not just through words, but through consistent actions.

Ultimately, the culture we’ve built together is something I take great pride in, and it remains one of my top priorities as a leader.