TFM is renowned for its excellence in power engineering training and education— but what many companies and municipalities don’t realize is that TFM also offers world-class facilities and operations consulting services. With a reputation for tackling complex challenges and turning them into success stories, TFM has helped various industries and facilities optimize their infrastructure, improve operations, and enhance staff training. A prime example of this from the past year is a project with the City of Dawson Creek to improve vital civil infrastructure. In this case study, we’ll explore TFM’s expertise in facilities and operations consulting and how their services significantly impacted the viability of Dawson Creek’s municipal infrastructure.
A Case Study in Consulting: The City of Dawson Creek
When the General Manager of Community Services for the City of Dawson Creek, BC, approached TFM for a much-needed operational assessment of its civil facilities, the city was facing a critical situation: their arena was rife with operational issues that, if left unaddressed, would force them to shut down within six months. Mike Garcia, a senior educator and lead consultant for TFM, was brought in to evaluate and rectify the situation.
Upon conducting the assessment, Mike identified a series of problems, spanning from basic maintenance issues to complex infrastructure challenges. Recognizing the urgency of this facility’s needs, Mike implemented as multi-step plan to address these problems while still ensuring that the arena, a key civil structure in the area, could remain operational throughout the ice season.
The first step in TFM’s recommendations was to stabilize the arena’s operations. Mike worked closely with the staff onsite to ensure they could manage their day-to-day functions until the major mechanical and structural issues could be resolved. This allowed the arena to remain open and functioning throughout their peak season, bringing in much-needed revenue for the remediation efforts while still prioritizing visitor health and safety. During this time, Mike also began a personelle audit while developing a comprehensive training program for the staff.
This training program was meticulously crafted with Mike’s decades of hands-on experience as a power engineer himself, covering everything from basic operations to advanced maintenance protocols— essentially creating a “foundations to roof” approach for managing the arena. Throughout their work with the City of Dawson Creek in 2024, TFM created a 400-page training manual tailored to the city and arena’s specific needs. This manual was not only focused on technical skills for staff but also provided clear guidelines for troubleshooting and operational best practices moving forward.
In addition to developing this training manual, Mike worked closely with the City’s Human Resources department to thoroughly investigate the root causes of the arena’s decline. This included reviewing staff qualifications, credentials, and previous training, which provided valuable insights into where things had fallen off track in the facility. With these insights, as well as a positive and blameless approach to his findings, Mike was able to create a detailed report for the HR director, offering recommendations for improving operations and staff performance.
One of the other key successes of this project, in tandem with the HR investigation and training, was the complete overhaul of the arena’s physical infrastructure, based on Mike’s suggestions. TFM oversaw the installation of a new ice slab for the arena to ensure it met all safety and operational requirements moving forward. By October 2024, with new training in place and the infrastructure improvements complete, TFM assisted in getting the arena ready for their grand reopening in November 2024.
However, TFM’s commitment didn’t stop there. As part of their ongoing commitment to client success, Mike continued to provide coaching and monitoring on the facility and staff. Every two to three months, Mike returns to Dawson Creek to verify staff adhere to the new training protocols and provide further coaching opportunities if necessary. His team maintains regular communication with the Community Services department, reviewing progress and ensuring continued compliance with the best practices he laid out.
Mike’s approach to this project was rooted in his belief that “while anyone can identify problems, it takes true expertise to find practical solutions to them.” Over the years, Mike and his team have developed a knack for not only being able to pinpoint operational issues but also provide multiple viable solutions. These solutions and suggestions are always communicated clearly to stakeholders and key project touch points to ensure their buy-in and belief in TFM’s planning.
The success of the Dawson Creek project is just on example of how TFM’s facilities and operations consulting services can transform municipal and private-sector businesses that are struggling to remediate their struggling facilities. With decades of experience working with both the public and private sectors, Mike has witnessed firsthand the challenges municipalities across Canada face in managing their aging infrastructure. The next two decades will likely see even greater challenges in securing vital civil infrastructure and facilities as these locations and their operations continue degrading, making services like TFM’s more critical than ever.
Facing Major Facilities and Operations Changes? Call TFM Today to Experience Their World-Class Facilities and Operations Consulting Services
If your company, sector, or municipality is struggling to begin crucial projects to upgrade, maintain, or remediate aging infrastructure, contact TFM today. Our expert consultants and trainers are ready to do all the heavy lifting for you. Whether you need a second set of eyes on a project appraisal or a complete overhaul of your processes and training, the team at TFM brings unparalleled expertise, professionalism, and creative problem-solving tailored to find a solution for even your most challenging problems. With a proven track record of success, TFM can help you navigate complex operational challenges and implement solutions that will drive long-term success. Visit our website or contact our team today to learn more about how TFM’s world-class consulting services can help your operational or organizational struggles in 2025.