Paul K Duenas

What is the one piece of career advice you wish someone gave you when you were younger?

After going to 2 years of College in Ohio at a Devry Electronic school, Calculus killed me and I failed out. I came home to VA, started working for an electrician, wired houses for 3 years, got a Job with the Federal govt doing electrical work for an intelligence agency. I graduated to Small Project lead, then Manager of Operations and Maintenance, then finally made it to Deputy Chief of Facilities Engineering. I left there in 2008 and went to work at Fannie Mae. I am currently the Data Center Facilities Manager. After 38 years i earned my bachelors of Business Administration, mostly online-- this past year Passed Statistics after taking it twice-- and this year I will earn my Certified Facilities management Certification form IFMA. Along the way i got married ( 36 years now) raised two boys who are both married. and i have 4 grand-kids with 1 more on the way in September. A weird fact about me is i love operating Sound Systems- large and small. I love to go fishing, camping and cooking. I love to offer advise to up and coming Bright future students and career minded folks, especially in Facilities Management or Business.

What is the one piece of career advice you wish someone gave you when you were younger?

After going to 2 years of College in Ohio at a Devry Electronic school, Calculus killed me and I failed out. I came home to VA, started working for an electrician, wired houses for 3 years, got a Job with the Federal govt doing electrical work for an intelligence agency. I graduated to Small Project lead, then Manager of Operations and Maintenance, then finally made it to Deputy Chief of Facilities Engineering. I left there in 2008 and went to work at Fannie Mae. I am currently the Data Center Facilities Manager. After 38 years i earned my bachelors of Business Administration, mostly online-- this past year Passed Statistics after taking it twice-- and this year I will earn my Certified Facilities management Certification form IFMA. Along the way i got married ( 36 years now) raised two boys who are both married. and i have 4 grand-kids with 1 more on the way in September. A weird fact about me is i love operating Sound Systems- large and small. I love to go fishing, camping and cooking. I love to offer advise to up and coming Bright future students and career minded folks, especially in Facilities Management or Business.

What is the biggest challenge you had to overcome to get to where you are now professionally? How did you overcome it?

Showing people that i know what I know despite not having a Degree for so many years. I came up thru the trades and worked my way into management. I earned it essentially. Today so many young people want to go get their degree and expect someone to hand them a career making $100K for knowing absolutely nothing. Respect is EARNED.

In layperson terms, what do you actually do at work?

Manage the Facilities (Building systems) for a large sole Data Center for a large privately held Financial services company.

In layperson terms, what do you actually do at work?

Manage the Facilities (Building systems) for a large sole Data Center for a large privately held Financial services company.

How did you pick your career? Did you know all along?

After going to 2 years of College in Ohio at a Devry Electronic school, Calculus killed me and I failed out. I came home to VA, started working for an electrician, wired houses for 3 years, got a Job with the Federal govt doing electrical work for an intelligence agency. I graduated to Small Project lead, then Manager of Operations and Maintenance, then finally made it to Deputy Chief of Facilities Engineering. I left there in 2008 and went to work at Fannie Mae. I am currently the Data Center Facilities Manager. After 38 years i earned my bachelors of Business Administration, mostly online-- this past year Passed Statistics after taking it twice-- and this year I will earn my Certified Facilities management Certification form IFMA. Along the way i got married ( 36 years now) raised two boys who are both married. and i have 4 grand-kids with 1 more on the way in September. A weird fact about me is i love operating Sound Systems- large and small. I love to go fishing, camping and cooking. I love to offer advise to up and coming Bright future students and career minded folks, especially in Facilities Management or Business.