Executive summary:
- It is difficult to point out anything in particular that stands out above the rest. I was fortunate to have teachers and professors during my high school and college years that greatly influenced the person I am today.
- I have had the privilege to work for and with some amazing people in my career, starting with my dad who allowed me to tag along to executive meetings early in my career and taught me the rigor it takes to run a business.
- I have been lucky to have the opportunities presented to me during my career to develop solutions outside the normal course of business from the oil fields in Kern County to laboratories in Silicon Valley to commercial office buildings all over the world. The breadth of solutions required and the time and freedom to develop those solutions over the years has been extremely fulfilling. I continue to learn every day as we live in a very dynamic environment. I hope to be able to mentor and pass along any inspiration to the next generations as the world needs all of the talented problem solvers working together.
What is your field of expertise?
I am enthusiastic about leading the disruption to the way building systems are viewed, maintained and reported on: In short, we are bringing the back of house to the front of house. The control systems in buildings where we spend much of our lives help shape the people we are, the energy we use, the security we feel and the overall environment we share. Buildings aren’t just spaces that we work or live in, but they are so much more complex than that. Controls, infrastructure, and systems bring exciting opportunities for us to positively shape buildings for our lives and futures. At Buildings IOT, we work with property owners and facility managers in a variety of industries such as airports, banking, cannabis, commercial real estate, construction, data centers, energy and utility companies, government, healthcare, hotels, pharmaceutical, retail, sports facilities, and universities.
Describe your journey to where you are today.
I graduated from California State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology – Human Factors and started to pursue a master’s in industrial engineering, but ended up pursuing an MBA in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix. I had more interest in business than in engineering. I started at Johnson Controls as an Installation Technician and programmed, started, and commissioned HVAC control systems in commercial high rises, pharmaceutical facilities, data centers, and universities. Then I moved on to more of the sales side of the buildings control world at Controlco. Later, Controlco turned into Buildings IOT where I serve as CEO.
What does your company do, for whom, and how does it fit into the bigger picture of solving global issues with clean tech?
Buildings IOT is a master systems integrator for building data and controls. Our smart systems enhance building health, identify security threats, reduce energy usage, lower operating costs, and increase tenant comfort. We extract and present valuable data and analytics in order to maximize building system performance, elevate owner and tenant experience, and bridge the gap between promises and reality. The country’s commercial buildings utilize a reported 71 percent of the nation’s electricity, 54 percent of the natural gas, and emit 40 percent of the greenhouse gases. Calls for energy and carbon emission reduction get louder, it is critical for the commercial building industry to address the elephant in the room.Smart buildings adapt to the changing conditions of the environment around them to save energy and enhance overall system performance. Using information and analytics, systems can adjust themselves to ensure a comfortable and safe environment for tenants and profit for the building owner.
What do you wish you could tell the younger you — what would’ve been incredibly helpful to you ten years ago?
I wouldn’t want to tell my younger self anything that would move me off the path that I was on. Every decision that I made, good or bad, has led me to where I am today. I don’t believe there is much value in wondering “what-if,” though there is incredible power in learning from each circumstance and experience.
LinkedIn: Brian Turner