District's Chief Administrative Officer gears up to walk a mile with the Facility Maintenance Coordinator

Arnaldo “Al” Perea

Facility Maintenance Coordinator

Profled by Rick Roche, Chief Administrative
Officer and Hospital Administrator

It is obvious that Al is the professional here.

I arrived at the Health Care District Home Office the morning of July 14th, 2017 to walk a mile in the shoes of one Arnaldo Perea…otherwise affectionately known as “Al”. Al is THE Facilities guy for the Home Office, Clinics, and Pharmacies. His daily duties include anything and everything, from the simple to the complex. He is a one-man, one-stop, Mr. Fix It Shop. He is skilled in every aspect of facilities maintenance.

If you are having a problem with plumbing…call Al. Electrical…call Al. You need a door sawed in half…call Al. An office moved…Al is your guy. If your office is too cold, too warm…you can call Al – though remember we are moving soon and there’s not much he can do about the air so give a brother a break regarding the air temp please!

A Fresh Start in America

Al arrived in Florida via Peru at the spry age of 30. The Occidental Petroleum Company where he worked was closing its doors. Knowing only a few people, he, his wife, son and daughter immigrated to the United States – Broward County to be specific. Shortly after arriving, Al found work utilizing his skills at high-rise condominiums and other properties.

That is what he did during the day. At night, Al attended class. He obtained professional certifications in plumbing, carpentry, masonry, electrical, and shop safety, just to name a few. Should the Health Care District ever decide to build a pool at one of our facilities, Al has it covered…he is also certified a Certified Pool Operator!

Al joined the HCD Team in October 2011 (“Hello” being fully vested!). The hiring manager/supervisor at the time was Robert Forchin (currently our Purchasing Manager). Robert noted that he offered Al the position because of his “…background in commercial building maintenance and his great personality… we thought he would be great for the District’s culture.”

Al knows better than to let me near dangerous equipment!

This Facilities work really tired me out!

May the Force be with You

His current supervisor, Tom Cleare, Vice President of Strategy, had this to say “Al is great. He literally moves walls and splits doors in half for the Clinics and Pharmacies…he uses Jedi mind tricks and ‘The Force’ to manipulate a 1920’s air conditioning system to keep the home office staff comfortable…we are very fortunate to have a committed professional like Al on our team and I feel lucky to have the opportunity to work closely with him.” I am not a Star Wars guy…but I believe those comments to be complimentary.

You think you have a crappy job?!

During my early morning visit with Al, I donned the rookie protective suit and hard hat. Al led me on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Home Office building, winding me through areas of the facility that most people never see: the generator room, the mechanical area behind the freight elevator, and even up to the roof where he works to maintain those temperamental air conditioners. The inner-workings of the building are complex and challenging, yet Al addresses each component with calmness and competence.

Professional Problem Solver

Al has all the professional experience, credentials, and skills that the District requires in his position. What he possesses most of though, and what is most obvious, is his caring. He wants employees to feel good at work. He is a problem solver and approaches every job with a sense of urgency. He is proud of his trade and he presents the utmost professionalism. Very simply, Al makes the Health Care District a better organization, and his presence makes the work environment better for everyone who is privileged to work with him. He doesn’t touch any patients, but he is one of the District’s quiet heroes!

So…it was an enlightening morning for me. Should Al ever leave the District, we will have big shoes to fill. As for me…I think I’ll keep my day job!

How many healthcare executives does ti take to change a light bulb? Probably a dozen...so just call Al!