Sharon Harrington
Singing The Praises of People and Learning from Experience
Sharon Harrington spent 25 years in facility management before retiring and, like many, she entered the field unexpectedly. Her background was in liberal arts and education, and she spent a decade in education-related roles -- teaching nursery school, working with special needs children, managing an early intervention program, and working in textbook publishing.
“Looking back, I was already doing facility management in that early intervention role, overseeing a building without thinking about it,” she said.
Networking played a critical role in her transition. Through a family connection, she found an opportunity with a company needing someone to handle facilities.
“My parents kept saying to get in touch with my cousin Alec, who was an executive at Caterpillar, which I did reluctantly because nobody wants to feel embarrassed with family,” Sharon laughed. “He referred me to someone who had just taken on the facilities responsibility at a local tech company.”
She learned all about phone systems. And then little by little, she took on all the other facilities' responsibilities that were required, overseeing the handyman, dealing with space planning, furnishings, vending services, and construction, with the help of an assistant. One of her smartest moves was joining the local IFMA chapter early on, which provided invaluable learning and connections. Attending every chapter meeting exposed her to topics she hadn’t yet encountered, like roofing, which later proved essential when her building faced a major storm.
“Facility managers can’t know everything, but networking ensures you always know someone who does,” Sharon explained.
Sharon later moved to Medtronic, a global medical device company, starting in a specialized role within a facilities team of architects, engineers, and designers. Initially, she handled small projects like updating floor plans, but soon managed large-scale space planning and moves, interior construction, clean rooms, specialized labs, and eventually facility operations at the world headquarters campus. Sharon learned on the job, expanding her expertise continuously.
Understanding the frontline experience was crucial. For instance, she joined her mailroom team on their runs and realized how difficult the carts were to maneuver. By modifying the handles, they improved ergonomics and efficiency and job satisfaction. Over 21 years at Medtronic, Sharon’s role evolved, encompassing Lean Sigma initiatives, implementing process improvements across facilities, security, travel, and document management. She streamlined operations by consolidating inventory, reducing waste, eliminating process steps, and centralizing procurement.
Being named an IFMA Fellow was a career highlight, but the relationships Sharon built were just as rewarding.
“Some of my closest friends came from IFMA, and we remain connected even in retirement. I now split my time between Minnesota and Arizona and remain active in the FM community through the Facilithon, where I serve as national administrator, overseeing competition materials, training volunteers, and expanding its reach,” Sharon said.
Outside of facility management, Sharon is a big golfer, reader, and bridge player, but music is huge in her life.
“Music has always been a passion, and I sing in choirs in both states, including participating in international performances. I’ve sung in Vienna, Budapest, Rome, London, and next summer, I’ll sing at Carnegie Hall,” she said.
Sharon believes that the future of facility management is more complex yet can be simplified for the end user.
“Technology can now allow maintenance staff to access equipment status and history on mobile devices, making adjustments remotely and streamlining operations,” she said.
Facility management truly suits her personality, as she appreciates the way people in the field interact and help each other selflessly.
Sharon feels strongly that what makes the facility management industry so incredible is the degree of collaboration—in which sharing knowledge, even with competitors, to improve the industry is common and encouraged. “This openness is rare in other fields,” Sharon said.
“We all need to think every day about the powerful example that we're setting for other people, whether it's family or community or coworkers, anybody that we come into contact with,” she shared.
Sharon’s advice to newcomers is to start small, learn from everyone—colleagues, IFMA peers, service providers. “Your actions shape the perception of facility managers. A positive influence can inspire the next generation and elevate the profession for the future,” she said.
Explore the experiences of retired facilities professionals in the latest series from ARC Facilities -- Legacy Insights: Wisdom from Retired Facilities Professionals and follow us on LinkedIn.
