Chris Ruth is Mid Missouri Controls Manager at Integrated Facility Services, a Reliable Controls Authorized Dealer since 2002.
Can you talk a bit about your company? What makes Integrated Facility Services unique?
Integrated Facility Services (IFS) is a full-service mechanical contractor serving Missouri and Illinois. We’ve been in business for almost 60 years and are 100 percent employee-owned and -operated. We are a design build contractor, meaning we can design, engineer, stamp, and perform all our own work across all trades.
What’s one thing you think customers appreciate most about working with IFS?
The ease of working with us. We pride ourselves on being a one-stop shop. While a customer’s primary contact may not be the best person to solve their specific problem, one call to anyone on our team will get you connected with the right person.
Share a time you exceeded a client’s expectations.
We completed a controls project for a cannabis facility that wanted to lower temperature fluctuations and have a simpler controls interface for one of its grow rooms. We completed a full change-out of all environmental and process controls, and the first crop harvested after our project had the highest yield ever! We’re now doing the rest of the grow rooms in the facility.
Do you think Reliable Controls represents people and technology you can rely on?
Absolutely! I couldn’t think of a more fitting tagline.
How has working with Reliable Controls helped you serve your customers better?
Reliable Controls has always been able to provide us the resources we need. We’ve received setup help to administer CEUs through EVP of Business Development Levi Tully, marketing support from VP of Marketing and Communications Cameron Lutz, trade show assistance from our regional Business Development Executive Adam Burton, and so much more. Reliable Controls really does everything it can to help us succeed.
Can you share a memorable project or moment working with our products or team?
We were working on a project for a brewery in which we were controlling pumps and valves on their mash vats. The infrastructure for the project was not ideal, as the budget couldn’t support the proper servers and software. We had to get creative with how we laid out the project. Thankfully, the team at Reliable Controls helped us find the best products for our specific requirements.
What attracted you to the building automation industry?
I never applied for this specific industry. They sought out someone with certain skills, and I fit the bill! What has kept me here for 20 years is the industry itself. It’s ever-changing and always growing. I started out just doing HVAC control graphics, and now I’m creating total building automation systems. And with the new API option available, the possibilities for more changes are endless.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love being a resource for our customers and the mechanical community, providing lunch-and-learns, lecturing at colleges and trade schools, and speaking at conferences. I’m proud to present the IFS team as experienced industry experts in building automation.
Do you have advice for up-and-coming industry professionals?
Never stop learning. Our industry is always changing. If you aren’t learning, you’ll be left behind. Check out articles and podcasts, and sign up for every webinar you can, even if it isn’t exactly related to controls. As more and more systems in buildings become “smart,” our industry will continue to grow.
Are you a designer or consultant who specializes in building automation technologies? Make your life easier, save time, and save effort by registering for a consultant account on the Reliable Controls Support Center today.
Mark your calendar: Reliable Controls will be at AHR Expo in Las Vegas this February! Hope to see you there.
