McKinstry’s John Funderburk on Outside-the-Box Thinking in the Built Environment

“I want to help inspire a new normal of outside-the-box thinking as what we did yesterday may not fit the needs of today. I aim to look ahead to what the needs of our built environment will be in 10-15 years from now.”

John Funderburk is a senior program manager for Technical Services and has been with McKinstry for nearly two years. John enjoys collaboration across teams and promotes pushing the envelope in terms of the way we think about Technical Services in the built environment.

Learn more about John’s career path in the industry and the change he hopes to inspire at McKinstry.

Learn More About John’s Experience

What is your role at McKinstry? How did you get there? How did you develop an interest in your field? What does success look like in your role? What is the most rewarding thing about your work? What change do you hope to inspire through your work at McKinstry?

What is your role at McKinstry? How did you get there?

I am a senior program manager for McKinstry’s Technical Services line of business. I have spent 30+ years in the HVAC and Operations industry. Starting my career in Las Vegas, Nevada as an Operating Engineer in Local Union 501 in 1993. In 2004, I left the union and went into construction management for a large commercial developer as the MEP & Life Safety Coordinator. I was recruited by a controls vendor who was later acquired by TAC Americas, Schnider Electric in 2006. I moved to Texas in 2011 where I immediately went to work for a large mechanical contractor in Fort Worth where I ran their service department and took the Texas Mechanical Contractor’s test to carry the license for the company. In 2014 I was recruited back into facility operations as the Director of Engineering for high-rise commercial office buildings in Dallas. In 2022 I hit a ceiling in my career and one day while on LinkedIn an add popped up for McKinstry that said, “you look like you would be a good fit for a position we have open” and I clicked on it. The team called me 15 minutes later and I was on my first interview within a week.

How did you develop an interest in your field?

My father and older brothers were/are all in the industry. I have always been mechanically inclined and found an interest in the way things operate.

What does success look like in your role?

Success is a process, so building relationships with employees and customers and fulfilling my role in the team, knowing that people know I care — not just about the work we do, but them personally. Also, taking on a challenge with any level of achievement while delivering with excellence.

What is the most rewarding thing about your work?

I would say the people. Being able to collaborate with different people, different industries and bringing solutions that will benefit and help them with their needs. Additionally, being in a position where I can think outside the box when customers are looking for solutions. I find the challenge of delivering on that solution is exciting and rewarding to me.

What change do you hope to inspire through your work at McKinstry?

Help people expand the way they think. The status quo shouldn’t be the norm; the minimum shouldn’t be the norm and pushing the easy button shouldn’t be the way we operate. I want to help inspire a new normal of outside the box thinking as what we did yesterday may not fit the needs of today. I aim to look ahead to what the needs of our built environment will be in 10-15 years from now.