Leon DeLuca: In the last 14 or 15 years, I moved back to hospitality, and I brought Maintenance Care with me.
Dan Roberge: Hello, how are you doing? Good to see you again, Leon.
Leon DeLuca: Yes, nice to see you again.
Dan Roberge: I'm glad you made some time to talk to me today because I think, you know, we've known each other for a little while and through different organizations that you've used Maintenance Care through. I want to talk a little bit about that and what you've been up to, what's been going on in your life right now.
Leon DeLuca: Yes. So you're right. I got to know Maintenance Care when I was in healthcare. As you know, I started off in hospitality as a young junior, did a period there, and then moved into healthcare, where I spent about 12 to 14 years. I'm on the West Coast, in British Columbia, and I was introduced to Maintenance Care around 2008 or 2009. I've been working with it since. In the last 14 or 15 years, I moved back to hospitality, and I brought Maintenance Care with me.
Dan Roberge: Yeah, we're grateful. So when you say healthcare, that was actually senior care, specifically part of healthcare. There were some different challenges, I'm sure, between hospitality and senior care. What types of things did you experience back then that were unique to that industry that would be of value to share with other people about senior care itself, maintenance, and the buildings?
Leon DeLuca: Yes. Senior buildings are buildings. The infrastructure still maintains the same. We need the power, water, quality of air, and so on. For the hospitality part of it, the building gets more usage. It's a different business within the building. Again, the infrastructure is the same. With healthcare, Maintenance Care really helped in making sure that we were on top of things. The problem is your window of opportunity to get into some of the areas that we consider common areas is not always easy and accessible in care home facilities because of the nature of the business they conduct. In hospitality, there's a bigger window, and you're able to adjust a little bit more to it.
Dan Roberge: So because people are checking in and checking out, you have space to go in and do the work or even block off a room if you have extensive work. You can't really do that in senior care because there are people living there all the time.
Leon DeLuca: Yeah, exactly, Dan. Unfortunately, many times mobility can be a challenge in care homes. If you have to access a living area or sleeping area, in hospitality, we can take that room out and have 100% access. In a care facility, it doesn't necessarily work that way, so that is always a bit of a challenge.
Dan Roberge: Yeah, for sure. So now you went from senior care to hospitality, back to hospitality. Your role has changed too, right? Because you were in charge of a smaller team and a specific building, and now you're in a new role. How's that changed your perspective?
Leon DeLuca: Yes, when I was part of the care home facilities, I was overlooking three buildings, but they were smaller buildings. They were quite simple buildings, not too high-end in technology. Now with my role here in hospitality, I’ve acquired six buildings. Some of them are relatively big, and one of the challenges I enjoy is that some of the properties are aged. They’re older properties. That’s where things have changed over the last 20 or 25 years. Now everything costs so much more to repair and replace. Everyone wants to get maximum life expectancy out of any kind of equipment, whether it’s a senior lift, a tub, or something in hospitality. One challenge with older buildings—60- or 70-year-old buildings—is introducing new technology to old systems. There’s always a cost involved.
Dan Roberge: Yeah, so you’re talking about 60- to 70-year-old buildings. Wow. So you might have old plumbing, old wiring, and that presents challenges when doing renovations or fixes. Now, when it comes to equipment, you’re saying that older equipment doesn’t necessarily integrate with modern technology. How do you manage that?
Leon DeLuca: Exactly. Technology is at our fingertips now, which is the upside. For example, if you're running a laundry facility, whether in healthcare or hospitality, the new machines—dryers, ironers, and so on—come with built-in Wi-Fi capability and program boards that allow you to attach software for various purposes. For housekeeping, they might want to monitor volume. For maintenance, it helps with preventative maintenance alerts. It works well because we combine it with Maintenance Care. All our equipment is set up in the assets. We love the barcode system; it’s phenomenal. Maintenance guys often need to see results to believe in something, and this system provides that. Preventative maintenance saves money. With barcodes, we can scan equipment, access all its information, and link to software that improves troubleshooting accuracy. Technology really tightens up processes.
Dan Roberge: Yeah, so you have barcodes on all your equipment. Your team can scan a barcode and get all the information, including history, right there. Do you find your teams are using that effectively?
Leon DeLuca: If we took it away, they would be very unhappy. It’s become normal now. The new generation adapts quickly; give them a login, and they’re good to go. Having that information makes troubleshooting easier. When maintenance staff understand how a piece of equipment works, it narrows down troubleshooting. I’m lucky to work with a strong team that values data collection and information sharing. Maintenance staff are happiest when they solve a problem, and the collected data helps the next person facing the same challenge.
Dan Roberge: I always say maintenance is a fun job because you’re constantly learning, solving problems, and finding innovative solutions. It’s one of the most educational roles. How big is your team now?
Leon DeLuca: I average a team of five with one maintenance manager per property. I have one property with a team of nine because it’s larger. Retaining the right people is key. On the barcode system, it’s great for auditing equipment. For example, I can visit any property, scan equipment with my phone, and see its status immediately. It’s a money saver, and it ensures maintenance is a career, not just a job.
Dan Roberge: That’s a good point. Transparency is important, especially with multiple sites. Maintenance Care helps with that. Now, you’ve been with us for over 15 years. What made you an early adopter of technology in maintenance?
Leon DeLuca: I’ve always been curious. My father was an engineer, and I’ve been taking things apart since I was a kid (not always putting them back together). When Maintenance Care came along, it promised to make the job easier, and that sold me. It’s been a great decision.
Dan Roberge: That curiosity and willingness to adopt new tools are key in maintenance. Have you used other software before Maintenance Care?
Leon DeLuca: Yes, but they were very basic, more user-focused, and not as comprehensive. Maintenance Care changed how we worked by offering more advanced functionality. Now we’re working on a project to network Maintenance Care across properties, so all maintenance staff have access to shared data and resources. It’s been a great experience.
Dan Roberge: That’s fantastic. The asset portion of the software seems like a big win for you. How do you evaluate equipment for replacement or budgeting?
Leon DeLuca: Every piece of equipment has a manual with life expectancy and maintenance schedules. Documentation is key. Build your assets in Maintenance Care, document details and costs, and use the system to create reports that support budget requests. Maintenance Care streamlines this process and makes presentations more effective.
Dan Roberge: Your executives rely on accurate data from Maintenance Care to make decisions, which shows its value. How did you develop your asset management skills?
Leon DeLuca: I learned from great bosses and colleagues, as well as from listening and gathering information. I emphasize preventive asset management to plan ahead and avoid surprises. Maintenance Care helps me set reminders and track equipment for future budgeting.
Dan Roberge: That’s great advice for anyone starting in maintenance management. I remember visiting one of your sites and seeing an innovative gate you built for safety. Do you have other examples of creative solutions?
Leon DeLuca: Yes, one was an evacuation slide for care homes. I created a prototype that folded under the railing for quick deployment during emergencies. It didn’t go anywhere commercially, but it shows the importance of thinking outside the box.
Dan Roberge: That’s impressive. It highlights your innovative approach and adaptability. Any advice for maintenance staff?
Leon DeLuca: Always have the right tool for the job. It ensures safety, reduces frustration, and improves outcomes. Invest in smart tools designed by industry professionals; they make a big difference.
One thing I want to comment on is that I deal with a lot of different vendors and technology. I think Maintenance Care has one of the best support teams I’ve ever encountered.
First of all, you’re in real-time, which is great because when you’re struggling with something, you really want that answer quickly. You have a great team. We live in a fast-paced world, so getting that response and getting things back up and running is crucial.
Maintenance guys are not fans of sitting around doing data entry—it becomes part of their daily routine—but when they run into a snag, nine times out of 10 they don’t quite have the patience needed. When I tell them, “Listen, get a hold of Maintenance Care IT,” they can resolve the issue within 10 to 15 minutes. It’s a game changer in how they view things.
When they encounter a problem, their first instinct isn’t to walk away—it’s to contact Maintenance Care’s support team. So, good on you guys. Keep that going.
Dan Roberge: That’s a great testimonial. I appreciate that. It’s good that they can rely on our team. We work hard to ensure that everyone at our company shares the same philosophy—our customers are number one. Thanks for sharing your expertise, and we look forward to continuing to work together.
Leon DeLuca: Thank you. Maintenance Care’s support team is one of the best. Real-time assistance makes a huge difference, and it’s appreciated. Let’s stay in touch.
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