“I live for my goals ... literally! It drives my wife insane. But, hey, it is what it is.”
That one simple quote captures the personality and spirit of BSCAI member F. Nazir Hill as well as any of the lengthier answers to questions posed to the man below in this feature profile. And this is a man who has achieved many goals in his life so far.
First and foremost, Hill is the president and CEO of Complete Facility Services (CFS) LLC, founded in 2012 and based in Suwanee, Georgia. Under his leadership, CFS has obtained numerous certifications and licenses. Chiefly, he has guided CFS and his management team to achieve CIMS-GB (Green Building) certification with honors, one of the few firms in his home state to achieve such distinction.
“What makes us stand out is we have the ability to offer our clients many verticals,” Hill says. “We present ourselves as a one-stop shop — one company, one call, one invoice. When we take on a client, we’re looking at totally supporting that client with all facility services that they’re going to require — interior and exterior. We have licensed technicians, and we have certifications in all divisions.”
Hill has over 25 years of experience in finance, leadership and operations, with early stints at PwC as a consultant and the Housing Authority of New Orleans as a senior internal auditor. In that quarter century, one way he has evolved into such an effective leader is his involvement in various associations and organizations outside of CFS.
For instance, Hill sits on the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) International’s board of directors as assistant treasurer. AFCEA this past June recognized him with a Meritorious Service Award for his performance as a member of the board serving as treasurer, his business performance as a contractor and the impact he’s had in various communities throughout Georgia.
Hill believes he has gotten more from the relationship than he’s been able to give, especially in securing contracts to service government buildings: “AFCEA focuses heavily on cybersecurity and communications, and not so much on my field — building service contracting. But I have learned a lot from being a part of that chapter that I’ve also been able to invest in my company,” he says. “For instance, we have cybersecurity certification for our computers, our admin, our operations [and so forth]. If you're going to do business with the government, those are things they really look for — having secure devices. So being a part of that chapter has allowed me to understand the mechanisms and the importance of having that type of security.” As a building service contractor, Hill recognizes they don’t deal with sensitive information as much as other sectors, but the fact that his company has taken the extra step shows its commitment to security and client safety.
Hill also serves on the Small Business Committee for the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) and on committees for the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) and BSCAI.
“I first got involved with BSCAI in April 2021,” he recalls. “It happened at a very important time for me. I thought I was doing things correctly, and [chuckling] I found out quickly I really wasn’t!”
He just as quickly discovered that membership and BSCAI service would serve him in obtaining highly important tools attending various workshops and events like BSCAI’s annual conference, Contracting Success. “I was suddenly part of an organization with a lot of my peers and companies I looked up to. I found out how to really do building services the right way — everything from bidding correctly to retaining good staff. I learned so much about how to cut costs, how to scale, how to bid. And on top of that, it’s just fun to engage with my peers, especially those peers who are at a level I’m trying to get to.”
Hill’s time with BSCAI has given him perspective to better spot trends than ever before. Technology is definitely the biggest area he sees evolving now and in the months and years to come, with everything from artificial intelligence (AI) to robotics factoring into services and operations. “I love going to Contracting Success for one reason,” he says. “Because we have a lot of vendors on the floor, and they're showing you the latest and greatest in technology.”
Hill and his team have wasted no time when it comes to emerging technology. “We have already delved into AI,” he says. “I sent my vice president of communications to get certified with AI and ChatGPT. We utilize that every day in our communications with our clients. We are always trying to evolve because, if you don't, you're going to get left behind.” As a small business owner, Hill knows how important it is to stay ahead of this technology, using the tools to their full potential as the business continues to scale.
In addition to providing insight on going above and beyond for his clients, Hill shared a bit about his personal life and education. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and economics from Southern University at New Orleans and has a finance management certificate from Cornell University. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, family and friends, and is passionate about reading, exercising and taking part in charitable events.
But that free time is often quite scarce, one of the burdens of leadership. For anyone reading this who is a new CEO or about to take the reins of a small or large operation, he advises, “Be prepared for the sacrifices it’s going to take. It’s a lot of sacrifice — with family, with kids, with a lot of the things that you love to do. You have to be dedicated to the company you’re taking over.”
Hill is able to give advice because he is someone who has taken advice many times throughout his career. “When I'm talking to someone who I respect, and especially someone that has a track record of doing great things, I listen like a sponge. And I just don't listen. I put it into action.”
Throughout his career, Hill has had different mentors and coaches. One bit of advice that’s stuck with him is “always keep evolving,” which in some ways has become a mantra. “Never stay stagnant. Always look for better ways to do things. Don’t just follow the status quo. Try to become a disruptor, if you will,” Hill says. “I’m all about ‘What can we do in this industry that no one else has thought about or is not doing that could save us time, save us money and increase productivity?’”
For Hill, the rewards have far outweighed any sacrifices. “I get a chance to sit here as the president and CEO of this company, and I get to visualize our destination — where we’re headed — years out,” Hill says. “I also love any time I get a chance to speak with some of our smartest team members and hire the best talent possible for this company. It’s a joy to do that, day in and day out.”
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