If you ask Frank Hopkins, Excellerate director of technical operations, what his day looks like, he’ll tell you: “Talking to people, fixing problems, drawing solutions, getting approvals and moving on to the next problem.” It’s a humble summary for someone leading a team that’s breaking new ground in industrialized construction, solving challenges that FTI has never tackled before. I had the chance to sit down with Frank to talk through what his day-to-day looks like working with industrialized construction, how he got to where he is and what he enjoys most about his job.

A Look Into Frank’s Day

Over the past year, Frank’s team has focused primarily on designing data centers. He starts his day by reviewing tasks and action items with his team, then hops into meetings with clients to discuss the different parts of the product his team will be designing. From there, it’s all about collaboration—sketching ideas in real time, discussing how each component fits together, and turning those ideas into detailed 2D and 3D models.

This process is currently being repeated for 15 different products. They’re also beginning work on a new data center project that will be fully manufactured to completion at Excellerate rather than constructed onsite, a first for FTI.  It’s safe to say Frank and his team have quite the day! How does he do it all? He credits the copious amounts of coffee he drinks daily.

How Did Frank Get Here?

As Frank described his typical day, I couldn’t help but wonder how he got into such technical, detailed work. He began his FTI journey on the night shift at Excellerate after running his own business. From there, he worked his way through roles in shipping and materials, value stream leadership and project management before stepping into his current role. Frank explained that these varied experiences within FTI—along with his 3D modeling skills and love for “nerdy computer stuff” like spreadsheets—have made him a well-rounded leader with a deep understanding of the work his team does.

Why Frank Loves What He Does

For Frank, the best part of the job is learning new things, like different software, and figuring out how different tools can all work together.

He is excited to be a part of industry-leading work, explaining, “FTI is 100% leading the industry in industrialized construction within the data center market. It’s exciting to be a part of something that is redefining what’s possible.”

Frank is quick to emphasize that none of this would be possible without the incredible team around him. He credits the success of their work to the collective effort of his team, and he enjoys getting to collaborate with them every day.

He also credits FTI’s leadership for creating a culture where trying new things is encouraged and failure is seen as part of the process.

Frank’s journey is a reminder that innovation comes from curiosity, grit and a willingness to try new things. With a day full of problem-solving and collaboration, it’s clear that developing creative solutions is at the heart of his work. He and his team help FTI shape the future of industrialized construction—one sketch, one model and, yes, one cup of coffee at a time.