Ravalli County interviews John “AJ” Cranston for facilities manager position

John Cranston, an applicant for Ravalli County facilities manager who said he commonly goes by “AJ,” interviewed with the Board of County Commissioners on May 14 about overseeing maintenance and custodial operations across county buildings.

Cranston told the panel he previously oversaw maintenance for “Revalley Services,” including four group homes, three off-site buildings and an administration building; he said three employees reported directly to him and he managed a fleet that “would fluctuate from 20 to 30 vehicles.” He described his management approach as a “bottom up management style,” adding, "the people who know why it doesn't work are the people who are doing the job."

The position the board is filling covers multiple county facilities including secure sites such as the detention center and the 9-1-1 dispatch center, which commissioners and staff noted during the interview. Cranston said he has no concerns working in secure locations and said he would pass a “pretty thorough background check.” He said he owns hands-on maintenance skills and runs a paint/handyman business he is winding down, so he could begin work “now.”

On technical areas, Cranston said he is "fairly knowledgeable about maintenance facilities" but acknowledged HVAC and boilers are his weaker areas and that he “doesn't go beyond the box” for electrical work because he is not a licensed electrician: "I don't go beyond the box. I'm not a licensed electrician." He said he relies on competent contractor contacts for specialized trades.

Cranston described prior personnel experience across several operational units (maintenance, thrift store, donation processing and vocational rehabilitation) and emphasized documentation and corrective plans when handling discipline: "Document, document, document." He said he typically focuses on one project at a time but can pause project work to address urgent building needs.

Members of the panel and HR staff asked about budgeting, scopes of work and contractor oversight; Cranston said he had been “pretty integral with budgeting” at his previous job and that he prefers to bring in outside expertise when he lacks technical knowledge to avoid mid-project surprises. The commissioners and HR representative explained the county currently uses ticketing software for requests and has limited preventative-maintenance (PM) scheduling tools, and said county buildings include a mix of newer equipment and older ducting and piping that affect maintenance needs.

The board did not take a hiring vote at the May 14 meeting. Commissioners said they planned to shortlist candidates after completing all interviews; the panel noted the current facilities manager remains through May 30 and the commission aims to pick a candidate before then so the new hire could shadow the manager. HR indicated one more interview remained and that commissioners' schedules and staff availability could delay a final decision.

The interview record is limited to the statements made in the May 14 session; no formal appointment or offer was made during the meeting.