Meet Chris Hamilton, CIM’s North American Customer Success Manager, who lives and breathes building performance, in our latest Team Member Spotlight.
Chris’s journey is anything but ordinary. He’s gone from climbing ladders and fixing rooftop units to running his own smart building company. With a background in HVAC energy engineering and sustainability, he now helps building owners and operators across North America unlock serious performance gains through data-driven solutions.
What sets Chris apart is his ability to connect the dots, between mechanical systems and software, efficiency and cost savings, buildings and the communities they serve. He’s passionate about creating smarter, more resilient places for the future, and making sure the work actually gets done.
We sat down with Chris to talk about his career path, his hands-on approach to solving building problems, and what drives him every day at CIM.
Career foundations
How did your career in buildings and energy start?
Right out of school, I started at the very bottom in a mechanical contracting company. I was the lowest on the totem pole. That first job was humbling but also really fun. I was learning everything I could from the talented people all around me. Crawling through attics and the mechanical rooms that kept buildings conditioned in Florida was eye opening to the work needed to keep things working. It was my first legit job and gave me a great foundation for what was to come.
What were some pivotal moments in your journey before CIM?
One of the standout moments in my career was when the CEO of that mechanical company tapped me to explore new service offerings and the technology to bring them to life. I was young and pretty green in the industry, but that inexperience came with just enough boldness, and maybe a little delusion, to push for ideas that were different and disruptive. That project eventually spun into a new business unit, which I was asked to lead. A few years later, my partners and I took that momentum and started our own company, doing for ourselves what I had helped build for nearly five years. Along the way, I managed partnerships, led teams, and learned more than I ever expected about both business and people. And it all traces back to that single shoulder tap from someone who believed there was a better way forward, even if they couldn’t chase it themselves.
Hands-on experience meets high-impact tech
How has that hands-on background helped in your current role at CIM?
A lot of what we do at CIM is making sure things actually get done.
We're not just pointing out issues, we're working with people at all levels to make sure there's follow-through. Because I’ve been on the other side, the person actually turning the wrench, I can relate to the day-to-day realities of building engineers. That’s been huge in helping drive results.
Can you share a recent standout example where the CIM platform uncovered an issue?
We just brought a public school client online through a partner, and not even 24 hours later, one of their engineers logged in and spotted multiple issues from just access to the data. A quick look uncovered a pump issue, a stuck outside air damper, and a large air handler running 24/7, for who knows how long. One technician delegated and solved all three issues in under an hour.
What I love about this story is that their team is like so many others across the country: responsible for a ton of buildings, short on qualified technicians, and constantly stretched thin. Instead of adding more to their plate, the technology gave them exactly what they needed, the where, the when and the what, to fix the problem right away and move on. And this was before we’d even fully deployed all of our advanced AI rules, which now help this team identify even more issues. That’s how fast the impact can be.
What are some of the most common inefficiencies you see in buildings?
Schedule compliance is a big one. On paper it sounds like low-hanging fruit, but in reality it’s easy for efficiency to slip over time. Building engineers will often start systems earlier than needed just to the dreaded comfort complaint. With data, we can test rolling back those startup times and prove comfort won’t be sacrificed.
Same goes for equipment left ‘in hand’ after service. Techs are juggling a million things, and it’s completely understandable that little details get missed. That’s where the platform helps, flagging those issues right away.
Sustainability as a driving force
Sustainability is a big theme in your work. What motivates that?
What really motivates me is this idea of community resiliency.
When I look out at the Denver skyline, I can’t help but think about how every civilization that came before us left behind buildings, roads, and systems; some lasting legacies, others just footnotes in a textbook. I don’t want ours to be another story of wasted potential. If we build to last and operate with efficiency and care, our work becomes more than just about buildings, it’s the foundation for what comes next. For me, sustainability is about ensuring the next generation inherits something greater so their lives, and hopefully mine, can be truly fulfilling. That’s what keeps me pushing forward.
How do you handle pushback around sustainability in the industry?
I actually see less and less pushback these days. Sustainability often aligns with cost savings and streamlining operational efficiency and CapEx management is just smart business. And the cost of continuous monitoring is coming down, which makes these strategies even more accessible. It just makes sense.
Looking ahead
What trends do you see shaping the future of buildings?
AI is the hot topic, but facility managers and engineering consultants aren’t going anywhere. We help operators with AI tools they need to work smarter with technology and data.
That means clearer communication, easier decisions, and smoother day-to-day operations. With owners, managers, contractors, engineers, even tenants feeling the benefits, the ripple effect is real. That’s the future trend; wicked smart and capable engineers and operators empowered by the right technology.
If you could change one thing in the property industry overnight, what would it be?
I’d make it harder to flip buildings quickly. I want owners who care about the community and the people running businesses in those buildings. We need more long-term thinking and more care for the places we live and work. That way, we solidify the community I spoke to earlier and ensure strong places for people to interact with each other.
Working with Chris and the team
What can people expect when working with you?
My work philosophy is pretty simple: Get your stuff done. No fluff. Just tell me what needs to happen, and I’ll make sure it gets done. I’m always going to speak plainly, and I’ll do what it takes to support you and your goals. That sounded punchier than I intended, but just know that we’re on the same team and your success is our success.
What makes CIM’s technical team different?
There’s a shared commitment to the ethos of putting people first. Whether it’s the engineers in the field or the people in the building, we support them so they can succeed, and we care enough to see it through.
Stay tuned as we continue to highlight the voices and expertise of CIM’s technical leaders who are driving improved building performance outcomes for buildings and their occupiers globally.
