Christopher Amarante
Hemet
Summary
Strategic and results-driven professional with extensive experience in hospital and healthcare facility management. Adept at leading high-performing teams, optimizing maintenance operations, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, including SCAQMD, TJC, and CDPH. Proven ability to oversee multimillion-dollar budgets, implement cost-control measures, and drive operational efficiency. Expertise in HVAC, boilers, medical gas systems, energy management, and mechanical-electrical systems. Skilled in vendor negotiations, capital project planning, and process improvements to enhance facility performance and sustainability. Recognized for strong leadership, team development, and a proactive approach to risk mitigation and compliance enforcement. Dedicated to maintaining safe, efficient, and high-functioning healthcare environments that support patient care excellence.
Skilled Plant Operator with over 20 years of experience operating power generation plants, machinery and completing preventive maintenance. Collaborative factory background working efficiently to meet production deadlines. Diligent and reliable team player known for bringing employees together.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Cogeneration Plant Manager
Colusa Indian Energy
Cabazon, CA
01.2026 - Current
- Oversaw daily operations, ensuring compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
- Implemented process improvements, enhancing production efficiency and reducing downtime.
- Led cross-functional teams to streamline workflows and optimize resource allocation.
- Developed training programs to enhance staff skills and improve operational performance.
- Managed budgeting processes, aligning resources with strategic objectives for cost control.
- Coordinated maintenance schedules to minimize equipment failures and maximize operational uptime.
- Reduced downtime for maintenance by establishing a proactive preventive maintenance program.
- Promoted collaborative work environment to motivate and engage staff to achieve company objectives.
- Implemented useful inventory management and tracking systems to reduce costs and improve operations.
- Directed employees and related programs to maximize team productivity and facility output.
- Reduced costs by eliminating materials waste and unnecessary labor hours.
- Coordinated plant expansions and upgrades to accommodate increased demand while minimizing disruption to ongoing operations.
- Negotiated with vendors for timely delivery of raw materials, preventing production delays.
- Enhanced communication between shifts, ensuring smooth handovers and continuity.
Central Utility Plant Manager
UCLA Health
Santa Monica, CA
09.2025 - 01.2026
- Led daily operations to ensure compliance with safety and health regulations.
- Streamlined production processes to enhance efficiency and reduce waste.
- Developed and implemented training programs for staff on best practices.
- Managed inventory control systems to optimize resource allocation.
- Directed project management efforts for facility upgrades and equipment installations.
Manager of Facilities
Saint Bernardines Medical Center
01.2024 - 08.2025
- Enhance operational efficiency and regulatory compliance by overseeing facilities management, maintenance, and system optimization.
- Lead a high-performing maintenance team, ensuring seamless day-to-day operations across critical systems, including boilers, HVAC, medical gas, mechanical-electrical, and energy management.
- Strengthened cost control and vendor partnerships through strategic oversight of maintenance, repairs, and system improvements.
- Ensured full compliance with licensure, accreditation, and hospital regulations by enforcing strict adherence to industry standards.
- Improved financial performance, workforce excellence, and customer satisfaction by driving Program Quality Evaluation (PQE), talent acquisition, and continuous program enhancements.
- Directed facility operations ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
Lead Engineer
Saint Bernardines Medical Center
01.2022 - 01.2024
- Optimized workforce performance and operational efficiency by managing scheduling, employee training programs, and annual evaluation input.
- Strengthened budgetary oversight by assisting in the development of annual and monthly budgets while ensuring cost-effective maintenance scheduling for equipment and buildings.
- Maintained seamless facility operations by leading five off-site building maintenance teams and acting as Manager of Facilities in the absence of leadership.
- Ensured regulatory compliance by addressing issues with SCAQMD, TJC, and CDPH and maintaining all necessary equipment permits.
- Drove infrastructure improvements by collaborating with external contractors on current and future hospital upgrade projects.
Plant Operator
Saint Bernardines Medical Center
01.2006 - 01.2022
- Ensured seamless facility operations and emergency preparedness by leading a team of four during night shifts, overseeing building shutdowns, electrical outages, and major projects.
- Maintained optimal performance of critical systems by conducting machinery, oxygen, and boiler readings, along with preventive maintenance work orders.
- Enhanced facility integrity through carpentry, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and painting repairs, addressing issues with valves, pipes, drains, sinks, toilets, and faucets.
- Strengthened compliance and safety by conducting daily boiler water tests, as well as weekly and monthly regulatory testing of emergency generators.
Interim Manager
Saint Bernardines Medical Center
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Ensured operational stability and fiscal control by serving as Interim Engineering Manager during leadership transition, overseeing plant operations, maintenance teams, and minor construction projects.
- Optimized budget management by tracking and auditing monthly expenditures while maintaining cost-effective facility operations.
- Strengthened capital planning by assisting in prioritizing equipment and facility replacements.
- Enhanced workforce efficiency through staff supervision, training, and annual evaluations.
- Maintained productivity and budget adherence by monitoring facilities department performance and ensuring operational continuity in the Director's absence.
Machinist Mate 2nd Class
USS Anchorage
San Diego, CA
10.1999 - 06.2004
- Operated and maintained various machinery to support shipboard operations.
Education
Boiler Technical School -
USS Anchorage
United States NavyNFPA CLSS-HC CERTIFIED
03-2025
Skills
- Facilities & Operations Management
- Budgeting & Cost Control
- Vendor & Contractor Management
- Construction & Blueprint Analysis
- HVAC, Boilers & Energy Systems
- Project Management
- Regulatory Compliance
- Equipment Lifecycle Management
- Capital Project Planning & Execution
- Preventive & Corrective Maintenance
- Risk Mitigation & Safety Compliance
- Team Leadership & Workforce Development
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Dependable and reliable
- Attention to detail
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Excellent communication
- Organizational skills
- Machine operation
- Routine equipment maintenance
- Mechanical Knowledge
- Team building
- Safety protocols
- Blueprint reading
- Professionalism
- Switchgear operation
- Outage planning
- Power generation
- Electrical diagrams
- Wiring diagrams
- Environmental monitoring
- Boiler operations
- Fuel handling
- Energy management
- Regulatory requirements
- Voltage regulation
- Automation systems
- Water chemistry
- Power plant operations
- Pump operations
- Load adjustments
- Plant efficiency
Timeline
Cogeneration Plant Manager
Colusa Indian Energy
01.2026 - Current
Central Utility Plant Manager
UCLA Health
09.2025 - 01.2026
Manager of Facilities
Saint Bernardines Medical Center
01.2024 - 08.2025
Lead Engineer
Saint Bernardines Medical Center
01.2022 - 01.2024
Interim Manager
Saint Bernardines Medical Center
01.2017 - 01.2018
Plant Operator
Saint Bernardines Medical Center
01.2006 - 01.2022
Machinist Mate 2nd Class
USS Anchorage
10.1999 - 06.2004
Boiler Technical School -
USS Anchorage
NFPA CLSS-HC CERTIFIED