Our association headquarters at 1 East Greenway Plaza in Houston, Texas, has served us well over the years as the nexus for our international operations. 
The IFMA Foundation's purpose is to provide greater resources and educational opportunities to facility management professionals and those who support the FM industry. 
A Fortune 500 company with estimated 2009 base revenues of $6.0 - $6.3 billion, EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE: EME) is a global leader in mechanical and electrical construction, energy infrastructure, and facilities services.
Don Schnell
Councils
IFMA Benefits
IFMA formed councils to meet the industry-specific networking and information needs of its members. Truly global in nature, councils are not limited by geographic boundaries. You are able to communicate with colleagues worldwide about issues, concerns and best practices specific to your area of facility management.
Councils Benefits
Top Five Reasons to Join an IFMA Council
1. Focused Networking
Your facility is unique. You have a unique set of skills reflecting the special needs of your work environment. You possess specialized knowledge about the business you support. When you have a facility-related question, you want to confer with a peer who has shared experiences in that particular work environment. IFMA councils unite members who have similar responsibilities and working situations.
2. Targeted Information
Participation in a council is the ideal solution for facility professionals seeking highly targeted information in particular areas of expertise. Councils allow you to share work experiences and case studies with industry peers around the world. Connect with colleagues worldwide about issues, concerns and best practices specific to your area of facility management.
3. Part of a Community With Common Concerns
Council members discuss challenges and solutions common to particular types of facilities. Practitioners who work in similar environments, supporting similar industries can relate to the stories, issues, questions and concerns shared among members.
4. Information Sharing
Sharing information is a necessity in today’s global business community. Councils are networks of facility managers and other professionals who share resources, benefit from continuing education and advance the FM profession as it relates to specific industries. Meetings, webinars, discussion groups and roundtables help members keep current on the latest practices, products and technologies.
5. Heightens your marketability
Now more than ever, professionals who possess specialized knowledge and skills have a distinct advantage in the workplace. Councils allow you to focus on programs you’re working on right now in your organization and discuss needs and opportunities unique to the industry you support. Keeping on top of relevant trends and ensuring your skills are up-to-date helps validate the importance of your position.
See Also: Add a Council or Community of Practice
Most Councils offer the following benefits:
Newsletters: Covering current industry-specific council news and member articles on “hot topics.”
Directories: Membership rosters are available to all council members.
Online Community Discussion Forums: Connect with fellow council members and discuss benchmarking and best practices at http://www.ifmacommunity.org.
Webinars: A venue for learning, discussing and sharing industry-specific topics of interest. View the webinar calendar here.
Web sites: Frequently updated to keep council members current on the latest activities and discussions.
Seminars and Conferences: Most councils will meet in October at IFMA’s World Workplace Conference & Expo. Council on-site meetings are held in the spring.
