Speakers will address how we use space and technology, providing a better understanding of true collaborative work that will help organizations achieve their fundamental business objectives. Keynote speakers include Francis Duffy, founder and director of global workplace design firm DEGW, and Franklin Becker, Cornell University, author and workplace strategy pioneer.

Summit attendees will not only discuss how office environments can best serve the needs of today's organizations; but also set the framework for necessary workplace strategy research to benefit the FM profession. Programming will facilitate an exchange of ideas and perspectives among topic experts and practitioners. The success of this landmark "think tank" depends on your voice being heard and your views being shared.

Attendance will be limited to ensure that every one present is a part of the conversation. Registration is available online.

Singapore is developing rapidly as a dynamic global city and international hub for facility management. It's projected that by 2020, 2.2 billion people will live in Asian cities. Forward-thinking infrastructure planning and facility management solutions are therefore critical to meeting the residential, commercial, energy and transportation needs the region's growth requires.

World Workplace Asia 2012 – Singapore will offer attendees a unique international perspective on facility management and provide valuable resources to support them in meeting the demands of their facilities and organizations. Attendees will contribute to a dialogue on facility management trends in Asia while taking advantage of international networking opportunities and promoting greater awareness of facility management issues affecting today's global economy.

The two-and-a-half-day event begins Wednesday, July 25, with a town hall discussion on the association's strategic initiatives led by Mike Moss, IFMA chief operating officer, who will be joined by Jon Seller, incoming first vice chair of the IFMA board of directors. The event will provide a forum for members to engage IFMA leadership on the association's current and future direction. The town hall meeting will run concurrently with green site facility tours of some of Singapore's most innovative properties.

Thursday, July 26, will mark the first full day of the conference, which will begin with a welcome address and panel discussion on Asia-Pacific facility management featuring representatives from IFMA and the Building Construction Authority of Singapore. BCA is an agency of the Singapore government that champions the development of an excellent built environment in Singapore. Other local government representatives and built environment experts will also take part in the discussion.

The World Workplace Asia 2012 – Singapore expo, featuring diverse facility-related products and services, will open the morning of July 26. Educational sessions will also be held throughout the day on topics including: building information modeling and facility management; the future of corporate real estate; an overview of the office real estate market in the Asia-Pacific region; and the transition of companies in China from traditional property management to facility management business. Representatives from FM:Systems, Jones Lang LaSalle, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and others will present.

The final day of the conference, Friday, July 27, will open with the keynote presentation "Upside Down World: Leadership in the Emerging Markets" by speaker Steven Sonsino, author, business school professor, and founder and CEO of the Tomorrow Leaders Institute. Sonsino will explain how the global economy has shifted, putting China and the Asia-Pacific region front and center, and how the context of leadership in emerging markets is radically different from that of developed economies, making a new approach crucial.

Educational sessions on Friday will cover topics including: case studies on greening your workplace; high-performance buildings and high-performance facility management; how to make facility management partnerships work in the Asia-Pacific region; the six Ps of facility management: what every facility manager needs to know; and the strategic role of facility management in business performance. Representatives from Facility Engineering Associates, the National University of Singapore, Siemens, the University College of London and others will present.

The World Workplace Asia 2012 – Singapore expo will remain open throughout the day Friday. The conference will conclude with a gala dinner that evening. IFMA will also offer a post-conference Certified Facility Manager® exam review course July 28-29.

Presented in partnership with BCA and the Singapore Chapter of IFMA, World Workplace Asia 2012 – Singapore is modeled after IFMA's flagship World Workplace Conference & Expo and backed by 30 years of IFMA knowledge, experience and commitment to quality. The event will welcome facility practitioners and solutions providers from all over the world, representing aspects of the work environment including: facility management, real estate, information technology, human resources, engineering, architecture, design, security and other related industries.

To learn more about World Workplace Asia 2012 – Singapore or to register, visit www.worldworkplace.org/asia. Members of the media may register at no cost by emailing communications@ifma.org.

With workplaces evolving and becoming more distributed, the possibilities are endless— proving that the four walls of a traditional office should not hinder creativity and productivity. IFMA is certainly considering a headquarters office layout that goes beyond the typical four walls. Stay tuned in the months to come for more details on our move.

Also, stay tuned for exciting additions to your online reading experience—including follow-up articles from current FMJ issues at www.blogfmj.com to a sample selection of articles you can share with your colleagues via social media.

World FM Day is a special event held to raise the profile of the facility management profession internationally. Global FM member organizations from six different continents will hold luncheons, seminars and social media campaigns to bring worldwide attention to the importance of the profession.

How can you participate?

• Tweet your way through World FM Day: Use the hashtag #worldfmday and follow IFMA for an interactive Q&A
• Plan your own event: Show your FM pride! Start planning your organization's World FM Day activity
• Map your facility: Tell us where you are and how you are celebrating. Add your facility to our worldwide Google map
• Raise awareness: Use the posters, banners and additional promotional materials provided on our website

Help make the 4th annual World FM Day a success. For more details go to www.ifma.org/worldfmday.

On March 12, 300 participants gathered in Dubai's World Trade Centre for the International Workshop hosted by MEFMA (Middle East FM Association), which ran alongside MEFMA's first annual conference. The international workshop lined up the following speakers to discuss the common topic of all Global FM Workshops in 2012: Teena Shouse (FEA, Global FM chair), Dilip Khatwani (MEFMA board member), Steve Jones (Qube Global Software), Karla Reid (FM Professional, IFMA FM Consultancy Council Member), Alain Roberts (the French Spiderman) and Jon Seller (Optegy Group).

The discussion highlighted that facility management is growing to new levels of expertise, going far beyond pure building maintenance and reaching other key areas like security, safety and crisis management. There is a growing awareness about the need of involving facility managers right at the design stage of operations which is a great achievement for the industry and outsourcing becomes a very well accepted practice. It is getting more and more popular to outsource to FM companies whilst businesses concentrate on their core practice and industry. Something unheard of in the Middle East only a few years ago the new outsourcing trend is becoming ever more popular.

Due to the ever-increasing projects in the Middle East that are not only large in size but awe-inspiring, the need for high-end FM companies has grown. The Middle East is home to some truly amazing developments including the tallest tower in the world, the first man made Palm Jumeriah island, the largest shopping mall on the globe, new university cities, the first Ferrari theme park, the list goes on and on and makes the demand for FM ever more prevalent.

With a totally different perspective, outsourcing was also at the center of attentions in the Paris International Workshop. The event was hosted by ARSEG, the French FM association, and took place during ARSEG's annual conference and exhibition in Paris on April 4, 2012. The panel of speakers was composed of Ian Broadbent, Hallmark Cards, BIFM chair, Pascale Mangot-Lagarde, regional facilities manager at Royal Bank of Scotland, ARSEG vice president, Frédéric Coquerie, group implementation director at VINCI Facilities, and Lionel Cottin, ARSEG.

Characteristic for the French FM market is that companies are continuously in the search for cutting costs through outsourcing and office space reduction, which leads to difficult changes in the way companies and employees were used to work.

Frédéric Coquerie highlighted the impact that has on service providers by stating "Facilities management doesn't escape globalization and there are more and more global calls for tender including 10 to 15 countries." While Mangot-Lagarde agreed with this observation she highlighted that in house working environment departments have to be very careful with the way they define their global and local SLA's. "By defining a very precise global SLA, companies take the risk of not matching with local requirements." Mangot-Lagarde warned and continued, "Did you know that outsourcing security was unlawful in Turkey?" That's the reason why the local factor has to be considered very carefully in these transnational contracts.

Finally, the discussion concentrated on whether international standards in FM are needed or not. Even if very few people seem to use the existing EU standards, everybody agreed that it would be beneficial to get at least some common definitions of the major terms used in FM, helping FM professionals to understand each other.

Started back in 2006, the Global FM International Workshops were conceived to bring a more international flavor to the national conferences of Global FM members. Global FM is very pleased with the opportunity of hosting workings in six different countries in 2012 to understand how the new economy is impacting facilities management in the different parts of the world. At the end of the year, Global FM will issue a report covering the series of International Workshops in 2012. After UAE and France, the next events will take place on May 18 in Canberra, Australia, 18 June in London, U.K., October 23 in São Paulo, Brazil and at the end October in Texas, U.S.A. (date to be confirmed).

The next phase will be the development of a revised CFM Exam, which is expected to be released in the spring of 2013. A global team of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will play a critical part in this process, sharing their facility management knowledge and expertise by working with the consultants (expert item writers) to ensure content quality.

SMEs selected for this project cannot be teaching any of IFMA's courses nor can they have been involved in content development for any of IFMA's education courses for a period of two years. Most importantly, all individuals who serve as Exam Development SMEs shall not teach any courses intended to serve as preparation for the CFM Exam until such time as the current exam is retired.

If you are interested in volunteering to serve as a SME for this particular project, please read the information and complete this application.

It should be noted that specific areas of expertise needed for the CFM Exam Development project include:

• Operations and Maintenance;
• Project Management;
• Leadership and Strategy;
• Finance;
• Environment Stewardship and Sustainability;
• Emergency Preparedness & Business Continuity;
• Communication;
• Human Factors;
• Quality;
• Real Estate & Property Management; and
• Technology.

If you have already submitted a SME application for a previous project and have not participated/contributed in any education content development projects, please contact Jackie Avelar at Jackie.Avelar@ifma.org by May 31 if you are interested in working on this specific project.

As you consider this upcoming opportunity, please be aware of the expectations we are seeking from the SMEs to ensure the best outcome for the new exam:

• All SMEs selected for this project will be required to actively participate in approximately two 90-minute to 180-minute virtual sessions with the item writers. Only those SMEs assigned to the same domain as you are will be part of your virtual group. This is an extremely critical phase of the project so all SMEs selected for specific domain areas must participate in these virtual meetings.
• After the initial working session, the item writers will work virtually in prescheduled sessions with select subject matter experts to refine specific items and to generate subsequent items. We anticipate this to be approximately two 90-minute virtual sessions.
• As a final step, item writer experts will work with one subject matter expert and use the others to refine, complete and confirm the accuracy of the items being developed. The role of the primary SME will rotate accordingly. Time allocation TBD.
• Although no travel is anticipated at this time, in the event this becomes a necessity, all travel expenses including airfare, hotel and meals will be reimbursed in accordance with IFMA policy. All SMEs will be required to sign the following documents at the beginning of the project:
  • Works for Hire document
  • Nondisclosure Agreement
    (Samples are available for your review)

Potential SMEs must email applications to Jackie.Avelar@ifma.org or mail to IFMA Headquarters by May 31 to be considered for this volunteer opportunity. SME selection will be made by mid-to-late June 2012. If you have any questions regarding this opportunity, please do not hesitate to contact Jackie.

The story cited IFMA research on unassigned workspace from the association's "Distributed Work: Research Report #31" findings. Read more about the "Distributed Work: Research Report #31" findings or purchase the report from the IFMA Bookstore.

Carbon has become the currency of the sustainability movement, impacting energy management, waste handling, air quality, environmental stewardship and a host of other sustainability issues. In the U.S., about 40 percent of carbon emissions can be attributed to the construction, operation and maintenance of buildings — a fact that places much of the responsibility for carbon footprint management on facility professionals.

Because energy usage is usually the largest portion of a building's operational cost, the drive to make buildings more energy efficient directly aligns with the desire to reduce the carbon footprint. As stewards of the built environment, facility managers are in a unique position to measure, monitor and reduce building- and workplace-related carbon emissions.

"Carbon Footprint" provides facility professionals with the tools they need to understand the carbon footprinting process, analyze their results and plan for the future of their organizations.

The publication is divided into six unique sections that cover topics including:

• What is a carbon footprint?;
• The role of the facility manager;
• Calculating greenhouse gas inventory;
• Analyzing the results;
• Best practices and benchmarking;
• Setting goals for reduction (climate action planning);
• Making the business case (cost savings, tangible and intangible benefits); and
• Case studies.

The guide was written by Sharon Jaye, D.Ed., CAPM, SFP, assistant director of facilities at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Ga. She has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Clayton State University, a master's degree in project management from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and a doctorate of education in educational leadership from Argosy University.

"With changing regulations in the environmental field, carbon footprinting is becoming increasingly more important to organizations and facility management professionals alike," said Jaye. "My hope is that this guide demystifies the process for facility managers and makes it easier for them to save money for their organizations and reduce the environmental impact of their carbon footprint in the process."

"Carbon Footprint" is available online free of charge. In total, 13 publications from the "Sustainability 'How-to' Guide Series" are available online. The IFMA Foundation produced the guide in partnership with the Atlanta Chapter of IFMA and the IFMA Sustainability Committee.

FMN became an IFMA partner when it merged with the Holland Chapter of IFMA on Jan. 1, 2012. Members of the new association retain custom membership in IFMA. FMN is the first member of the IFMA Alliance, a concept that unites IFMA with other facility management groups to work together for the betterment of the profession globally.

Ing. Wim Ledder, chair of the FMN board of directors, and Lowell M. Aplebaum, IFMA director of membership, will sign an agreement formalizing this international partnership at the April 26 event. During the twice-annual FMN General Assembly events, FMN members come together to attend workshops; listen to guest speakers; and discuss the organization's strategic goals, annual achievements and research.

To further promote Dutch international facility management aspirations, FMN has created a Committee International consisting of eight members, including both established facility practitioners and young professionals from the Netherlands. Taking a strategic and innovative approach, their goal is to increase the Dutch footprint in the global facility management community while improving the profession through alliances with IFMA, EuroFM and other professional organizations.

Committee International activities for 2012 include participating in the European Facility Management Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, and the World Workplace Conference & Expo in San Antonio, Texas, USA; hosting facility management students from Africa in the Netherlands; partnering with the Belgium Chapter of IFMA; assisting in promoting the IFMA Alliance within Europe; and establishing scholarships for Dutch students through the IFMA Foundation.

To learn more, IFMA CEO and President, Tony Keane, addresses this partnership in a new video.

For more information about IFMA or its strategic partners, visit www.ifma.org. To learn more about FMN, visit www.fmn.nl.

About FMN:
FMN is one of Europe's largest and most widely recognized associations for professionals within facility management, supporting 2,400 members. The association's members are represented in six regions (chapters) and eight knowledge circuits (councils). FMN is closely involved with FM education, offering more than 10 multi-lingual accredited FM educational courses, involving more than 5,000 bachelor and master students in FM on a yearly basis. Originally founded in 1980, FMN conducts research, sponsors university chairs and co-organizes events. To join and follow FMN's social media outlets online, visit the association's LinkedIn and Twitter pages. For more information, contact bestuur@fmn.nl or visit www.fmn.nl.

Read more about the "Distributed Work: Research Report #31" findings or purchase the report from the IFMA Bookstore.

The SFP™ program teaches you to implement best sustainability practices that will impact your organization's economic, ecological and social bottom lines. Learn more and get started today.

Use the code EARTHSFP12 to receive your US$100 discount.

The discount expires April 29.

"Seeing this kind of growth year-to-year validates Facility Fusion and its place as the premier springtime conference for facility professionals," said IFMA President and CEO Tony Keane, CAE. "The event combines the educational content IFMA members are looking for with the value and opportunities to reach the membership that IFMA's corporate shareholders want.

"We had such an increase in exhibitors this year that there were companies on a waiting list trying to be a part of the show. Chicago is always a great location, and the Chicago and Northern Illinois Chapters were a pleasure to work with. We hope to keep the momentum going as we look forward to Los Angeles for Facility Fusion 2013."

Facility Fusion helps facility, design and real estate professionals strengthen their competitive advantage through instructor-led educational courses, an expo showcasing the latest workplace products and services, cutting-edge facility tours, and other professional development and networking opportunities.

Facility Fusion 2013 will be held April 2-4 at the J.W. Marriott Los Angeles, L.A. LIVE. To learn more about Facility Fusion, or to see videos, photos and highlights of the 2012 conference, visit www.ifmafacilityfusion.org.

The conference will end with a keynote presentation from business strategy authors and speakers Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz entitled "Go for No: Yes is the Destination, no is how you get There," in which they discuss how to reduce feelings of failure and rejection associated with being told "no" and how to re-evaluate long-held thoughts about failure and success.
Educational sessions on Friday will cover topics including making corporate real estate strategy decisions, defining environmental performance metrics, utilizing value engineering to meet budget constraints and developing a strategic facilities plan. Representatives from BAE Systems, CBRE, Johnson Controls, Jones Lang LaSalle and Planon will present.
The final day of Facility Fusion will also include behind-the-scenes tours of several Chicago-area facilities, including the Jewelers Building — featured in "Batman Begins" and "Transformers" — UPS' Chicago Consolidation Hub and Willis Tower, formerly the Sears Tower.

Day two of Facility Fusion will begin with a keynote presentation from author and London Business School Fellow Steven Sonsino, who will deliver the presentation "Reinventing Your Leadership Future: Are you Ready for the Next Phase of Your Leadership Life?" in which he offers attendees a blueprint for reinventing their leadership style to take their rightful place in C-suite conversations.

Thursday will also feature educational sessions covering topics including sustainability benchmarking, efficient space management, food service and employee wellness, effective communication with senior leadership and mobile workforce management. Representatives from Bentley University, HOK, Humana and the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories will present.

The Facility Fusion expo will also include two Solutions Arenas offering facility management instruction from representatives of Fox RPM Corp. and tekWorx, who will present on efficiently managing space in a smaller portfolio and fixing flaws associated with traditional chiller plant design and operation, respectively. Expo attendees can earn Continuing Education Units for participating in either of these 60-minute sessions.

Additionally, Thursday's Facility Fusion expo will be themed "Chicago Day" and feature appearances by Miss Illinois 2012 Ashley Hooks and Miss Illinois 2010 Ashley Bradarich, who will attend in support of the charitable IFMA Foundation. Bradarich currently works in the facility management profession and is an IFMA member.

IFMA recently launched a Web page housing a variety of BIM-related resources, including white papers, presentations, a list of upcoming BIM conference sessions and more.

A BIM Special Interest Group was also created through IFMA's online community forum. Take advantage of professional collaboration and knowledge sharing with other members who are interested in building information modeling and related topics.

This year, Facility Fusion will feature many educational sessions on BIM and its importance to facility managers. BIM-related sessions to be held during Facility Fusion 2012 include:

• How Do We Get From BIM to CAFM? The Process & Today's Tools
• A Roadmap: Driving BIM to Become a Facility Management Knowledge Tool
• BIM for Life Cycle: An Important Book Being Published by the IFMA Foundation
• IFMA & BIM for Life Cycle Management
• Operationalizing BIM

Held April 11-13, in Chicago, Ill., Facility Fusion will feature a broad range of educational content addressing issues relevant to the performance, safety and environmental impact of today's workplace. The conference will include nearly 80 educational sessions highlighted by two interactive presentations on workplace strategy, a concept which entails aligning the ways people work with the workplace itself in an effort to maximize employee performance and minimize cost.

Facility Fusion kicks off today, Wednesday, April 11, with a keynote presentation from author, speaker, and career and life coach Kaplan Mobray, whose work has been featured on CNN, Fox News and The Wall Street Journal. Mobray will present "The 10 Ls of Leadership: Become the Leader Others Want to Follow," in which he challenges participants to understand their leadership qualities in the absence of a role or title and gives them a tangible approach to driving change and creating value for others.

The conference's first day will feature educational sessions highlighting ways built environment professionals can make a more effective business case to the C-suite, engage building occupants on sustainability initiatives, identify best practices that don't break the bank, build their professional presence, and use Building Information Modeling to increase efficiency and productivity. Representatives from Brown University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Kaiser Permanente, the National Institute of Building Sciences and the Smithsonian Institution will present.

Author, corporate consultant and CEO of Chaos Over Len Merson will present Wednesday's lunchtime keynote presentation, "Changing Chaos into Productivity," in which he teaches attendees methods for becoming organized and effective in every business environment.

A complete list of Facility Fusion educational sessions is available online. To learn more about the Facility Fusion Conference & Expo, visit www.ifmafacilityfusion.org.

The two sessions are based on the publication "Work on the Move – Driving Strategy and Change in Workplaces" and will feature many of the workplace strategy experts who collaborated on the book. Their presentations will examine topics including: the forces driving workplace change, the evolution of the office, how to implement a mobility strategy, space planning in an uncertain environment, the projected impacts of alternative work, the role of technology in the workplace, and sustainability and the triple bottom line.

"The world of work is changing and so too is the nature of the office. The function, design and location of the workplace have undergone a major transformation in recent years, and the process is ongoing," said Diane Coles, MCR, director of workplace solutions at SCAN Health Plan and editor of the book. "These sessions are designed to help facility professionals better understand and optimize the future of the workplace. The authors will provide practical tools to show how to take the driver's seat and become more strategic, lead change in the workplace and promote ideas to management."

The first session, "Work on the Move: An Interactive Workshop with Authors of a new Workplace Strategy Book" will be held Wednesday, April 11, from 2:45 to 4 p.m. The presentation will utilize an interactive game environment to help facility professionals learn how to create a successful workplace strategy and use practical tools to prepare for the future of work.

The second workplace strategy session, entitled "Get Your Questions Answered at the Workplace Strategy Café," will be held Friday, April 13, from 2:15 to 5 p.m. A more in-depth session, the presentation will feature many of the book's authors and case study experts engaging participants in a discussion in which they can gain insight from companies with successful workplace strategies and take away guidance for developing their own solutions.

"Because the workplace is changing so rapidly — with mobile devices allowing us to work in different places — we're not only redefining how we work, but also the places we work," said Nancy Johnson Sanquist, IFMA Fellow, vice president of marketing and communications at Manhattan Software and co-editor of the book. "You need a strategy to determine how to ensure employees are their most productive at all times, no matter where they work, while also taking into account the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit. That's what the book, case studies and Facility Fusion presentations are all about."

A complete list of Facility Fusion educational sessions is available online. Those interested in attending the conference may register online or by calling 713-623-4362. Members of the media may register at no cost by emailing communications@ifma.org. To learn more about the Facility Fusion Conference & Expo, visit www.ifmafacilityfusion.org.

IFMA is now seeking sponsors for this new research study. Sponsor will receive:

• Company logo on the cover of the report and boilerplate on the back cover
• Company name in the official press release
• Print and .pdf versions of the report
• PowerPoint presentation that can be converted into webinar
• Ability to submit case study with photos for inclusion in the report, and more!

If you are interested in this sponsorship, contact: Shari Epstein, Director of Research or call +1-281-974-5626.

Please send your hi-res photos to Don Young (don.young@ifma.org, +1-281-974-5616).

"Energy efficiency – and those who champion it – often goes unnoticed. The Energy Leadership Awards are an excellent way to bring light to the topic and focus on what it takes to promote local, state, federal and international programs," according to Tony Keane, president and CEO, International Facility Management Association, who is a member of the Forum Executive Council.

Previous honorees include Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton, Jeff Bingaman and Dianne Feinstein; Energy Secretaries Federico Pena and Hazel O'Leary; Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger; Governors John Hoeven, Christine Todd Whitman, Bill Owen and Edward Rendell; Mayors Martin O'Malley and Greg Nickels; Canadian Ambassador Gary Doer and others. Recipients of the award also are considered for the Energy Efficiency Forum Hall of Fame, which is determined every five years.

Awards are presented in the following categories:

• Public Service Award - Recognizes a current or former public education official or federal, state or local government public servant who has motivated action to addressing energy efficiency across their operations and has served as an advocate of energy efficiency.
• Mayor's Award - Recognizes a current or former holder of a city-level elective office who has made a significant contribution to energy efficiency at the city government level.
• Congressional Award - Recognizes a current or former member of Congress who has contributed to legislative achievements that encourage energy efficiency gains in the public and/or private sector.
• Governor's Award - Recognizes a current or former holder of a state-level elective office who has made a significant contribution to energy efficiency at the state government level.
• International Award - Recognizes a current or former international, federal or state public official who has encouraged energy efficiency internationally.
• Douglas Decker Lifetime Achievement Award - This award of distinction is presented to an individual who has made a significant, long-term contribution toward the advancement of energy efficiency on a national or global scale.

Nominations for the Energy Leadership Awards can be submitted by peers, though individuals also can self-nominate. Nomination forms are available on the Energy Efficiency Forum website at http://bit.ly/2012ForumAwards. Honorees will be chosen by members of the Forum Executive Council. Recipients will be notified prior to the Forum, as recipient attendance at the Forum is required.

"Energy Efficiency in a Different Light" is the focus of the 23rd Annual Energy Efficiency Forum co-sponsored by Johnson Controls and the U.S. Energy Association (USEA). Energy efficiency can play an important role in increasing national security and fueling local economic recovery. At the 23rd Annual Energy Efficiency Forum, we will examine how advanced efficiency technologies, smart energy policies and consumer education can be integrated today to enhance energy security, improve global competitiveness and accelerate economic growth.

The mission of the invitation-only Energy Efficiency Forum is to be the premier forum that promotes an energy efficiency ethic through the presentation of national and worldwide views on energy efficiency and the resulting impact on the environment, national security and economic growth. Once again, the Energy Efficiency Forum and the Virtual Energy Forum are joining together to simulcast the 23rd Annual Energy Efficiency Forum speeches and discussions at http://www.VirtualEnergyForum.com on June 14, giving more people worldwide the opportunity to participate in the dialog on energy efficiency and sustainable business practices.

For more information, or to request an invitation to the Forum, please visit the Energy Efficiency Forum website at http://www.eeforum.net.

Held Oct. 31 through Nov. 2 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, World Workplace attracts thousands of attendees from across the globe, bringing business and government leaders together with educators and exhibitors to focus on the future of the workplace.

Former Apple “chief evangelist” Kawasaki will deliver the conference’s opening keynote presentation on Wednesday, Oct. 31. A renowned venture capitalist, blogger and New York Times bestselling author of 10 books, Kawasaki played a pivotal role in marketing Apple’s Macintosh computers during the company’s success in the 1980s. After developing companies of his own, he returned to Apple in 1995 and was named an Apple Fellow.

Kawasaki will deliver the opening keynote presentation, entitled “The Art of Innovation,” in which he calls upon his experience at Apple and his study of world-class companies to outline the strategic steps necessary to create new products and services, innovate, set new standards of excellence and change the world. Kawasaki will also conduct a book signing for World Workplace attendees prior to his presentation.

"Smart facility management means embracing innovation — and true innovation takes guts — so don't get flustered when acceptance comes slowly,” said Kawasaki. “My message to World Workplace 2012 attendees is to remember that innovation is not an event, but a process. Don't be afraid to jump ahead of the curve, or invent the next curve, and set your goals high.”

Abagnale will deliver the conference’s closing keynote on Friday, Nov. 2. One of the world’s most preeminent authorities on secure documents, forgery and embezzlement, he has worked with the FBI for more than 30 years and advised hundreds of financial institutions, corporations, and government and law enforcement agencies around the world.

Abagnale is known to many for his autobiography “Catch Me if You Can,” which details his time as the world’s most famous con man in the 1960s. He successfully posed as an airline pilot, attorney, college professor and doctor — all while cashing in US$2.5 million in forged checks — before finally being apprehended and serving time in the French, Swedish and U.S. prison systems. Abagnale’s life story was made into a film directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks and Christopher Walken in 2002.

“I am truly delighted and honored to be selected as a keynote speaker for IFMA’s World Workplace conference,” said Abagnale. “My presentation will cover my life from the time I ran away at 16 and impersonated an airline pilot, doctor and lawyer, until my apprehension at 21. I will take my audience on an entertaining, enlightening journey and bring them full circle to where life has brought me today — 40 years later.”

Early registration for World Workplace 2012 is available through Aug. 23. To learn more about the conference or to register, visit www.worldworkplace.org. Members of the media may register at no cost by emailing communications@ifma.org.

As the annual conference of the International Facility Management Association, World Workplace brings industry leaders from the world's top business and government organizations together with educators and exhibitors to analyze the trends and new products impacting today's built environment. The event attracts attendees from across the globe and from industries including facility and property management, real estate, engineering, security, design, architecture and more.

"World Workplace not only brings in thousands of attendees and an influx of new ideas to the cities that host the conference, but also provides them with a robust economic impact," said IFMA President and CEO Tony Keane, CAE. "When World Workplace last came to Texas in 2008, the event brought US$12.8 million to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, according to Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau estimates. We look forward to similarly successful conferences in San Antonio this year and Philadelphia in 2013."

World Workplace features keynote speaker and educational session presentations; Sustainability Central, an exclusive section of the expo floor reserved for companies offering environmentally friendly products and services; and instructor-led courses for professionals seeking any of IFMA's three credentials — the Certified Facility Manager^®, Facility Management Professional or Sustainability Facility Professional™ designations.

San Antonio, the nation's seventh largest city, will welcome World Workplace later this year when the conference comes to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center Oct. 31-Nov. 2. The event will feature facility tours of some of San Antonio's finest attractions, including the Alamo, the Pearl, Rackspace Headquarters, the Gonzalez Convention Center and more.

"San Antonio is honored to host IFMA's World Workplace," said San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro. "World Workplace attendees share San Antonio's commitment to sustainability in the workplace, and the city welcomes the discussion on environmental stewardship this conference will bring."

The Pennsylvania Convention Center will play host to World Workplace 2013 when the conference comes to the nation's fifth largest city, Philadelphia, Oct. 2-4, 2013. Details about facility tours and other Philadelphia events are forthcoming.

"In an effort to address the evolving opportunities and challenges of facility management, Philadelphia is excited to host the World Workplace Conference & Expo in 2013," said Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter. "As Philadelphia continues to work toward becoming the greenest city in the country through our Greenworks Philadelphia program, the city is pleased to welcome World Workplace attendees who share this commitment to sustainability. Smart facility management can play an important role in helping to create healthier, more efficient buildings and communities."

To learn more about World Workplace, or to register, visit www.worldworkplace.org. Members of the media may register at no cost by emailing communications@ifma.org.

The latest issue of the Facility Management Journal is now available at www.fmjonline.com. Focusing on technology, the March/April issue includes articles ranging from how tablet computers can be effective tools for facility managers to the benefits of owning an electric vehicle.

This issue also introduces IFMA's Facility Management Knowledge Center—a new online 24/7 platform that provides facility managers with a wealth of educational resources. Refer to www.ifma.org/knowledge for more details.

Also, stay tuned for exciting additions to your online reading experience—including follow-up articles from current FMJ issues at www.blogfmj.com to a sample selection of articles you can share with your colleagues via social media.

The first webinar, ENERGY STAR and the IFMA Challenge, takes place on March 6 at 2 p.m. CST.

Facility professionals face many challenges in maintaining and operating high-performance and energy-efficient buildings. This webinar will help FMs better understand how to use the EPA Portfolio Manager tool to benchmark facility data relating to energy, water, carbon and more.

Speakers include Jenny Stephenson, U.S. EPA, ENERGY STAR; and Laurie A. Gilmer, P.E., CFM, LEED AP, SFP, Facility Engineering Associates.

Register today

Certified Facility Manager^® maintenance points are available for these webinars.

A summary report is now available, as well as pictures on the survey image gallery depicting future workplace imagery as submitted by survey participants.

For more information on the IFMA Headquarters Workplace Project, visit http://ifma.org/about/hq/.

The two-day expo will bring facility, design and real estate professionals together to discover the best solutions on the market for improving workplace productivity and facility performance. The Facility Fusion expo will feature 87 leading product and service providers specializing in energy efficiency, sustainable products, construction services, recycling, lighting, building restoration, asset management, furniture rental, software solutions and more.

The expo will be open Wednesday, April 11, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, April 12, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Exhibiting organizations will include CORT, Dyson, George Mason University, Northern Illinois University, Office Depot, Toshiba, the U.S. State Department, UPS and many more.

"CORT is excited to attend IFMA Facility Fusion to connect with customers and discuss trends in the facility management industry," said Vice President of National Sales and Business Development Jon Hile. "We have been working with the industry for many years and can share our experience, industry knowledge and services to help alleviate facility management challenges through flexible management of furniture inventory, business continuity planning, and support for a mobile workforce and flexible offices. CORT and IFMA have a longstanding relationship that continues to further our mutual goal of serving the world's facility management community."

"Toshiba LED Lighting Systems is excited to be a part of this year's IFMA Facility Fusion conference in Chicago, which will allow us to network with facility professionals and stay in tune with workplace trends in order to best present our LED lighting products as solutions," said Vice President of Marketing and New Product Development Peter DallePezze. "We will be displaying a wide variety of new lamps and luminaires at the conference and are looking forward to showing Facility Fusion attendees how Toshiba LED Lighting is ready for work."

This year's expo will highlight popular attractions including:

• The Dyson Airblade™ hand dryer, which is fitted with a HEPA filter to remove 99.97 percent of bacteria from the air used to dry hands;
• Air Cycle's on-site lamp crusher, The Bulb Eater^®, which crushes spent fluorescent lamps into 100 percent recyclable material while capturing more than 99.99 percent of vapors released;
• Atlas Carpet Mills' carpet tiles, which can contribute points to projects seeking LEED certification;
• Excel Dryer's XLERATOR XCHANGER™ retrofit kits, which replace traditional built-in paper towel dispensers with energy-efficient, stainless steel hand dryers that use 80 percent less energy than paper towels;
• GCA Services Group's critical environment cleaning services, which offer a specialized method of cleaning high-tech and laboratory environments; and
• Bricsnet FM America's real estate and facility management software solutions, which can represent data in multiple building information models on Google Earth and other geospatial information systems.

Beyond the latest products and services, expo attendees can learn how to further their careers through continuing education and professional certification. George Mason will be offering information on its Sustainability Facility Professional™ and Facility Management Professional classes at the expo, and NIU instructors will be teaching FMP^® classes after the conference, on April 14-15.

The Facility Fusion expo will also include two Solutions Arenas offering facility management instruction from representatives of Fox RPM Corp. and tekWorx, who will present on efficiently managing space in a smaller portfolio and fixing flaws associated with traditional chiller plant design and operation, respectively. Expo attendees can earn Continuing Education Units for participating in either of these 60-minute sessions.

Additionally, Thursday's Facility Fusion expo will be themed "Chicago Day" and feature appearances by Miss Illinois 2012 Ashley Hooks and Miss Illinois 2010 Ashley Bradarich, who will attend in support of the charitable IFMA Foundation. Bradarich currently works in the facility management profession and is an IFMA member.

Those interested in attending Facility Fusion may register online or by calling +1-713-623-4362. Members of the media may register for the event at no cost by emailing communications@ifma.org.

This month's Chairman's Message and other related content can be found at www.youtube.com/ifmaglobal.

Of 1,251 professionals surveyed, about 85 percent of them believe that green washing by manufacturers and service is more prevalent now than two years ago. Less than 14 percent of respondents in any given surveyed city believe that green washing is less prevalent than two years ago. In no city did at least 36 percent of respondents express a belief that green washing is just as prevalent as it was two years ago.

Besides green washing, respondents also indicated that an apprehension about performance of new technology and buying decisions based on first cost also are creating bottlenecks in achieving more cost-efficient and efficient and sustainable healthcare facilities.

"It appears that these three issues are linked in the minds of buyers and specifiers, as eight of ten survey respondents share these opinions," IFMA stated. "A change in behavior and more education is needed to change these perceptions."

When asked, "What concerns you most about installing or specifying new energy-saving technology," 78 percent of survey participants responded that the technology "may not deliver projected performance." Only 3 percent of respondents believe that the technology becoming outdated is the primary concern. About 18 percent of those surveyed reported that reliability is their main concern.

Other survey findings include the following:

• Lowest first cost still dominates purchasing decisions, except in Cleveland.
• Most survey respondents believe health care still lags behind other industries in implementing sustainable solutions, except in Midwest cities.
• More than 90 percent of survey participants predicted that energy costs will rise at least four percent in the next year.
• When asked, "To retool a hospital for sustainability, what do you think is the most important next step?" about 68 percent of respondents answered that a sustainability manager should be appointed. About 16 percent of those surveyed called for a sustainability committee, and 17 percent expressed a preference for Energy Star or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

The survey was conducted during 2010 and 2011 as part of the educational seminar series entitled "Economics, Efficiency, Energy & Environment: Making the 4Es Work Together in Health Care."

IFMA was joined by industry partners including the American Institute of Architects, ASHRAE, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, International Code Council, National Electrical Manufacturers Association, National Institute of Building Services and U.S. Green Building Council in supporting the proposed legislation, which will now make its way to the U.S. Senate.

Introduced last year by Representative Jeff Denham, R-Calif., chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, the bill addresses federal real estate holdings and seeks to maximize space utilization, create value in underperforming assets, reduce reliance on costly leasing, improve the overall management and controls related to federal properties, and maximize the return to the taxpayer. Thirty-one House members co-sponsored the bill.

IFMA recognizes the co-sponsors of this bill as leaders in Congress and applauds them for their hard work in promoting it and for recognizing the important role space and asset utilization play in achieving high-performance buildings and maximizing the value of federal property.

"The Civilian Property Realignment Act is a critical next step in achieving true high-performance federal buildings capable of supporting the ever-changing federal workforce," said Tony Keane, CAE, IFMA president and CEO. "The act incorporates industry-leading facility management practices to streamline the portfolio of federal buildings. IFMA's 22,655 members are engaged in the realignment of their companies' real estate portfolios to ensure that property is effectively utilized and maintained. Facility managers routinely do more with less. The association and its members are pleased to serve as a resource to Congress and the administration as they try to do the same."

The White House Office of Management and Budget estimates that the benefit to taxpayers from passage of the proposed legislation will be at least US$15 billion, with the potential for even greater savings. The bill is self-funding, providing for a one-time appropriation of US$88 million, after which proceeds from the sale of excess federal properties would be used to repay the treasury and give taxpayers a 60 percent windfall on any property sold.

"I believe the potential to save billions of dollars is real," said Denham. "Given our trillion dollar deficit and skyrocketing debt, we must examine every area of government and look for ways to cut spending. My bill establishes a nine person Civilian Property Realignment Commission to take politics out of the process, increase transparency and save billions of taxpayer dollars."

An amendment to the bill introduced yesterday by Representative Russ Carnahan, D-Mo., requires federal agencies to conduct a full life-cycle cost analysis of any building design, construction, or operations and maintenance projects, thereby helping the U.S. government further reduce operating costs.

"We can't be a penny wise and a pound foolish when it comes to building construction," said Carnahan. "Life-cycle cost analysis is common sense. That's why I'm glad to see my colleagues vote for this amendment. We can save taxpayer money and energy just by making sure we take into account all the costs of construction."

IFMA is a member of the High-Performance Building Congressional Caucus Coalition, which provides support and guidance to the High-Performance Building Caucus of the U.S. Congress and seeks to heighten awareness and inform policymakers about the impact buildings have on health, safety and welfare, and the opportunities to design, construct and operate high-performance buildings that reflect a concern for these impacts.

As the nation's largest holder of real estate, the federal government has the opportunity and resources to influence the development and implementation of integrated building operation, maintenance and space utilization practices. Federal buildings should serve as leading examples of economically sustainable facility management practices and can do so by maximizing the use of existing space in the manner envisioned by the CPRA.

For more information about high-performance federal buildings, visit the High-Performance Building Congressional Caucus Coalition at www.hpbccc.org. To learn more about IFMA's government affairs efforts, visit www.ifma.org/government.

Many organizations today are striving to reduce the negative impacts their businesses have on the environment through the implementation of sustainability programs that meet or exceed applicable laws and regulatory acts. Even executive orders and other mandates directed exclusively at federal facilities may offer benchmarking guidance or serve as a preview of what could soon be required from the private sector.

This guide is written for facility professionals who want to stay ahead of the executive and legislative curve and implement strategic sustainability performance plans for their facilities that utilize the best-in-class resources and benchmarking information developed by the U.S. federal government and state governments.

"U.S. Government Policy Impacts and Opportunities for Facility Management" will enable public- and private-sector facility professionals to:

• Understand how recent legislative and executive initiatives have focused on reducing costs and increasing the efficiency of energy and water use in federal buildings;
• Learn how to achieve greener buildings through site planning, building material selection, water efficiency, HVAC systems and ongoing building operations;
• Improve energy management techniques through consideration of lighting, windows, energy demand, refrigeration systems, and efficient and ENERGY STAR® appliances;
• Build a business case for sustainability initiatives and utilize effective measurement tools;
• Learn more about waste stream management, including reusable dishes and flatware, composting and recycling;
• Procure sustainable foods through local purchasing and learn more about food safety and disposable products;
• Take advantage of available grants, rebates and incentives; encourage increased operational and capital investments; and identify resources supporting sustainability planning and execution;
• Understand the current reporting requirements affecting both federal agencies and commercial entities; and
• Learn from case studies offering real-world insight into effective sustainability approaches.

The guide is primarily built around U.S. acts and executive orders pertaining to the built environment, including: the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Energy Policy Act of 2005; the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007; Executive Order 13423; and Executive Order 13514.

Other co-authors include Sarah Slaughter, Ph.D., professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management and Eric Teicholz, IFMA Fellow, president of Graphic Systems. The IFMA Foundation created the guide in partnership with the Atlanta Chapter of IFMA and the IFMA Sustainability Committee.

"U.S. Government Policy Impacts and Opportunities for Facility Management" is available online free of charge. In total, 12 publications from the "Sustainability 'How-to' Guide Series" are available online.

To download the RFQ and to keep up with all additional information, please refer to the HQ Project website.

IFMA members and staff were saddened to learn of the recent passing of Vance Paul Hilbers, 57, former chair of the IFMA board of directors.

Hilbers served IFMA with distinction throughout the 1990s and 2000s, having been board of directors treasurer from 1996-98, vice-chair from 1998-99 and chair from 1999-2000. He was also a longtime member of the Midlands Chapter of IFMA in Omaha, Nebraska, where he served on its board of directors from 2000-10.

Most recently, Hilbers had been employed with Sheppard's Business Interiors in Omaha and had worked with the Omaha Chamber of Commerce. He was a 1977 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Hilbers is survived by his wife Kim, son Zach, daughter Johanna, mother Lois, father Dean, and sisters Sheryl, Robyn and Candace. A memorial service in his honor will be held Feb. 4, 2012, at 2 p.m. at the Lord of Life Lutheran Church in the Elkhorn neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska.

World FM Day is an opportunity for groups to highlight and celebrate the important role FM plays in organizational and building performance for both government entities and private businesses. VINCI Facilities, a European leader in facility management for multinational companies, again will be Global FM's main sponsor for World FM Day.

IFMA headquarters will continue to conduct its annual Twitter feed and will encourage chapters, councils, alliance member organizations and communities of practice to celebrate on that special day. All IFMA members also are encouraged to do their own celebration within their facility departments to build awareness amongst FM customers and stakeholders.

A World FM Day resource package soon will be available and further details will be provided as the task force meets in the coming months.

IFMA's SFP Credential Program provides the tools to enhance your knowledge and earn the SFP credential in one complete program. This new training and assessment program includes an overall picture of how you can improve the sustainability of your facilities.

Two credentialing experts will be leading the session:

• Brenda Varner, CFM, Program Manager, IFMA
• Patrick Okamura, CFM, CSS, IFMA Fellow, SFP, FMP

Together, these experts will:

• Outline the development of the SFP credential;
• Discuss the benefits of the SFP credential;
• Review the process for obtaining the credential; and
• Help you save US$100 off your purchase of SFP Credential Program.

Register now!

Held April 11-13 in Chicago, Ill., at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, Facility Fusion will bring together a collection of industry experts offering new ideas, proven strategies and best practices attendees can implement immediately to heighten productivity and improve operations within their building portfolios. The event will feature industry-leading keynote speaker presentations, 84 educational sessions and an expo with more than 85 exhibiting companies.

Facility Fusion kicks off on Wednesday, April 11, with a keynote presentation from author, speaker, and career and life coach Kaplan Mobray, whose work has been featured on CNN, Fox News and The Wall Street Journal. Mobray will present "The 10 Ls of Leadership: Become the Leader Others Want to Follow," in which he challenges participants to understand their leadership qualities in the absence of a role or title and gives them a tangible approach to driving change and creating value for others.

The conference's first day will feature educational sessions highlighting ways built environment professionals can make a more effective business case to the C-suite, engage building occupants on sustainability initiatives, identify best practices that don't break the bank, build their professional presence, and use Building Information Modeling to increase efficiency and productivity. Representatives from Brown University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Kaiser Permanente, the National Institute of Building Sciences and the Smithsonian Institution will present.

Author, corporate consultant and CEO of Chaos Over Len Merson will present Wednesday's lunchtime keynote presentation, "Changing Chaos into Productivity," in which he teaches attendees methods for becoming organized and effective in every business environment.

The Facility Fusion expo will also debut Wednesday and remain open through Thursday, April 12. Open to the public at no cost, the expo will feature more than 85 exhibiting companies showcasing the latest products and services impacting the workplace. Organizations including CORT, George Mason University, Office Depot, Toshiba International and the U.S. Department of State, among others, will be on the expo floor.

Day two of Facility Fusion will begin with a keynote presentation from author and London Business School Fellow Steven Sonsino, who will deliver the presentation "Reinventing Your Leadership Future: Are you Ready for the Next Phase of Your Leadership Life?" in which he offers attendees a blueprint for reinventing their leadership style to take their rightful place in C-suite conversations.

Thursday will also feature educational sessions covering topics including sustainability benchmarking, efficient space management, food service and employee wellness, effective communication with senior leadership and mobile workforce management. Representatives from Bentley University, HOK, Humana and the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories will present.

Additionally, Thursday's Facility Fusion expo will be themed "Chicago Day" and feature appearances by Miss Illinois 2012 Ashley Hooks and Miss Illinois 2010 Ashley Bradarich, who will attend in support of the charitable IFMA Foundation. Bradarich currently works in the facility management profession and is an IFMA member.

Thursday's expo will also include solutions arenas highlighting educational content and new product demonstrations, featuring presentations from Fox RPM and TekWorx.

The conference will conclude on Friday, April 13, with a keynote presentation from business strategy authors and speakers Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz entitled "Go for No: Yes is the Destination, no is how you get There," in which they discuss how to reduce feelings of failure and rejection associated with being told "no" and how to re-evaluate long-held thoughts about failure and success.

Educational sessions on Friday will cover topics including making corporate real estate strategy decisions, defining environmental performance metrics, utilizing value engineering to meet budget constraints and developing a strategic facilities plan. Representatives from BAE Systems, CBRE, Johnson Controls, Jones Lang LaSalle and Planon will present.

The final day of Facility Fusion will also include behind-the-scenes tours of several Chicago-area facilities, including the Jewelers Building — featured in "Batman Begins" and "Transformers" — UPS' Chicago Consolidation Hub and Willis Tower, formerly the Sears Tower.

"Facility Fusion brings core built environment leaders together in an intimate setting and helps them develop professionally, strengthen their competitive advantage and add value to their organizations by introducing more efficient, cost-effective products and practices," said IFMA President and CEO Tony Keane, CAE. "The networking and professional development opportunities Facility Fusion has to offer, coupled with tours of some of Chicago's most recognizable facilities, really capture the allure of the Windy City and make this one of the can't-miss events of 2012."

Those interested in attending Facility Fusion may register online or by calling 713-623-4362. Members of the media may register for the event at no cost by emailing communications@ifma.org. To learn more about the IFMA Facility Fusion Conference & Expo, visit www.ifmafacilityfusion.org.

IFMA's FMP Credential Program provides the tools to enhance your knowledge and earn the FMP credential in one complete program. The FMP credential program was updated and enhanced to align with the most recent IFMA global job task analysis, ensuring that it teaches and tests the knowledge demanded by today's global employers.

Two credentialing experts will be leading the session:

• Brenda Varner, CFM, Program Manager, IFMA
• Teena Shouse, CFM, IFMA Fellow

Together, these experts will:

Register now!

In keeping with IFMA's focus on the future of facility management, World Workplace 2012 will offer an extensive educational experience to meet the growing needs of those who support managed environments. The objective of the learning experience is to offer leading FM education that helps facility teams manage, maintain and operate smarter facilities.

The theme for World Workplace 2012 is "Smarter facility management drives smart business. Come, learn, get connected." Successful submissions should include this concept in the session description and delivery.

The Call for Presentations features topic areas formerly known as "tracks," and levels of learning that will allow attendees to customize their World Workplace agenda based on their professional experience.

Be a part of this valuable platform for dialogue on current and future FM issues and trends. The deadline to submit your abstract is March 9, 2012.

If you have questions about World Workplace or the 2012 Call for Presentations, please contact IFMA's Event Program Manager, Monica Grinage Cooper, CMP, at +1-281-974-5649 or email monica.grinagecooper@ifma.org.

The statement of qualifications must be submitted no later than Jan. 25, 2012 at 5 p.m. EST.

There is also a photo gallery that depicts future workplace imagery submitted thus far by survey participants. Members are still encouraged to view the photos and share their expertise/vision—there is still time until Jan. 20. The survey is accessible in the IFMA members-only page.

To download the RFQ and to keep up with all additional information, please refer to the HQ Project website.

In his new role, Aplebaum will ensure IFMA's strategic objectives are being met through the association's chapters, councils and communities of practice, and that these component groups are positioned and maintained as the premier organizations serving stakeholders in their respective specialty or geographic region.

He will be responsible for fostering a growth in IFMA membership through the acquisition and retention of members; enhancing and executing the strategic planning process for IFMA chapters, councils and communities of practice; and working with the association's board of directors in implementing IFMA's vision, mission and strategy, and the individual strategic plans of IFMA's component groups.

Aplebaum comes to IFMA from the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society in Rockville, Md., where he served as the director of member relations and helped increase membership by 6 percent and double the association's number of global chapters. Before RAPS, Aplebaum was employed with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers in New York, N.Y., as the manager of member initiatives and the Waxman Youth House of Great Neck, N.Y., as its director.

Aplebaum holds bachelor's degrees from Columbia University and List College, and a master's degree from the Davidson School of Education.

"As the newest member of the IFMA team, I am excited to contribute to the invaluable resources and opportunities the association provides to facility management professionals worldwide," said Aplebaum. "I look forward to exploring how we can elevate the value inherent in IFMA membership and strengthen the community ties that have been developed by our councils and chapters, and within the entire association. I am honored to work with dedicated volunteer leaders, passionate members and my fellow staff to build on IFMA's efforts to improve and strengthen the global facility management profession."

More information about IFMA membership, chapters and councils is available online at www.ifma.org/membership.

This issue also includes the annual "World Workplace 2011 Conference & Expo Recap" article. Relive the memories or see what you've missed by viewing our highlights video. Can't wait until the next World Workplace? Join us in Chicago, Ill. this April for IFMA's 3rd annual Facility Fusion Conference & Expo.

Also, this issue has an update on the IFMA headquarters relocation project. If you have yet to participate in the IFMA headquarters relocation project survey, it will be live until Jan. 20. As FM practitioners, we value your expertise. Refer to www.ifma.org/about/hq/ for more details.

Last but not least, we are debuting extra online functionalities and features. With enhanced navigation, zooming capabilities, more streaming videos and bonus international articles, your online reading experience just got even better!

In his new role, Tafel will manage all aspects of the IFMA Foundation's daily operations, working directly with the foundation's board of trustees to design and execute fundraising, marketing and program plans.

He will oversee the development of the foundation's annual Balanced Scorecard, a strategic performance management tool; manage foundation research projects; oversee the foundation's grant programs; and in coordination with the director of academic affairs, implement the annual foundation scholarship program.

"With Jeff's experience, he will bring to the table a high level of energy and focus for the IFMA Foundation," said Tony Keane, CAE, president and CEO of IFMA. "I look forward to working with him to grow the foundation's programs."

Tafel has worked for the International Facility Management Association since 2003, having served as director of membership and councils, associate director of member resources and director of allied services.

Prior to joining IFMA, he served the National Association of Credit Management of South Texas as administrator and credit interchange services manager, The Radio Stations of Southwest Michigan as non-traditional revenue development manager and account executive, KQUE/KNUZ Radio in Houston as market research director and account executive, and WMPL Radio in Hancock, Mich., as assistant general manager and operations manager.

"It is a great honor to be named executive director of the IFMA Foundation, and I look forward to working with the board of trustees to maximize the impact of the foundation's financial and volunteer resources," said Tafel. "We plan to build on the record US$100,000 in scholarships the foundation awarded to facility management students last year; partner with IFMA on an upcoming research symposium to address the future of the workplace; and in time, double the number of Accredited Degree Program schools recognized by the foundation. More than ever before, the IFMA Foundation is poised to achieve great things and offer new levels of service and support to the facility management profession."

Tafel is a member of the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives, Texas Society of Association Executives and Houston Society of Association Executives. He holds a Certified Association Executive credential from ASAE and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Michigan Technological University.

Established in 1990 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation, the IFMA Foundation works for the public good to promote research and educational opportunities for the advancement of facility management. The IFMA Foundation is supported by the generosity of the facility management community, including IFMA members, chapters, councils, corporate sponsors and private contributors who are united by the belief that education and research improve the facility management profession. To learn more about the good works of the IFMA Foundation, visit www.ifmafoundation.org. For more information about IFMA, visit www.ifma.org.

The final tally for the IFMA Constitutional Amendments vote with 26% of the membership participating was:

The amendments will provide greater opportunities for growth within both the profession and the association. See the revised constitution.

To this end we are working with strategic business consultant DEGW and are asking our members to share their FM expertise, as well as past experiences, by answering a short survey. The survey was sent to each member's email and is also located in the members-only section of www.ifma.org.  

Your feedback is a crucial element to our due diligence process of IFMA headquarters' new home.

We would appreciate members' input by Jan. 20 2012.

To learn more about the IFMA headquarters workplace project, access final survey results and imagery, please visit http://www.ifma.org/about/hq.

The cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan were particularly hard hit when Typhoon Washi (also known as Typhoon Sendong) swept through the riverside and coastal villages of the southern Philippines late last week, displacing thousands and damaging millions of Philippine pesos worth of crops. Floods and landslides following the storm have made this one of the worst calamities to hit the region in decades, with government officials saying more than 338,000 in 13 provinces have been affected by the disaster.

It is heartening to know that the Armed Forces of the Philippines have already mobilized and begun undertaking extensive efforts to bring disaster relief supplies into the impacted areas. Foreign governments have also sent condolences and promised to donate food, money and other relief supplies.

IFMA wishes to extend our heartfelt sympathies to our members in the Philippines and their loved ones as they deal with the loss of life, flood devastation, injuries and property damage. Without question, the will and determination of the Filipino people is strong, and as they rise to meet the daunting challenge of recovering from this disaster and returning to normalcy, the entire IFMA family will have them in our thoughts and prayers.

The "Profiles 2011 Salary and Demographics Report," based on a survey of 4,353 facility professionals from 45 countries around the world, points to a career path that compensates its practitioners well. Combining base salary and bonus pay, the average facility professional now pulls in US$99,578 in total compensation annually — up from US$91,766 in 2007. Even those entering the profession do well, as practitioners with three or fewer years in facility management earn US$65,000 a year, up from US$56,000 in 2004.

While today's facility managers are well compensated, they are also well educated, with 83 percent having attended college and 64 percent earning a bachelor's degree or higher. Those with college degrees largely studied business (33 percent), engineering (16 percent), facility management (14 percent) or liberal arts (9 percent). Twenty percent of facility professionals surveyed report having a master's or doctoral degree.

More young people are entering facility management, even as the average age of a facility manager is 49. Nine percent of 2011 survey respondents were 34 or younger, up from 7 percent in 2007. Of this group, the majority are women. Twelve percent of female survey respondents were 34 or younger, compared to only 8 percent of their male counterparts. Similarly, 23 percent of women surveyed were 35 to 44 years old, as opposed to 21 percent of men.

Women are also slightly more likely to be pursuing two of IFMA's premiere credentials — the Facility Management Professional and Sustainability Facility Professional™ designations — than men, as 12 percent of female respondents have or are working toward FMPs and 7 percent are working toward SFPs.

As with previous surveys, education level also plays a large role in compensation. Survey respondents with a master's degree report earning an average base pay of US$101,629, up from US$96,750 in 2007 and US$87,000 in 2004. Those with a bachelor's degree report a base pay of US$87,000, an increase from US$82,000 in 2007 and US$75,000 in 2004. In total, facility professionals in eight industry sectors — including chemical/pharmaceutical, electronics, the federal government and the media — make an average of US$100,000 or more each year.

Similarly, facility managers with the Certified Facility Manager^® designation — which sets the industry standard for ensuring the knowledge and competence of practicing facility managers — report earning US$12,524 more per year than their counterparts without the credential. Those holding a CFM earn on average US$101,540 per year in compensation.

IFMA's CFM and FMP designations can help facility professionals earn a higher salary than their counterparts based on the credential holder's experience level. Survey respondents with a CFM and six to ten years of full-time work experience, for example, report making US$15,536 more per year than the average facility manager with similar experience, while those with an FMP and six to ten years of full-time work experience make US$8,727 more.

CFM credential holders are also more likely to work in higher levels of management than the average facility professional, making them more likely to manage supervisors who manage others; manage two or more levels of supervisors; or serve the company as a senior executive.

"These results show what we've known all along, that facility management is a competitive, compelling profession with the potential to attract top-tier talent, both today and in the future," said IFMA President and CEO Tony Keane, CAE. "Facility management provides strategic value and contributes to organizational success, and facility professionals are increasingly getting greater recognition and compensation for these contributions. To work in this field and potentially earn more than US$100,000 with IFMA's CFM credential speaks volumes about the value the industry provides and what it can offer today's professionals."

Additional analysis of 2011 salary data shows that each year a facility manager spends in the field adds US$698 to their overall compensation. Similarly, each year an individual spends with their current employer adds US$612 per year to their salary.

Geographic location also plays a role in compensation. Those living in the Northeast U.S. report earning on average $8,837 more than their counterparts, while those in the Pacific U.S. report earning on average US$8,255 more. Canadian facility professionals also see a geographic compensation benefit, earning US$7,076 more than the average facility manager. Other countries with high concentrations of CFM and FMP credential holders report the following annual base salaries (in U.S. dollars):

The complete "Profiles 2011 Salary and Demographics Report" is available for purchase in hard copy or e-file PDF from the IFMA Bookstore at www.ifma.org/bookstore. Additional information is also available online.

In his new role, Dallas will plan and direct the marketing of IFMA's products and services — and support IFMA's sales and revenue objectives — through print, online, electronic media, and direct mail outreach campaigns. He will help IFMA establish and maintain a consistent corporate image through its promotional and collateral materials, and also serve as a liaison with key strategic and community partners. Dallas will also develop and recommend product positioning, packaging and pricing strategies to help IFMA achieve the highest possible long-term market share.

Dallas comes to IFMA from APQC, an organization that partners with companies to help them boost their performance through advisory services, benchmarking, knowledge management and process improvement. At APQC, he managed the Web design and content team, implementing a major Web 2.0 site redesign and organization-wide social media strategy.

Before APQC, Dallas held positions at Verio, a global Web hosting provider, and VisitBritain, formerly known as the British Tourist Authority. He holds Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland.

"I'm delighted to be working at IFMA and to help shape the future direction of the organization and achieve lasting growth for all its stakeholders," said Dallas. "It's my goal to successfully oversee the marketing strategy and tactical execution of the association's business plan and provide as much value as possible to facility professionals everywhere."

The Holland Chapter of IFMA will merge with FMN in January 2012 to form FMN, an IFMA Alliance Member. IFMA's board of directors approved the new alliance and merger at the World Workplace 2011 Conference & Expo in Phoenix, Ariz., earlier this year.

Under the FMN name, the two groups will form one association with one body of members and board of directors that will represent the Dutch facility management profession. At the same time, members of the new association will retain custom membership in IFMA, with more than 2,000 current FMN members joining IFMA's membership ranks in the process.

The partnership creates a stronger, more complete facility management association in the Netherlands that will add value to all members involved and strengthen the international position of Dutch facility management.

"This cooperative effort between IFMA and FMN will strengthen ties between the two groups and increase the exchange of facility management knowledge, best practices and educational resources worldwide," said Tony Keane, CAE, president and CEO of IFMA. "Our strategic leadership plan — IFMA's balanced scorecard — calls for magnifying the importance of the facility management professional, and the new IFMA Alliance program is a huge step in that direction. We are excited about this partnership and working to add other groups to the IFMA Alliance within the coming year."

To learn more about IFMA, visit www.ifma.org. More information about FMN is available at www.fmn.nl.

Nonstructural components of buildings include all elements that are not part of the structural system, which includes the architectural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, as well as furniture, fixtures, equipment and other contents. During the recent earthquakes in Chile, New Zealand, Japan, Virginia, California, Washington and other parts of the U.S., nonstructural failures have accounted for the majority of damage and injuries. In many cases, businesses, schools, hospitals and other organizations had to spend excessive time and dollars for clean up and repair due to nonstructural failures, therefore impeding continued operations and rapid recovery. Moreover, nonstructural component failures also impeded safe evacuation, delayed rescue and caused additional hazards such as fire resulting in serious life safety issues.

This FEMA NEHRP-sponsored hour and a half webinar describes the sources and types of nonstructural earthquake damage and the effective methods and guidance that individuals and organizations can use to take action now before the next earthquake and minimize future injuries and property losses from nonstructural risks.

WEBINAR INFORMATION:

• West Coast event - Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011, 1 – 2:30 p.m. PST (Webinar Link: https://fema.connectsolutions.com/nehrp-webinar/)
• Central U.S. event - Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, 1 – 2:30 p.m. CST (Webinar Link: https://fema.connectsolutions.com/nehrp-webinar/)
• Pacific Northwest event - Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, 1 – 2:30 p.m. PST (Webinar Link: https://fema.connectsolutions.com/nehrp-webinar/ )

For audio: Dial 1-(888) 387-8686, Conference ID: 5416036. This dial-in number and code is the same for all three webinars. For each webinar session, audio lines are limited to 2000 participants only.

If you have never used Adobe Connect Pro before, please test your connection (https://fema.connectsolutions.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm) prior to joining the webinar.

For questions or additional information regarding this webinar, please contact fema-nehrp@dhs.gov.

IFMA members and nonmembers alike can access the new online benchmarking system at www.ifma.org/BEX, select a survey to participate in, enter their facility data and, once a required number of surveys have been entered, download customized reports based on their specific needs.

As more surveys are added to the website, visitors will have access to all the same valuable benchmarking information IFMA has provided in the past, in one convenient location. BEX will house data for: cost per area, operations and maintenance practices, staffing, space per person, office standards and churn rates.

"As a nonprofit professional association, IFMA has for many years offered objective and independent benchmarking information benefiting both the FM professional and FM industry," said Tony Keane, CAE, president and CEO of IFMA. "BEX is a tool that provides us with a much stronger global data collection process that will enhance the results and value our members and the profession receive. It gives facility professionals access to best practice information they can put to use in their facilities immediately to achieve their energy efficiency and cost savings goals."

BEX can help facility professionals improve their job performance by preserving departmental resources, determining which costs to investigate first for the quickest results, contributing to the organization’s bottom line and locating hidden opportunities to demonstrate the facility department’s value.

The online BEX system will allow facility professionals to:

• Filter data by industry, facility type, region and more;
• Enter building data in standard or metric, and in any currency;
• Submit data for multiple buildings and in multiple sessions, if necessary;
• Make updates and changes to data as needed;
• Calculate data in common metrics, such as space per person;
• Get access to real-time benchmarking results; and
• Earn Certified Facility Manager^® maintenance points for submitting data.

All information entered into BEX will be securely stored online and the identities of those submitting data will not be revealed. All participants will have free and unlimited access to survey results, while nonparticipants may purchase an annual subscription to the results. For more information, visit www.ifma.org/BEX.

Consequent to the robust development taking place in Asia's megacities, IFMA and the FM community recognized an urgent need to bring forward-looking strategies and solutions to the Asia-Pacific region.

Present an educational session in Singapore.
Be a part of this valuable platform for dialogue on current and future FM issues and trends in Asia. The deadline to submit your abstract is Jan. 13, 2012.

We hope to see you in Asia!

Contact: Monica Grinage Cooper, IFMA Event Program Manager
+1-281-974-5649 | monica.grinagecooper@ifma.org.

In addition, this FMJ includes on update on the IFMA headquarters workplace project. The relocation project presents an opportunity to develop a workplace strategy that is successful both in space, functionality and efficiency.

View our upcoming issue themes in the editorial calendar in this issue and get a head start on 2012!

Established to recognize members dedicated to IFMA and the facility management profession, the fellowship program creates an elite core of respected leaders who act as advisors to and ambassadors of the association. Being named an IFMA Fellow is the highest honor the association can bestow on a member. To date, 86 professionals have received the distinction.

Alex K. Lam, MRAIC, is president of The OCB Network, a global facility management consultancy. He has served the facility management and architecture professions for nearly 45 years and has been an IFMA member for nearly 30 years. Lam was on the IFMA board of directors from 1999-2002 and the IFMA Foundation board of trustees from 2002-2004. He founded the London and Ottawa Chapters of IFMA in 1994 and the Ontario South Chapter of IFMA in 1998, and has served as a facility management instructor since 1999 at institutions around the world.

Mark R. Sekula, CFM, LEED AP, is president of Facility Futures, a strategic facility planning consultancy. He has served the facility management industry for 35 years and has been an IFMA member since 1988. Sekula was on the IFMA board of directors from 2007-2009 and founded the FM Consultants Council in 1998, having served as its president as well as president of the Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter of IFMA. He has also been a facility and project management instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Architecture & Urban Planning.

Peter M. Winters, CFM, CFMJ, FAIA, is senior vice president of HOK, a global architectural firm. He has served the facility management industry for 35 years and has been an IFMA member since 1994. Winters was on the IFMA board of directors from 2008-2009, and has served the Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth and Central & Eastern Iowa Chapters of IFMA — as well as the FM Consultants Council — in various capacities. He has been recognized or granted a fellowship designation by the American Institute of Architects, Dallas Chapter of the AIA and the Texas Society of Architects. Winters has also been a facility management and architecture instructor for 25 years, having taught at Texas A&M University and other institutions around the world.

"IFMA fellowship is the highest honor bestowed on those whose efforts lead the facility management profession. The past, present and future leadership of these recipients demonstrates their commitment and enthusiasm for IFMA and facility management," said Kathy Roper, CFM, MCR, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow, chair of the IFMA board of directors. "The ongoing accomplishments of these new fellows bring IFMA support, recognition and increased credibility for their service and the contributions they make. We're honored to have them represent IFMA to the world."

IFMA's Awards of Excellence recognize groups and individuals who have made significant contributions to the facility management profession and the association. Winners were announced in 14 categories, with judging panels comprised of industry experts evaluating nominees and scoring them in a number of specific areas. IFMA recognizes companies and individuals for achievements that advance the facility management profession, as well as chapters and councils for outstanding performance in key areas of their operations.

Julie O'Loughlin and Collins Osayamwen, CFM, CFMJ, each won the Distinguished Member Award this year.

The Corporate Facilities Council of IFMA won the association's Council of the Year Award, while the Silicon Valley and Nashville Chapters of IFMA won the Large Chapter of the Year Award and Small Chapter of the Year Award, respectively. The Brigham Young University Student Chapter was once again honored with the Student Chapter of the Year Award.

This year's Educator Award was presented to Dr. Thomas Madritsch, MRICS, and the Distinguished Author – Book Award was given to Michel Theriault, RPA, LEED AP.

Stephanie Fanger, FMP, LEED AP, won the Emerging Leader Award, while the Associate Member Award was presented to Brian Bennett.

The Chapter Award for Professional Development went to the San Diego Chapter of IFMA, and the Chapter Award for Membership Marketing was presented to the Denver Chapter of IFMA.

The Denver Chapter of IFMA also won the Chapter Award for Web Communications – Large, while the Central Iowa Chapter of IFMA was presented with the Chapter Award for Web Communications – Small.

"IFMA's Awards of Excellence bring forth our best volunteer efforts and, in the spirit of competition, promote the best in volunteerism and association leadership," Roper said. "Every submitting individual, chapter, council and organization truly exhibits excellence, and the winners inspire us all to do more for IFMA."

To learn more about IFMA Awards of Excellence categories, nomination procedures or judging, email awards@ifma.org. More information about the IFMA Fellows program and a complete list of fellows is available online.

The 7.2 magnitude quake leveled about 2,000 homes and buildings in Turkey's eastern province of Van. Particularly hard hit were the city of Erciş and surrounding villages, an area comprised mostly of homes. As of right now, 84 buildings have collapsed in Ercis and six more in the city of Van. It is heartening to know that extensive efforts have been made to save survivors from beneath the rubble, and that the U.S. and others have already sent humanitarian aid into the country.

IFMA wishes to extend our heartfelt sympathies to our members in Turkey and their loved ones as they deal with the loss of life, injuries and property damage. Without question, the will and determination of the Turkish people is strong, and as they rise to meet the daunting challenge of recovering from this disaster and returning to normalcy, the entire IFMA family will have them in our thoughts and prayers.

The educational sessions will continue today at the World Workplace 2011 Conference & Expo, and will follow 11 topic areas reflecting the facility management competencies defined by IFMA’s most recent global job task analysis, including Finance and Business, Real Estate and Property Management, Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability, Leadership and Strategy, and Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity. Conference attendees can earn continuing education units for each session they attend.

Christopher Gardner will deliver the conference’s closing keynote on Friday, Oct. 28, with his speech “Start Where You Are,” an uplifting message in which he helps attendees learn how to transform themselves through adversity and make positive changes in their lives. Gardner’s own life story was published in his autobiography “The Pursuit of Happyness,” which became a motion picture starring Will Smith in 2006.

“Like folks in most businesses, I'm sure facility professionals have experienced a rocky couple of years,” said Gardner. “My World Workplace keynote presentation will focus on the lessons I've learned about coping with adversity in my own personal journey from the streets of San Francisco to Wall Street, a message I believe will resonate with anyone in their own pursuit of happiness.”

The conference will conclude with a black-tie Awards of Excellence Banquet, featuring dinner, dancing, entertainment and the presentation of awards for Sustainable Design & Energy Efficient Projects, FM Achievement and Distinguished Member, and the announcement of the chapter, council and student chapter of the year awards.

World Workplace exhibiting companies represent industries and business sectors including alternative energy, architecture, building maintenance, disaster recovery, education, food services, furniture, health care, real estate, security, technology and more. The World Workplace expo was open from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26, and will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27. Access to this year’s expo is free for all who wish to attend.

More than 250 exhibitors — including companies such as AlliedBarton, Bissell, IBM, KBR, Kraft Foods, Lowe’s, Staples, Steelcase and Toshiba — as well as governmental agencies including the U.S. State Department and General Services Administration, will have booths set up for attendees to come and learn more about their business. Phoenix-based exhibitors will also be front and center this year, as the World Workplace 2011 expo will highlight more than a dozen companies that call the conference’s host city home.

“We’re looking forward to again participating in the World Workplace expo and talking about how IBM’s Smarter Buildings solutions are able to help organizations save in the areas of energy, operations and space,” said Dave Bartlett, IBM vice president of Industry Solutions. “Visitors to the expo will get to learn how we’re able to give clients greater intelligence and control of their buildings and of the physical world.” IBM will present the findings of their recently published sustainability report, “Crossing the Sustainability Chasm,” at the IBM-sponsored FMJ Social Networking Lounge.

Complementing the expo will be World Workplace 2011 educational sessions. Organized into 11 topic areas, these sessions offer facility professionals the continuing education courses they need to keep their professional certifications current and meet the challenges posed by today’s workplace. Session topics include energy savings and management, financing organizational sustainability, telecommuting and flexible work programs, social media use in business, the federal government’s approach to sustainability, a guide to effective outsourcing, ways to maximize space utilization, and much more. Representatives from Booz Allen Hamilton, Brigham Young University, Fluor, the Georgia Institute of Technology, GSA, HOK, IBM, IKEA and Los Angeles County, among others, will present. World Workplace educational sessions will be held Thursday and Friday, Oct. 27-28.

Long recognized as the world’s premier educational and networking conference for facility managers and those in related fields, World Workplace brings industry leaders from the world’s top business and government organizations together with educators and exhibitors to focus on the future of the work environment. Now in its 32nd year, the conference will feature more than 60 educational sessions and new product demonstrations by manufacturers from across the globe.

“World Workplace has become facility professionals’ go-to event for learning, connecting and advancing their careers through the educational content, exposition displays and networking opportunities offered. It’s IFMA’s annual ‘family reunion,’” said IFMA Board of Directors Chair Kathy Roper, CFM, CFMJ, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow. “Professionals from all built environment specialties will convene at World Workplace, and this year’s event in Phoenix will be even larger — offering targeted educational sessions, social events, and chances to share information and grow personally and professionally.”

Delivering the conference’s opening keynote address will be Bjørn Lomborg, a noted business and environmental academic and author who currently serves as an adjunct professor at the Copenhagen Business School. Lomborg has been named one of the world’s 100 most influential people by Time magazine, one of the world’s 75 most influential people of the 21st Century by Esquire and one of the 50 people who could save the planet by the UK Guardian. He has recently appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman,” CNN’s “In the Arena,” and in USA Today and The Washington Post.

Lomborg will lecture on his new book and DVD “Cool It – The Skeptical Environmentalist’s Guide to Global Warming,” in which he argues that many of the actions now being considered to stop global warming will cost hundreds of billions of dollars, are based on emotion and may have little impact on the world’s temperature. He instead argues for confronting more immediate concerns such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and a clean water supply, which can be addressed at a fraction of the cost and save millions of lives within our lifetime.

World Workplace will also offer attendees a glimpse into the future of the workplace, as they get the first look at the new products and services debuting in 2012. The conference’s expo floor will feature more than 280 exhibitors — including companies such as AlliedBarton, IBM, KBR, Kimball Office, Lowe’s, Staples, Steelcase, Toshiba and UGL — as well as governmental agencies including the U.S. State Department and General Services Administration. A number of local Phoenix-area exhibitors will also be on hand.

This year’s expo will be open on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 26-27. Members of the public are invited to attend free of charge. The expo will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26, and from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27.

Another annual highlight of the World Workplace expo will be the newly-named Sustainability Central, an exclusive section of the expo floor reserved for companies offering environmentally friendly products and services. More than 80 exhibitors will be featured in Sustainability Central this year, including companies such as ARAMARK, AT&T, CORT, Fluor, Johnson Controls and Mars Drinks.

“Work on the Move – Driving Strategy and Change in Workplaces,” is the collaborative effort of more than 20 leading experts in alternative office strategies. The book examines the forces driving workplace change and its effects on facility professionals, providing tools that will allow them to become more strategic leaders in the ongoing workplace revolution.

“The world of work is changing, and so too is the nature of the office,” said Diane Coles, “Work on the Move” editor. “The function, design and location of the workplace have undergone a major transformation in recent years, and that process is continuing. ‘Work on the Move’ considers not only the role the physical workplace can play in a world of work that’s increasingly global, networked, distributed and virtual, but also how this transformation shapes the facility management profession.”

“Work on the Move” includes forward-looking case studies from around the world and provides practical tools facility professionals can use to take workplace strategies from an idea stage, to implementation, to measuring their success.

The new publication addresses topics including:

• The forces driving workplace change;
• The evolution of the office;
• Workplace strategy – what it is and why it’s important to take the lead;
• Space planning in an uncertain environment;
• Leadership development for the 21st century;
• Change management as a facility management core competency;
• Projected impacts of alternative work on facility management;
• The role of technology in the workplace; and
• Sustainability and the triple bottom line.

“Work on the Move” will be officially unveiled at a press event on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 1 p.m. in the World Workplace 2011 Conference & Expo press room at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Ariz. Members of the media in attendance will receive a free copy of the book. “Work on the Move” may also be purchased at the World Workplace bookstore and online, where it will soon be available at www.ifmafoundation.org and www.amazon.com.

To learn more about World Workplace 2011, or to register, visit www.worldworkplace.org. Members of the media may register at no cost by emailing communications@ifma.org.

Administered by Johnson Controls in partnership with IFMA, the Urban Land Institute and 30 strategic partners around the world, the fifth annual EEI survey polled global executives and building owners responsible for energy management and investment decisions in commercial and public-sector buildings. The survey tracked their priorities, practices, investment plans and financial evaluation criteria to understand what projects they are implementing, and the solution drivers and barriers they face. In 2011, the survey reached a record number of nearly 4,000 respondents representing 24 industry sectors and 13 countries on six continents.

The press conference will detail results from the 632 IFMA members who took the survey. Clay Nesler, vice president of global energy and sustainability at Johnson Controls, and Tony Keane, CAE, president and CEO of IFMA, will analyze the survey findings.

World Workplace is a global, multi disciplined discussion on workplace trends, challenges and best practices that will highlight the new products and services impacting the workplace throughout 2012 and beyond. To learn more about the conference or to register, visit www.worldworkplace.org. Members of the media may register at no cost by emailing communications@ifma.org.

About Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in over 150 countries. Our 154,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2011, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #1 company in its annual "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. For additional information, please visit www.johnsoncontrols.com.

An estimated 8.2 million people in 61 out of the country's 77 provinces are said to have been affected. In addition to destroying homes and businesses, sweeping away cars and trucks, and washing away roads and bridges, the disaster has destroyed many of the nation's crops, driven up food prices and halted production at many of Thailand's manufacturing facilities.

IFMA wishes to extend our heartfelt sympathies to our members in Thailand and their loved ones for the loss of life, injuries and property damage. Without question, the will and determination of the Thai people is strong, and as they rise to meet the daunting challenge of recovering from this disaster and returning to normalcy, the entire IFMA family will have them in our thoughts and prayers. 

The CAFM KC is pleased to present a prescient webinar exploring the implications of Building Information Modeling to facilities management. Providing guidance for the 90-minute session is Dana Smith, FAIA and Birgitta Foster, both from the executive leadership of buildingSMART alliance. Long entrenched in the development of BIM, they will share their insights to illustrate how architects, as designers, should design with a focus on how the facility is going to be maintained during its 100+ year life cycle.

Their contention is that many facilities built today, even with BIM (and maybe even more so due to the complexity of BIM), are very difficult, if not impossible to maintain. As a result, a significant opportunity exists for architects to move from a project-centric mindset to one where they become their customers “go to” person for the life of the facility, helping facilities management professionals with everything from renovations to asset management to routine maintenance with their building information model applications.

Learning Objectives:

• Improve understanding of BIM and why it is important to both the architecture and facility management professions.
• Provide insight and understanding of potential expansion of the architect's scope, roles and opportunities to the client as it pertains to maintaining the life of their facilities.
• Discuss benefits of BIM to the facilities management profession and how BIM will fundamentally reshape their profession from leveraged knowledge of integrated technology to work flow processes.
• Give participants, both architects and facility management professionals, common understanding necessary to create a meaningful dialogue from project inception through the full life cycle management of the facilities.

Entitled “Exploring Sustainable Facility Rating Systems,” the presentation will feature insight from representatives of the Building Owners and Managers Association International, the Green Building Initiative, the Society of Environmentally Responsible Facilities and the U.S. Green Building Council.

The event will be held Wednesday, Oct. 26, from 2-3 p.m. in the World Workplace 2011 expo hall press room in the Phoenix Convention Center. It will be freely open to the public and moderated by IFMA Director of Sustainability Marina Badoian-Kriticos.

“This discussion gives us the chance to not only increase awareness about sustainability in the built environment, but also to explore how each of these different rating systems can help organizations achieve their sustainability objectives,” said Badoian-Kriticos. “IFMA’s goal is to empower facility professionals to lead the planning and implementation of sustainable practices in their own workplace communities, and fostering a conversation about these rating systems presents a great opportunity to do that.”

BOMA International includes more than 100 associations and affiliates with more than 17,000 members who own or manage more than 9 billion square feet of commercial properties throughout the world. The association recognizes the industry’s best practices in building management and operations by awarding individual buildings the BOMA 360 designation. Speaking on behalf of the organization will be BOMA President and COO Henry Chamberlain, APR, FASAE, CAE.

GBI is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient, healthier and environmentally sustainable building practices by promoting practical residential and commercial green building approaches. GBI offers the Green Globes certification, a green building guidance and assessment program offering an effective, affordable way to advance the overall environmental performance and sustainability of commercial buildings. Representing GBI will be Sharene Rekow, MIM, MSEd, CAE, vice president of marketing/sales.

SERF is a coalition of property owners, businesses and professionals certifying and promoting environmentally responsible homes and buildings. SERF makes environmental certification affordable and accessible, recognizing a broad range of building types and sizes with its SERF Certified Facilities designation. Joseph Maguire, MS, SFP, president of SERF, will speak on behalf of the organization.

USGBC is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our country through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. It is known for LEED, its internationally recognized green building certification system that provides building owners and operators with a framework for implementing measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. Speaking on behalf of the USGBC will be Allan Skodowski, LEED AP, member of the USGBC board of directors.

More information about the “Exploring Sustainable Facility Rating Systems” event is available online. To learn more about World Workplace 2011, or to register, visit www.worldworkplace.org. Members of the media may register at no cost by emailing communications@ifma.org.

With the successful completion of the revised FMP credential and the creation of the SFP specialty credential, the IFMA education department is now preparing for the next cycle of content development. This next phase will focus on developing a summary level body of knowledge for the additional six competency areas which will in turn be used in a variety of ways.

Subject matter experts will play an important part in this process, sharing their facility management knowledge and expertise by working with instructional design professionals to ensure content quality.

Specific areas of expertise needed in the upcoming project noted earlier include:

• Emergency Preparedness & Business Continuity
• Communication
• Human Factors
• Quality
• Real Estate & Property Management
• Technology

If you would be interested in volunteering to serve as a subject matter expert for this project or any future project IFMA may be developing, please email Brenda Varner at Brenda.varner@ifma.org for more information.

The IFMA Foundation works for the public good to promote priority research and educational opportunities for the advancement of the facility management profession. The foundation has been awarding facility management scholarships to deserving students for more than two decades to ensure the quality of the built environment in a changing world.

Fifty-four graduate and undergraduate students representing 23 schools applied for the scholarships, which are awarded based on merit. The scholarships range from US$1,500 to US$5,000 per student, and the winners also receive a free trip to World Workplace.

This year’s winners represent countries including Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, and hail from schools including Brigham Young, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Harvard, Texas A&M and the University of Calgary.

“These scholarships demonstrate that practicing facility professionals care about the future leaders of their profession, and I am honored to be selected as a 2011 IFMA Foundation scholarship recipient,” said Angela Lewis, P.E., LEED AP, doctoral student in the University of Reading’s School of Construction Management and Engineering. “IFMA Foundation scholarship donors are investing in the development of tomorrow’s researchers, educators and facility professionals. I thank them for their contributions.”

The scholarships will be presented Thursday, Oct. 27, at 5:30 p.m. at the at the Sheraton Hotel in Phoenix, as part of the IFMA Foundation Education Reception & Scholarship Presentation, made possible by ARAMARK. Scholarships are being provided by several IFMA chapters and councils, as well as by companies including Davies Office Refurbishing and Sodexo. The reception is open to anyone who would like to attend.

The event will also mark the presentation of the second annual IFMA Foundation International Student of the Year award, which will be presented to Sigrid van der Pluijm, who maintains a 4.0 grade point average in the facility management program at NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands.

Since the IFMA Foundation began awarding scholarships to students in 1991, it has provided a total of 346 scholarships worth US$954,750. For more information about the IFMA Foundation’s education, research and scholarship initiatives, or to make a donation, visit www.ifmafoundation.org.

To learn more about World Workplace 2011, or to register, visit www.worldworkplace.org. Members of the media may register at no cost by emailing communications@ifma.org.

The World Workplace mobile app allows you to access exhibitor information, an interactive exhibitor floor map, the entire conference program, and attendee and local area information. Also, you can create your own schedule and stay connected with other attendees through a live Twitter feed.

Download the app today!

This year’s sessions will cover topics including carbon footprint reduction, corporate real estate acquisition, emergency preparedness and business continuity planning, energy savings, sustainability, telecommuting and flexible work programs, and workplace productivity. Representatives from CB Richard Ellis, Cornell University, IBM, the Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. General Services Administration and others will present.

World Workplace 2011 educational sessions will be held Thursday, Oct. 27, and Friday, Oct. 28, in the Phoenix Convention Center. Sessions will follow 11 topic areas reflecting the facility management competencies defined by IFMA’s most recent global job task analysis, including Finance and Business, Real Estate and Property Management, Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability, Leadership and Strategy, and Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity. Conference attendees can earn continuing education units for each session they attend.

The recent economic downturn, coupled with environmental concerns, has left many companies implementing or enhancing sustainability programs or pursuing other energy savings initiatives. World Workplace 2011 will feature educational sessions covering a broad range of sustainability topics, including: comparing sustainable building rating systems; strategies and tactics for achieving sustainability goals; sustainability on a budget; the U.S. General Services Administration’s approach to sustainability; lighting and human health; and sustainable water management.

Real estate issues have also been on the national conscience as many countries deal with an ongoing housing slump and a decline in real estate values. Facility professionals must not only be diligent in making commercial real estate sales and acquisitions, but should also consider how other workplace design, energy management and sustainability strategies can help them get the best results for their organizations.

World Workplace 2011 educational sessions will address real estate and property management issues including how to: bridge the landlord/tenant divide; use workplace design to strengthen business strategies; go green in a leased office space; and make corporate real estate decisions.

“When acquiring corporate real estate for their organizations, it is facility professionals’ responsibility to avoid real estate pitfalls, know the questions to ask, and understand the issues to consider before and after any leasing or purchasing is done,” said Edmond P. Rondeau, AIA, CFM, IFMA Fellow, real estate general manager at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “My World Workplace presentation will provide an overview of the important real estate and related business information facility professionals need to make responsible recommendations for dealing with the long term financial, business and legal obligations inherent in all corporate real estate acquisitions.”

The Indonesian tsunami of 2004, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the U.S., the earthquake in Haiti, and more recent natural disasters along the U.S. East Coast this year have left many around the world more cognizant of the threat disasters and other emergency situations present. Emergencies can be either man-made or natural, and are defined as any event negatively impacting human safety, property assets or the production capability of an organization, community or society.

World Workplace 2011 will feature educational sessions addressing emergency preparedness, business continuity and crisis management. Attendees will learn how to: prevent or reduce their organization’s level of internal and external risk; direct and coordinate emergency response and recovery operations; apply disaster management principles to business continuity planning and risk management; improve crisis communication and decision making skills; and develop a disaster preparation, response and recovery plan.

Additional World Workplace 2011 educational sessions will cover a variety of topics, including communicating with senior leadership, maximizing space utilization and developing successful requests for proposals. A complete list of educational sessions is available online.

To learn more about World Workplace 2011, or to register, visit www.worldworkplace.org. Members of the media may register at no cost by emailing communications@ifma.org.

Members of the IFMA family will remember his many contributions to the association. Claar joined IFMA as a member in 1987 and was affiliated with the Central Pennsylvania Chapter, where he went on to serve as chapter president and vice president. By 1993, Claar was on IFMA's international board of directors, where he played an integral role in introducing the association's Accredited Degree Program standards, which recognize quality facility management programs at colleges and universities around the world.

Claar joined the IFMA staff as director of research in 1995, where he helped increase IFMA's presence and standing in the built environment professional community through numerous research initiatives. In 2000, he began serving as IFMA's vice president of professional development, a role in which he helped grow the Certified Facility Manager credential globally and establish it as the premier designation for facility professionals.

Claar joined the IFMA Foundation board of trustees in 2004 and over the next four years served as secretary/treasurer and vice chair. Under his leadership on the IFMA Foundation board, the Foundation took over the responsibilities of recognizing and accrediting facility management Accredited Degree Program schools. 

Claar had a lifelong passion for education and mentorship, and most recently, he served the IFMA Foundation as director of academic affairs. He enjoyed traveling the world, meeting with educators and students, and ensuring the future of the profession by building an awareness of facility management and the Accredited Degree Program. In his time as director of academic affairs, he greatly expanded the number of internationally accredited schools. Today, colleges and universities in Australia, Austria, Canada, China, the Netherlands, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States are accredited, in large part due to Claar's outreach efforts.

Beyond IFMA, Claar was a man of diverse interests. Being a Pennsylvania State University alumnus, he was a fanatical Penn State sports fan, and was at one point awarded a coveted "Nittany Lion" statue from the athletic department for his volunteer efforts.

He was also an avid model railroad engineer who built detailed working railroad displays in his basement and backyard. Claar's father had been a police officer who worked for the Pennsylvania railroad, and Claar grew up around the tracks. He loved riding trains and was an encyclopedia on trains and railroads.

Claar was also a World War II history buff, stemming from his interest in his uncle, who was shot down in a B-17 Flying Fortress in the European Theatre of WWII. Claar enjoyed reading extensively of historical accounts of the war.

Many people, however, will remember Claar most for his passion for education, mentorship and outreach. He served as a professor at Penn State for nearly two decades, where he was a mentor to students studying architecture, engineering and facility management. He was a tireless advocate for FM education, degree programs and scholarships for deserving students.

A memorial service for Claar will be held Oct. 22, 2011, at Solomon's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chambersburg, Penn. The family is requesting that anyone interested in making donations send them to the IFMA Foundation's Accredited Degree Program, "in honor of Charlie Claar."

Claar's contributions to IFMA will be missed, and association members and staff remember him fondly and mourn his passing.  One always knew when Charlie was around — his presence was preceded by a hearty laugh, followed by a big smile and a firm handshake.

The IAP is an advisory committee formed under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The IAP provides OBO with a unique opportunity to ensure that the best possible methods to provide more secure and more functional facilities for the conduct of U.S. diplomacy and the promotion of I.S. interests worldwide are available.

Whittakeris president of FEA with more than 24 years of experience in the facilities and built environment industry and currently serves on the IFMA board of directors. Whittaker serves on the National Research Council Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment board of directors and the Association of Higher Education Facility Officers Board for Educational Facilities Professional Certification.  He is a fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and teaches facility management courses at George Mason University.

• Funding for the Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010 supported by IFMA researching showing a four-to-one payback on training dollars;
• Support for the Civilian Property Realignment Act introduced in Congress; and
• Funding for the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey as an important measurement tool for facility professionals.

Visit the IFMA Flickr site to see photos from this year's event. Thank you again and we look forward to seeing you next year!

Each year the immediate past chair of the IFMA Board of Directors is charged with the responsibility of chairing the IFMA Board of Directors Officer Nomination Committee. This committee is responsible for identifying potential candidates to serve as the association’s elected officers (chair, first vice chair and second vice chair). Although the slate of officers traditionally includes the first vice chair being elected as chair, and the second vice chair as first vice chair (with the chair moving into the immediate past chair position), it is not automatic.

The nominating committee is responsible for assessing the individual’s ability, willingness and availability in continuing to serve as officers, and that they are able to take on the duties of these positions. Additionally, if for instance of impropriety and/or lack of performance, the nominating committee can recommend to the chair and the board alternate candidates. Although that hasn’t happened under the current bylaws in recent years, it remains the duty of the nominating committee to verify the process.

With this process the main function of the nominating committee is to identify, interview and recommend — as part of the slate of officers — an individual to serve as the second vice chair. The second vice chair, in addition to the responsibilities of being an officer of the association, is appointed as chair of the finance committee, is board liaison to the IFMA Foundation, and serves as a member of the executive committee. To take advantage of their familiarity with current association issues and board discussions, this individual is generally selected from the serving directors. Rarely is an individual selected from outside the current board.

Separate and distinct from the officer nominations — which must be ratified by a vote of the membership —  the selection of potential candidates to serve on the board of directors are identified, vetted and recommended to the chair, who then appoints these individuals. To simplify and coordinate the process of identifying potential candidates to serve on the association’s board of directors, the chair has appointed the nomination committee to act as administrators to the director search and evaluation process. Per bylaw, the chair, upon receipt of search and evaluation recommendations, has the privilege and responsibility of appointing the necessary number of individuals as directors needed. These appointees are to serve one (1) 2-year term.   The incoming chair also has the discretion and option of renewing the appointment of certain directors, at the completion of their 2-year term, to an additional one (1) 1-year term. This is generally done to allow an individual to meet some identified goal(s) of the chair and/or executive committee.

If you are interested, or know of someone who you believe is qualified in serving on the IFMA Board of Directors as a director, with a minimum 2-year term of office, please submit a IFMA Prospective Director Candidate Interest Survey 2012-2014 form to Chief Operating Officer Mike Moss (Mike.Moss@ifma.org), or to any IFMA board member.

• Learn to explain the importance of facility management.
• Develop an awareness of the global facility management profession and identify a variety of FM roles and responsibilities.
• Understand how potential FM challenges may be faced at a variety of different organizations.
• Identify the 11 major competency areas that comprise the field, and understand how FMs encounter these areas as they carry out their duties.
• Learn about the additional education and training available to help new FMs further their careers.

Outline of Course

• Introduction
• The Facility Management Profession
• Overview of Facility Management Roles
• Facility Managers in Action
• IFMA Professional Development Opportunities
• Course and Instructor Evaluations

Students will benefit from a hands-on learning experience and valuable exposure to the 11 major FM competency areas as identified by IFMA. The course will help attendees grow in the facility management profession, advance their career and better communicate with members of their FM department or team.

Special pricing is available for IFMA chapter/council members, colleges/universities, corporate groups and GTA.

Register Online | Register by Mail/Fax

Contact education@ifma.org for more information.

See Also: New Course: Facility Management, A Practical Introduction

See Also: IFMA Celebrates 20,000 Member Milestone

This COP provides facility managers in the data center industry with a network of like-minded FMs and opportunities to benefit from continuing education courses. Membership in the new community is open to any professional with an interest or background in data center facilities.

For more information, contact Vanessa Koller at vanessa.koller@ifma.org or Jeff Tafel at jeff.tafel@ifma.org. 

Conducted Sept. 6-9, the survey features more than 400 facility managers’ responses to questions about their organizations’ current level of emergency preparedness. The results offer a snapshot of where disaster preparedness stands nearly 10 years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Since 2001, survey respondents report that their organizations have taken the following measures: more formalized emergency preparedness planning (84 percent), enhanced communications with staff (81 percent), enhanced security measures (70 percent), and increased simulation drills to test their plans (52 percent). Others report increasing the number of personnel whose primary responsibility is business continuity planning, as well as planning more for natural disasters — such as hurricanes and earthquakes — in addition to man-made security threats.

“People are now more aware that both natural and man-made disasters happen frequently,” said a survey respondent, “and that emergency preparations are not ‘busy work’ or being done in vain.”

Some surveyed cite recent natural disasters as an opportunity to test the emergency preparedness plans they currently have in place.

“With Hurricane Irene going through our site, we had very little preparation to do because we have an emergency preparedness plan in place and just had to implement it,” said one facility manager. “It worked very well.”

The major obstacles respondents report in implementing emergency and disaster recovery plans are other priorities taking precedence (61 percent), lack of personnel (41 percent) and lack of funding (40 percent). Others note a sense of “complacency of end users, staff and guests,” a “lack of a sense of urgency” and difficulty in getting everyone to “think emergency.”

“It is still difficult to engage the average employee on matters of preparedness and security under ‘normal’ operating conditions,” said a survey participant. “The further away we get from an emergency situation, the more resistance there is to preparation, drills and recruitment of volunteers for disaster preparation.”

In spite of these obstacles, those surveyed largely report making progress in emergency preparedness and business continuity planning since 2001, while also noting there is more work to be done.

“Although we are better prepared for emergencies than ten years ago, there is still plenty of room for improvement,” said one survey respondent.

One response summarizes what many of those surveyed highlight as emergency preparedness best practices: “Find the best information available; get the support of top management; help your people implement the plan; keep on practicing the plan; and make adjustments as needed to keep it effective.”

For the full results of IFMA’s emergency preparedness survey, email communications@ifma.org.

New to FMJ Online is FMJ Extended. This exclusive online section is focusing on expanded coverage of FM from a global perspective. Our first article contributors are facility professionals in Brazil and Hungary.

For the first time in FMJ history, we have an interactive cover! After you scan the QR code, you'll be linked to our Modern Workplace photo gallery. We have set up an image collection of The Modern Workplace and we encourage all FMJ readers to upload a photo of their Modern Workplace. You can go to the image gallery directly at http://thefmj.tumblr.com/.

In the next issue of the FMJ, the focus will be operations and maintenance/planning and project management. Stay tuned!

IFMA counts among its membership facility managers, architects, engineers, interior designers, property managers and real estate professionals. Within their organizations, IFMA members are senior decision makers consulted by executive management for strategies to ensure functionality of the built environment through the integration of people, place, processes and technology. IFMA members must be willing to explore new possibilities, form plans for growth and restructure their businesses to comply with the demands of an ever-changing work environment.

"Facility management is maturing, and 20,500 members is a sure sign of progress," said Kathy Roper, CFM, MCR, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow, chair of the IFMA board of directors and associate professor in the Georgia Institute of Technology's Building Construction Program. "In less than 35 years, IFMA has grown to become a truly international organization empowering facility professionals worldwide. We are excited to reach this milestone, but must continue pushing for recognition of facility management and the value that facility professionals bring to their organizations. I am proud to be part of such a significant association that continues to expand its membership and the services it provides."

Nearly 850 professionals joined IFMA over the past two months, helping the association cross the 20,500 member threshold. These new members come from countries as diverse as Argentina and the United Arab Emirates, and everywhere in between. They represent organizations including CB Richard Ellis, Deutsche Bank, Jones Lang LaSalle, Lockheed Martin, the Minnesota Vikings, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Rolls Royce, the Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. Department of Energy and more. They hold titles ranging from account executive to CEO, owner and president.

IFMA's new members include educators, service providers, students and retirees. Nearly one third are in their 40s and nearly one quarter in their 30s. Nearly 40 percent working for an organization with more than 1,000 employees. Thirty percent of these new IFMA members have been in the profession from 10-20 years, illustrating how even experienced facility professionals turn to the association for continuing education and career resources.

IFMA helps its members face the challenges of the 21st century workplace by providing best-in-class education, research and professional certifications. Facility managers can build their career on a solid foundation with the association's Facility Management Professional designation, establish sustainability knowledge with the Sustainability Facility Professional^™ credential, or earn recognition for their expertise in the field with IFMA's flagship Certified Facility Manager^® credential.

IFMA was formed in 1980 by George Graves, IFMA Fellow, of Texas Eastern Transmission Corp., Charles Hitch of Manufacturer's Bank and David Armstrong, IFMA Fellow, of Michigan State University. At the association's first annual meeting in October of that year, there were 47 participants, 25 of whom were members of the association. Today, IFMA's World Workplace Conference & Expo and its counterpart conferences attract thousands of attendees annually and continue to elevate the importance of the facility management profession worldwide

"Twenty thousand members. I cannot believe it after all these years," said Graves. "It's been great to see all the advances that IFMA has made since the founding back in 1980. I would not be able to keep abreast of all the things going on in this organization now. I'm very happy that we've reached the 20,000 mark and look forward to going beyond it. I would advise the next generation of facility managers to keep on persevering and building the reputation that FMs are go-to professionals and problem solvers."

As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated.

BEX helps you participate in IFMA surveys by:

• Submitting building data in a secure online environment;
• Entering data in multiple sessions, if necessary; and
• Comparing facility benchmark data in real time.

Participants have free and unlimited access to specific survey benchmarking data.

Once enough data is collected to build a report, you can:

• Access survey data to compare hundreds of building reports to your facility's data.
• Filter benchmark data specific to your needs — sort by industry, facility type, geographic region, facility size and more.

Nonparticipants may purchase an annual subscription starting at US$179.

BEX is now open and collecting your facility survey data:

• CURRENT SURVEY: IFMA's Benchmarks 6 - Annual Facility Costs
• COMING NEXT: Operations & Maintenance Benchmarks
• COMING SOON: Space & Project Management Benchmarks

IFMA's SFP^™ credential bridges the gap between the professional and the property, teaching facility managers how to implement sustainability concepts that align with corporate strategy. You'll learn to use knowledge-based and data-driven methods to develop solutions that provide the highest value for your building — regardless of the rating system.

"The SFP^™ is a valuable credential. The knowledge gained from the program can be used to institute sustainable FM practices in all buildings, regardless if a building qualifies for LEED^®." -William Broome, CFM, SFP, LEED Green Associate, Dir. of Facilities, The Westminster Schools, Atlanta, Ga.

The SFP Credential Program^™ provides you with the logical, practical instruction you need to enhance your sustainability skills and earn the SFP credential in one complete program. Order online today!

Space is limited; register today!

In addition to a conference offering more than 60 educational sessions and keynote presentations by environmental academic and author Bjørn Lomborg and motivational speaker and entrepreneur Christopher Gardner, the event will feature an expo with more than 250 exhibitors—including companies such as AlliedBarton, Bissell, IBM, KBR, Kraft Foods, Lowe's, Staples, Steelcase and Toshiba—as well as governmental agencies including the U.S. State Department and General Services Administration.

World Workplace exhibiting companies represent industries and business sectors including alternative energy, architecture, building maintenance, disaster recovery, education, food services, furniture, health care, real estate, security, technology and more. The World Workplace expo will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26, and from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27. Access to this year's expo is free for all who wish to attend.

"We're looking forward to again participating in the World Workplace expo and talking about how IBM's Smarter Buildings solutions are able to help organizations save in the areas of energy, operations and space," said Dave Bartlett, IBM vice president of Industry Solutions. "Visitors to the expo will get to learn how we're able to give clients greater intelligence and control of their buildings and of the physical world." IBM will present the findings of their recently published sustainability report, "Crossing the Sustainability Chasm," at the IBM-sponsored FMJ Social Networking Lounge.

One of the annual highlights of the World Workplace expo is Sustainability Central, an exclusive section of the expo floor reserved for companies offering environmentally friendly products and services. Nearly 70 exhibitors will be on hand in Sustainability Central this year, including companies such as the Alliance for Sustainable Built Environments, ARAMARK, AT&T, CORT, Fluor, Johnson Controls and Milliken.

This year, Sustainability Central will feature a sustainability booth staffed by representatives from organizations offering sustainable building rating systems. Attendees can interact with these experts and learn about the various rating systems and methods of certifying and scoring a building's environmental impact. Representatives from the Building Owners and Managers Association International, Green Globes, IFMA, the Society of Environmentally Responsible Facilities and the U.S. Green Building Council will be on hand.

Phoenix-based exhibitors will also be front and center this year, as the World Workplace 2011 expo will highlight more than a dozen companies that call the conference's host city home.

"We have been strong supporters of World Workplace for many years and enjoy the opportunities to network with facility professionals that the conference provides. It's very exciting to have this year's event in our headquarter city of Phoenix," said Commercial Service Solutions Executive Vice President Mary Thul. "Commercial Service Solutions provides floor and fiber care programs, and World Workplace allows us to interact with industry professionals to benchmark, obtain their input and confirm that our services are providing quality solutions for facility managers."

Attendees interested in learning more about the latest developments within the association can visit the IFMA Central Booth. IFMA representatives will be available to discuss the association's new Sustainability Facility Professional^™ and enhanced Facility Management Professional credentials, as well as IFMA's flagship Certified Facility Manager^® designation. Attendees can also learn more about how to enter their facility data into the EPA's ENERGY STAR^® Portfolio Manager as part of IFMA's ENERGY STAR Challenge, which aims to help facility professionals reduce their organization's energy use.

Taking place on the expo floor throughout the afternoons of Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 26-27, will be Solutions Arena educational presentations and product demonstrations from companies including ARCHIBUS, Planon, Toshiba and others. Topics will include business analytics for facility and corporate real estate professionals; smarter energy management for a greater return on investment; technology and the workplace of the future; and going green with LED lighting.

To learn more about World Workplace 2011, or to register, visit www.worldworkplace.org. Members of the media may register at no cost by emailing communications@ifma.org.

The workshop will be held Feb. 8-9, 2012, in San Antonio, Texas. This yearly event brings together members of the military services, federal public agencies and private companies who are concerned with and responsible for the built environment.

This year’s theme is “Managing Our Assets Sustainably.” Topics include:

• Energy management;
• Operations and maintenance;
• Asset management; and
• An executive forum discussion.

Visit www.same.org/fmworkshop for more information. Registration information will be coming soon.

World Workplace is the #1 conference for your profession will be here before you know it! Join us in sunny Phoenix, Ariz., this October to explore this year's World Workplace theme: Smarter facilities. Smarter facility management.

IFMA's World Workplace 2011 will feature a new educational program based on the topic areas that reflect the most important facility management competencies (as defined by IFMA's most recent global job task analysis), including:

• Operations and Maintenance
• Real Estate and Property Management
• Human Factors
• Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability
• Project Management
• Leadership and Strategy
• Finance and Business
• Quality
• Communication
• Technology
• Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity

Make sure you're as high-performance as your facility. THE facility conference and expo promises more than a return on investment—it guarantees a return on objectives.

Are you already registered for IFMA's World Workplace? RSVP on our Facebook event page and begin networking with your peers today!

Sponsored by UGL Services, this year's tournament will be held at The Whirlwind Golf Club in Phoenix. 242 acres of exquisite desert landscape — along with the property's signature wild horses and other desert wildlife — will make this a truly memorable day on links!

The tournament will be played on the Devil's Claw Course (72.6 USGA rating) on Oct. 25—a four-person scramble with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. Registration includes: green fee, cart, range balls, continental breakfast, a lunch buffet and prizes.
Early registration (by Aug. 25): US$125; Late registration: US$150. Create your own foursome or we will pair you up! Learn more and register today.

Please note: this event is not included with any World Workplace attendee registration and should be selected under the "Other Events & Additional Tickets" section of the World Workplace registration form.

We have prepared a short questionnaire and would like to hear from those who have participated in a DR program or have considered participating in such a program. To what degree do DR programs interrupt your operations?  Does it make economical sense to participate in such a program? 

In exchange for your feedback, all participants who register will be entered into a drawing to win one of three Apple iPads!  We invite you, or an appropriate colleague, to participate in the survey.

The survey could take anywhere from five to 15 minutes to complete, depending upon how you answer the questions. Your comments will be confidential and aggregated with all other responses. Survey findings will be posted to IFMA's website. The drawing winners will be contacted by telephone in early September.

The survey consists of several questions about your current FM activities. You should be able to answer the questions in five minutes or less. The three winners will be contacted in September.

As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated.

Anderson had a long and successful career at Interface — the world’s largest manufacturer of modular commercial and residential carpet — where he drastically reduced the company’s greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption, while also minimizing costs and increasing sales and earnings.

He also made valuable contributions to IFMA, serving as a speaker at the association’s 1999 leadership conference and presiding over Interface while the company contributed to IFMA’s 2005 forecasting research.  

Anderson was an author and environmental thought leader who served as co-chair of President William Clinton’s President’s Council on Sustainable Development and, later, as co-chair of President Barack Obama’s Presidential Climate Action Plan. Time magazine named him one of its “Heroes of the Environment” in 2007.

Anderson’s contributions to sustainability in the built environment will be felt for decades to come. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by IFMA and the facility management profession for his ongoing enthusiasm for lifelong learning, commitment to excellence, innovation, hard work and integrity.

Christopher P. Hodges, MS, P.E., RRC, CFM, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow, a founding principal of Facility Engineering Associates, will lead the course at George Mason University, while Tad Radzinski, P.E., LEED AP, co-founder and president of Sustainable Solutions Corporation, will be the instructor at Villanova University. Both programs begin in mid-September.

IFMA's SFP™ credential is unlike any other credential program. Sustainability is broader and more significant than complying with a building rating system; it is a commitment to improving the facility's impact on the environment and people — not just at one point in time, but continually. The SFP™ is a single source offering all the tools you need to enhance your sustainability knowledge and begin implementing sustainable practices immediately in your facilities.

Learn more information and sign up for one of the universities' programs »

IFMA is seeking speakers with cutting-edge session material to present at the IFMA Facility Fusion 2012 Conference & Expo. The third annual Facility Fusion event will be held April 11-13 in Chicago, Ill., at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers.

The premise of the Facility Fusion experience is to fuse a high-level educational program and tradeshow with IFMA leadership training and industry-specific sessions, meeting a range of FM-related needs. Facility Fusion offers leading FM education that has NOT been duplicated in the marketplace; thus, all abstract submittals must be new (never presented prior to Facility Fusion 2012).

Extended deadline: Midnight CST Aug. 8, 2011.

Learn more or submit your abstract today.

During the webcast, the presenters will present information they have learned through implementing these sorts of programs across the country. They will discuss different kinds of feedback programs, the way different sorts of programs impact consumer energy use and recommendations of how to best develop feedback programs.

This presentation will take place July 28, from 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Register to attend the July 28 Webcast

This webcast is free of charge, but you must sign up in advance to obtain a URL for the presentation and call-in phone number. You can register online, find information about the presenters and read background materials and reports on the Technical Assistance Webcasts section of the DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory website.

This year’s “iBelieve” gala will be held at an institution with an international reputation for excellence — the Phoenix Art Museum. The museum houses more than 18,000 works, featuring art by Rembrandt, Norman Rockwell, Annie Leibowitz and Monet.

View world-class visual arts as you network, participate in art activities and entertainment, and enjoy excellent food and an open beer and wine bar. Contribute to the good works of the foundation by placing your bids at the live and silent auctions.

Join us on Oct. 25 as we honor those who have generously supported the foundation throughout the past year!

Early registration (by Aug. 25): US$85; late registration: US$95

World Workplace registration does not include the gala; be sure to add this event to your registration form under “Additional Tickets.”

As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated.

In the next issue of the FMJ, we bring the focus to the modern workplace, highlighting topics such as technology, alternative workspaces, social networking and more. Stay tuned!

IFMA is asking chapters to send representatives and members to Washington, D.C., on Sept. 20-21. Registration is free; however, attendees are responsible for their own hotel and travel costs and expenses.

This annual meeting has become an important forum for agency, congressional and industry leaders to exchange ideas and best practices regarding the future of our nation’s built environment and the integrated demands on our infrastructure.

Following last year’s Advocacy Day, those who participated were notified that the Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010 had passed through the House and Senate and was going to be signed into law. IFMA chapter leaders played an important role in educating Congress and their staff about the bill’s importance.

IFMA also is working to advance the federal government's Better Buildings Initiative. Goals include:

• Achieve a 20 percent improvement in the energy efficiency of commercial buildings by 2020;
• Reduce companies’ and business owners’ energy bills by about US$40 billion per year; and
• Save energy by reforming outdated incentives and challenging the private sector to act.

You don't need to have any prior advocacy experience in order to participate. All you need is a passion for FM and a willingness to roll up your sleeves and ask, “What can I do to help the profession?” IFMA will provide an overview of the association’s government relations program on the afternoon of Sept. 20, covering what to expect in a meeting with a member of Congress and how to articulate IFMA’s positions on certain issues.

Explore smart, sustainable facility management at the Facility Conference & Expo—IFMA's World Workplace. Equip yourself with demonstrated best practices and field-tested strategies for smart management of smart buildings. Join us in Phoenix, Ariz., this October.

Begin planning your World Workplace experience and register today!

Long recognized as the world’s premier educational and networking conference for facility managers and those in related fields, World Workplace brings industry leaders from the world’s top business and government organizations together with educators and exhibitors to focus on the future of the work environment. Now in its 32nd year, the conference will feature more than 60 educational sessions and new product demonstrations by manufacturers from across the globe.

“World Workplace has become facility professionals’ go-to event for learning, connecting and advancing their careers through the educational content, exposition displays and networking opportunities offered. It’s IFMA’s annual ‘family reunion,’” said IFMA Board of Directors Chair Kathy Roper, CFM, CFMJ, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow. “Professionals from all built environment specialties will convene at World Workplace, and this year’s event in Phoenix will be even larger — offering targeted educational sessions, social events, and chances to share information and grow personally and professionally.”

Delivering the conference’s opening keynote address on Wednesday, Oct. 26, will be Bjørn Lomborg, a noted business and environmental academic and author who currently serves as an adjunct professor at the Copenhagen Business School. Lomborg has been named one of the world’s 100 most influential people by Time magazine, one of the world’s 75 most influential people of the 21st Century by Esquire and one of the 50 people who could save the planet by the UK Guardian. He has recently appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman,” CNN’s “In the Arena,” and in USA Today and The Washington Post.

Lomborg will lecture on his new book and DVD “Cool It – The Skeptical Environmentalist’s Guide to Global Warming,” in which he argues that many of the actions now being considered to stop global warming will cost hundreds of billions of dollars, are based on emotion and may have little impact on the world’s temperature. He instead argues for confronting more immediate concerns such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and a clean water supply, which can be addressed at a fraction of the cost and save millions of lives within our lifetime.

Noted motivational speaker, entrepreneur and philanthropist Christopher Gardner will deliver the conference’s closing keynote presentation on Friday, Oct. 28, with his speech “Start Where You Are,” an uplifting message in which attendees learn how to transform themselves through adversity and make positive changes in their lives. Gardner’s own life story was published in his autobiography “The Pursuit of Happyness,” which became a motion picture starring Will Smith in 2006.

World Workplace will also offer attendees a glimpse into the future of the workplace, as they get the first look at the new products and services debuting in 2012. The conference’s expo floor will feature more than 280 exhibitors — including companies such as AlliedBarton, IBM, KBR, Kimball Office, Lowe’s, Staples, Steelcase, Toshiba and UGL — as well as governmental agencies including the U.S. State Department and General Services Administration. A number of local Phoenix-area exhibitors will also be on hand.

This year’s expo will be open on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 26-27. Members of the public are invited to attend free of charge.

Another annual highlight of the World Workplace expo will be the newly-named Sustainability Central, an exclusive section of the expo floor reserved for companies offering environmentally friendly products and services. More than 80 exhibitors will be featured in Sustainability Central this year, including companies such as ARAMARK, AT&T, CORT, Fluor, Johnson Controls and Mars Drinks.

IFMA has a current requirement to conduct the research necessary to facilitate the development of an integrated set of workplace planning strategies. These strategies must provide our employees with the necessary tools to support our organization and customers. IFMA is proud to introduce the launch of the IFMA HQ Workplace Project website.

Kathy Roper, Chair, IFMA Board of Directors, and Tony Keane, IFMA President and CEO, address the strategic planning process of this relocation effort in an open letter.

Potential vendors and solution providers are invited to view the RFP (Request for Proposal.)

For feedback, comments or questions about this project, please email: HQProject@ifma.org.

If you are pursuing an FM credential — or you simply want to benefit from the most informative and well-researched content available for your profession — IFMA's Fall Symposium will help you meet your unique career goals.

• Operations and Maintenance (.pdf) | Oct. 22-23
• Leadership and Strategy Essentials (.pdf) | Oct. 22-23
• Project Management (.pdf) | Oct. 24-25
• Finance and Business Essentials (.pdf) | Oct. 24-25

SFP™ courses: Oct. 23-28

• Strategy and Alignment for Sustainable Facility Management (.pdf) | Oct. 23-25
• Managing Sustainable Facilities (.pdf) | Oct. 23-25
• Operating Sustainable Facilities (.pdf) | Oct. 26-28

CFM® Exam Review: Oct. 24-25

Get a head start on learning and networking before you attend World Workplace; join us in Phoenix, Ariz., this October!

Register for Fall Symposium via the World Workplace registration form.
Learn more about Fall Symposium courses and IFMA credentials.

Roper has more than 20 years of experience in facility management and corporate real estate. She has worked for Sprint Communications, Financial Service Corporation, the U.S. General Services Administration and the American Cancer Society — providing her with experiences in corporate, government and non-profit business environments. Roper is currently an associate professor in the School of Building Construction at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Rounding out IFMA’s new executive committee are First Vice Chair Marc S. Liciardello, CFM, MBA, CM, vice president of corporate services at ARAMARK, and Second Vice Chair Jon Seller, general manager at Optegy Group.

“It is indeed an honor to work with such diverse and qualified professionals, knowledgeable in a range of facility management expertise,” said Roper. “I look forward to learning from everyone and sharing in the expansion of IFMA’s strategic vision that will carry us forward to more and greater successes. This wide range of viewpoints and experiences is what makes IFMA so valuable, and I know our new board has a strong commitment to expanding the profession and making the decisions needed to bring the third decade of IFMA even more professionalism and respect.”

The new members of IFMA’s 2011-2012 board of directors are: Francisco Abrantes, MBA, facility management director at Jones Lang LaSalle; Lesley Groff, CFM, facility manager at The Hershey Company; William M. O’Neill, CFM, associate director of facility management at the University of Minnesota; and James P. Whittaker, P.E.,CFM, EFP, FRICS, president at Facility Engineering Associates.

They join existing board members Isilay Civan, MSc, Ph.D.s, LEED AP, senior consultant at HOK; Michael D. Feldman, CM, deputy executive director at Los Angeles World Airports; and Joachim W. Hohmann, MSc, Ph.D., CFM, managing partner of Consultants Circle and professor at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern.

More information about the 2011-2012 IFMA board of directors is available online.

The agreement calls for a two-year period of collaboration where both parties will:

• Commit to work together to promote good facility management practices, education and research and magnify the importance of facility management as it relates to sustainable laboratories and related high-technology facilities;
• Evaluate their existing educational programs and credentials to identify potential joint offerings;
• Actively participate in each organization’s facility management conferences;
• Offer facility-related knowledge and benchmarking information about sustainable laboratories and related high-technology facilities to each other’s members; and
• Look for opportunities for greater networking and collaboration between the members of each organization.

“IFMA has long recognized the important role sustainability plays in quality facility management practices,” said IFMA President and CEO Tony Keane, CAE. “Our recent facility management forecasting report recognized sustainability as one of the top trends impacting the profession, both today and in the future. With this memorandum of understanding, IFMA will have more opportunities to provide sustainability education and research to facility professionals working in laboratories and similar facilities.”

“I²SL is delighted to have entered into a collaborative agreement with IFMA,” said Philip J. Wirdzek, president and executive director of I²SL. “The agreement provides I²SL a strong partner with whom to pursue a number of common objectives that are key to the energy and environmental sustainability of laboratories and related high-technology facilities. Together, I²SL and IFMA will be able to address a variety of topics, from operations and maintenance training for high-tech facilities to using building information modeling as a facility management tool. I²SL is actively working with IFMA and its Research & Development Council, the National Institute of Building Sciences and others to begin addressing these topics at the upcoming Labs21 2011 Annual Conference.”  

These distinguished volunteer leaders, beyond serving on the IFMA board—with all the countless endeavors, tasks and objectives that duty entails—conducted themselves with the utmost professionalism. Their exemplary service brought honor and recognition to every IFMA member and to the profession wherever they were engaged in the business of the association. The manner in which they offered their guidance and wisdom and generously shared these assets is especially noteworthy. The totality of these efforts not only contributed to our mutual success, but to the support and friendships foundational to the culture we know as IFMA. Those concluding distinguished service on the board are:

Thomas L. Mitchell Jr., CFM, CFMJ
Director, Facilities Management Consulting
Booz Allen Hamilton

William T. Conley, CFM, CFMJ, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow
Facility Management/Sustainability Consultant
CFM@

Howard K. Fisher, CFM, CFMJ
Senior Manager, Facilities Services
SAS

William A. Rodgers, Jr.
President and CEO
GoodCents

Rodney M. Stevens, CFM, AIA, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow
Architect/Facility Information Manager
Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont Business

Their passion for the profession, their dedication to the association, and their concern on behalf of their fellow IFMA members, is a legacy of which we can be proud.

In closing, please join me in extending our gratitude, respect and praise for the roles they embraced as IFMA volunteer global leaders. Their contributions and efforts will always remain in my mind. Their friendship and mentoring will always remain in my heart.

Respectfully,

Francis J. Kuhn, CFM, CFMJ
Past Chair, IFMA Board of Directors

IFMA member William D. Broome, CFM, SFP, The Westminster Schools, was the first to receive the credential in April. He was joined in May by Joseph M. Drew, CFM, SFP, state of Connecticut; Sharon M. Jaye, SFP, The Westminster Schools; John Marhong, SFP, Woodbine Entertainment Group; and Vic Reece, CFM, FMP, CFMJ, SFP, Mecklenburg County.

In total, 10 people now hold the credential.

“The SFP program enhanced my sustainability knowledge and provided a global perspective,” said Broome. “Acquiring the SFP helped me gain new knowledge that I can now transfer to my employees and employer to advance our growing sustainability efforts.”

“As a requirement of my job, the SFP program not only provided the education and tools necessary to meet the challenges of implementing and advancing a sustainability program, it also changed the way I view the world,” said Marhong. “I definitely recommend this program to anyone with interest in the field of sustainability.”

“I believe our move toward sustainability is the most profound initiative undertaken by an international professional association in recent years,” said Drew. “It is encouraging that, as the leaders in facility management, we have chosen to accept responsibility for the effect our actions have on future generations.”

Other professionals receiving the SFP designation include Mark D. Andrews, SFP, Faceo FM UK; Katherine E. Martin, CFM, AIA, SFP, Jacobs; Steven R. Mortensen, FMP, SFP, National Security Technologies; John J. Pisano, CFM, SFP, Dunwoody Village; and Camille A. Williams, SFP, AGA Medical.

A complete list of details about IFMA’s SFP credential is available at: www.ifmacredentials.org/sfp.

Qube chose to partner with ACHIEVEability, a non-profit devoted to the empowerment and education of low income, single parent families living in homeless shelters or substandard conditions. More than 20 volunteers stood side by side with ACHIEVEability team members, readying three separate apartment homes for immediate move in. “We chose ACHIEVEability because of what it stands for,” said Sharon G. Miller, U.S. marketing manager for Qube. 

Qube reached out to regional facility management related associations, including IFMA, Realcomm and CoreNet. In addition to Qube Global Software team members, other Philadelphia companies got involved, including: Budget Maintenance; Century 21; CHOP; Comcast and Comcast Spotlight; Edifice;  Elsevier; Haworth; LM Services; Lor-Mar; Millicare; Pfizer; PNC Bank; Rafferty Painting.

A donation drive was an additional way for companies to celebrate, resulting in a surplus of school supplies and cleaning products donated to ACHIEVEability for distribution.

“Thank you for helping us celebrate 30 years of helping families become self-sufficient by supplying services we would have otherwise needed to outsource,” said Marcus Allen of ACHIEVEability. “There are three families who will be very happy to see their new apartments.”

For more than 30 years, Qube Global Software’s commitment is to exceed expectations with innovative and imaginative real estate solutions. The company has maintained a track record of successful project implementations, delivered on time and to budget.  By providing simplified processes and enriched methods of information control, full access to these details are readily accessible in a data center or hosted in a secured cloud based solution.  The intuitive .net version of its software allows for improved user productivity through its familiar, comprehensive and interactive style.  Nearly 160 technology, account management and client service experts remain focused on perfecting and delivering software that improves the way its clients work.

ACHIEVEability, based in Philadelphia, is an agency that permanently breaks the cycle of poverty for low-income, single-parent and homeless families. ACHIEVEability provides housing and supportive services so parents can pursue higher education and become self-sufficient. Everything it does promotes accountability for the families. This year, ACHIEVEability is celebrating 30 years of helping families achieve self-sufficiency.

Global FM member organizations are holding public events on six different continents to bring attention to the role that facility management plays in building organizational performance. Activities include governmental partnerships, networking events, luncheons, video presentations, social media campaigns and the second annual Global FM Awards for Excellence in Facilities Management.

Texas Governor Rick Perry recently sent a letter to IFMA headquarters greeting those who plan to take part in World FM Day, and recognizing the importance of the facility manager’s role. Read Governor Perry’s letter and start planning your organization’s World FM Day event today!

Connect with like-minded professionals around the world through social media, Google maps and more.

Map your facility.
Tell us where you are and what you’re doing! Show the world what a day-in-the-life of an FM is all about! Whether you’re finalizing business plans, attending a meeting, hosting a World FM Day event or simply returning emails—record it on our Google map.

Tweet your way through World FM Day.
Follow IFMA on Twitter and use the hashtag #worldfmday in your tweets. Engage in a global World FM Day conversation featuring a variety of questions and discussion topics related to facility management.

Share your pics.
A picture says a thousand words. Upload a “Twitpic” to Twitter using the #worldfmday hashtag, post a photo to IFMA’s Facebook page and the World FM Day page, or email your pics to worldfmday@ifma.org to show us how you and your team are celebrating!

Also, be sure to view the World FM Day video by IFMA Chairman Francis Kuhn and the many other ways you can celebrate with IFMA.

Read the full article.

IFMA's World Workplace Conference & Expo is the largest, most longstanding and well-respected annual conference and exposition for facility management and related professions. Each year offers a new experience, addressing challenges and strategies that are universal to every facility type, shape and size.

Full event attendees have an all-access pass to educational sessions, opening and closing keynote speakers, roundtable discussions and other valuable career-building activities. Sessions are organized by topic track—eleven new subject areas that reflect the latest facility management competencies. Tailor a learning program to address your unique management needs and challenges.

Register today »

IFMA extended the completion date to March 31, 2011, to allow individuals extra time to complete their courses; we are now more than 60 days past the March 31 deadline. If you have not taken steps to finish the FMP under the previous model, please contact IFMA's education department to discuss your options immediately.

IFMA will be moving toward the ANSI accreditation process this fall and cannot issue FMP certificates to anyone taking courses through the previous program in the near future. This means you will eventually lose the opportunity to finish under the previous FMP model. Courses taken under the previous model cannot be transferred or rolled over to the new model, so it is critical that you act now.

Please either complete the courses under the previous model or make arrangements with IFMA's education staff to begin the new program. Contact Melissa Reyes at 1-713-974-5630 if you have any questions.

World Workplace Asia will feature educational sessions, a new products and services expo, facility site visits, special guest speakers, networking events and other relevant content that attendees have come to expect from the World Workplace brand.

The conference kicks off with the expo grand opening and keynote addresses from Mark Clift, MBA, COO of Cyberport, and Francis Kuhn, CFM, CFMJ, chair of the IFMA board of directors and vice president of facilities and administration at Western Bridge Corporate Federal Credit Union. Their presentations will be followed by government, town hall and networking events; facility tours; and educational sessions on energy benchmarking, sustainability, aligning facilities with business needs, developing corporate real estate partnerships in Asia, and more. Deric Probst-Wallace, president of the Hong Kong Chapter of IFMA and a director at Jones Lang LaSalle, will deliver the day's closing address.

World Workplace Asia will conclude on Wednesday, June 22. Probst-Wallace and IFMA President and CEO Tony Keane, CAE, will deliver the day's keynote presentations. Day two of the conference will again feature facility tours and the new products and services expo. Educational sessions will focus on topics including leading a global organization, facility cost modeling, FM talent recruitment and retention, and more.

For more information, visit www.worldworkplace.org/asia.

Browse the other IFMA Foundation’s “Sustainability ‘How-to’ Guides.”

The survey of nearly 4,000 building owners and operators around the world was led by Johnson Controls' Institute for Building Efficiency, the International Facility Management Association and the Urban Land Institute.

"We are seeing record levels of energy management and reduction projects around the world, driven mainly by financial reasons, more than environmental concerns," said Dave Myers, vice president and president of Building Efficiency for Johnson Controls. "Regardless of the motivations, buildings account for 42 percent of global energy usage, so the growing trend of making buildings more energy efficient is smart business, helps create local-market jobs, and benefits the environment. We applaud building owners for stepping up efforts to make their facilities more energy efficient and sustainable."

Although the primary motivation for energy efficiency projects continued to be energy cost savings, government incentives and enhanced public image were also important, ranking second and third in the survey. Greenhouse gas reduction, which ranked as the second highest motivator in 2010, ranked fourth in 2011.

Rising energy costs are clearly on building owners' minds. Eight in 10 respondents expect double-digit energy price increases over the next year. As a result, owners have set an average energy reduction target of 12 percent.

But significant obstacles exist to meeting these ambitious goals. Access to funding and financial returns were cited as the top barriers globally. Indeed, barriers to capital access topped the list for respondents in the U.S./Canada (38%) and Europe (30%).

"This year's survey clearly shows that there's growing urgency in making buildings more energy efficient, and large strides have been made with the help of government incentives," Myers said. "However, building owners continue to tell us that access to capital remains the top barrier for improving energy consumption. By making funding more accessible, policymakers have a tremendous opportunity to influence the achievement of their energy and environmental goals."  

Here are further insights into what building owners and operators are saying around the world:

• Seven in 10 – up from six in 10 – indicate that energy management is important to them, with respondents in India (89%) and China (85%) expressing the most interest, followed by U.S./Canada (67%), and Europe (61%).
• Three out of four have set energy or carbon reduction goals.
• Nearly four in 10 have achieved at least one green building certification, twice as many as the prior year. An additional 32 percent (32%) have incorporated green building elements.  
• Building owners planning to pursue green building certifications for existing buildings (39%) slightly outpaced those with plans to certify new construction (35%).
• Lighting and heating, ventilation, air conditioning and controls improvements continued to be the most popular energy efficiency improvements made last year.
• Building owners have greater access to energy data, but few are taking advantage of it. More than eight in 10 measure and record data at least weekly or monthly, but fewer than two in 10 review and analyze that data at least weekly. Those who have implemented smart grid/smart building technology such as advanced energy metering and management systems are nearly 3 times more likely to review and analyze their data frequently.
• Organizations that set a reduction goal, analyze energy data frequently, add internal or external resources, and use external financing were found to implement four times as many improvement measures as those who did none.

Highlights of the survey results for North America show a double-digit increase in U.S./Canada building owners who believe energy management is important (66%) compared to the prior year (52%). Building owners expect lighting and smart building technology to have greater adoption rates over the next ten years than renewable energy technologies in the U.S./Canada. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of U.S./Canada building owners plan to include green building elements in their facility plans in the next 12 months. Efficiency in buildings remains the top global strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions led by the U.S./Canada (52%) and then Europe (28%), China (27%) and India (24%).

"These survey results speak to an increasing number of building owners and operators turning to smart, high-performance building technology to achieve their energy efficiency goals," said Tony Keane, president and CEO of the International Facility Management Association. "Managing and operating buildings at peak efficiency will require facility professionals to strengthen their skill sets to successfully utilize these complex building technologies. As more high-performance buildings come online over the next decade, training and credentialing will play an essential role in helping facility professionals manage these buildings at optimal performance levels."

This year marks the first time survey respondents include members of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), which has an ongoing program of work dedicated to energy-saving urban development practices, including both building and location efficiency.

"This survey identifies building performance and financial innovations that are applicable to both new and existing buildings and all segments of the real estate marketplace," said ULI Chief Executive Officer Patrick L. Phillips. "The real estate industry is demonstrating leadership in the quest to find an appropriate balance between energy use and sustainable communities."

The global and North America survey results will be announced on June 16th during the 22nd annual North America Energy Efficiency Forum in Washington, D.C., co-sponsored by the U.S. Energy Association and Johnson Controls. This year's forum, themed "Energy Efficiency: The Smart Path to Energy Security and Economic Growth."  For more information about the forum, visit www.eeforum.net.

In the latest sustainability minute video, the IFMA Foundation gives an inside look at the latest “Sustainability ‘How-to’ Guide” that explores the topic of green building rating systems and discusses their attributes, utilization on a global basis and benefits to facility management.

There continues to be a strong interest in facility management education as it relates to sustainability and the implementation of energy saving techniques. The IFMA Foundation—with support from IFMA’s sustainability committee—is producing a series of white papers to respond to this need for information.

Browse the IFMA Foundation’s “Sustainability ‘How-to’ Guides.” »

Registered Attendees: Log back in from now through Aug. 15 to attend sessions, visit the expo hall and access your online briefcase.

Not Yet Registered? Sign up today and take advantage of convenient, cost-effective and comprehensive continuing education addressing all areas of facility management, including:

• Sustainability and energy, including IFMA’s popular Sustainability “How-to Guides”
• Technology trends and innovations, including BIM and GIS
• Best practices for real estate and business continuity
• The future of FM, including social media and “the flat world”
• Asset management for O&M
• And much more!

It’s not too late! Register by Aug. 1 to take advantage of virtually effortless facility management education without ever leaving your desk.

Successful nominees must have a willingness and ability to serve as an IFMA advisor and ambassador. Nominees are long-time, accomplished, active IFMA members who have contributed to the profession internationally, locally and through their chapter and/or council(s) with continual involvement and interest.  

IFMA Fellows experience and Association involvement is as varied the Association's membership. Fellows work in almost every industry and their IFMA participation typically includes a number of successful volunteer engagements including serving on an IFMA headquarters task force, authoring FM books and articles, teaching FM programs at the college or university level, conducting research, serving in IFMA chapter and international leadership roles, mentoring young facility practitioners, being recognized as a facility management subject matter expert and furthering the recognition of the profession through outstanding FM work.

The deadline to submit IFMA Fellow nomination forms to IFMA headquarters is June 30, 2011. The 2011 Class of Fellows will be presented at the Awards of Excellence Banquet as a part of IFMA's World Workplace 2011 in Phoenix.

Questions about the IFMA Fellows program and requests for 2011 nomination forms can be directed to:

Jeffrey J. Tafel, CAE
1 East Greenway Plaza, Suite 1100
Houston, Texas 77046-0197
+1-713-623-4362, phone
+1-713-623-6124, fax
jeff.tafel@ifma.org

Unlike any other credential or building certification, the SFP^™ credential helps facility professionals play a key leadership role in creating, managing and operating sustainable facilities by giving them the skills to continually improve their facility's impact on the environment and the community.

Learn to manage sustainable facilities across the FM spectrum.

• Develop practical skills and solutions to provide the highest value for your facility, your organization and your community.
• Challenge the status quo to create a balance between sustainability and the corporate mission.
• Earn recognition and credibility as an informed champion, partner and steward for the built environment

Space is limited, so register today for this exciting opportunity! Register »

SFP Self-Study Kit - Special Offer

Plus, don't forget to take advantage of an exclusive SFP discount offer sent to members via email in early June; Save US$100 when you order the IFMA SFP Credential Program^™ self-study kit by June 30, 2011!

Use discount code SFP0611 when you order online or by phone; call +1-877-866-1367 (USA/Canada) or +1-651-256-2821 (worldwide).

This course will be of great value to those who are new to the profession or simply want to refresh their core FM skills.

The course will help you:

• benefit from a hands-on facility learning experience;
• gain valuable exposure to the 11 major FM competency areas as identified by IFMA;
• broaden your facility knowledge and advance your career; and
• learn to better communicate with members of your FM department or team.

Participate in the pilot course on June 27-28, 2011, in Fairfax, Va.
Special pricing for pilot attendees: Member US$295; Nonmember US$395

Learn more about the course or REGISTER TODAY!

P.S. If you have a colleague or teammate that could benefit from this course, please let them know about this special offer. Establish a common foundation of knowledge within your FM department!

Launched in 2010, Facility Fusion merged the educational, networking and leadership training events IFMA previously held in March, April and May, into a single, comprehensive conference. Combining—or fusing—a high-level educational program and tradeshow with IFMA volunteer leader training and industry-specific sessions, the Facility Fusion conference meets a range of FM-related professional development needs.

Be a presenter at this one-of-a-kind event!

The premise of the Facility Fusion educational experience is to offer leading FM education that has NOT been duplicated in the marketplace; thus, all abstracts submittals must be new (never presented prior to Facility Fusion 2012). Please submit your abstract for review by July 29 to be considered as a presenter.

Learn more or submit your abstract today!

Become an SFP and play a key leadership role in creating, managing and operating sustainable facilities across the facility management spectrum.

“The SFP program enhanced my sustainability knowledge and provided a global perspective. Acquiring the SFP helped me gain new knowledge that I can now transfer to my employees and employer to advance our growing sustainability efforts.”
- William D. Broome, CFM, SFP, director of facilities, The Westminster Schools

The IFMA SFP Credential Program™ consists of electronic or printed reading materials, interactive online study tools and SFP final assessments. Learn more about the training components or try a free demo.

Optimize facility management performance for a better tomorrow—earn the SFP!

Order today. Visit www.ifma.org/sfp for more information.

Attendees: Log back in at your leisure to attend the sessions you missed!

Couldn’t make it to the live event? You can still register today and earn up to 37 CFM® maintenance points and valuable CEUs. All sessions were recorded and are available on-demand. New registrants will also have access to the portal until Aug. 15, 2011; but registration will no longer be accepted after Aug. 1, 2011.

Hear what attendees are saying:

“I thought the virtual conference was EXCELLENT. I attended four sessions and plan to use my 90-day pass to take several more On Demand.”
- Don A. Reitano, CFM, director, corporate operations, Alkermes Inc.

“The idea of a virtual conference is wonderful! With cutbacks, travel funds aren't available for attending conferences. This is certainly the next best thing.”
- Joan Moses, CFM, CFMJ, Project Manager, CB Richard Ellis

“Very futuristic way of attending FM educational events. We’re able to keep costs down for our company, and still be productive in the field. Great concept; very empowering!”
- Scott D. Keith, director, facility proposals/solutions-business resource center, ARAMARK

“Congrats on a great virtual conference! I found it to be a very useful and refreshing way to attend a conference! I'm already putting the 9.06 session to work: Getting to Total Cost of Occupancy: Creating a Repeatable Process in Understanding, Delivering and Measuring Real Estate.”
- Dan O'Halloran, CFM, facilities manager, Rockwell Collins HGS

It’s not too late to attend! Register today to take advantage of virtually effortless FM education without ever leaving your desk.

Participants and sponsors, thank you for making the live virtual conference and expo such a successful event!

Firefighters were joined by approximately 1,000 members of the Massachusetts National Guard to search the rubble for survivors or other victims. Cleanup efforts have moved into the stabilization phase as local, state and federal agencies join together to help the impacted communities.

The health and safety of IFMA members in Massachusetts is of the utmost concern to IFMA members, board members and staff. Please do not hesitate to contact IFMA if you need assistance contacting other members or if you need support in different ways. The association would be happy to help you with any disaster recovery and contingency planning resources you may need. Please also let us know about any IFMA member you know of who may have been affected, so that we can reach out to them. IFMA headquarters can be reached at +1-713-623-4362 or membership@ifma.org.

Businesses worldwide share an interest in enhancing the performance of their facilities. World Workplace Asia will provide attendees with a unique opportunity to gain an international perspective on facility management. The event promises a well-rounded program focused on strategies for managing facilities, teams and workplace projects in today’s global economy.

World Workplace Asia will feature educational sessions, a new products and services expo, facility site visits, special guest speakers, networking events and other relevant content that attendees have come to expect from the World Workplace brand.

The conference kicks off on Tuesday, June 21, with the expo grand opening and keynote addresses from Mark Clift, MBA, COO of Cyberport, and Francis Kuhn, CFM, CFMJ, chair of the IFMA board of directors and vice president of facilities and administration at Western Bridge Corporate Federal Credit Union. Their presentations will be followed by government, town hall and networking events; facility tours; and educational sessions on energy benchmarking, sustainability, aligning facilities with business needs, developing corporate real estate partnerships in Asia, and more. Deric Probst-Wallace, president of the Hong Kong Chapter of IFMA and a director at Jones Lang LaSalle, will deliver the day’s closing address.

World Workplace Asia will conclude on Wednesday, June 22. Probst-Wallace and IFMA President and CEO Tony Keane, CAE, will deliver the day’s keynote presentations. Day two of the conference will again feature facility tours and the new products and services expo. Educational sessions will focus on topics including leading a global organization, facility cost modeling, FM talent recruitment and retention, and more.

In addition to the facility tours taking place during the conference, World Workplace Asia will feature site visits throughout the months of June and July. The tours include visits to Hong Kong Disneyland, the Venetian Macau Hotel, the Microsoft Experience Center, City of Dreams Macau, the Savannah College of Art and Design, and more.

“It's a great honor for IFMA to partner with the Hong Kong Chapter of IFMA in offering the World Workplace Asia Conference & Expo in Hong Kong,” said Kuhn. “This event follows IFMA’s objective to ‘learn, connect and advance,’ and will provide the essentials facility professionals need to advance their careers and expand and leverage their collective knowledge and experiences. This conference delivers unique value to our members, customers and corporate partners, and will strengthen our efforts to magnify the importance of the facility management profession worldwide.”

The World Workplace Asia Conference & Expo program and session descriptions are available online. For more information, or to register, visit www.worldworkplace.org/asia.

“Environmental practices can be incorporated into virtually any job, and through the ARAMARK Environmental Internship Program we can help develop employees who make the connection between the work that they do, and its impact on the environment and on our business,” said Rick Martella, ARAMARK vice president, corporate affairs. “Embedding these internships in key roles across the company will provide environmental knowledge and skills that are not confined to a single position or type of job, and can be easily shared.”

ARAMARK partnered with the Student Conservation Association to develop the program and identify applicants who demonstrated strong conservation leadership. SCA, which has significant experience recruiting and hiring environmental interns for federal agencies and non-profit organizations, helped ARAMARK select 10 young professionals for its inaugural class. SCA also helped ARAMARK in the development of training materials for the interns.

“Internships have shifted from an academic need to a career necessity,” noted SCA President Dale Penny. “To compete in today’s market, young job candidates need real experience and a corporate internship provides a genuine, competitive advantage.” 

The 10 ARAMARK interns, who are pursuing degrees, or have recently graduated from college, have been hired at several ARAMARK locations, including colleges and universities, conference centers, national parks, businesses and convention centers.

In these roles, the interns will collaborate internally and with clients to offer expertise and practical solutions to help clients meet their environmental commitments in a variety of areas, including purchasing, waste management, building operations and energy and water conservation. 

At the University of Michigan, Ross School of Business, for example, Rodica Kocur will be responsible for supporting all aspects of a composting program, including research on best practices and potential implementation campus-wide. Intern Michael Seaman will work at the Monterey, California Asilomar Conference Center, assisting with the implementation of an Environmental Management System, and sustainable food and beverage programs.  

The internships began in March, and will continue for six months. The program kicked off with a three-day orientation to introduce the interns to ARAMARK and SCA, and provided background on ARAMARK’s corporate responsibility and environmental commitments.  Throughout the program, the interns will receive onsite training and support from their managers, as well as feedback and support from the SCA and the corporate environmental team managing the program. Information learned from the interns’ projects will be shared and replicated across ARAMARK.

ARAMARK’s Environmental Internship Program is part of the company’s corporate responsibility commitment. ARAMARK seeks to responsibly address issues that matter to its clients, customers, employees and communities by focusing on employee advocacy, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and community involvement.

Executives from the two organizations met in Vienna, Austria, during the 2011 European Facility Management Conference to sign the agreement. Representing IFMA were Tony Keane, CAE, president and CEO; Francis Kuhn, CFM, CFMJ, board chairman; and Kathy Roper, CFM, CFMJ, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow, board first vice chair. Representing GEFMA were Prof. Michael May, Ph.D., board member, and Elke Kuhlmann, Ph.D., general secretary. The MOU was drafted with the assistance of IFMA board member Joachim W. Hohmann, MSc, Ph.D., CFM.

The agreement calls for a five-year period of collaboration where both parties will:

• Work together to promote good facility management practices, education and research, and magnify the importance of the profession worldwide;
• Influence facility- and workplace-related issues under consideration in the European Union;
• Identify potential joint educational offerings, certifications, guidelines, white papers and surveys, and work together to translate program materials;
• Offer facility-related knowledge and benchmarking information to each organization’s members;
• Actively participate in each organization’s facility management conferences;
• Publish joint books and articles on relevant topics in each organization’s publications and websites; and
• Look for greater networking and collaboration opportunities in education, research and practice.

“With the enactment of this memorandum of understanding, we strengthen a unique and valuable partnership that benefits both organizations’ respective members and serves to advance the profession worldwide,” said Kuhn. “We look forward to capitalizing on the tremendous opportunities to improve FM education, credentialing and research that this agreement presents. IFMA is proud of our relationship with GEFMA and pleased to extend our knowledge and best practices to our fellow facility professionals in Germany, as well as the rest of the world.”

“This memorandum of understanding helps the level of collaboration between our associations achieve a new quality,” said May. “We seek to learn from each other’s experiences and work together in FM-related areas of joint interest in ways that are mutually beneficial. GEFMA members are increasingly taking an international perspective on matters of FM education, research and services, and we look forward to sharing our best practices and approaches with the international FM community.”

More information about GEFMA is available at www.gefma.de/english.html.

The HPBCCC has designated May 23-29 as High-Performance Building Week 2011. Held in Washington, D.C., the week underscores the importance of sustainable building practices to federal, state and local lawmakers, as well as the public.

High-Performance Building Week kicked off with an introductory press conference on Tuesday, May 24, in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill. Additional events throughout the week include panel discussions, budget briefings, facility tours, award receptions, and other educational and networking functions. IFMA Director of Government Relations Jeffrey Johnson, J.D., will represent the association throughout the week's events.

Those interested in participating in High-Performance Building Week are encouraged to reach out to congressional representatives and ask them to join the High-Performance Building Congressional Caucus.

To learn more about High-Performance Building Week, visit www.hpbccc.org or view the schedule of events.

Despite different world views and national cultures, facility managers are all challenged by similar issues—from demographic changes to energy management and organizational development. IFMA and EuroFM host this enlightening and informative conference focused on the theme of “Cracking the Productivity Nut.”

This year, EFMC 2011 includes two symposia: one for business and practice and another for research and education. The conference takes place side-by-side with the Austrian National FM Conference (ATGA Congress).

The extensive program covers the following topics:

• Facilitating Core Business Processes
• FM and Virtualization
• FM as a Unit of Production
• FM Positioning and Strategy
• Experience Management
• Impact of New Ways of Working
• Optimization and Lean Management
• Performance Management 
• Productivity Management 
• Relationship Management
• Value-added FM 
• Value Management
• Workplace Productivity and Management

Download the conference brochure or visit the website for more information.

On Sunday night, the tornado — which was the fourth-deadliest since the National Weather Service began tracking tornadoes in 1950 — inflicted a six-mile path of destruction across southwestern Missouri. The city of Joplin was the site of the most destruction as homes, businesses and a high school received substantial damage. The St. John's Regional Medical Center evacuated 183 patients and nearly 200 staffers. More than 100 people lost their lives to the tornado, and a team of 500 firefighters, 150 National Guard members and more than 1,000 law enforcement officers are currently performing search-and-rescue operations.

The health and safety of IFMA's 479 members in Missouri is of our utmost concern. We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to them and their loved ones for the loss of life, injuries and property damage. Without question, Missourians will pull together as they work to rebuild and recover from this disaster. The thoughts and prayers of the entire IFMA family are with them, their neighbors, colleagues, family and friends.

Please do not hesitate to contact IFMA if you need assistance reaching fellow members or other support. We are happy to help you with any disaster recovery or contingency planning resources you may need. Please also let us know about any IFMA member you know of who may have been affected so that we can reach out to them. IFMA can be reached at +1-713-623-4362 or at membership@ifma.org. Interested parties can donate to Red Cross relief efforts in the area at www.redcross.org.

In this month's Chairman's Message video, Francis Kuhn takes a moment to reflect on his time as chairman of IFMA's board of directors. He also discusses several of the key transitions that occurred during his term, including:

• IFMA President and CEO Tony Keane, CAE, has now been with IFMA more than a year and a half, and in that time has brought in new staff including COO Mike Moss, CAE, and Director of Strategic Initiatives – Sustainability Marina Badoian-Kriticos.

• IFMA has largely weathered the economic downturn. The association updated its credentials and even introduced a new designation, the Sustainability Facility Professional™, or SFP™.

• Membership has rebounded and IFMA has enjoyed successful events including Facility Fusion in Boston earlier this year and, more recently, the Virtual Conference & Expo. In June, IFMA will be in Hong Kong for the World Workplace Asia Conference & Expo.

As his term as chairman nears its end, Kuhn introduces chair-elect, Professor Kathy O. Roper, CFM, CFMJ, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow.

This month's Chairman's Message and other related content can be found at www.youtube.com/ifmaglobal.

Kathy O. Roper, CFM, CFMJ, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow, associate professor in the School of Building Construction at the Georgia Institute of Technology, will be the association's new chair; Marc S. Liciardello, CFM, MBA, CM, vice president of corporate services at ARAMARK, will be IFMA's first vice chair; and Jon Seller, general manager at Optegy Group, will be the association's second vice chair.

These leaders were selected by the board nominating committee as professionals who could best advance the association's goals as outlined in IFMA's strategy map and balanced scorecard. Each of them brings experience and the skills necessary to utilize the association's resources and help IFMA achieve new levels of organizational performance.

Please join your fellow members and IFMA staff in welcoming them to their new roles.

The Virtual Conference will deliver the same high-quality programming and exceptional speakers as IFMA's on-site conferences and expositions—all from your desktop.

The latest issue of the Facility Management Journal is now available at www.fmjonline.com. Focusing on diversity in the workplace, the May/June issue includes articles ranging from how to successfully create Braille signage (page 18) to how different generations perceive sustainability (page 48).

Also, please take a moment to check out the Q&A with IFMA's new Chief Operating Officer Michael Moss (page 72) and the interview with exiting IFMA Chair of the Board of Directors Francis Kuhn (page 77).

Speaking of diversity, IFMA is expanding even more internationally in the next few months. Don't miss the association's first annual Virtual Conference & Expo on May 18 (page 14), the joint EuroFM/IFMA European Facilities Management Conference on May 23 (page 14), World Workplace Asia Conference & Expo on June 21 (page 27), and celebrating you and your profession on World FM Day on June 23 (page 34).

This is only a glimpse of the future events and celebrations that IFMA is doing to embrace the richness of global networking and knowledge—another step toward empowering facility professionals worldwide.

The survey periodically asks a sample of facility professionals a series of identical questions, with the intent of monitoring changes over time. It includes questions on topics such as space management, staffing and service provision, spending, facility planning, sustainability and current events impacting the present and future of the industry.

The most recent results show a gradual increase from previous surveys in those who anticipate hiring additional FM staff in the next six months, with 24 percent reporting such plans. Industries contributing to this trend include health care and heavy industry, such as defense and aerospace.

Furthermore, though more than half of respondents expect their portfolio size to remain the same, more than a third — 36 percent — anticipates an expansion over the next six months. Among the sectors expecting growth are professional services such as accounting, engineering and banking.

With increased activity comes an outlay of expenses, and while the majority of respondents do not foresee changes in spending in the short term, there is a considerable uptick in those expecting to pay more for utilities. Thirty-seven percent expect energy costs to rise — an 11 percent increase from the previous poll — with another 40 percent expecting to spend more on building systems equipment and 33 percent predicting increased spending on furniture. As one respondent noted, “Due to new construction in 2011, anticipated furniture, fixtures and utility expenses will be slightly escalated.”

Additionally, facility professionals report across-the-board increases in activities that hint at an improving economy. Respondents are devoting more time and resources to sustainable initiatives, office moves and additions, retrofits and renovations, safety and security products, capital asset replacement, new construction, and amenity provision than in previous “Facilities Snapshot” polls.

The report also analyzes the positive and negative effects of remote work, social media use and texting, and their impact on facility operations and overall employee productivity. The results are mixed, with the 50 percent of respondents reporting that their organizations allow remote work largely praising its effect of enhanced employee productivity. Social media use and texting, though not without their benefits, were more frequently cited as drains on productivity, with several respondents singling out Facebook in particular as a distraction.

“Although the survey indicates positive growth in staffing and portfolio size, the majority of respondents say they are doing their best, trying to get their projects done with the limited resources available,” said IFMA Director of Research Shari Epstein. “Technology tools such as remote monitoring and texting from the field, however, have made facility managers more productive and are increasingly becoming a go-to communication tool with building occupants.”

The full “Facilities Snapshot” survey report is available online at no cost. Other IFMA research and survey results are also available online.

Additionally, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers anticipates that other communities downriver will soon be affected. These cities include Helena and Arkansas City, Ark.; Greenville, Vicksburg and Natchez, Miss.; and New Orleans, La.

The health and safety of IFMA's 800 plus members in these impacted communities is our utmost concern. We offer our support, and sincerely hope that neither you nor your family has or will suffer during the most pronounced flooding along the Mississippi since the historic flood of 1927.

Please do not hesitate to contact IFMA if you need assistance contacting other members or if you need support in other ways. We would be happy to help you with any disaster recovery and contingency planning resources you may need. Please also let us know about any IFMA member you know of who may have been affected so that we can reach out to them. We can be reached at +1-713-623-4362 or at membership@ifma.org.

• Reach the unreachable: Introduce your company to professionals you wouldn't have the opportunity to meet in person.
• No travel, no hassle: Online booth set-up is easy, opportunities to chat with attendees are plentiful, and you and your booth staff can network from the comfort of your home or office.
• Same high quality: As with our on-site events, IFMA's Virtual Conference & Expo will present cutting-edge sessions, leading topic experts and the foremost facility solution providers—that's where you come in!

Information about your company will hover over your booth, and a click of the mouse will take attendees inside. Display product literature, schedule real-time presentations and demonstrations, and chat with attendees in an amazing 3-D exhibit hall!

Three months of exposure…

The Virtual Conference & Expo is more than a one-day event. Attendees seeking valuable CEU points will take advantage of a 90-day access pass—the expo hall will also remain open!

Be a part of this exciting, new event! Title sponsor, event sponsor and a la carte sponsorships are still available.

• Secure Your Virtual Booth
• Virtual Exhibit and Sponsorship Opportunity Information
• Other Virtual Sponsorship Information
• Virtual Sponsorship Agreement Form

Thank you! Philips Lighting, Fire Concepts and MicroMain are already on board as premium exhibitors.

Globally, the facility management profession continues to mature and evolve. Facility managers today are expected to understand their company’s core business and contribute to the bottom line — not only by reducing facility costs, but also by improving the productivity, revenue generating capacity and image of their organizations.

To help prepare its members and the profession for the future, IFMA periodically conducts a trend forecasting workshop with a panel of industry experts to identify the emerging trends and issues that will influence facility management in the coming years. Broader industry research is also conducted throughout the year and, taken together, results from the workshop and research initiatives form the basis of this report.

The 2011 “Facility Management Forecast” can help facility practitioners succeed in their careers by identifying the industry patterns to look for, the skill sets to work on and the places to allocate their resources. It can also help facility management departments chart a course for the future and align facility management with corporate strategy. The trends identified fall into three categories: externally-, internally- and organizationally-driven.

Externally-driven trends are dictated by societal and other factors.

• Sustainability continues to grow in importance and prominence worldwide. Organizations have begun to incorporate it into business goals and culture, and within the profession, it has moved from an emphasis primarily for new construction to influencing existing building operations.
• Complex building systems and controls increasingly offer opportunities and challenges for the profession. The industry can leverage new technologies to better manage facilities, but it also needs to ensure adequate training is in place to educate practitioners on new systems.
• Facility management faces problems stemming from the aging building stock professionals manage — difficulties compounded by the global recession. As facilities and mechanical systems reach and exceed their expected operating lives, significant issues of “repair or replace” must be addressed.
• Facility managers play a critical role in business continuity after a disrupting event, not only by crafting and implementing the prepared response plan, but also by serving as role models for the organization in emergency preparedness and business continuity planning.

Internally-driven trends derive from within the profession.

• The increasing quantity and complexity of data available to facility managers through new reporting protocols poses challenges and opportunities for the profession. More facility departments have added the ability to convert raw data into usable and meaningful information that fosters informed decision making.
• Finding top talent in facility management is gaining greater importance. Recognizing that facility management is often not the first choice of today’s new graduates, the profession will need to increase its branding and outreach.
• There is a growing desire to elevate facility management to improve the recognition and perceived value of the profession within the corporate hierarchy. Many have achieved success in this arena through careful alignment with their organization’s mission and by emphasizing facility professionals’ role as managers of significant assets and enablers of the organization’s mission, vision and values.

Organizationally-driven trends derive from the corporations and organizations housing facility departments.

• Increasingly, organizations are expanding their expectations of facility management to include both technical and business acumen, which drives the need for an evolving skill set for those in the profession. While the technical aspects are generally well understood, the increased focus on business acumen will require facility professionals to think and act strategically and to communicate their positions in the language of the C-suite.
• There is a growing recognition that facility management contributes to the health and well being of building occupants, thereby benefiting efficiency, productivity and profitability — key pillars of an organization’s bottom line.
• Changing work styles significantly affect both occupant behavior and the vacancy rate of buildings, which affects how buildings must operate. Facility management increasingly faces challenges posed by open work plan arrangements, differing hours of operation, and varying occupancy rates and densities — all of which impact power use and other considerations.

These trends do not stand alone as solitary influences on the profession, but rather bear strong interconnections. The most successful facility professionals will be those that proactively meet the challenges posed by these trends and lead the way for their organizations and the profession as a whole.

“The 2011 ‘Facility Management Forecast’ presents what we see as the critical issues facing the profession,” said IFMA President and CEO Tony Keane, CAE. “It not only serves a needed strategic planning purpose, but also highlights areas the industry needs to pay attention to. With advances in technology and the growing recognition of sustainable practices, being aware of the trends in this report is critical to the success of the FM professional of the future.”

The “Facility Management Forecast” research report was developed in partnership with Business Integration Group and VFA, and is available for purchase online. Members of the media may request a review copy at no cost. Other IFMA research and survey results are also available online.

• Reach the unreachable: Introduce your company to professionals you wouldn't have the opportunity to meet in person.
• No travel, no hassle: Online booth set-up is easy, opportunities to chat with attendees are plentiful, and you and your booth staff can network from the comfort of your home or office.
• Same high quality: As with our on-site events, IFMA's Virtual Conference & Expo will present cutting-edge sessions, leading topic experts and the foremost facility solution providers—that's where you come in!

Information about your company will hover over your booth, and a click of the mouse will take attendees inside. Display product literature, schedule real-time presentations and demonstrations, and chat with attendees in an amazing 3-D exhibit hall!

Three months of exposure…

The Virtual Conference & Expo is more than a one-day event. Attendees seeking valuable CEU points will take advantage of a 90-day access pass—the expo hall will also remain open!

Be a part of this exciting, new event! Title sponsor, event sponsor and a la carte sponsorships are still available.

• Secure Your Virtual Booth
• Virtual Exhibit and Sponsorship Opportunity Information
• Other Virtual Sponsorship Information
• Virtual Sponsorship Agreement Form

Thank you! Philips Lighting, Fire Concepts and MicroMain are already on board as premium exhibitors.

Lomborg will deliver the conference’s opening keynote presentation on Wednesday, Oct. 26. Dubbed “the skeptical environmentalist” after a book he wrote of the same title, Lomborg is a noted business and environmental academic and author who currently serves as an adjunct professor at the Copenhagen Business School. He has recently appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, CNN’s “In the Arena,” and in USA Today and the Washington Post.

Lomborg will lecture on his new book and DVD “Cool It – The Skeptical Environmentalist’s Guide to Global Warming,” in which he argues that many of the actions now being considered to stop global warming will cost hundreds of billions of dollars, are based on emotion and may have little impact on the world’s temperature. He instead argues for confronting more immediate concerns such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and a clean water supply, which can be addressed at a fraction of the cost and save millions of lives within our lifetime.

“Global warming has been touted as the defining issue for businesses, but with the economic downturn a new realism has set in, prompting many to be more skeptical,” said Lomborg. “My World Workplace presentation will chart a smart middle course avoiding denial, but also green wishful thinking. I believe today’s facility professionals need to focus on environmental solutions that make cold financial sense, while emphasizing policies that will do the most green good for the money spent.”

Gardner will deliver the conference’s closing keynote on Friday, Oct. 28, with his speech “Start Where You Are,” an uplifting message in which he helps attendees learn how to transform themselves through adversity and make positive changes in their lives. Gardner’s own life story was published in his autobiography “The Pursuit of Happyness,” which became a motion picture starring Will Smith in 2006.

“Like folks in most businesses, I'm sure facility professionals have experienced a rocky couple of years,” said Gardner. “My World Workplace keynote presentation will focus on the lessons I've learned about coping with adversity in my own personal journey from the streets of San Francisco to Wall Street, a message I believe will resonate with anyone in their own pursuit of happiness.”

Early registration for World Workplace 2011 is available through Aug. 5. To learn more about the conference or to register, visit www.worldworkplace.org. Members of the media may register at no cost by emailing communications@ifma.org.

In this month's Chairman's Message, IFMA Chairman Francis Kuhn takes a moment to introduce someone who is likely familiar to many of you, Global Facility Management Association Chair Teena Shouse.

Global FM is comprised of nine different global facility management associations—including IFMA—and Shouse and Kuhn talk briefly about the relationship between the two organizations.

As you know, IFMA is dedicated to providing its members with opportunities to expand and leverage their collective knowledge. The association provides the essentials FM professionals need to advance their careers and also strives to magnify the importance of the profession worldwide. Aligning ourselves with Global FM helps IFMA in each of these missions.

Another Global FM initiative—World FM Day—will be held on June 23. Join others around the world in celebrating the contributions facility management makes to the workplace on this important day.

As always, this month's Chairman's Message and other related content can be found at www.youtube.com/ifmaglobal.

The chapter was formed to promote the facility management profession and highlight educational opportunities available to facility professionals throughout Fresno, Stockton, Modesto, Merced, Manteca and surrounding Central Valley areas. The new chapter joins 10 other IFMA chapters located in California.

The chapter has identified its leadership for the inaugural term, consisting of a four-person executive board. Albert Gabriel, CFM, of Label Technology, is president; Art A. Saldivar, CFM, CFMJ, of Johnson Controls, is vice president; Brian McGrath, of Belfor Property Restoration, is secretary; and Robert Carpenter, facilities manager, is treasurer.

About 30 facility professionals and associates have already joined the chapter.

“We’re excited to promote the development of the facility management profession throughout the Central Valley, which is the heart of California,” said Gabriel. “We’re looking forward to helping companies get better facility management services from experienced professionals, and in the future we also hope to work with local universities and other IFMA chapters to offer educational programs. The future is bright in the Valley.”

The IFMA board of directors approved the formation of the Central Valley Chapter of IFMA last month at its meeting held in conjunction with the association’s annual Facility Fusion Conference & Expo in Boston, Mass. The board will formally present the charter certificate to chapter leaders in May.

For more information about the Central Valley Chapter of IFMA, visit www.ifmacv.org. Further information about IFMA’s other chapters is also available online.

• Energy Benchmarking in Buildings: The Role of the Facility Manager in Energy Management;
• BIM and FM: Bridging the Divide;
• Corporate Productivity: Improving Business Performance by Aligning Facilities With Business Needs;
• What's Your Social Net Worth? CRE in the Attention Age;
• Outsourcing Performance Management in the Facility Management Industry; and much more!

Attendees will experience exciting keynote presentations, valuable educational sessions, a half-day leadership workshop, an FM student competition, the annual networking dinner and more.

View the program at a glance »

REGISTER TODAY! »

One of the largest virtual events in the FM market, the Virtual Conference & Expo will be held May 18, 2011, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CDT. The conference will feature a total of 38 educational sessions and speaker presentations, 10 of which will be held live, with the other 28 available for on-demand viewing. Both live and on-demand sessions offer participants CEU credits and CFM® maintenance points, and registration includes a 90-day pass to access any of the sessions following the event.

The virtual event will be headlined by keynote speaker David Nour, consultant, author and CEO of The Nour Group, who will deliver a presentation on customer economics in which he will help participants realize professional growth through social media and strategic business relationships. Also headlining the event will be power speaker Linda Edgecombe, author and humorist, whose session will take attendees through an educational and humorous ride that will refocus how they see life and work and include ideas for eliminating negative life drainers and increasing energy levels.

Other sessions will cover topics including carbon neutrality, energy conservation, portfolio management, remote work and sustainability. Also featured will be a special emergency preparedness presentation on the September 2010 Discovery Channel hostage crisis from a representative of Discovery Communications. Representatives from organizations including American University, Cushman & Wakefield, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Smithsonian Institution will also present.

The virtual event will feature a three-dimensional expo that will recreate the experience of visiting live booths. Exhibitors will set up their booths with company and product literature, presentations, product demonstrations and more. Booths will be staffed with company representatives to answer questions and participate in online conversations with attendees.

Attendees will be able to access the expo through the conference’s online exhibit hall and the educational sessions and presentations through the auditorium. A resource center will also be provided as a central repository for information from the event, including case studies, white papers and more, and the online network lounge will allow attendees to connect with one another through group chats and message boards throughout the conference. The event will also feature Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn social media integration.

Additionally, attendees will have a virtual briefcase they can use to store information they receive from exhibitors, session presenters or elsewhere throughout the conference. The virtual briefcase will be accessible for 90 days following the event.

“IFMA's first ever Virtual Conference & Expo will provide an opportunity to gain access to a wide range of new presentations without ever leaving home,” said Kathy O. Roper, CFM, MCR, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow and first vice chair of the association’s board of directors. “Eliminating travel costs provides the perfect educational option for many FMs in today's economy, and this new event will feature both live and on-demand presentations, enabling participants to not only learn at their leisure, but also interact with exhibitors in a unique online environment.”

For more information about the Virtual Conference & Expo, or to register for the event, visit www.ifma.org/virtual. The registration rate is US$100 for members and US$50 for students. Members of the media may register at no cost by emailing communications@ifma.org.

Founded in 2003, the mission of ASBE is to transform the marketplace: to make green building best practices industry standards. To that end, it strives to raise awareness of sustainable development and promote the triple-bottom-line benefits delivered through high-performance, green buildings. Members include Eaton Corp., Forbo Flooring, Haworth, Johnson Controls Inc., Kohler Co., KONE, Milliken & Company, Philips Lighting, Watertronics, and now Bayer MaterialScience LLC.

“Bayer MaterialScience LLC recognizes that to keep pace with the constantly changing building industry and dwindling natural resources, it is critical to factor efficiency and affordability into the sustainable building equation,” said Craig Zurawski, executive director of ASBE. “We’re delighted to welcome them as an executive member.”

As part of the company’s long-standing commitment to sustainability, Bayer MaterialScience LLC developed EcoCommercial Building (ECB), an interdisciplinary network of organizations that provides a single point of entry into a world of products and services that help building professionals achieve their sustainable building goals. From learning about material performance to integrating technologies, ECB helps streamline the search for sustainable solutions, enabling decisions makers to save valuable time and money.

“ASBE and its members are a great complement to the ECB organizations looking to make a difference in the commercial building segment,” said Paul Platte, head of Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s EcoCommercial Building Network in North America. “Both ASBE and Bayer strive to deliver a wide array of sustainable solutions. It’s a great opportunity for us to not only get in front of new audiences, but also to bring our wealth of knowledge and experience in disciplines that currently aren’t covered by existing ASBE members. We’re very excited to be a part of this.”

Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of polymers and high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with approximately 14,400 employees at 30 production sites around the world and 2010 sales of 10.2 billion Euros. Bayer MaterialScience's North American sales were 2.0 billion Euros in 2010.  The company manufactures high-tech polymer materials and develops innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical, and sports and leisure industries. Sustainability is central to Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s business and is based around the key areas of innovation, product stewardship, excellence in corporate management, social responsibility and respect for the environment. For more information about Bayer MaterialScience LLC, call 1-800-662-2927, email naftainfo@bayerbms.com or visit www.bayermaterialsciencenafta.com.

The Alliance for Sustainable Built Environments is a group of industry leaders who practice and are recognized for leadership in sustainability; that is economic, social and environmental responsibility. It is committed to delivering high performance sustainable solutions for the built environment. To learn more about the Alliance, its members and the green building industry, go to www.greenerfacilities.org or call 866-913-9473.

The meeting will focus on the theme “Come Together with Brazil,” based in the positions that companies should have to participate in the growth of this historical moment of the Brazilian situation with FIFA World Cup, Olympic Games and discovery of oil in its pre-salt layer. The goal is to point out ways that buyers and service providers can enjoy the opportunities, jobs, better services and infrastructure equipment operations in real estate.

Highlights:

• The talk show format of the "Evolution of FM" opening panel proved to be an extremely high-energy and interactive experience.
• Keynote speaker Jason Dorsey presented "Crossing the Generational Divide" to a full house; his book sold out afterward!  
• The Welcome Reception on the expo floor evoked tons of positive feedback from exhibitors and attendees alike.
• Power speaker Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré (Ret.) presented an informative session on emergency preparedness, including personal experience and Q&A.

These are just a few of the many events that helped make this year’s conference such a success! Thanks to all who attended, exhibited and sponsored.

Relive the experience or see what you missed. Check out conference photos, videos and more!

The Nottingham International Workshop will take place on 5 April 2011. The agenda will include speakers from BIFM, Global FM, Qube Global Software, Faceo and an international FM client. The workshop will be facilitated by Ashley Rogers, chair of the BIFM's Midlands Region and soon to join the Institute's board.

The workshop will include a combination of formal presentations and discussion on international facilities management issues with informal delegate participation throughout the day. The output will be to communicate some suggested solutions to commonly occurring challenges faced by FMs practicing across multiple geographies.

A number of thought provoking questions and/or statements have been issued via the Global FM and BIFM networks (email, web, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.). People are invited to respond to these prior to the event. The questions/statements will be posted at the workshop, along with selected responses received in advance. This format is designed to encourage the participants to work up solutions and ideas to overcome the challenges faced by FM professionals across borders.

The Nottingham International Workshop will be the first of a series of international workshops scheduled for 2011. Two confirmed locations are Vienna, Austria, in May, and Phoenix, Ariz., USA, in October. Other workshops will take place in other Global FM member countries to be announced shortly.

For more information about this and other Global FM events, please visit the Global FM website at www.globalfm.org.

Professionals can earn the new designation through the SFP Credential Program™, which offers complete training and assessment materials in three course areas: Strategy and Alignment for Sustainable Facility Management, Managing Sustainable Facilities and Operating Sustainable Facilities. Taken together, these courses provide a complete picture of how SFPs can improve the sustainability of their facilities in the eight major categories of sustainability defined by IFMA: energy, water, materials and resources, workplace management, indoor environmental quality, quality of services, waste, and site impact.

The SFP Credential Program will equip practitioners to: integrate sustainability efforts with their organizations’ values and strategies, present a business case for sustainability initiatives, evaluate their efforts from a financial perspective, and track and report their progress. In sum, achievement of the SFP will demonstrate a proven comprehension of environmental stewardship and sustainability in facility management.

"I am highly energized by the introduction of this assessment-based certificate program, which fills a critical void by providing facility managers with the tools they need to align sustainable FM practices with their organizations’ business models to impact the triple bottom line,” said Francis J. Kuhn, CFM, CFMJ, chair of the IFMA board of directors. “This goes beyond certifying sustainable facilities; it presents a shift in enterprise-wide business practices for everyone within an organization — from the C-suite to the rank and file — with facility professionals taking the lead."

The SFP Credential Program features comprehensive training available in self-study or instructor-led classroom format. The self-study program will be available in mid-March and is available now for pre-purchase, while the instructor-led courses will debut in summer 2011. Both learning methods feature interactive programming including print and online study tools to provide practical career training and consistent preparation and assessment. The SFP is also a three-year certificate, requiring designees to take a reassessment course every third year to keep their skills current.

The SFP is open to all professionals, and those pursuing the credential are not required to have the association’s Facility Management Professional or Certified Facility Manager® designation beforehand. A foundation of facility management knowledge, however, is needed to get the most out of the program.

Facility Fusion will be highlighted by a free two-day expo featuring nearly 70 exhibiting companies providing the latest in workplace products, services and educational opportunities. Facility Fusion exhibitors are leading product and service providers specializing in energy efficiency, construction services, facility management and real estate consulting, green cleaning, office furniture, software solutions and more.

The Facility Fusion expo was open Wednesday, March 23, from 4 to 6 p.m. and will remain open today, Thursday, March 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Exhibiting organizations will include CORT, George Mason University, Staples, Toshiba, the U.S. State Department and others, and will feature two international and 20 Boston-area companies.

“It’s great to have Facility Fusion in our home city of Boston. It gives us an excellent opportunity to engage with customers and provides an important forum to exchange ideas, track new developments and learn new techniques,” said George Lohnes, vice president of marketing for UGL Services, a worldwide FM and CRE services provider based in Newton, Mass.

“Facility Fusion will advance the industry, and UGL Services will contribute to that advancement by introducing the latest version of our UNI-Q^® smart-phone-based mobile inspection system to the many FM leaders at the conference and expo.”

Beyond the latest products and services, expo attendees can learn how to further their careers through continuing education and professional certification. George Mason will be offering information on its Facility Management Professional classes; Massachusetts Maritime Academy will promote its Master of Science degree in facilities management; and the IFMA Central booth will officially roll out the association’s new Sustainability Facility Professional™ credential.

The Facility Fusion expo will also include three Solutions Arenas offering product demonstrations by Fox RPM Corp., Optimum Energy and tekWorx. Expo attendees can earn Continuing Education Units for participating in any of these 60-minute sessions.

Held March 23-25 in Boston, Mass., at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel, Facility Fusion combines all of IFMA’s previous spring events into one conference offering a fusion of new ideas, best practices, and leadership and management training. The event will feature industry-leading keynote and power speaker presentations, nearly 60 educational sessions and an expo with more than 75 exhibiting companies.

Facility Fusion kicks off on Wednesday, March 23, with a keynote presentation from “The Gen Y Guy” Jason Dorsey, acclaimed generational consultant, entrepreneur and speaker. Dorsey will present “Crossing the Generational Divide: Making the Four Generations in Your Workforce a Competitive Advantage in Any Economy,” in which he highlights what each generation brings to the workplace and how to build on these strengths to achieve better results.

The first day will also feature educational sessions highlighting sustainability best practices, building security, leadership development and maximizing the return on investment internships provide. Representatives from Jones Lang LaSalle, Pfizer and the Smithsonian Institution will present. Many Facility Fusion educational sessions on Monday and throughout the conference will also have a strong corporate real estate focus.

“Facility Fusion offers a program that can benefit facility and real estate managers alike,” said Eric S. Baugh, president of the Corporate Real Estate Council of IFMA and an educational session presenter. “Facility managers’ value to the C-suite today is in providing accurate and timely information. These sessions will cover new legislation that every facility professional should be aware of, what facility and real estate managers should be doing right now to benefit their corporation’s bottom line, and where the future of workspace and real estate is heading. We hope to inspire each attendee with ideas they can implement right away to provide more value to their organizations.”

The Facility Fusion expo will also debut Wednesday and remain open through Thursday, March 24. Open to the public at no cost, the expo will feature more than 75 exhibiting companies showcasing the latest products and services impacting the workplace. The expo will also include a solutions arena highlighting educational content and featuring new product demonstrations. Organizations including CORT, George Mason University, Staples and the U.S. State Department, among others, will be on the expo floor.

Day two of Facility Fusion will begin with a power speaker presentation on emergency planning and preparedness by a speaker to be named at a later date. It will include educational sessions on energy savings, building renovation, indoor air quality and food service management. Representatives from BAE Systems, the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories and Virginia Tech University will present. Additionally, the conference’s second day will include sightseeing tours highlighting Boston’s most recognizable attractions.

The conference will conclude on Friday, March 25, with presentations from power speakers Elizabeth Freedman, MBA, and Bob Nunnally. Freedman, an author and career and workplace expert, will present “Personality Poker: How to Lead with Your Strong Suit,” in which she helps participants identify their personality “hand” and use it to better achieve their career goals. Nunnally, a retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and experienced facility manager, will deliver “Commanding Your Organization,” in which he teaches attendees how to take charge of their careers through character and performance and defeat the “missiles of adversity” they encounter along the way.

Educational sessions on Friday will cover topics including new legislation impacting the training and certifying of facility managers, how to build a career in facility management, and the intersection of sustainability and public policy. Representatives from the U.S. General Services Administration, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and State Farm Insurance will present. The final day of Facility Fusion will also include behind-the-scenes tours of several specialized Boston-area facilities.

This disaster also caused widespread fires and swept away buildings, businesses, homes, ships and entire villages. Sources have said that this earthquake was approximately 8,000 times stronger than the New Zealand earthquake in late February.

The health and safety of IFMA's members and partners in Japan is our utmost concern. We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to them and their loved ones for the loss of life, injuries and property damage. Without question, the will and determination of the Japanese people is strong, and as they rise to meet the daunting challenge of recovering from this disaster, the entire IFMA family has them and the citizens of Japan in our thoughts and prayers.

For information on how to donate and help those affected by this disaster, visit www.redcross.org, www.worldvision.org, www.savethechildren.org or donate.ifrc.org.

In his new role, Moss will oversee IFMA’s product and service areas and serve in a leadership capacity at the direction of the association’s president and CEO. He will provide administrative supervision of IFMA’s internal and external operations, support the association’s strategic plan, and service the needs of the organization’s members and stakeholders. He will also serve as the co-leader of IFMA’s senior leadership team, which implements the strategies set by the association’s board of directors.

Moss comes to IFMA from NACE International, where he served as the senior director of operations and education. In his role there, Moss grew education and training revenue by US$4.5 million over four years, while also increasing the association’s membership by 15 percent in his final year.

Before NACE, Moss held leadership positions with the Warehousing Education and Research Council, YesTrader Inc. and the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois. He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and public administration from Indiana University, and is a member of the American Society of Association Executives and the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives.

“I am truly honored to be selected as the COO of IFMA,” said Moss. “I am looking forward to working with the entire IFMA staff and volunteer leadership to continue the organization’s success and to assist in the ongoing development of high-value products and services for facility management professionals.”

Moss officially begins his duties as chief operating officer March 7. More information about IFMA’s senior leadership team is available online.

• Top-level and category navigation;
• Search and "find-ability";
• Overall ease of use;
• Improved messaging capabilities; and
• Better connection between various IFMA websites.

IFMA will continue to update and improve IFMA.org over the coming months.

As always, if you have any questions or comments,
please contact the IFMA Webmaster.