The IFMA Fellows program was established by the International Facility Management Association in 1992 to recognize distinguished members with achievements and dedication to IFMA and the facility management profession.
IFMA Fellows form an elite core of respected leaders, advisors and ambassadors who are frequently called upon for their unmatched knowledge of the facility management profession. Collectively the Fellows represent the most esteemed facility management professionals, distinguished authors, prolific academicians and leading facility management visionaries.
The first class of Fellows includes founders of the association and the IFMA Foundation, early IFMA leaders, facility management researchers who defined the profession, luminaries, authors, industry giants and a prominent journalist/publisher. Subsequent classes of Fellows have been equally diverse and significant. Being named an IFMA Fellow is the highest honor bestowed by the association. Because IFMA is the world's largest network of facility management professionals and the recognized industry leader, the title IFMA Fellow is unparalleled and unmatched among workplace-related recognitions.
The cumulative impact the body of IFMA Fellows has on the profession and the association is immeasurable. The talent and contribution of IFMA Fellows is diverse and extraordinary. No single activity advances an individual to being named an IFMA Fellow; some individual accomplishments include:
- Outstanding leadership and service to a chapter, council, committee, community, task force or IFMA’s Board of Directors or the IFMA Foundation Board of Trustees.
- Contribution to important IFMA and industry initiatives such as the Certified Facility Manager, Facility Management Professional and/or Sustainability Facility Manager credential(s) and Accredited Degree Programs.
- Authorship of facility management related articles or books for trade, national, or international publications.
- Recognition by trade or business press thus leveraging the opportunity to advance the profession or further increase awareness of the association.
- Establishment of a medium or publication for sharing facility management knowledge.
- Development of facility management related continuing education materials, promotion of facility management education, and/or service as an instructor for facility management related programs on a college or university level.
- Qualification as an IFMA instructor in education programs and courses.
- Creation of ground-breaking facility management research.
- Development or establishment of alliances or ongoing relationships between IFMA and other facility management related professional organizations worldwide.
- Formation and support of IFMA components using complementary personal/company resources.
- Service in leadership roles within other facility management related associations.
- Mentoring students or young facility management professionals.
- Expansion of recognition, and influence of the facility management profession through personal facility management related achievements or recognition, such as recognition by his/her employer or customers for outstanding work.
As of the naming of the class of 2019, IFMA has recognized 117 IFMA Fellows. Of these, 15 are deceased and 10 are either very ill or fully retired. Of the 92 active Fellows:
- 65% attended IFMA’s World Workplace and/or Facility Fusion conference in the past three years;
- 62% have been a trustee/instructor/global committee and/or task force member in the past three years; and
- 21% have been involved in or a chapter/council/community of practice leader in the past three years.
Fellows are added each year if the IFMA Jury of Fellows identifies qualified, distinguished candidates. You may view photos of each Class of IFMA Fellows through the hyperlink for each class listed to the right.
An IFMA Fellows Nominating Committee consisting of Fellows is charged each year to identify qualified individuals and aids those who wish to nominate a member. Self-nominations are not permitted. Members of the IFMA Fellows Nominating Committee are available to assist those wishing to nominate a member to this elite core of respected professionals.
Nominations are submitted to the Jury of Fellows which is selected each year by the entire body of Fellows and consists of three IFMA Fellows, joined by the IFMA Chair and the President/CEO of IFMA. The Jury of Fellows utilizes a standardized evaluation methodology to determine results and ensure fairness and uniformity.
A Nomination Data Form is required and allows nominators to provide information about the nominee in three primary areas: Professional Experience & Accomplishments; Association Involvement; and Enriching the Profession. Secondary but no less important is the overall contribution the nominee has made in the past combined with the potential of the nominee to be an ambassador of the association and profession into the future. A Sample Nomination Data Form is available at the link below.
The nominator is expected to provide a quality, well-written submission targeted at an executive level audience. The submission must include appropriately detailed information regarding the nominee’s degrees and certifications, work history, identification of significant facilities-related work accomplishments, leadership and major contributions to the profession. Information about the nominee’s publication history, teaching and public speaking experience and IFMA involvement must be included. Participation and leadership at any level within IFMA as well as service/leadership to other facility management related societies and associations may be listed. Special recognition and significant awards or honors bestowed by IFMA and/or other organizations are a plus.
The submittal package, in addition to the Nomination Data Form, must include an introductory letter written by the nominator and three one-page letters of testimony by IFMA members in good standing who know the nominee well, have first-hand knowledge of his/her achievements, and can add to the content of the Nomination Data Form without repeating information about the nominee.
Download the sample nomination data form »
If you would like to nominate an individual for the title of IFMA Fellow, please send an email to Fellows@IFMA.org and request a nomination data form. The IFMA Fellow Staff Liaison will verify the nominator (current active member) and nominee’s status and tenure (eight years of membership and service) of membership and will, if both meet the requirements, send the official Nomination Data Form to the nominator and inform the IFMA Fellows Nominating Committee of the possible nomination.
For additional information regarding IFMA Fellows contact:
Linda Pate
800 Gessner Road, Suite 900
Houston, Texas USA 77024
+1-713-623-4362
linda.pate@ifma.org