IFMA’s 2021 Awards of Excellence Winners and Other Honorees Recognized at IFMA’s World Workplace®

IFMA announced the recipients of the 2021 Awards of Excellence at its World Workplace^® Conference and Expo in Kissimmee, Florida, USA. IFMA’s annual awards honor the stand-out achievements of association members, chapters and councils, as well as corporate and industry partners.

On the closing day of World Workplace, winners were recognized in 17 categories in a limited-contact presentation as part of IFMA’s in-person event health and safety protocols. Past IFMA Board Chair (2009-10) Thomas L. Mitchell, Jr., CFM, IFMA Fellow emceed the award ceremony, with current IFMA Board Chair (2021-22) Peter Ankerstjerne, MBA, COP, IFMA Fellow congratulating recipients on stage.

“Taking this opportunity to spotlight excellence in no way diminishes the enormity of our world’s ongoing struggles. In fact, it’s necessary. To be uplifted by stories of creativity and triumph, bravery and compassion, effort and enterprise is vital to reviving the human spirit,” said Mitchell. “What our industry, and our association, have seen throughout the pandemic are amazing examples of innovation, resourcefulness, new ways of thinking and a renewed passion for ingenuity.”

Awards of Excellence nominees were scored individually across a variety of category-specific criteria by judging panels comprised of industry experts.

“Every one of our nominees set out to accomplish something worthwhile in a year fraught with challenge. They had the determination to realize an idea, reach a goal, or solve a problem for the benefit of others. Passion drove them; and skill and talent rewarded them with success. Today, we honor those triumphs,” said Ankerstjerne.

IFMA’s 2021 Awards of Excellence Recipients

Distinguished Author Award: Article
Carolyn McGary
Co-director, FM Pipeline Team Inc.
“Cultivating Next-Gen FM”

Distinguished Author Award: Web-based/Social Media
Wayne Whitzell
DFS Green
“What FMs Need to Know About COVID-19: Lessons From the Front Lines in the War Against Coronavirus"

Distinguished Author Award: Book or Instructional Materials
SONARE – The Environmental Acoustics Magazine
Sabina Moeller, Editor

Council Award of Excellence for Programs and Professional Development
Public Sector Council of IFMA

Chapter Award of Excellence in Professional Development
Denver Chapter of IFMA

Council Award of Excellence in Communications
Legal Industry Council of IFMA

Chapter Award of Excellence in Web Communications
New York City Chapter of IFMA

Chapter Award of Excellence in Government Affairs
Hong Kong Chapter of IFMA

Emerging Professional Award
Neelofer Khan
Noha Global Services Pvt. Ltd.

Associate Member Award
Mindy Williams-McElearney
Turner & Townsend

Facility Management Innovation Award
FM Pipeline Team – Facilithon Program

George Graves Award for Facility Management Achievement
IBM Global Real Estate

The Sheila Sheridan Award for Sustainable Facility Operations and Management
Ayala Property Management Corp.

Distinguished Educator Award
Christian Pellecchia

Distinguished Member Award
Kathryn Lopez, CFM

Council of the Year
Legal Industry Council of IFMA

Chapter of the Year
New York City Chapter of IFMA

IFMA Foundation 2021 Trustees Awards
Through its Global Workforce Initiative (GWI), the IFMA Foundation helps ensure that the future workforce is well prepared to manage the world’s facilities. As part of the award ceremony, the Foundation presented its annual Trustees’ Awards to individuals and groups making a difference to students, professionals and local communities through inspired projects and programs.

GWI Visionary Award
Jones Lang LaSalle

GWI Distinguished Partner Award
Hot Bread Kitchen, New York City

GWI Distinguished Partner Award
New York City Chapter of IFMA

Distinguished Leadership Award
Michael Schley, IFMA Fellow

 

IgniteFM! Student Competition

Generously sponsored by FM:Systems, the 2021 IgniteFM! Student Competition was won by the Orange Team, including Ph.D. student Mahnaz Ensafi of Virginia Tech; master's degree student Priyanka Kathiresan of Pratt Institute; bachelor's degree student Shyann LaFay of Ferris State; and master's degree student Dan Nguyen of Georgia Tech. Michael Schley presented the team with a US$1,000 prize

 

Workplace Strategy and Leadership Program Class 1 Graduates

The first class of graduates from IFMA’s Workplace Evolutionaries’ Workplace Strategy and Leadership Program were also recognized. Taught by workplace management pioneers Andrew Mawson and Chris Hood, as well as Arnold Levin, it is the world’s first workplace strategy curriculum and the first Certificate of Completion program for workplace strategy and leadership in the facility management industry.

Cynthia Milota, FMP
Alice Hogueisson, CFM, SFP
Rebecca Rice
Kate North
Pat Turnbull, MA, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow
DeeAnna Wohlgamuth
Ellie Moody
Melodee Wagen, MCR
Laura Chovelon
Todd Bickel
Jomal McNeal
Wayne Collins, CFM, RPA, FMA