Atlanta FM Blog

Meet the President Elect ~
Interview with Karen Howard, IFMA Atlanta President Elect 2010/11
by Chris Sanders

I was originally to conduct this interview of Karen Howard on her home turf, C-W-C. As I drove with the early morning traffic across the top end, a chain of events caused 285 east bound to become a parking lot. Karen graciously offered to meet me at my office later in the day for this interview. As I returned from lunch with Moe’s in hand Karen was waiting for me in the Equitable lobby. We made our way up to the 25th floor of SWSN finding a comfortable conference room to talk.

For those that don’t know Karen, which may not be many of you, Karen is one of the founding members of the Atlanta Chapter of IFMA. The network of people around Karen started investigating how to charter a chapter of IFMA in what was then a younger smaller Atlanta. Karen pointed out that early in her career, Facilities Management was very new; there were not many Facilities Managers and the few there were only worked for large corporations. Through the years of Karen’s involvement in IFMA there have been many changes to both the Chapter and to the city. In this interview Karen provides insight into the past, present and what she hopes is the future of our chapter.

Karen, what does it mean to be Vice President of IFMA?

It’s President Elect. I know it’s confusing; the position is titled President Elect, as part of the responsibility is to learn on the job prior to being next year’s President.

I did not know that, so it’s like being President in Training?

Yes, that’s a good way to describe it.

Primarily, in my opinion, I have been working up to this position for a long time. I see my focus being to fill in for the president and to prepare for the responsibility of that position for the next year. I am really looking forward to attending various committee meetings and getting to know all the new members of the Atlanta Chapter. I know all the members that have been a part of IFMA for a long time, but there is this new group of members that I want to connect to. As President Elect I get the opportunity to meet and interact with a broad spectrum of members. Every year is different. Every president is different. The challenge for me as President Elect is to identify how I am to best contribute.

You mentioned you have been working up to this position for a long time, what chain of career events has brought you to here?

When I graduated from design school the economy was in a slump, much like what we have just experienced. As we know, there are no design jobs in bad economies so I took a position in sales. I have spent my career in furniture sales starting out at Ball Stalker and then moved on to C-W-C. Here I am still doing what I love.

What surprises you most about how the chapter has grown and changed since those early years?

I’d have to say it’s how involved our associate members are in the chapter. I believe this is a good thing as the associate members have so much to offer the facilities community. It hasn’t always been this way. I’m happy to see how the Presidents from recent years have embraced the associate membership and seen the potential of their contribution. The growth of our chapter membership is also a pleasant surprise. While many other chapters have experienced a decline in their membership through this tough economic period, our membership numbers continue to grow. I think that speaks volumes about the Atlanta Chapter.

What volunteering roles have you had with IFMA Atlanta?

I’ve been on the Membership Committee and Chair of the Associate Committee where I developed the etiquette rules for the Associate Members. The chapter has changed so much that is hard to remember the names of all the committees I have worked on. We use to have only a handful of committees that did many things. Now, those responsibilities have been divided up into smaller committees and subcommittees. For instance, I was on a committee what would be called today the programs committee and I also worked early on to get IFMA in to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, but I don’t recall what the committee would have been called. Probably the committee that I most enjoyed was the Associates Committee; it suited me well. Last year as Secretary was challenging. There was so much change, good change. It was long overdue.

What do you like most about living in Atlanta; what do you hope attendees of World Workplace take away from their visit?

Atlanta is such an attractive city. It has become more and more cosmopolitan. Sometimes I look around and feel like I am in Manhattan yet it still has this small city appeal. I live in town and love that everything is right here where I need it. World Workplace is going to be fabulous. I hope attendees leave this conference with the desire to return and experience Atlanta on a personal level. Come see me on Peachtree Street; I’ll be manning a booth and hopefully fitting in time to be involved with the Foundation and International.

I asked Christy this question so I’m curious, what is your vision for the future of IFMA Atlanta?

For this year, to continue what Joanne and Christy have already started. I’d like to start working on things that may not get attention due to the focus on World Workplace. WWP is here this year and that is taking a lot of energy; rightfully so. Next year we need to refocus on tasks and events that could not happen this year. The End Year Report is symbolic of where the chapter is going. What a great thing that was and what a benchmark to set for other chapters. I’m glad Joanne pushed us into the Balanced Scorecard. The chapter needs to keep progressing in a more professional and sophisticated direction. These two initiatives are examples of that professionalism.

Karen Howard lives in Atlanta with her husband Nick and has a daughter in college. Karen spends what free time she has enjoying her animals, reading, and attending the theater.

One of the pleasures of attending World Workplace is the energy generated by Chapters from all over the world proudly displaying and “trading” their chapter pins.  Each year International has a “Best Pin” contest at the IFMA Central booth and — you may not know this — last year the Atlanta Chapter won the contest for our “Recycled Georgia Pine” Chapter pin!

This year our Chapter has begun a re-branding process: beginning with our new logo, our Annual Report, our Newsletter and (any day now!) our website!  To celebrate this re-branding we are using our chapter’s new logo is going to be featured prominently at IFMA’s World Workplace this October.  It will be displayed on the EXPO floor (Peachtree Street), on our Chapter lanyards, Chapter shirts and, of course, on this year’s Chapter pin.

All those registered for World Workplace will receive pins to trade with at World Workplace.  Here’s a sneak preview of this year’s pin – wear it proudly and we’ll see you at World Workplace in October!

Article by Joanne Cole

Over 40 IFMA members attended a private tour of the headquarters of the CNN Center on Thursday, June 24.  Located in downtown Atlanta, CNN Center features more than 1.2 million square feet of office, retail, and restaurant space.  The site spans several city blocks and contains CNN’s main newsrooms, as well as several of the network’s studios.

IFMA member, Lindsey Bradshaw with Turner Properties, kicked off the tour by sharing with the group some interesting facts about the history of the site.  She explained that while the CNN Center opened as the Omni in 1976, it enjoyed limited success as a multi-use business/recreation property until the CNN headquarters was moved to the site in 1987.  Since that time the property has been modified in a number of ways to service the operating needs of CNN, Turner Broadcasting, and the many visitors who frequent the site daily.

Lindsey Bradshaw kicks things off

Lindsey along with Eugene De Nijs Bik, also with Turner, then treated attendees to an up-close view on how CNN operates.  Tour highlights included a viewing of the latest newsroom renovation, stops to the editing department, and a walk through of a recent office space build-out.  Attendees were also able to catch a live newscast of CNN anchor Rick Sanchez’s afternoon show!

After the tour, the group convened at McCormick & Schmick seafood restaurant, which is also located at CNN Center.  The group enjoyed cocktails and appetizers graciously provided by Andrew Hoover, president of The Best Consultant Company.

–Sandra Reese

Chapter President, Joanne Cole, points us to a great article in the British Institute of Facility Management’s “FM World” magazine urging Facility Managers to “Go Organic.” The story encourages FMs to broaden their experience and become comfortable with working outside their traditional silos.

The story ends with an interesting, and possibly prescient point,

The next generation of movers and shakers in FM – are unlikely to be FMs at all, though they may trace their roots back to the discipline that set them on their way. The challenge is for individuals to recognise this, and seize the opportunity FM has provided. To those who are ready, there has never been a better time.

FMs are well-paced to be leaders in the future of building services – it’s up to us what we do with it!

Atlanta Facility Managers often don’t realize how lucky they are to live in this city. Our chapter of IFMA is one of the oldest and most mature in the nation. Local school, Georgia Tech offers one of the few master’s degree programs offered in the United States. Even better, one of the professors at that school, Kathy Roper, also happens to be an IFMA Fellow and member of the IFMA National Board of Directors (as well as a past president of IFMA Atlanta).

Professor Roper now has another treasure to offer to Facility Managers in Atlanta and beyond — she has co-authored the third edition of the Facility Management Handbook (along with David Cotts and Richard Payant). Those of us who live in the city are lucky enough to be able to attend a seminar featuring Professor Roper and one of her co-authors as they speak about some of the ideas featured in their book. This event will take place on September 22nd at 5pm (on the GA Tech Campus).

Here’s a description:

Two of the authors of The Facility Management Handbook, Third Edition, provide their insight on the important areas of sustainability, security and emergency preparedness. These topics, new to this edition, have become critical issues for facility managers following 9/11 and hurricane Katrina. The new focus on sustainability is on everyone’s list and this seminar will highlight both.

With the release of the third edition of The Facility Management Handbook, issues of security, emergency preparedness and sustainability are addressed for facility and property management professionals. This seminar will provide an overview of new materials in this edition and give an in-depth analysis of why these issues have become critical for managers of the built environment. Authors Kathy O. Roper, CFM, MCR, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow, Associate Professor and Chair, Integrated Facility Management, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Richard Payant, CFM, CPE, CHS, Director of Facilities Management, Georgetown University, will present and provide details on how to ensure your facilities and FM departments are addressing these issues in the rapidly changing world that the 21st Century presents to workplace managers.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn why security, emergency preparedness and life safety are high priorities for anyone managing facilities.
2. Discover the background and importance of sustainability in facility management.
3. Take away critical issues to include in day-to-day operations, as well as strategic planning from these topics in order incorporate them into your organizations’ practice, including hints for gaining approvals for policies and budgets.

Exciting stuff – we hope we see you there! Register Here

IFMA Young Professionals is a group dedicated to providing Facility Managers under 35 years old with an avenue for meeting their peers, sharing experiences and networking! The group also has a lot of fun in the process.

We are pleased to announce that the next Young Professionals social will be on May 21st @5pm. It is being held at Fado’s Irish Pub on 273 Buckhead Ave in Atlanta. There will be complimentary appetizers sponsored by Technical Management Services, Chosen Enterprises Janitorial, Munters, Shaw Contract Group, and Ken Bryson (who is chair of IFMA Atlanta’s web committee).

We hope to see you there!