Decisions made in Washington , D.C. , are increasingly affecting the built environment. Whether it is the newly announced Better Buildings Initiative energy efficiency, tax incentives for green technologies or the possible implementation of a carbon cap and trade system, now more than ever, the facility management profession needs to make its voice heard in Washington D.C. Be part of the solution at IFMA’s Annual Advocacy Day.

Soon after Advocacy Day 2010 was over, those who participated were notified that the Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010 had passed through the house and senate and was headed to President Obama’s desk. Chapter leaders played an important role in educating Congress and their staff about the bill’s importance. Here is what one chapter leader had to say: “This victory really makes our recent IFMA advocacy experience really come alive-looking forward to keeping the momentum going for the profession!”

This year’s advocacy day will take place on Sept. 20-21, and will be combined with IFMA’s Public Policy Forum held in conjunction with our partners at the Federal Facilities Council. It is regularly said in Washington that if you are not at the table, you are on the menu – meaning if you are not part of the conversation, you or your business could be affected. IFMA continually monitors developments in D.C., but in order to further magnify the importance of the FM professional, we need to engage our most effective resource – the experience and expertise of IFMA’s membership.

This 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. We certainly hope you are able to participate.

This year we are again asking our chapters to send representatives to Washington , D.C. , and engage with their members of Congress during the Advocacy Day and Public Policy Forum. IFMA will provide an educational session the afternoon of September 20 that will provide an overview of the association’s government affairs program, how to articulate our positions on certain issues and most importantly, what to expect in a meeting with a member of Congress or their staff. You need not 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 say, “What can I do to help the profession.”

The Atlanta Chapter had a representative last year and would love to hear from Chapter members who might be flexible enough to plan work in Washington around this event to reduce costs to the Chapter. If you are interested in attending, please contact me to get on the list.

For those who participated in last year’s forum, we hope you will consider participating again this year so you can share your experience, learn about developments, continue to build relationships with your member of Congress and perhaps even lead a group of first time IFMA advocates around the hill.

by Chris Sanders

It’s a perfect fall afternoon and I am sitting in my local Starbucks waiting to meet with Clara.  As Clara arrives I feel woefully underdressed.  Clara is dressed in a beautiful bright blue silk suit that matches the color of her eyes.  Noticeably placed on the label of Clara’s suit are Delta Zeta pins, the reason for Clara’s Saturday formality as she had just come from her Sorority Founders Brunch.  Clara explains that she has received a National Award for her support of Delta Zeta.  As is revealed in this interview, the Delta Zeta National Award is not the only award Clara will receive this year.

Read the rest of this entry »

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!