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.

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.

Clara, what is your current relationship to the Facilities Management profession?

I own CMS Enterprises.  I am a Facilities Strategic Planning and Project Management consultant.  I have been in the Facility Management business for 20 years.  I started out as an Interior Designer and I would often hear from frustrated building owners that once the design was complete, they felt that they were left with all the issues and no way to address them.  I became more and more involved in addressing my client’s needs after they took (occupancy.  I love what I do.  I love the constant changing landscape and the latest developments in technology that enable me to help my clients in ways that were not possible even 5 years ago.

How did you get involved in IFMA?

I joined IFMA Nashville in 1987 as a Charter member and was their first Programs Chair.  I originally saw IFMA as a great conduit for business development.  As I grew in my profession I saw how IFMA is also a great asset to professional development.  I moved to Atlanta at the end of 1993 and transferred to IFMA Atlanta.  It was a great way for me to develop new friendships and professional relationships and get to know my new home.

What are your responsibilities to the chapter in the position of VP of Professional Development?

This position is responsible for several committees that fall under Professional Development.  I am primarily make sure that the committees are receiving and have access to all the tools and programs necessary to support our mission statement:  “Provide and engage Chapter members with opportunities that expand their professional growth, build business relationships and advance their career paths.” In this position it is also important to keep benchmarking on track.  Due to our accomplishments this past 2009/2010 year we were awarded the “Professional Development Award of Excellence” at WWP 2010. It was a welcome and deserving surprise.

Where could we have found you at World Workplace?

Everywhere! I was booked solid; from working the Foundation Gala on Tuesday to the Grand March into the exhibit hall and Welcome Reception on Wednesday; to the Award of Excellence Banquet  Friday.  In between I attended some great Education Sessions.  There was plenty of opportunity to catch me in action.  I was very excited for the opportunity to participate in such a visible way.  I went into this fantastic event with the hope that our members and attendees took away that IFMA is the organization that supports the FM professional both in their personal career and in the day to day applications of facilities.

What will be your biggest win for the chapter at the end of your term?

It would have to be the commitment of the IFMA Atlanta Chapter Board to a secession plan.  We are working very hard to continue what was started last year and to take it even further.  We will have a plan in place that the next Board can build on to meet/exceed the needs of the Professional Member.  It’s important to have continuity year to year that fosters professional growth and our member’s individual educational needs.  One of the changes that we have made is to require that the VP of Professional Development be a Professional Member.  This is an important change as it adds a level of credibility to the position.    A professional FM understands what Facilities Managers and our professional members need in ways of educational support and opportunities.  The Professional Development Committee is devoted to making certain that the programs and educational opportunities are all credited with CEU’s and CFM points for the professional members that attend.  What a benefit to our members.

What would you like to see achieved beyond this year?

I think mentoring our up and coming young professionals is critical to the future of the profession and to IFMA.  I would like to see the development of mentoring groups through IFMA that align seasoned professionals with junior professionals to help guide them through their career.  It’s imperative that we embrace and help foster our future leaders

What keeps you inspired?

The world is changing at such a fast pace.  There are new advancements in technology that both challenge and empower our profession.  You have to really be plugged in to stay up to speed on these developments and to be able to use them to add value for your clients and organizations.  I am excited by the correlation between the science of business and the environment.  We are starting to see real benefit from strategic facilities planning and sustainable practices.  The new technologies have given us tools to measure and track initiatives that show the correlation between proactive facilities management and value added expenses.  CEO’s are starting to pay attention because now we have the tools to track the benefits.

When Clara is not busy with IFMA Atlanta or Delta Zeta, she enjoys spending time in Nashville with her two grandchildren, scrapbooking, photography and watching documentaries.  Clara also sings in her church Choir and helped her niece research for her recently published book “Kid Carolina”, the story of RJ Reynolds Jr.

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

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!

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

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!