Are you interested in the progress the chapter has made at achieving its goals this year? If so, you can view the 6 month report card created recently by our chapter’s board. Read it here!
the Martha Osborne CFM Award. It is presented to a Chapter CFM member for outstanding contributions to Facility Management in general and to IFMA Atlanta in particular. He or she represents exemplary experience, serves as a role model for the Chapter and potential CFM candidates, and provides support to promote the certification of members. The CFM chosen is a credit to their organization, the Chapter and the community at large. Awarded to Lindsey Bradshaw of Turner Properties.
the Outstanding Associate Award. It is presented to an associate member (provider of products and/or services) in recognition of his or her contributions of time, effort and of financial support to the Atlanta Chapter. This award recognizes that associate members play a critically important role in the overall long-term success of our Chapter. Awarded to Christine Lowell of Baker Audio.
the Achievement in Facility Management Award. It is presented to a professional member whose facility management program, project or concept has demonstrably and successfully contributed to more effective management of his or her organization’s facilities. This award highlights the importance and significance of professional member accomplishment to the future of facility management. Awarded to William Broome of Westminster Schools.
the Distinguished Member Award. It is presented to a Chapter member for outstanding contributions to Facility Management in general and to IFMA Atlanta in particular. He or she represents the best in, and serves as a role model for, Leadership, Dedication and Conscientiousness. The individual chosen is a credit to his or her organization, community, and our Association, as well as to the profession. Awarded to Steve Christopher, of Royal Cup Coffee (accepted by Brant Bosley)
One of these was the Harry L. Ludwig, III Community Services Award. It is presented to a Chapter volunteer for outstanding contributions to our community services program partners and to the committee. He/she represents IFMA Atlanta in giving back to the community that which we are about: Facility Management expertise, skill, dedication and contributions. He or she serves as a role model for the Chapter serving our community partners tirelessly, producing positive change and results; clearly going above and beyond the call of duty. Awarded to Emily Perry of Harris Perry and Associates.
At its December awards ceremony, IFMA Atlanta took the opportunity to pay special recognition to our corporate Sustaining Patrons. IFMA Atlanta Sustaining Patrons represent an elite group of companies and organizations that have made a powerful statement in support of facility management. By giving their financial support to the chapter they support quality educational luncheons and other educational events. Early on they provided the resources necessary to bring IFMA to the table to stand side by side with other professional associations in Atlanta. This kind of loyalty and support from our Sustaining Patron members is the result of long standing relationship building and is the core of our Chapter philosophy. Without this group of companies, many of the professionals in the room would not be members today.
Companies who have been the foundation of support for the Chapter since its inception in 1995:
Two other companies who have supported the chapter for more than 15 years:
- CORT
- Milliken Contract (Milliken has consistently hosted our Strategic Planning Retreats for our Board of Directors for many years.)
Six other companies have the distinction of giving more than ten years support to the Chapter:
- Choate Interiors
- Corporate Environments
- EMCOR/Aircond
- Hendrick, Inc.
- Humphries and Company
- Trilogy FM
Five companies have more than 5 years of Chapter support logged:
We want to recognize all of our remaining 2010 Sustaining Patrons:
- The Best Consultant
- The Mohawk group
- APCO Graphics, Inc.
- AVYVE
- Centimark Corporation
- Document Technologies
- Mayberry Electric, Inc.
- POLYGON – a former Munters Company
- T.L.Gowin and Company
- OMNI Workspace
- Network Office Clearinghouse
- Northwest Exterminating
- Taylor Group and Associates
- Turner Construction
Thanksgiving has past and Christmas is just weeks away. That can only mean one thing; the IFMA Atlanta Holiday Party and Awards ceremony is coming up soon. In this time of year marked by tradition, it is only fitting that I have saved this interview for this special time of year. As is tradition, it is the former president’s great joy and responsibility to host the last official gathering for our chapter. I am meeting with Joanne Cole to highlight this momentous event and take a look at IFMA past, present and future. While I don’t think we will be visited by three ghosts I’m sure this interview will be nostalgic, reflecting and insightful. To all our IFMA Colleagues may we wish you Happy Holidays and prosperous blessings.
By all accounts the 2010 IFMA World Work Place was a huge success. Our own Atlanta chapter, as the hosts of the event, also had a well-regarded presence at the event. SCAD students designed an innovative booth which featured a way for visitors to help leave their mark. People who stopped by the booth were handed an artificial peach and a marker and were asked to write whatever message they wanted. Those peaches were then placed in display walls and became a part of the booth itself.
Out of those peaches 29 were placed by people who identified themselves as being from Atlanta, and 13 were placed by folks who claimed that they were from other countries. Many of the messages thanked the Atlanta chapter for its hospitality or indicated what a good time people were having at the event. Here is a small sampling:
- Awesome Peach Idea
- This is so cool! You guys rock!
- I ♥ IFMA Atlanta!
- Temporary GA Peach
- Great Conference, Atlanta is Amazing!
Check out some the whole list of what people wrote on the peaches here!
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.
Life’s greatest moments are often borne from power partnerships. Think Rice and Montana. Lennon and McCartney. Hewlett and Packard. And, how grounded would we be without those Wright Brothers? Just as Ben and Jerry revolutionized the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility, the Atlanta Chapter of IFMA is blazing a trail of its own, by partnering with the Atlanta Community ToolBank to impact local outreach initiatives.
“The ToolBank model empowers charitable groups of all types to implement a diverse range of community improvement projects year-round, “ stated Board President Cavelle Benjamin. “This unique approach enabled more than 39,000 volunteers to complete over 1670 service initiatives in 2009. And, volunteerism has continued to rise, as by mid-2010, ToolBank had already experienced a more than 30% increase in tool usage.”
IFMA Atlanta’s support of the ToolBank is critical to mission delivery. In addition to providing volunteer support at the tool warehouse for general program needs. IFMA continues to assist in the areas of facility maintenance by providing expert advice and hands on remodeling. Just a couple of examples of this assistance are:
- Andy Hoover (The BEST Consultant), IFMA member and Partner Lead, assisted ToolBank by securing a warehouse space from Duke Realty. This location was used as a temporary ToolBank satellite location in support of Gwinnett’s Great Days of Service.
- Pat Darroch (Verizon) and Bryan Benedict (Humphries & Company), IFMA members and Partner Lead (Pat), are currently working to improve safety conditions at the ToolBank warehouse and connecting them with resources to accomplish this task.
- Bryan Benedict (Humphries & Companies), IFMA member, secured the services of Construction Debris Services, Inc. They recently provided interior demolition of a couple walls, allowing the ToolBank to expand space to accommodate the growing Tool Lending Program.
- Barbara Miller (Akzo Nobel Coatings Inc.), IFMA member, is currently assisting them with the implementation of the 5S of workplace organization methodology.
These are just a few of the ways IFMA Atlanta has assisted ToolBank in the recent past.
“It is exciting to witness the growth of Tool Lending and how it impacts the local community,” stated CJ Clark, ToolBank’s Master Tool Librarian and active participant in the IFMA partnership. “Hundreds of nonprofits, schools and faith based groups depend on this program to ensure they can plant trees, remove graffiti, build playground and even repair and maintain their own facilities.”
The Atlanta Community ToolBank will celebrate 20 years of service in 2011. “Our new mantra for the 20th anniversary is ReTool Your Take On Charity,” explains Executive Director Patty Russart. “We want to illustrate how an individual’s investment in the ToolBank, whether it’s the gift of time, monetary support or in-kind donations, will literally support thousands of good works, right in their own community. Our partnership with IFMA is truly invaluable, as the resources provided enable us to maximize our own service model, increasing overall community impact even further. ”
The bottom line? IFMA is powering progress. The past 20 years have proven when passionate volunteers are given the tools needed to both mobilize and maintain hands on service projects – communities will strengthen. That means safer, cleaner, happier lives for us all. Now, isn’t that a deal worth making? Visit www.atlanta.toolbank.org to watch the blue tools in action. Better yet, come on down to volunteer some time – rest assured your gift of time will make a difference.
By Dave Woelber
In the video below, Atlanta Chapter President, Christy Jellets challenges other IFMA chapters and members to match some of our own chapter’s initiatives in fundraising for the IFMA Foundation. Check it out!
There is an upcoming USGBC event being offered this Thursday, October 21, from 8:30-10:00am.
Presenters will explore renewable energy and solar photovoltaic (PV) technology. Trends and new developments in these technologies hold much promise in meeting Georgia’s energy demands. The presentation will cover an overview of PV systems, investment strategies, and market status in Georgia. A tour of Choate Construction’s state-of-the-art PV installation will also take place at the end of the presentation. This course is approved for LEED AP continuing education credit.
Of Sense and Sustainability ~
Bio of Annette Gorelick, IFMA Atlanta Chapter Secretary 2010/11
by Chris Sanders
It a beautiful Indian summer day in Atlanta, my husband and I are driving with the top down to a local Starbucks to meet with Annette for this interview. I am running late and our interview time is finely scheduled between other appointments. As I walk past the row of outdoor tables, a woman’s voice calls out my name. I was happy that Annette recognized, not necessarily me, but a woman who looked like she was looking for someone. What struck me first about Annette is her sense of style and lightness of being. She is posed, confident, friendly and approachable. Through the course of the interview I also find out she is passionate about her beliefs in protecting the environment and about IFMA.