Atlanta FM Blog

Trading Pins at World Workplace

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

Recap: Tour of CNN Center (June 24, 2010)

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

Good Thing There was a Facility Manager Around

Photo Submitted by Monte Townsend

At the recent Emerging Leaders event at Georgia Tech; a group of IFMA members were briefly trapped in a crowded elevator together. Good thing everyone in IFMA’s Atlanta chapter is so friendly!

Luncheon Recap: LEED & Green Globes – Which is Right for You?

If you missed the June luncheon, you missed a great presentation by Wayne Robertson, PE, LEED AP from Energy ACE. Wayne surveyed the room for those of us familiar with LEED. Most hands in the room were raised. He then asked who was familiar with Green Globes. Only a few hands were raised. LEED is clearly the market leader for sustainably certification but there’s a new kid on the block, Green Globes (actually I did some research and they’ve been around since 1993). Wayne liked this challenge to Pepsi vs. Coke, Microsoft vs. Apple, etc. You get the picture.

LED’s – Why Is Everybody So Excited?

President Joanne Cole points us to this article that was written for the Charlotte chapter by Rick Regan. She shares it here with their permission.

LED’s – Why Is Everybody So Excited?

A recent International Trade Show and Conference devoted to Architectural and Commercial Lighting held this year in Las Vegas, raised the question: Why is everybody getting so excited about LEDs? The LED products that most of us have seen have been too dim for serious commercial use, and kind of a blue-ish light to boot. Not ready for Prime Time!

Here’s the thing, LEDs have been steadily getting brighter and more powerful, year after year. And this year marks the first time that LED products will be able to challenge the performance of every kind of light: Incandescent, High Pressure Sodium, Metal-Halide and Fluorescent, to name a few.

The magic number is 100. That is: 100 lumens-per-Watt of electricity. The very latest T8 & T5 products hover around this 100 lu/W level, and HPS and M-H are in the 100 lu/W range too. After 40 years of development and improvements, 100 lu/W is about the best you can get out of conventional lighting. (source: IESNA Lighting Handbook)

US Green Building Council – Educational Event

USGBC – GA Educational Event

Thursday, April 15, 2010 (04:00 PM – 06:00 PM)

999 Peachtree
999 Peachtree Street
Suite 550
Atlanta, GA 30309

The 999 Peachtree Building is owned by Jamestown Properties and managed by Cousins Properties. The project earned LEED Silver Certification under the LEED v.2 for Existing Buildings rating system. The Property Manager, Janine Powell, and a panel of project team members will present the case study of the LEED project certification process for this project. LEED APs will have the opportunity to earn continuing education credit for attending this event.

Please register at:

http://www.usgbcga.org/index.php?option=com_events&type=event&task=details&id=239

Thank you.

Annette Gorelick

Special Thank You to the IFMA Service Committee

When I arrived at 89 Grove Way in Roswell in November 2005, I had just become the Executive Director of the Child Development Association and landlord of its 33,000 square foot facility. The 30-year old building was ugly, hemorrhaging utilities, pest-infested and in generally deplorable condition. Fortunately, I had already attended my first meeting with the IFMA Community Service Committee, so I knew that I did not have to tackle these challenges alone. I knew that an entire cadre of experienced, knowledgeable, facility professionals were committed to the successful modernization of our building.

In fact, the IFMA Community Service Committee had already conducted a comprehensive analysis of the building’s needs and prepared a detailed assessment that would guide the needed improvements over the next several years. Under IFMA’s guidance this process had begun– a new state-of-the-art roof had been installed earlier in the year and the HVAC system was under contract for renovation.

FMs Need to “Go Organic”

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!

IFMA Atlanta Annual Awards: Harry L. Ludwig, III Community Services Award

IFMA’s Atlanta chapter recently held its annual awards luncheon, where members were recognized for furthering both Facility Management and the chapter.

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.

The winner of this year’s award is Barbara Miller. Barbara has been a member of the Community Services Committee for many years now. She has taken charge as a co-leader for the Elaine Clark Center for Exceptional Children for the second year in a row. She was instrumental in coordinating in kind services and products for their last two renovation projects, including soliciting help from her own company, Akzel Nobel for paint products. She has over seen the necessary repairs and project management skills that have been donated to this nonprofit. She has engaged her own company in volunteering at the site and sought donated materials to keep operating costs to a minimum.

Barbara spent many hours assisting them with this process and helping them organize volunteers.
She has been a regular contributor not only to her team partner, ECC but also to our other partners when the need arises. Barbara has supported our non-profit lunch and learns and the annual Facility Summit. She can always be counted on to be there for Volunteer Days.

She regularly attends monthly luncheons and other Chapter functions. She is true example of a quality member.

IFMA Atlanta Annual Awards: Martha Osborne CFM Award

IFMA’s Atlanta chapter recently held its annual awards luncheon, where members were recognized for furthering both Facility Management and the chapter.

One of these was 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.

The winner of this year’s award is Joseph Geierman. Joseph came to the Chapter as a Georgia Tech student in the Integrated Facility Management program. He jumped right in with both feet in engaging himself in the Chapter activities, first by taking the CFM Review class and passing the CFM exam. Currently he is active on the Young Professionals committee, the Sustainability committee, the Career Management committee, the Newsletter committee and the Website committee. He was instrumental in starting our Chapter’s Facebook page, and FM blog, and is a regular contributor to both. He has also lead in our Communications training efforts by presenting at our luncheon on Technology the ins and outs of our new electronic newsletter, navigating the Chapter website, chapter Facebook page, and FM blog.

Joseph has participated in every sustainability forum, helping guide the forums for relevant content. He is an all around terrific supporter and integral part of IFMA Atlanta