The Atlanta Chapter of The International Facility Management Association

Newsletter | MARCH 2010

Photos from the February Luncheon

The IFMA Atlanta Board has just completed the mid-year review of the IFMA Atlanta Chapter balanced scorecard and I am pleased to give you an update on the progress of the Chapter dating from the beginning of the fiscal year (June 2009). As many of you may remember, I reported back in October 2009 that the board completed a process to implement a balanced scorecard (http://www.ifmaatlanta.org/pdf/ATL-IFMA_Balanced_Scorecard_090918REV3.pdf) to align the Chapter with the IFMA International strategic plan.

One of our main objectives was to establish a more focused manner of reporting at the monthly board meetings. Updating our committee job descriptions, creating standardized committee report forms and redesigning the Chapter budget for clarity has enabled the Board to concentrate on the programs and events that enhance the value of your membership. I would like to highlight some of the other tasks accomplished in the first six months by the volunteers and members of the Chapter. You should all be excited and impressed by the momentum of this organization.

This Chapter has:

Revised the tier structure of the Sustaining Patron program, rolled the program to match the calendar year and developed an "a la carte" sponsorship program. These steps have enabled us to maximize the benefits to our Sustaining Patrons and ultimately to the Chapter as a whole.
For the first time in the Chapter's history, partnered with International to showcase the local Chapter's vendors and service providers with our very own "Peachtree Street" at the World Work Place Expo this coming October.
Established one new committee - Volunteer Coordinator - to help our members find ways to become engaged in the Chapter's activities and maximize the benefits of their membership.
Established a two-year sub-committee for coordinating the Chapter's events and volunteers for the World Work Place Reception at the Georgia Aquarium.
Collaborated with AIA and CoreNet to bring you Atlanta Work Place. We brought you a unique, hands-on experience with a live LEED EB/OM project and review class, a professional writing class, CFM Exam and Study Review sessions.
Established the FM Job Club and FM On-Call Program to help our members in transition.
For Social and Networking opportunities, the Chapter had our first annual Bowling Night, Scarecrows in the Garden and Young Professionals Socials in collaboration with the CoreNet Young Professionals group. And they are making plans to work together on Community Service and Volunteer Day efforts. And coming in March is yet another brand new offering - a collaboration of the Associates committee, Special Events, Tours and Career Services with Speed Networking.

Our efforts to bring you more value for your membership dollars appear to be bearing fruit because our membership numbers are up since the beginning of the year. When looking at the comparisons with a few other chapters, we see that they, as well as International's numbers as a whole have fallen. The fact that in this difficult time our numbers have continued to hold and indeed, increase, lets us know that the IFMA Atlanta Chapter is traveling the right path.

The programs and initiatives that the Atlanta Chapter had already established and have continued through the years are still going strong and have shown a steady increase in attendance over the last year. Our monthly programs, FM Networking Breakfasts, New Member Breakfasts, Sustaining Patron and Association Reception, Community Service and Non-Profit Educational offerings remain strong, coupled with the Chapter's strong Scholarships and IFMA Foundation Support program are the foundation that has made Atlanta the award-winning chapter that it is.

This Chapter is only half way through the year and I am pleased with where we are with our focused and solid strategic plan. The foundation is set to build on in 2010-2011. Our next steps are to develop a 1-3-5 strategic plan and succession plan for leadership of the chapter. Doing so will arm our chapter with a solid framework to move forward to fulfill our mission and make the Atlanta Chapter of IFMA the premier, focused resource for professional development and innovative solutions in strategic facility management.

In closing, I'm excited to be leading the Atlanta Chapter through its growth and structure this year. I make myself available to anyone who would like to discuss issues or concerns regarding the direction of the Chapter. I hope you will feel free to contact me directly at bzv6@cdc.gov

All the best,

Joanne Cole, CFM, LEED AP
Chapter President

Upcoming
Events

IFMA Non-Profit Summit
Date: March 4th
Time: 8am - 3:10pm
Location: Atlanta Foodbank

Communicating with the Stars
Date: March 9th
Time: 5:45 - 8pm
Location: Academy of Medicine
Topic: Networking Over Atlanta

Sustainable Landscape Practices
Education Program
Date: March 11th
Time: 8:30am
Location: Ruppert Landscape Office
Speaker: Annette Gorelick

FM Job Club
Date: March 16th
Time: 11:00am
Location: IST Management Services
Speaker: Joe Carroll

March Luncheon
Date: March 17th
Time: 11:30am
Location: TBD
Topic: "Healthy Indoor Air Quality By Design"
Speaker: Paul Bates, LEED-AP

Volunteer Day
Date: May 15th
Time: 8:30am - 1:00pm

Connections...

Read our blog at

http://ifmaatlanta.org/blog

Join us on May 15th, 2010 for Volunteer Day. Networking, breakfast and lunch is included for FREE!

Time: 8:30am - 1:00pm

More Details to follow soon....

Sustaining Patrons

Gold Level

Silver Level

Bronze Level

Patron Level

ASD, Inc
CORT
Flood Brothers, Inc
Hendrick, Inc.
Malcolm B. Weiss & Associates
Network Office Clearinghouse
Northwest Exterminating
Royal Cup, Inc
Southern Business Systems
Taylor Group
Turner Construction

Professionals-

Are you looking for Green Products/Services?

If so, please check out our member companies in the Sustainable Directory. It is located on the Sustainability page under the Member Resources tab on the IFMA Atlanta website.

Associate members-

Do you have a green product or service and would like our professional members to find out about them?

To be considered for listing on the Sustainable Directory, please download and application and submit the completed application to Lani Terry.for review by the Sustainability Subcommittee.

Past Events

February Luncheon Recap

Finance: Show Me the Money

by William B. Hood, CPA of Carr, Riggs & Ingram

With over 140 attendees, it was a full house at Villa Christina for the February lunch program "Show Me the Money." Our presenter, William Hood with Carr, Riggs & Ingram, one of the Southeast's "top four" accounting firms, outlined ways to save money and improve the ROI in a facility through sustainable construction practices, tax credits and deductions, and cost segregation for depreciation.

The presentation began with a five minute video of an actual 15 day tenant build-out for a LEED certified project. With the use of modular building materials, not only did the client save time in the schedule over conventional construction, but they also realized tax and operating cost savings. By using the cost segregation method of depreciation, the modular components were depreciated over a shorter period of time resulting in higher after-tax cash flow.

Mr. Hood also outlined various energy reduction tax credits that can be incorporated into a facility:

Use of energy efficient appliances.
Use of qualified alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal.

In addition, there is a specific tax deduction that can be realized for energy efficient commercial buildings that reduce their energy consumption by 50% in comparison to a reference building that meets specified minimum standards.

The bottom line is that with the use of some of these facility initiatives, the payback on the capital will be reduced:

Investment (less tax incentives) divided by annual energy cost savings = payback (years).

Upcoming Events

Special Event:
Communicating With the Stars

Date: Tuesday, March 9
Time: 5:45 - 8:00 pm
Free to the first 35 Professional members!

A behind the scenes tour of The Historic Academy of Medicine at Georgia Tech and a fun and exciting evening of food, drink and connecting with IFMA Atlanta members. The tour will be lead by the facility Event Coordinator, Shawn Stinson, and the fun will be facilitated by Joe Carroll, SPHR, CMF, and VP, Human Resources at IST Management Services, Inc. Watch the IFMA Atlanta website for registration details.

Location: 875 West Peachtree St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30309

Complimentary valet parking will be available.

Background:

The Academy of Medicine in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia was built in 1941 and housed the Medical Association of Atlanta until the 1970s. The Academy was designed by the Atlanta architecture firm of Hentz, Adler and Shutze, with R. Kennon Perry the project architect and Philip Trammell Shutze the supervising principal. The building was intended as a meeting place for Atlanta physicians. Shutze's austerely classical design is reminiscent of the work of John Soane and Benjamin Latrobe.

By the 1970s the building had fallen into disrepair. The building was renovated in 1983 and is used by the public as well as the medical profession. In 2008, Atlanta Medical Heritage, Inc. donated the Academy of Medicine to the Georgia Tech Foundation, Inc. due to lack of resources to maintain the facility.

The Academy offers its clients an unparalleled opportunity to host functions in one of the most beautiful and historic settings in the city. The Academy is on the National Register of Historic Places. It offers its clients the old-world elegance and style of days gone by, right in the heart of midtown Atlanta. The Academy has played host to some of Atlanta's most prestigious and glamorous affairs. The facility has the original crystal chandelier from the movie set of "Gone with the Wind" in the rotunda.

In July 2010 the facility will close to undergo a $5 million major 18-month restoration process. The restoration is scheduled for completion in 2012. Don't miss the chance to experience a "before" tour of this historical building.

The New Spring Classic is Coming!

Mark it down! Don't pencil it in...pen it in! The IFMA Atlanta Spring Classic is coming soon. April 29th is the day. Golf, tennis, boats, water, wine, fajitas, cheese dip, door prizes, get out of the office for the day! Who wouldn't want that?

Associates, call your favorite professional members and invite them. Professional members, call your favorite associates and tell them TO INVITE YOU!

Check the website for all of the details. See you then! !

Special Education Program

March 11, 2010 | 8:30 - 12:30 | Sponsored by Rupert Landscape

Ruppert Landscape

Ruppert Landscape & CWC is pleased to present our third annual educational seminar designed to assist property and facility managers. This year we are pleased to host Annette Gorelick, LEED AP O+M, of G4 Green Connections as our presenter. Annette has developed this course to help Facility and Real Estate Managers review sustainable landscape methods and practices and apply this knowledge to real world landscape issues.

This event is sponsored by Ruppert Landscape.

Continuing Education Credit: This course has been approved for 3 hours of CEUs by the Georgia Real Estate Commission and 3 CFM Maintenance Points by the International Facility Management Association Education Department. Pre-registration is necessary for this event due to limited availability.

*Registered non-attendees will be subject to a $25.00 charge. Please register by filling out this attached PDF form and e-mailing sfraser@ruppertcompanies.com or Faxing it to 770-931-9006 by March 5, 2010.

IFMA World WorkPlace

The premier convention for facilities professionals is coming to Atlanta in 2010. IFMA's World Workplace is scheduled for the Georgia World Congress Center on October 27-28. The Expo is free and open to the public. All professionals in the region will be extended an invitation to visit whether or not they are able to participate in the conference. So even if your target market is limited to the Atlanta metro, the anticipated local foot traffic down Peachtree should be of great benefit to your company.

For details and an application form, visit our website!

IFMA March Lunch Presentation

Date: March 17, 2010

Topic: Finance: "Healthy Indoor Air Quality by Design"

Speaker: Paul Bates, LEED-AP, GREENGUARD Environmental Institute

Mark your Calendars Now!

Register Here!

Presentation:

The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute, based here in Atlanta, is a third-party certification organization for testing the emissions standards of products used in the built environment. This educational semina r will communicate the importance of indoor air quality (IAQ) and empower specifiers and facility managers to employ strategies to improve the IAQ in the spaces they are creating or maintaining. The course includes background on the impact of indoor air pollution on human health and economics. Participants will learn to identify sources of indoor air pollutants, illustrated by several case studies that highlight the effects of controlling, versus not controlling, IAQ through the design, construction, and maintenance stages of a project. Emphasis also will be placed on how participants can incorporate good IAQ principles into sustainable building projects.

Objectives:

Learn what the GREENGUARD product seal means.
Identify sources of indoor air pollutants.
How to incorporate good IAQ principles into a new or existing building.

About The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute:

The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) is an industry-independent, non-profit organization that oversees the GREENGUARD Certification ProgramSM. As an ANSI Authorized Standards Developer, GEI establishes acceptable indoor air standards for indoor products, environments, and buildings. GEI's mission is to improve public health and quality of life through programs that improve indoor air. A GEI Advisory Board consisting of independent volunteers, who are renowned experts in the areas of indoor air quality, public and environmental health, building design and construction, and public policy, provides guidance and leadership to GEI.

About the speaker:

Paul Bates, LEED-AP, serves as the Market Outreach Manager for GREENGUARD Environmental Institute and is responsible for developing and delivering sustainably oriented education and training programs to a range of audiences including building and design professionals, professional organizations and consumers. Paul has undergraduate and graduate degrees in Marketing and Business Administration from the University of West Florida as well as an Interior Design degree, (NCIDQ accredited), from the University of Southern Mississippi. Previously, Paul was involved in both sales and marketing at design related firms and is an Allied member, ASID.

easel

7^th Annual Angels of Hope Luncheon
benefiting

The Elaine Clark Center and Heart of Hope Academy

United together to support children with special needs

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

11:30am - 1:30pm

Capital City Club, Brookhaven

with Special Guest

David Sampson

(Award winning artist/sculptor)

www.arkatlantaart.com

(Formal invitation to follow)

Education Committee Update

cfm pic

Survey Said! Members look to our Chapter for opportunities to engage in career and personal development opportunities. The Educational Committee listened and worked to offer courses and workshops that were of interest to the Facility Management professional.

In addition to a LEED training course and study groups and Lunch and Learn workshops, we sponsored the CFM Exam Review class pictured above and followed that with weekly study groups to support those who are working toward the Certified Facility Manager credential.

As you choose to DEVELOP YOURSELF THIS DECADE! start by marking your calendars for the upcoming courses - and keep your eye on the Atlanta Chapter of IFMA notices and website for further information. Feel free to call any of the committee members below, but more importantly, take advantage of the available opportunities to develop yourself.

Atlanta Chapter of IFMA Education Committee: Brant Bosley, Machelle Pellegrini, Merri Anne Pfeffer, Dan Walther

3rd Annual IFMA Non-Profit Facility Summit

For Non-profits to learn how to manage their facilities more effectively

Date: March 4, 2010
Time: 8:00 AM - 3:10 PM
Fee: $35.00
Location: Atlanta Community Food Bank

Register Here

A Special Thank You to the IFMA Service Committee!

by Donna Smythe

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.