From our “blinking badges” to our Hawaiian shirts, our more than 25 IFMA San Fernando Valley Chapter members made their presence known among the approximately 5,348 World Workplace 2006 attendees in San Diego last month!

As expected, San Diego impressed all who attended, with many from “back East” and “up North” remarking on the beautiful California weather, the ease of navigating the city and its’ impressive military background.

From the more than 80 educational sessions to the networking opportunities, the Foundation events, the chapter receptions, the tour offerings, the keynote and closing addresses and the Awards for Excellence Gala, it was sometimes difficult to do everything one had planned.

It was great to run into old friends from other Chapters, make new friends and best of all spend a more extended amount of time with fellow SFV Chapter members. It was especially music to my ears to hear from those particular members the welcome news that they intend to be more involved in Chapter events and programs in the coming year. So nice. We’ll be looking for you!

It is a source of amazement to me how the IFMA Headquarters Staff makes themselves available all the time and especially at WWP. It’s not unusual to see our debonair IFMA President and CEO, David Brady, in the hallways going from meeting to meeting and session to session., IMFA Chair, Tina Shouse, tirelessly addressing the programs, drawing ballots out of the raffle bin every day and outstanding in the crowd with her ginger-colored hair! Of course it would not be WWP without Linda Beverly, IFMA VP of Administration, stopping to chat with everyone. I tell you, that lady must have some “magic transporter” or something because she just seems to be everywhere, treating us all like we are her dear friends! It was great to see the effervescent Mary Reynolds and Barbara Varner of IFMA Professional Development at the CFM Breakfast and hear the plans about the new programs and Leadership Institute IFMA will be offering. To have them, along with our energetic Chapter Liaison, Tawa Busari, available at the IFMA Booth just about any time we stopped by was an indication of their commitment to our IFMA Organization. If I think I went home tired, I cannot even attempt to gauge IFMA Headquarters Staff exhaustion!

The Expo portion of WWP is always a great ‘explore floor” as we discover and learn about the many new products in security, sustainability, carpeting, furniture, energy management, and the many other tools that are available to facility managers; keeping all of the attendees up to date. I also noted that the promo items given out by the 322 exhibitors this year are extremely usable and fun! From the cool rulers given out by Cor-O-Van to the little CORT truck key rings that double as a flashlights to the Screen Sweepers from HSG-Inc and the cute bright-orange Rentacrate models that hold all the pens and business cards collected at WWP; all have found a place on my desk!

On the drive back to the San Fernando Valley, I was able to mull over the WWP06 experience and while both tired and reenergized I once again realized what a great organization we have in IFMA. Thank you for the opportunity to attend World Workplace 2006 and serve as your President. I look forward more than ever to improving our SFV Chapter and the professional offerings for our membership.

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Throughout my career as a Facility Manager, I have always enjoyed Project Management the most. I think it comes from a zeal for organization and the joy of the project outcome. However, it was not until I encountered a true, certified Project Management Professional (PMP) that I noted the finer points and tools involved in the art of project management.

With that in mind, I am excited about our next IFMA SFV Program! November 14th is the date, the time is 6:00-8:00 p.m. and the ever-popular Warner Bros. is the place. You won’t want to miss “Project Management and the Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification” presented by Bob Leviton and Stephen Bender of the Project Management Institute, Los Angeles Chapter. Both Bob and Stephen have earned their PMP certifications and between the two of them have well over 20 years of Project Management experience.

While Project Management is one of our IFMA and CFM Core Competencies, the PMP certification from the Project Management Institute is the most globally-recognized project management-specific designation which indicates that the recipient has “demonstrated a solid foundation of knowledge from which they can competently practice Project Management.” So, you’ve got your FMP or CFM or are working on them? Now it’s time to check out the PMP, too!

There is still time to register so please check our www.ifmasfv.org website for any additional information!

I remember the day I passed my CFM Exam like it was yesterday. It was on that day that I received a call from a fellow CFM from Kansas City, calling to congratulate me. I asked her how she knew almost at the same time I found out I had passed the exam. It was like the sky had opened up when she told me how she knew. You see, almost to the minute one passes the exam, the CFM designation is listed behind ones’ name on the IFMA website. I should be embarrassed to say that up until that time I did not know how to get to the Members Directory or any of the amazing tools that are on the www.ifma.org website. Since, that time, I have become a real fan of the website!

When was the last time you checked the IFMA national website? If you haven’t been there lately, you really will be surprised at what is there. You may have even forgotten that the “Login” area is at the top of the IFMA Home page. You may even have forgotten your membership number and password, but know that you can always call Headquarters at (713) 623-4362 or email membership to find that information.

My favorite part of the IFMA website is the “On-line Learning Center” (in yellow) and, in particular the “Knowledge” portion where I have found everything from the 233-page book, “National Strategy for Pandemic Flu Implementation Guide” provided by the Homeland Security Council to the Salary Wizard provided by Fast Company and brochures and power point presentations of all sorts that are helpful to Facility Managers. You can even check out the hundreds of photos taken by the official WWP06 photographer and learn the plans already in Place for WWP07 in New Orleans. The best part? Most of them are free! You should be warned though that hours will pass quickly as you get stuck into this amazing tool kit that is available to all IFMA members. As they say, there is “Something for Everyone” (at www.ifma.org that is!)

Stay tuned and keep checking our www.ifmasfv.org website for the latest and greatest news about the famous and fabulous IFMA SFV-LA Golf Tournament and the many additional events we have planned as we enter our 20th Anniversary in 2007.

But, before our Anniversary year, mark your calendars for December 19th from 6:30 – 9:00 pm.  The location is Dole World Headquarters in Westlake Village where we will have our very special Holiday Mixer and Tour of the Newly Completed Four Seasons Resort & Spa. If you were with us at our July meeting two years ago, in 2004, you may recall seeing the mock ups of the hotel and resort rooms and hearing how they were continually being tweaked and improved until they would be just right and hearing about the very special VIP accommodations and more. 

For a preview of our Holiday Mixer event location, log on to the Four Seasons Westlake website at: http://www.fourseasons.com/westlakevillage/  This event will be the best top off of an excellent IFMA SFV year as we are hosted by IFMA SFV member, Nino Antonacci. We thank both Edie Rossmeisl and Nino for working to make this something to which we look forward! Oh, and there is still time to sponsor this event, if any of our Associate members want some excellent exposure.

In the meantime, as always, a sincere thank you all for your ideas and support for your IFMA San Fernando Valley Chapter! See you at our next events! Let’s keep the momentum going and growing!