Fellowship Facts

Within IFMA, there is a group of FMs selected over the last 28 years to receive the designation of IFMA Fellow. This is the most prestigious title bestowed by the world’s largest and most widely recognized association for facility management professionals. IFMA Fellows are members who are willing and able to lend their expertise and lessons learned to other FMs and component leaders. They are not typified by age; rather by the investment of time and efforts to reach a professional maturity not yet attained by most FMs.

The IFMA Fellowship program was established to recognize members who have contributed to the organization and the FM profession over a span of many years and are viewed as leaders within the FM community. They are devoted to acting as advisors to IFMA and as ambassadors for the association and the profession.

IFMA’s global board of directors provides the leadership, policies and procedures to maintain the association’s culture of a member-centric organization. The guidelines for IFMA Fellows reflect this credo, as Fellows are dedicated to enhancing all members’ experience within the organization and are ready and able to assist the board with strategic plans and direction. The board also has a fiduciary responsibility to the association and its members. Fellows work closely with the board in this regard, exercising their experience by serving on the audit and finance working groups.

Fellows are an eclectic group. They are teachers, authors, presenters, instructors, philosophers, pioneers and leaders in the profession. They are elected as IFMA Fellows by their peers, based on a rigorous nomination process and the evaluation of their contributions to both the industry and IFMA. They are active IFMA members dedicated to enriching, educating and enhancing the careers of FMs, acting as guides, counselors and mentors to both the IFMA board and to the membership.

The 3 Cs

Chapters, councils and communities (CCCs) promote education, networking and the sharing of best practices. They are mainstays of the organization, offering members a more personal connection within local regions or across specific industries. Fellows are committed to lend their expertise and knowledge to assist in retaining members, as well as recruiting new professionals. They are willing to mentor and promote future leaders by working with CCCs to instill competence and pride in organizational and leadership success. They can work directly with CCC leadership to develop operational and strategic plans, as well as assist with succession planning to support standard IFMA governance structures. They support CCCs and members through teaching and presenting the value of IFMA and are always available as presenters and/or teachers at a CCC gathering, whether it is a monthly meeting or special event. They continually advocate for the IFMA credentials and education for members. They make themselves available to teach courses at the CCC level and assist in the development of IFMA courses in collaboration with staff.

Fellows are also leading the charge on the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) process for the CCCs. This strategy worked well for the association as IFMA has taken an impressive turn for the better after having gone through this program. AI is based on one-on-one discussions with members to discuss the future of FM and components in a positive light. It focuses on aspirations and encourages members to think about taking positive steps forward when planning component activities and engagement.

And there’s more…

Other initiatives being undertaken by the Fellows revolve around creating awareness of changes in the workplace, centering around innovation, technology and sustainability. They are motivated to engage and guide future IFMA leaders and to educate them on developing trends in the industry, serving as advisors to CCCs, IFMA staff and the board of directors on cutting-edge FM development. Due to their broad global reach, innate curiosity and the relationships they have developed over time, information and new developments sometimes reach Fellows’ ears before they hit the mainstream. The Fellows have taken it upon themselves to refer experts and provide expertise for the advancement of the association and the profession.

To increase global awareness and expand global professional development, a group of Fellows has been actively engaged in developing the new ISO standards focusing on FM. Four standards have already been developed that supply consistency and commonality within the profession on a global basis, while others are still in progress. Fellows who are involved in this task are developing knowledge and expertise in the guidelines to better inform members of their importance and relevance in the FM world. The goal is to have qualified Fellows willing and able to educate members on ISO standards and ensure everyone is aware of the global significance of these documents.

Fellows strive to always provide value on an international scale as a critical resource to the membership and IFMA by promoting and participating in World Workplace in the Americas, Asia and Europe, as well as through program development and involvement with the Awards of Excellence. They facilitate and participate in the World Workplace first-timer sessions, providing tips and guidance on how attendees can optimize their conference experience. Fellows also speak to students who attend the conference, encouraging them to actively participate and take advantage of all the networking opportunities at the conference. They present sessions and are highly interactive at the social gatherings and through the halls. They pride themselves as being approachable and are highly visible at these events by their distinctive red and black tote-bags and the Fellows ribbon.

Fellows are also strong advocates for the IFMA Foundation. They assist in the creation of student chapters and mentoring of young professionals, combined with student outreach programs and internship facilitation. They work with local colleges and universities to encourage FM degrees and to achieve IFMA Academic Program accreditation. The Fellows have created a scholarship in conjunction with the Foundation. The 2019 IFMA Fellows Student Scholarship Award is named in recognition of Francis Kuhn, an IFMA Fellow who was chair of the Foundation as well as the global board. He epitomizes the essence of an IFMA Fellow.

Networks without boundaries

The Fellows do not work in a vacuum, nor are they omniscient. They rely on each other and IFMA members to continually add value to the association and profession. Going forward, on a quarterly basis they plan to have a global Fellows meeting either via teleconference or webinar to share best practices among themselves. The goal will be to match up the expertise of IFMA Fellows internationally. They are keen to apply and share lessons learned so other Fellows can assist and guide members and serve as mentors on a global scale within CCCs as requested or through their own initiative.

Within their charter, Fellows are called to serve as spokespeople for IFMA as an organization. The stature and credibility that comes with the title opens doors for public relations at all levels. IFMA Fellows are encouraged to participate in supporting professional development in their regions. They are working with IFMA staff on creating a special group page on the website that will house a Fellows membership directory, listing each Fellow’s location, availability and professional mastery.

Fellows partner with the Facility Management Journal (FMJ), contributing relevant and topical articles for the edification of readers. They are active in blogs and create and promote other IFMA publications

The geographic spread of Fellows is global. In North America, there are Fellows in 23 states, with 11 more in Canada. Nine other countries worldwide are also represented, from Australia and the Pacific Rim to Europe, the United Kingdom and Africa. Fellows can help define needs and act as enablers to further IFMA’s direction and future on a global scale.

Reach out!

IFMA Fellows are on call as needed. Long past self-aggrandizement, their passion is to foster success in the organization, its members and the FM profession. They hold their title with pride, doing their best to live up to the expectations that come with being named a Fellow.

The Fellows can always use assistance in these endeavors, from receiving requests to information on new developments in the profession. Through their network and connection capabilities, they are a prime vehicle to spread best practices, advice and guidance. Additionally, they are always looking for qualified candidates to bolster this vibrant group. They ask that members keep an eye out for those FMs who continually go above and beyond for their components, IFMA or the facility management profession. Recommendations are always welcome, and for those deserving members, becoming a Fellow will recognize their achievements while affording them a higher platform from which to operate. Fellows are self-avowed volunteers for life. The IFMA webpage lists all the Fellows, as well as the criteria by which deserving members can apply for this prestigious title. Consider becoming one or proposing a candidate. Every member can help IFMA prosper. It will be worth it.