IFMA Sacramento Valley Chapter

Isn't It About Time

2011-11-17T11:42:00.000-08:00

Wayne Whitzell, LEED AP, GBO - National Director of Sustainability, Corporate Care

Top line revenue can solve a lot of problems for an organization. The gross dollars brought in can simply make some problems evaporate instantly. However, with increased revenue, there is usually an accompanying increase in activity to generate and maintain that revenue. Often, this increased activity surrounding an uptick in revenue will uncover issues that if not dealt with, will result in problems such as, customer attrition, employee burn-out, intra-departmental wars and finger-pointing, and ultimately, the eventual loss of revenue and net-profits. As we grow this year and into the future, how can we set ourselves up for success? How can we prepare now to manage all of the necessary activity that will surely come our way as we grow?

Dateline 2002 – San Francisco, CA: I was the Director of Operations for my company’s San Francisco location. At that time, I reported directly to a former Special Forces military man named Bruce. He had a requirement at that time for all of his direct reports. On the outside, that requirement may have looked like micromanagement or busywork, however, over the years I have come to see that this requirement was about so much more.

Bruce’s policy was for us to send a copy of our task lists to him every week. Yes, every week. This mostly took the form of a list in Microsoft Outlook of all the items and projects someone was currently tracking. He was relentless about this. I dutifully sent mine to him weekly. I remember a discussion where we were discussing a particular project and I mentioned he should refer to my task list for the information. This was when he shared his reasons for the task list to me.

He explained that he did not want the tasks lists as a specific report of activity, rather he was interested in whether or not his direct reports were even tracking activity period. Bruce said, “Every operations manager and salesperson in this company should be tracking a minimum of 50 to 100 tasks and projects at any given moment.” He continued, “The last thing I want to hear when I ask about the status of a project is hearing the forgetful ‘ohhhh yeah…, that’s right...’ answer.” He said it like you could hear the person falling down the same crack that the task fell into long ago and landing with a thud at the canyon floor. Bruce went on to explain that he was teaching the team to get things out of their head and into a list that could be reviewed and provide them with reminders. He told me that one of the main problems that will happen when we fail to capture the important tasks in the chaos of our daily business, is that customers will “fall off the back of the wagon.” This was an important lesson for me, but I was to find out that lower customer retention is only one of the risks when things “fall through the cracks.”

Dateline 2004 – San Francisco, CA: By this time, I had begun to oversee operations in San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles. Obviously, I was dealing with a lot more activity as a result. It was during this period I learned another powerful lesson from a business developer we had on staff at the time, Kathryn Lopez.

Up to the point I began working with Kathryn, tag teaming appointments and supporting her operationally, I had smugly thought of my time management skills as quite effective and, looking back, I arrogantly thought my skills were a little better than most folks. Boy was I wrong. As I began to observe Kathryn, I noticed a level of discipline and preparedness I wanted to achieve. She was varsity squad. I was the JV water boy. What I remember most about those days working with her is that I was actually ashamed to be around her sometimes. Not that Kathryn was arrogant or aloof, quite the opposite was true. It was simply that she was always so prepared and always so organized – with all the necessary items at the ready that I felt small and ineffective standing there with my imitation leather portfolio. I thought I had it together, but watching her convinced me she was a time-management and personal productivity super woman. So, I set out to learn what she did and how she did it.

The most important skill I learned from Kathryn was to have a specific plan for each day with specific tasks to accomplish. Rather than being buffeted about by stimuli and daily chaos, she had a plan she followed each and every day. Sure, things “came up” and fires needed to be dealt with, but they never ultimately interfered with her accomplishing her goals for that day. Simply stated, she took a proactive approach to her time, instead of just reacting to the most urgent issue. In a simple and practical way, Kathryn printed a copy of her daily calendar for that day from Outlook. She carried the paper in a plastic folder throughout the day. It was her road map. Come hell or high water, she was going to get the things done she planned to do. In the worst case scenario, if something unforeseen came up, she would know whom to call or what to do to renegotiate her commitments to herself and others. Kathryn taught me to answer the question, “How am I going to spend my time today to achieve my goals?” In case you are wondering, when I’m in the field, I still carry a plastic folder with my daily calendar in it.

Last year, I saw a documentary called “Riding Giants” about surfing. It detailed the world of big wave surfing with all the danger, perils and terrific thrills involved. The cinematography is stunning. As these brave (and slightly insane) surfers ride wave after wave after wave of these monsters, one thing becomes apparent very quickly. You cannot control the chaos of these humongous waves, you can only hope to surf the blasted thing and not get pulled under. The waves never stop. And, unless a surfer is content riding little blips of water somewhere in safer, unexciting bodies of water, he or she is has got to learn some skills for surfing the Big Kahuna.

When surfing “big waves” it is not a solo act of paddling out and riding a wave. There is an entire support staff in and out of the water helping the surfers to get to and from the waves safely. The water crew (on jet skis) is in just about the same level of danger as the surfers. When the team is working together, the surfer successfully rides gracefully above the chaos and sharp coral beneath the waves and is safely picked up by the support crew in the water only to happily do it all over again. But, when something goes wrong, it goes very wrong, and quickly. Pinned underwater for long periods of time scraping against a reef, these daredevils experience the full brunt of going from surfing the wave to being overwhelmed by it. I learned a lot more from that documentary than when to say “dude” and where to catch a righteous gnarly wave.

Every day, we are bombarded with demands on our time. Surprises fly from the left and right while our planned activities are either pushed to the side or forgotten as we find ourselves flailing about in the water just trying to keep our head above the surface. Promises fall through the cracks. The urgent overtakes the important. We let people down with friendly fire and self-inflict wounds by creating the stress of last-minute work. We fall off the surfboard and into the crashing waves struggling to stay afloat. Sound familiar?

There are many techniques for “getting organized” or managing one’s time. But, when someone is drowning, he/she doesn’t need a 300 page manual on how to swim. The person needs practical, easy to use life-saving advice. What could we possibly do, today, to get back to surfing the chaos instead of drowning in it? I believe there are two simple practices that can help you spend more time ON the wave than UNDER the wave.

Habit #1 – Empty your email in-box every 24 to 48 hours.

Take a look at your email in-box. How many emails are in your in-box? 50? 100? 500? 1,000? 2,000? Over 2,000? What is lurking in there? There are only a limited number of things you need to do with an email and leaving it in your in-box isn’t one of them. When an email comes in, we have to answer one question, “What is it?”

Possible Answers:

• “I do not need to do anything with this email.”
ACTION: Delete the email.

• “I must take an action on this email by a certain time.”
ACTION: If it will take two minutes or less to complete the action, do it then and there. If not, place the related action(s) on your calendar to complete the action by the due date.

• “I must take an action on this email, but there is no specific time.”
ACTION: Put the action in a list of open tasks/projects you review regularly (at least weekly).

• “I must save the information in this email for reference on a specific project.”
ACTION: Store the email a temporary subfolder designated by Project (i.e. “Company X RFP”) as long as the project is active. Then, either permanently file it or delete it.

• “I must save the email for CYA purposes.”
ACTION: Store the email by tracking it in the associated account or contact. Or, if it’s personal, store the email in an appropriate CYA folder you can easily find when you need it.

Managing your deliverables by using your email in-box as a filing cabinet or “search and find” tool is dangerous. At best, you may be able to keep track of everything this way, but you are wasting way too much time hunting and searching for “that email with the _______in it." Worst case, you are forgetting about your deliverables until someone or something else reminds you of them or you stumble across them in the pile of email with an “ohhh…yeah….that’s right…forgot about that one…” moment.

This is dangerous surfing. If there are actions that need to be scheduled hiding in your in-box, why haven’t they been moved onto your calendar? If the email is of no use, why hasn’t it been deleted? Ultimately, there are two reasons why we let our in-boxes get out of hand and neither of them are laziness. The first reason is fear. Many who operate without a day-to-day proactive plan or a system to manage activities are simply paralyzed with fear by the thought that they might need an email and if they move it from their in-box, they will not be able to find it when they need it.

The second reason is that many people do not view the act of processing their in-box to zero as part of their work that needs to be scheduled. We scan emails throughout the day on our phones and react instantly to the urgent, but seldom do we set aside an hour or two specifically to process the day’s emails and answer the question of each one, “What is it?” Over the course of days, weeks and months of neglecting the habit of dealing with our in-boxes, they become bloated. For some reason, we have a habit of not looking at processing email as an important part of our daily work and therefore it often becomes an afterthought. Also, just moving the email into a subfolder of your inbox is not processing it. That is like rearranging a mess into multiple piles of mess. I am not a fan of subfolders in general, however, if you must use them, do not make the classic mistake of using the sender’s name to house all emails from “Jane Smith” or “John Doe.” At best, the subfolders should be classified by Project or Account.

Habit #2 – Don’t put it in your head. Put it in your calendar.

Did you ever say to yourself, “I can’t forget to bring this __________ with me tomorrow” and place it by the door, or in your car, or in your briefcase? You are playing a trick on your brain by doing this. You don’t trust yourself to remember (and rightfully so) so you take control of the situation and your memory becomes irrelevant. It’s like one of those Sci-Fi movies where the lead character forgets everything each day and has to refer to a list he has left for himself to read in the future. Or, if you prefer Adam Sandler movies, like “50 First Dates” where the character “Luci” has her memory wiped each day and eventually she starts leaving herself instructions for the next day.

We are in the same situation. If you do this consistently and over time, you will achieve a state of workflow and productivity where you are truly surfing the chaos – and actually having fun. You actually start managing YOURSELF as a resource rather than being tossed about by the waves. What must you get done tomorrow? The day after? Next week? What actions must be taken on that project? What data entry needs to be in by next Tuesday? What phone call has to be made next Monday? Leave yourself a reminder for “future you.”

Take a look at your calendar (whichever kind you use). Is it empty? Are the only items on your calendar invites from other people? How far out have you planned your activities? Believe me, there is no surer sign that someone is just drifting along in the surf than an empty calendar. It says, “I don’t have a plan and I am just going to react to what happens next.” In other words, you’re shark bait.

If any input coming your way such as snail/e-mail, verbal requests, voice mails, action items from a meeting, your own thoughts and ideas, etc… has any kind of time sensitive NEXT ACTION associated with it, then it ultimately belongs on your calendar, not in your head. When a project (anything that has more than one action step) comes your way, you can book the necessary time for yourself to reach the necessary milestones along the way by their due dates.

One other thing to get out of your head is the items you are waiting on from other people to whom you have delegated tasks. Need a response to an email by next Wednesday? Put a reminder on your calendar for next Tuesday to check in with the person if you have not heard back from him/her. This one tip alone will save you countless hours of heartache.

There is a powerful interplay between planning your daily activities against your priorities. If you know what you have to get done and when you must get it done you have the power to make a choice when a new input comes your way.

• Say “Yes” to the input.
ACTION: Book out the necessary time on your calendar to accomplish the input.

• Say “Maybe” to the input.
ACTION: If you are already committed during the time you need to accomplish the new input, you can renegotiate your commitments to yourself and others by rescheduling items on your calendar. This is easier to do if you have clear priorities. For example, if an opportunity to bid a $5M project came your way, and you had the day planned to complete employee review forms, you may want to reschedule your review forms task. Or, if you committed to do a day of site inspections for your team, you may ask to pass the task to someone else or reschedule it. Here’s the key: Unless you already know what you are committed to, you can’t renegotiate the commitments.

• Say “No” to the input.
ACTION: If you cannot renegotiate your pre-existing commitments and your pre-existing commitments are a higher priority for you than the new input, you can and should say “No.” Whether your priority is entering payroll, generating revenue, fixing a chiller unit, or taking a vacation, you must weigh the new input against what is the best use of your time.

You may experience strong reactions from team members making the request of you. Sometimes, this is because they, themselves, manage their own activities from crisis to crisis, reacting to the next wave that comes at them. When you don’t drop everything and assist because you have prior commitments that are higher priority, be prepared to respectfully explain to the person that you have other deliverables that take priority and ask if there are options for you to help them within the next few days when you may have the time. I will give you one good measurement to decide when to say “Yes.” If the choice has to do with a direct revenue generating activity vs. something else, it is a clear priority.

If you get the hang (ten) of it, Outlook can be a very useful tool in managing your daily calendar. Here are some tips:

• All Day Appointment Section
In the very top portion of the daily calendar, you will find the section for “All Day Appointments.” This section is typically used for things like: Items you need to get done that day without a specific time, supporting information needed that day such as flight info, staff vacation reminders, directions to lunch meeting, etc…, basically, anything you need to remember and do for that day that does not have a specific time associated with it.
• Activities
Each day, your calendar should contain those activities you plan to accomplish that day. The day should be planned out to the point that you do not have to think, you only need to “do.” It’s almost as if you step outside of yourself to manage yourself in the third-person. What must you do to fulfill your job description? What are your priorities? What absolutely has to get done? Put them on your calendar and book the time to accomplish them – no matter how trivial or insignificant you think the task is. If you spend more time “living” in your email inbox than in your calendar, that is a dead giveaway that you are reacting to the waves rather than surfing them. This produces a culture of busyness instead of a culture of results. The stressed out employee in a cold sweat, putting in the extra hours may look noble from the outside, however could it simply be that the person is just plain drowning in the waves and those flailing limbs are just a desperate attempt to keep from going under rather than a smart, hard-working employee with his/her nose to the grindstone?

Right now, just think about tomorrow. What do you have to get done? Most people can identify one or two major tasks off the top of their head. What about the rest of the day? Would you be comfortable showing your daily calendar to your manager? Remember, you are important! You are a valued member of a team. Therefore, manage yourself like a precious resource with a truly limited amount of time. Then, don’t blow the appointment off you made with yourself when you make a commitment to yourself in your calendar. Get it out of your head and you’ll get things done.
• Recurring Items
If you do something each day, week, every third Thursday, etc… then set up a recurring appointment on your calendar to remind you to do it and make sure you have booked yourself out to do it. If you get an average of 100 emails per day and if you only spend an average of just one minute per email as you process it, that’s about an hour and a half of your time. Think that’s too long? I would bet my paycheck that folks with the 2,000 item inboxes spend at least triple that in searching for information and dealing with last-minute emergencies, dropping the ball – or asking people to resend the information.

Lack of planning not only affects your productivity and stress levels, it ripples through the water and affects your whole team. Like the surfers in “Riding Giants,” if a surfer goes under the water, his/her rescue team must risk their own lives to enter the dangerous waters to pull him/her out. Rescuers have often been injured worse than the person they were attempting to rescue. Like the old adage says, “Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.” If your administrator is in a particularly salty mood, could it be that you tossed him/her a last minute work order request that you have had sitting in your email box for a week? If your customer service rep looks a little miffed, could it be that he/she made a scheduling request to you four days ago and the customer has not been called yet?

The bottom line is that we always do that which we consider to be most important. Read that again. It’s a loaded statement. I have led a few strategic planning sessions for various groups and non-profits over the years and one exercise I lead the group through is the “Importance to Time Ratio” exercise. I ask the individuals to list, in order of importance, the top 10 most important things to them right now personally and professionally. Then we go around the room and talk about the top few on everyone’s sheet. Inevitably, “Family” is usually number one or two on everyone’s list. Next, I ask the group to go down the list and place the amount of hours they average per day on their top ten. Then, like dominos, you can see the ripple go around the room. Most people discover that what they consider to be most important is not getting the time that something “important” deserves. Saying, “My family is the most important thing to me” can only be true when we have a choice between investing our time with them versus something further down on the list and we choose “family.” Otherwise, we are only saying family is important in our personal lives. We always do that which we consider to be most important. And, as you have probably surmised, there’s another application for all of this. You can and should apply all of these principles to your personal life as well.

Over the years, I have gotten much better at surfing the chaos. Sure, I still fall off the board and miss a wave or two. Worse yet, I still put my team in jeopardy from time to time. But, I can say without a doubt that I am spending far more of my time on my surfboard than in the water. I try to learn from the falls and I want my team and family to hold me accountable so that I can get better and more efficient at getting things done professionally and personally. If you struggle with a bloated in-box and a calendar that looks like a ghost town, consider implementing some of the tips shared in this article. If you are already a personal productivity Jedi, consider reading “Getting Things Done” by David Allen to fine tune your skills. We need all the tools we can get because knowledge and productivity workers are inevitably headed for the big water where the waves are gnarly and the coral is razor sharp. It’s going to be a wild fun ride for those who can surf the chaos. See you on the waves!

The CFM Journey

2010-03-18T14:02:00.000-07:00

The CFM Journey

A couple of years ago, I made the commitment to achieve the CFM credential. Naturally, I put this off for awhile… until last August. My procrastination was mostly attributable to not knowing the content of the exam or how to study for it. It seemed like just as much of a daunting task trying figuring out how to prepare for the exam than it was to actually take the exam. The good news is that there is a local organization of Facilities professionals and CFM-accredited members who could answer these questions… the IFMA Sacramento Chapter.

Back in August, several IFMA members interested in pursuing their CFM credential formed a study group. In our first meeting, it was apparent that we all had the same questions. Luckily, two CFM-accredited individuals attended the meeting to answer our questions: Serena Pancoast, CFM, and Norman Calderra, CFM. The information they provided was invaluable to the next few months of studying.

Our study group continued to meet every two weeks. We poured over the information in the CFM Study Guides and discussed sample questions and answers in depth. This process not only helped better understand the exam, but it also helped build a network of peers. Additionally, I attended a two-day preparedness class taught by Kit Tuveson, CFM and IFMA Fellow. It should be noted that he was an integral part of writing the exam and preparation materials, so going directly to the source was extremely beneficial.

I crammed for several days prior to the exam. Admittedly, I was still nervous going into the exam, but I felt better than I would have without preparing so much. Four hours and 180 questions later, I clicked on the “Finish” button of the computerized test. Finally, a screen popped up indicating that I passed.

Needless to say, it was a tremendous relief. Having the new credential has given me more confidence, but it was ultimately the materials and lessons learned during my studies which have been invaluable to my professional development and current job.

If you are interested in pursuing the CFM credential, I would encourage you to reach out to your local IFMA Chapter. For Sacramento Chapter members, here is a link to get you started: http://www.ifmasac.org/educatn.html.

Todd Bierbaum, CFM
Facilities Director
Universal Technical Institute

Say hello to my little friend

2009-10-19T13:54:00.000-07:00

Folks, Lemme tell ya... I grew up near Philly - so I've seen some inner city insects in my day, but this thing I saw one night while walking back from the convention center in Orlando scared the begeezus out of me. This cockroach was easily six inches long. They grow 'em big in Florida apparently. What really took me by surprise was when it asked me if it "could bum a smoke." -Wayne

Awards of Excellence Ceremony

2009-10-19T13:33:00.000-07:00

Team, Here is the video footage of our own Chapter Prez, Christian Flanders, accepting the award for our chapter. It was great to finally see Christian up on that stage after all the years and dedication he has shown to the chapter. Christian was one of the early adopters for the website redux back in 2004. His fingerprints are all over this chapter and has a lot to do with the awards we have received in the past two years. Please drop Christian a note and congratulate him on his leadership in helping us achieve our vision.

-Wayne Whitzell, National Director of Sustainability - Corporate Care, IFMA Sacramento Chapter VP

Two For Two!

2009-10-10T16:51:00.000-07:00

Fellow IFMA Sacramento Valley Chapter Members, We are pleased to announce that our chapter is the proud recipient of the 2009 Award of Excellence for Web Communications Small Chapter Division! This award is the culmination of a long road starting in 2004 when we first began sketching plans to redesign and re-launch our then ragtag website. There was robust committee discussion that resulted in a framework that has made our website worthy of this award. Most importantly, however, we owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to our webmaster, Kathleen Smith with Wulfwerks. Kathleen is intimately familiar with the workings of an IFMA chapter and similar associations having worked with the San Francisco chapter for many years. Besides helping us with design and implementation, Kathleen helped the web committee I chair to flatten our structure to create incredible efficiency and agility. Rather than all web communications flowing through a chapter member or committee (and creating a bottleneck) we empowered everyone in the committees to go directly to Kathleen with new posts and suggestions. The committees were given guidelines and Kathleen is a final line of examination before posting. If a request from committee may be questionable, she will then reach out to me and/or the board before completing the request. This streamlined method to get accurate information posted rapidly would only be possible with someone like Kathleen. I can’t say enough about Kathleen. If its long past time for you to consider upgrading your chapter’s site, I implore you to contact her CLICK HERE. The Sacramento Valley Chapter is more than happy to share our technology and layout structure for use in your own site. The calendar in particular is a tremendous resource that Kathleen has developed for IFMA chapters. Besides that, Kathleen is a sweetheart. She is that rare balance of discipline and execution with creativity and warmth. Kathleen, from all of us on the web committee and the rest of the chapter, we thank you for your guidance and ongoing assistance with making our website so successful. Webmaster Kathleen Smith Wulfwerks 1516 Lombard Street, #4 San Francisco, CA 94123 Phone: (415) 673-7775 Fax: (415) 651-9744 Email: kathleen@wulfwerks.com I was able to snag some video of our Chapter President, Christian Flanders, accepting the award last night at the awards gala. I will have it up next week (needs compression). We had a great time before heading over the Anderson Audio Visual after party at Margaritaville (more on that in my next blog entry). From Orlando, Wayne Whitzell – Corporate Care National Director of Sustainability and Chapter VP

Live From WWP Orlando 2009!!!

2009-10-08T21:11:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Orlando! So far this has been a rock solid World Workplace with great classes, a cutting edge expo-floor and the wonderful opportunities to get to know and learn from talented people in the industry. I was talking with Serena tonight and we came up with a description that it’s like “returning to the hive” to be with our “kind.” It just feels right to be in a room with so many folks who face the same challenges and weather the same storms. Talk about instant camaraderie… It has obviously been a tough year for many of us and the indications are still not all that bright. However, it is plainly obvious that the professional development that IFMA provides is integral to a person’s success in this industry. With the market awash with potential hires, a CFM, FMP and years of training from IFMA education is a huge plus for candidates on the job hunt. Here at WWP, we are gathering information and intelligence to bring back to all of you about trends and influences affecting our industry. Though these tough times look as though they will continue for a while longer, we will take the opportunity to sharpen our skills and keep learning to position us for the future. Tonight, my employer, Corporate Care, graciously hosted a dinner at the Oceanaire for forty facilities professionals. In the room were two IFMA Fellows, a former Chair, numerous Chapter Presidents, VP’s (GO VP’s!) and many committee chairs. As I surveyed the room, I was reminded that the partnerships between value-driven and knowledgeable associate members and the professionals in the chapters are very important. They are important because together we solve problems and drive situations to a “win/win” touchdown each time. They are also important because we get to know each other as friends, each with dreams, hobbies and personalities beyond the FM world. The bottom line is IFMA is chock full of good people who have a damn difficult career. IFMA helps to smooth out the rough edges and pull us together as a family who supports each other to reach our goals. Once again, WWP has demonstrated that this is THE organization for those who manage the built environment. From Orlando, Wayne Whitzell – IFMA Sacramento Chapter VP National Director of Sustainability – Corporate Care

For last year's blog coverage of 2008 WWP in Dallas, click here: http://ifmasac.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html

September Monthly Member Spotlight!

2009-09-10T14:08:00.001-07:00

Trena Ellis, CFM
Facilities Manager, Pearson

". . . definitely build relationships with all levels of the organization and join IFMA for development and networking opportunities."

Read Trena's entire interview here .

Monthly Member Spotlight Archive

August 2009 Front Page

2009-09-10T13:52:00.000-07:00

PROGRAMS

August 5 - CFM Study Group
August 7 - New Member Breakfast
August 11 & 12 - SMUD Workshop: Photovoltaics for Electrical & General Contractors
August 12 - Monthly Program: Setting & Managing CEO Expectations

NEWS

Quick Summary of Current Offerings

Win a Free Trip to Orlando, Florida!The 2009 IFMA Sacramento Membership Drive began February 1st and ends July 31st. Current IFMA members will have an opportunity to win monthly prizes and a GRAND PRIZE of a trip to World Work Place!

California Mayday 2009 Available for Download

Thank you Fred Klammt, Chris Hodges, Laurie Gilmer, Bill Conley, and Jeff McDowell for making your California Mayday 2009 presentations available for download.

Visit the California Mayday website for these presentation PDFs:

Calculating ROI
Carbon: Beginning + Advanced
Green Building Rating System Options
Sustainability Facility Management
Sustainable Facility Management: Using the Right Tools
Benchmarking Using Energy StarLighting & Energy Management

More presentations will be posted as they become available, as well as additional resources of interest throughout the year.

Are You a CFM, FMP or LEED® AP? We're proud of our members and their achievements and we'd like to acknowledge you on the CFMs & FMPs page! Please send us your name, job title, and company name. Thanks!

August Monthly Member Spotlight!

2009-09-10T13:32:00.000-07:00

Serena Pancoast, CFM
Supervisor of General Services at Franklin Templeton Investments

"You need to be prepared to constantly learn and gain an understanding in various areas . . ."

Read Serena's entire interview here.

Monthly Member Spotlight Archive

July 2009 Front Page

2009-09-10T13:17:00.000-07:00

PROGRAMS

July 15 - Annual Member Luncheon - Memory Magic & Installation of Officers
July 15 - CFM Study Group
July 29 - Real Estate Leasing 201
July 31 - Deadline to complete Annual Chapter Survey on Programs

NEWS

Win a Free Trip to Orlando, Florida!The 2009 IFMA Sacramento Membership Drive began February 1st and ends July 31st. Current IFMA members will have an opportunity to win monthly prizes and a GRAND PRIZE of a trip to World Work Place!

California Mayday 2009 Available for Download

Thank you Fred Klammt, Chris Hodges, Laurie Gilmer, Bill Conley, and Jeff McDowell for making your California Mayday 2009 presentations available for download.

Visit the California Mayday website for these presentation PDFs:

Calculating ROI
Carbon: Beginning + Advanced
Green Building Rating System Options
Sustainability Facility Management
Sustainable Facility Management: Using the Right Tools
Benchmarking Using Energy StarLighting & Energy Management

More presentations will be posted as they become available, as well as additional resources of interest throughout the year.

Are You a CFM, FMP or LEED® AP? We're proud of our members and their achievements and we'd like to acknowledge you on the CFMs & FMPs page! Please send us your name, job title, and company name. Thanks!

New! Monthly Member Spotlight

2009-09-10T13:08:00.001-07:00

Starting in July, we'll be shining the spotlight on one of our chapter members every month. We begin with:

Jack Murphy, CFM, BOC
Superintendent of Facility Development & Maintenance for the City of West Sacramento

"[Monthly programs] are an important break for us . . . and 'sharpen the saw' for improved performance."

Read Jack's entire interview here.

Monthly Member Spotlight Archive

June 2009 Front Page

2009-09-10T12:47:00.000-07:00

PROGRAMS

June 4 - LEED NCv2.2 Exam Preparation Workshop
June 10 - Tour of Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science
June 24 - Professional Development Program: Saving Money with Sustainability

NEWS

Win a Free Trip to Orlando, Florida!The 2009 IFMA Sacramento Membership Drive began February 1st and ends July 31st. Current IFMA members will have an opportunity to win monthly prizes and a GRAND PRIZE of a trip to World Work Place!
California Mayday 2009 Available for Download

Thank you Fred Klammt, Chris Hodges, Laurie Gilmer, Bill Conley, and Jeff McDowell for making your California Mayday 2009 presentations available for download.

Visit the California Mayday website for these presentation PDFs:

Calculating ROI
Carbon: Beginning + Advanced
Green Building Rating System Options
Sustainability Facility Management
Sustainable Facility Management: Using the Right Tools
Benchmarking Using Energy StarLighting & Energy Management

More presentations will be posted as they become available, as well as additional resources of interest throughout the year.

Are You a CFM, FMP or LEED® AP? We're proud of our members and their achievements and we'd like to acknowledge you on the CFMs & FMPs page! Please send us your name, job title, and company name. Thanks!

May 2009 Front Page

2009-06-23T12:33:00.000-07:00

PROGRAMS

May 13 - California Sustainability Mayday 2009
May 27 & 28 - SMUD: Advanced Management of Compressed Air Systems
June 4 - LEED NCv2.2 Exam Preparation Workshop

NEWS

May 10 & May 12 - IFMA Research & Development Council and IFMA Healthcare Council
April 2009 Program Presentations Available for Download
California Mayday 2009 Presentations Available for Download
Win a Free Trip to Orlando, Florida!The 2009 IFMA Sacramento Membership Drive began February 1st and ends July 31st. Current IFMA members will have an opportunity to win monthly prizes and a GRAND PRIZE of a trip to World Work Place—read how to win here!
Are You a CFM, FMP or LEED® AP? We're proud of our members and their achievements and we'd like to acknowledge you on the CFMs & FMPs page! Please send us your name, job title, and company name. Thanks!

California Sustainability Mayday Resources

2009-06-23T12:07:00.001-07:00

A quick reminder that presentations from California Sustainability Mayday 2009 are available for download at http://www.californiamayday.com/09-pdfs.html. Presentations include "Benchmarking Energy Use Through Energy Star," "Calculating ROI: Construction a Cost-Benefit Analysis" and more.

Additional resources from California Sustainability Mayday 2008 continue to be available at http://www.californiamayday.com/resource.html
Resources here include "Going Green: Economic and Finance Issues" and "Sustainable Facility Management: The IFMA Perspective" and links to "The Story of Stuff" and other useful websites.

April 2009 Front Page

2009-05-12T11:01:00.000-07:00

PROGRAMS

April 3 - Managing Sustainable Change

April 15 - SMUD Certification Course: Building Operation Certification - Level 1

April 23 - 15th Annual Golf Tournament

April 30 - SMUD - Optimizing Your HVAC System

NEWS

15th Annual Golf Tournament—April 23, 2009—This year the tournament will be held at Empire Ranch Golf Course in Folsom and the theme will be Reality TV Shows!

California Sustainability Mayday 2009—Sacramento State University—May 13th—8:00am to 5:00pm—Join us for our second annual California Sustainability Mayday and networking reception to follow. Visit the California Sustainability Mayday website for details and registration. See resource and presentation PDFs from Mayday 2008 here.

Win a Free Trip to Orlando, Florida!The 2009 IFMA Sacramento Membership Drive began February 1st and ends July 31st. Current IFMA members will have an opportunity to win monthly prizes and a GRAND PRIZE of a trip to World Work Place—read how to win here!

Are You a CFM, FMP or LEED® AP? We're proud of our members and their achievements and we'd like to acknowledge you on the CFMs & FMPs page! Please send us your name, job title, and company name. Thanks!

California Sustainability Mayday - May 13, 2009

2009-05-12T10:45:00.000-07:00

There's still time to register for this very affordable Building & Facilities Management Seminar produced by the Sacramento Valley Chapter of IFMA. Learn directly from facility professionals who have unlocked the secret of the Triple Bottom Line and proven that sustainable business operations are the most effective.

Learn real sustainable solutions for tough economic times.

Visit http://www.californiamayday.com/ for seminar details and the online registration link. Or, you can register by telephone at (916) 278-4433 or (800) 858-7743.

Hope to see you there!

March 2009 Front Page

2009-03-10T18:29:00.000-07:00

PROGRAMS

March 3 - SMUD WORKSHOP - Energy Efficiency for Business Technology
March 5 - IFMA's Annual Speed Networking
March 12 - Professional Development Program - FM Strategies for Surviving & Thriving in a Tough Economy
March 24 - Free OSHA Training Workshop

NEWS

Central Valley Facilities Expo: Managing Green Buildings—Come visit our IFMA Sacramento booth at the show on March 18th & 19th and attend our own Kit Tuveson’s seminar: How to Present Your Ideas Effectively to a Meeting of Top Management
15th Annual Golf Tournament—April 23, 2009—Sign up now for IFMA Sacramento's 15th Annual Golf Tournment! This year the tournament will be held at Empire Ranch Golf Course in Folsom and the theme will be Reality TV Shows! Registration Form—Sponsorship Form
California Sustainability Mayday 2009—Sacramento State University—May 13th—8:00am to 5:00pm—Join us for our second annual California Sustainability Mayday and networking reception to follow. Visit the California Sustainability Mayday website for details and registration. See resource and presentation PDFs from Mayday 2008 here.
Win a Free Trip to Orlando, Florida!The 2009 IFMA Sacramento Membership Drive began February 1st and ends July 31st. Current IFMA members will have an opportunity to win monthly prizes and a GRAND PRIZE of a trip to World Work Place—read how to win here!
Are You a CFM, FMP or LEED® AP? We're proud of our members and their achievements and we'd like to acknowledge you on the CFMs & FMPs page! Please send us your name, job title, and company name. Thanks!

Mayday 2009 Planning Session

2009-03-05T14:55:00.000-08:00

We had a great planning session at Sacramento State. We had a great committe turnout that led to very productive discussion and results. Sacramento State is a valuable and experienced partner in hosting events such as this. Thanks to Kirsten and Susan for all the help!

FEBRUARY 2009 FRONT PAGE

2009-02-17T11:57:00.000-08:00

PROGRAMS

February 6 - New Member Breakfast
February 11 - Monthly Program Emergency Preparedness: A Case Study
February 11 - SMUD Workshop—LEED NC v2.2 Exam Preparation Workshop
February 19 - Sustainability Committee Meeting at Sacramento State College

NEWS

Congratulations Mark Wilson—our latest LEED® AP!
Win a Free Trip to Orlando, Florida!—The 2009 IFMA Sacramento Membership Drive began February 1st and ends July 31st. Current IFMA members will have an opportunity to win monthly prizes and a GRAND PRIZE of a trip to World Work Place—read how to win here!
SAVE THE DATE!—15th Annual Golf Tournament—April 23, 2009
Mark Thursday—April 23, 2009 on your calendars for IFMA Sacramento's 15th Annual Golf Tournment. This year the tournament will be held at Empire Ranch Golf Course in Folsom and the theme will be Reality TV Shows!
Tour of VSP LEED Platinum, Existing BuildingSponsored by USGBC Northern CA Chapter
When: February 19th at 5:30Where: Vision Service Providers (VSP)333 Quality Drive, Rancho Cordova

JANUARY 2009 FRONT PAGE

2009-02-11T15:47:00.000-08:00

This year we'll be summarizing events and news of the month from our website Home page. Here are the highlights from January:

PROGRAMS

January 14 - Monthly Program
In Pursuit of LEED-EB from Both the Tenant and Owner Perspective

January 29
SMUD Workshop—Harvesting Daylight

January 20 & 21
Sustainable FM: A Practitioner's Guide to Greening Your Facility
Special discounted pilot course in Houston with Kit Tuveson

NEWS

Remember a Vet !
On his recent sabbatical, Chapter member, Randy Riney, CFM, rode his Harley through 13 states (California to Florida and back), collecting wish lists from 14 different state veterans homes. And then he created a web site to coordinate fulfillment of the wish lists!

2009 Sponsorship Opportunities
The Sacramento Valley Chapter of IFMA's Annual Sponsorship Program is an easy way to gain targeted exposure in a specialized market that can be budgeted for on an annual basis.

Please consider the various sponsorships carefully and remember this is an annual program that will save money, increase your company visibility, save time and maximize the value of your membership (IFMA Membership not included). Sign up now and mail, email or fax the registration form to the address listed on the form.

Kit Tuveson on You Tube - Sustainable FM Pilot Class

2009-02-05T15:55:00.001-08:00

See Kit describe IFMA's new Sustainable FM Two-Day Workshop. I attended and I can personally say that this class is the missing link for most folks. Trust me. Whether you are a new to the movement or you bear some scars from the green battle, Kit will give you tools and strategies on which to rely when you are implementing green FM initiatives. Here is the You Tube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMWf7eCGr10&eurl=http://www.ifma.org/tools/monthly_media/wire/2009/03p.html#3-4

ww

Maintenance Crisis Song

2009-02-05T14:31:00.001-08:00

Ran across this in one of the Facilities info-sites. It's the "Maintenance Crisis Song" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJJ_zFvAS1M

W

So it begins... LEED NC in the news

2008-12-22T12:03:00.000-08:00

Team, check out the article at this link: http://www.facilitiesnet.com/bom/articleemail.asp?id=8965

I have been waiting for some publicized audits of LEED NC buildings to come out. As I expected, they are not all that much better than many of their counterparts with regard to energy use. Why? Because there is precious little emphasis (staff, budget, cultural, systemic, and otherwise) on supporting green buildings after they are built. The result: new buildings emblazoned with LEED plaques that soon after close out documents are passed on, begin to resemble the twenty-year old building next door in almost every way. Now is the time for IFMA to lead the USGBC EB initiatives. In an interesting move for FM's, now is the time for the USGBC to outsource EB implementation, education, and culture shift to the organization that has the moxie to get it done. Plaques should not be adhered to walls with compliant adhesive unless the building certification includes a component to maintain the certification. Some teeth in the current NC system would be nice. Maybe not a pit bull, but at least an angry terrier. Plaque police? Annual Audits/recertification? Published lists of Green Buildings with current status - including the names of the design and construction teams?

Bottom line: Without FM's carrying the green flame after it is lit, all LEED will be is a lot of smoke reflecting in the shiny plaque. - ww

Virtual Energy Forum '08

2008-12-12T08:59:00.000-08:00

Ran across this last night and thought of my Sac Valley friends and colleagues.

http://virtualenergyforum.com/index.php

The Virtual Energy Forum is a two day online-only event focused on how leading companies can adopt better energy management practices to cut costs, while at the same time adopting clean energy alternatives -- presenting alternative energy technologies, policies, and best practices in a live, interactive environment. The event is designed to meet the needs of corporate energy executives in a way that is not possible with physical events, webinars or other means.

The first Virtual Energy Forum, which took place on June 10th and 11th, received extremely positive responses from attendees, sponsors and partners alike and was featured in CNN's Situation Room. Speakers from the June 2008 Virtual Energy Forum included senior executives from Marriott, Raytheon and the U.S. Department of Energy as well as Senator John Kerry and Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

The next Virtual Energy Forum will take place on December 10th and 11th 2008 with all new speakers, track presentations, virtual booths and informational resources from the top institutions and individuals in the field.

The Virtual Energy Forum features:

- Live streaming video presentations from alternative energy thought leaders - with the opportunity for attendees to ask questions of these experts in real-time
- Industry-specific tracks of live video and panel presentations that will present green case studies in industries such as consumer products, healthcare, government, education, retail and high technology
- A virtual exhibit floor and virtual booths featuring several of the leading technology product and service providers
- Live chat among attendees and exhibitors, with the opportunity to easily exchange contact information and collect materials in a virtual briefcase
- Meet-the-Expert live video chats that will provide attendees access to experts in specific energy areas
- An emerging technology showcase featuring award winning companies with green products or services

Steven Greenwood, CFM, LEED-AP, IFMA Sac Chapter Secretary
Instructor
UC Berkeley Extension

IFMA Holiday Party - LIVE MUSIC!!!

2008-12-02T19:00:00.000-08:00

Party-goers, we have live music for this year's Holiday Party featuring Kirby DeShay & Cold Sweat. This year's party is atop the Holiday Inn in Sacramento on J Street. Follow link for details: http://www.ifmasac.org/i-prgram/m-08dec05.pdf

Fighting "Back to Back" - Greenbuild 2008 Day One

2008-11-18T20:55:00.000-08:00

Hello from Boston IFMA family! It's the end of day one here at Greenbuild. Here are a couple of shots after the expo floor emptied for the evening.

Besides the terrifying cold (28 degrees to a Northern California resident is nonsensically cold), it has been a great first day. Considering the mayhem of the start of last year's Greenbuild in Chicago, the first day was smooth sailing. There was a much improved registration process and check-in. Remember last year's lines? Ususally there are Rolling Stones tickets at the end of lines like that. It seems that the USGBC did something that consistently successful organizations do as a rule: Learn from mistakes and adapt - even if that adaptation requires that we look outside the organization for help.

Where am I going with this, you might ask? Some of you who know me well and have stared at my kneecaps while I was pontificating on my soapbox are already preparing for another of Wayne's launches into how the rank and file of the USGBC is virtually illiterate when it comes to the world of existing buildings. One might wonder at some USGBC events if some members actually know that after a few years of design and construction that the building actually has a shelf life of 50 to 100 years. However, today there will be none of that from me. You will hear no hope from me that the USGBC will become the EB machine. There is no pipe-dream about architects and desginers engaging facilities managers for their knowledge. No, the dream died today. This happened, not because I threw my hands up in disgust, but rather, I had the ultimate "EB"iphany today.

I realized today that, without a doubt, if either organization is going to make the maximum impact in the shortest amount of time, IFMA needs the USGBC and the USGBC needs IFMA. That's the bottom line (traditional or triple - you're choice). What I am saying is that USGBC has successfully forged territory and fostered markets for sustainability centered products and services. They have raised awareness, secured media coverage, and demonstrated results in the work of New Construction. They shouted from the rooftops and people began to muster. However, let's be honest. An organization with a critical mass of design and build members will never truly understand the challenges of the facilities manager in the built environment. If a facilities manager is the decathelete of the business world, the designers and architects are the stadium builders who have long since left town and are already scouting building locations in the city that will host the Olympics eight years from now. They could care less about your medal count - nor should they. They are concerned about different things.

Separately, the USGBC will only affect a small percentage of the problem (95% of built environment is EB stock). Separately, IFMA could not have spawned the huge wave of "greeness" that eminates from the USGBC and LEED. It is doubtfull that IFMA members would have access to the array of choices brought to bear on the market by interest ginned up by the USGBC NC market place. It hit me like a ton of salvaged bricks today - I need to stop expecting the USGBC to do something that they really will never do well enough on their own. And, secondly, I need to admit that, though IFMA is the ninja training school for the built environment, there would be few swords and throwing stars were it not for the USGBC.

We are a hydra in the making - a two-headed approach to slay the Enviro-Menace. Separately, the USGBC could design all kinds of weapons to slay the beast, but all the while the beast keeps birthing more beasts. Conversely, IFMA could go for the jugular on the enemy, but only create a puncture wound in the Enemies of Green becuase we lack weaponry and gravitas.

Let me put it another way. If the green building movement were like a terminal disease, a New Construction (NC) focus is like finding the gene that causes cancer and only treating one in a hundred thousand in-vitro babies to nullify this gene while all the existing grown people (EB's) remain untreated and continue to die from the disease. Conversely, without the scientists who discovered the gene through hard fought research (NC), there would be no hope for any one born or unborn.

The USGBC and IFMA desperately need each other if we are to achieve the goal of greening the built environment. The proper posture toward these goals is not to appraoch each other (IFMA to USGBC) in a courteous hand-shake gesture and find a way to work together and (insert business buzzwords here i.e. "Synergize Leveraged Ergonomics"). No, the first thing to do is for us to immediately turn our backs to one another, gather close, and fight like there is no tomorrow. There will be time later for pleasantries and tea-cakes. Now is the time for action, not combining hedgehog concepts into a new mission statement. On the battlefield where the enemy is insidiously attacking the very future of our children - OF OUR CHILDREN, the only cry you should hear is "USGBC - neutralize future threats and IFMA - subdue the enemy already on the battlefield!" Alone, we are exposed. Together, we can still fight while there is a chance. Will you join the battle?

Advanced Energy Design Guides Free Download

2008-11-10T00:29:00.000-08:00

Advanced Energy Design Guides Free Download
Ran across these free Energy Design Guides from ASHREA, You may be interested in them, and the price is right.

Steve Greenwood

WBDG - The Whole Building Design Guide

2008-11-09T23:13:00.000-08:00

WBDG - The Whole Building Design Guide is a terrific site for topics such as Design Guidance, Project Management,, Operations and Maintenance, Tools,Continuing Education, BIM, and Documents and References. I found the Continuing Educations section useful, and you can earn AIA continuing Education Credits for taking the classes on-line. The following classes are offered:

WBDG01 The Integrated Design Process

WBDG02 Whole Building Approach to Laboratories

WBDG03 Planning for Secure Buildings

WBDG04 Optimizing Operations and Maintenance (O&M)

WBDG05 Daylighting Principles and Strategies for Sustainable Design

WBDG06 Sustainable Roofing Design Considerations and Applications

WBDG07 Defining, Evaluating, and Selecting Green Products

I've completed two of the courses in about 2 hours each and they are well thought out and cover more than just the basics. The nice part is that you may return to them at at anytime, if you can't complete them in one sitting. Enjoy

Name That Songbird for a $20 Starbucks Card

2008-10-21T21:48:00.000-07:00

UPDATE - JOHN CAREY WON ...again. Play that guy's birthdate on the lottery or something! John correctly answered with: Lauren Edney - Charlotte, NC Chapter President. John, a coffee card is on its way! I also put the answers to my hints below.

ORIGINAL POST - It seems that the world of IFMA is full of many gifted and talented individuals. During WWP last week, I met two fellow musicians. One is from California and the other, located somewhere in the United States, is the subject of this blog contest. She has a beautiful voice and is proof that IFMA members have a certain joie de verve that makes them special!

The first IFMA Member to correctly name the singer on the recording below (email wwhitzell@corporatecare.com with the answer) will receive a $20 Starbucks card in the mail.

http://www.ifmasac.org/audio/The%20Very%20Thought%20of%20You.wma

Hints:

1. She is a Chapter President
2. Near Holmes' Home - Oliver Wendell Holmes is the namesake for Wendell, NC
3. Crash's Home State - Crash, from the movie "Bull Durham" played by Kevin Costner
4. 1903 - Wright Brothers historic flight in Kitty Hawk, NC

Good Luck!

Pocket Full of Pebbles

2008-10-19T22:36:00.000-07:00

Back in 2005, WWP was held in Philadelphia (near my hometown). Shortly before WWP, I had moved to the Sacramento market and switched membership from San Francisco to the Sacramento Valley Chapter. I had yet to meet anyone from the chapter except Christine Flanders, our uber-administrator from that time period. I walked into the welcome reception in search of my new chapter family. After I had looked around for some time, IFMA Powerhouse, Kathryn Lopez found me and said that there was a group of people that I had to meet, whereupon she took me straight to the Sacramento team. No sooner did I reach out my hand for a polite shake did Cyndi Smith (then the incoming Prez) reach out with wide open arms and gave me a big hug. In an instant, there was a real sense of family and belonging to this chapter. I instantly felt at home among them. But more than that, I knew I had begun a friendship with Cyndi that was real from micro-second one. All throughout the following year, I worked alongside Cyndi, Chris and a group of folks determined to take the Sacramento chapter to new heights of acheivement.

The following year, at San Diego WWP 2006, Cyndi and I sat next to each other at one of our chapter tables in the back of the room. During the Chapter of the Year Awards, she looked over at me with a look I have now become too familiar with. It's part hypnosis, part childlike wonder, and a LOT of estrogen. You know when that look pops up you are about to be spot-welded to her coat-tails and taken on yet another journey. This time, sitting at that table, she turned and said simply, "We are going to win that award." That was it. No discussion, no talk about how difficult. Just a statement that this WILL happen. My normal reaction to her bold moves is white-knuckles and mild hyperventilation (you get used to it). Think Woody Allen on a roller coaster. However, as with so much we have accomplished under Cyndi's leadership, I have some very, very good news to report. My friends...my IFMA Sacramento Family, I am filled with pride to tell you that you are all the well-deserving recipients of the 2008 International Small Chapter of Year Award. I wish all of you could have been there to share in the celebration with us. I shot the following two movie clips so you could experience the results of all your hard work to reach this milestone.

Makes ya misty don't it?

Obviously, if you have been following my live blog from WWP this year, you know I have had many "moments" that will stay with me from this week. In thinking about the conversations I had this trip, I realized that this has been the WWP of the IFMA Super-Woman. Between Cyndi, Laurie Gilmer, Serena Pancoast, Chris Costi, Kathleen Smith, and Kim Dilbeck, I realize that I am surrounded by some of the most talented and dedicated professionals I know of. And, if I dare be politically incorrect, they are as beautiful on the outside as they are inside. Let's face it, Cyndi and Laurie are the Guardians of Green. Chris Costi is the ultimate ambassador for membership in our chapter - and runs a New Member Breakfast with flair and grace. Kathleen took our rag-tag website by the boo-yah and turned it into something we can be proud of. It was Kim Dilbeck's graphic inspiration and lightening fast artistic guidance that brought us the Mayday collateral. Serena - holy moly, what can I say about Serena except that I have zero doubt that she will be running this chapter one day. She is passionate about FM and a model of disciplined professionalism. She will make an excellent leader when the time comes.

Now, it is important to note, that THIS will be the year of the IFMA Gentleman here in Sacramento given the masculine make-up of our current board of directors. Here we are reclining in "dudeness" at the Gala as we ponder all we survey. By the way, I am 5'11" and the average height of our board without me is 6'4". Don't worry, they're "gentle giants."
After the award ceremony, there was dinner and dancing. The emcee was particularly good this year - he reminded me of Dana Carvey.
After the Gala, IFMA Sacramento hosted our Third Annual Gala After Party at a trendy club called "Fuse." It was a great time with many great guests sponsored by Andersen Audio Visual, Corporate Care and SBM Site Services. Chris and Cyndi gave two "from the heart" toasts that, as usual, left me misty once again. Chris Flanders is an IFMA Veteran and his toast left no doubt that he cares for the chapter members in a way that is far more like family than business associates. He makes it clear that without the support of our husbands, wives and families, that putting the volunteer time into IFMA would be impossible. My wife has been a huge support for me by taking up the slack when I am at IFMA meetings. My IFMA participation would be impossible without her. It is an honor to work with an IFMA veteran like Chris. I am proud to be Riker to his Picard. Also, one of the side effects of being a man and working with Cyndi is getting in touch with your ability to cry at the drop of a hat when talking about IFMA, Chapter Members, puppies, sad clowns and golf tournaments. It's a kind of phenomenon that might interest a clinical psychologist. Chris' toast was definitely classic Flanders waterworks for all of us. I am going to start calling him the "Pipe Wrench."
We all had a great time at the after party just enjoying each other's company and the close of another WWP.
Lastly, I would like to say a "Thank You" to someone that comes not only from me, but the entire Sacramento Valley Chapter. There is a person in our chapter who has been our chapter father and mentor to many of us. He is clear-headed in chaos and a comedian under stress. Just knowing he is there if you need him is enough to walk the wire. Chapter of the Year would not have been possible without him. After watching the videos at bestowment of the IFMA Fellow designation at the Gala this year, it was made crystal clear how IFMA Fellows are chosen. They are people who are always there to help with their expertise and guidance for nothing but the love of FM and the organization that supports it. Our resident Fellow is no different. Kit, thank you for everything. We are very, very fortunate to be the cats in your herd.

So, where does this leave us? I can't help but think that this week has given me memories and knowledge that has simply made me a better person in many ways. I am left thinking about something Steve Greenwood said at the Gala after Mr. McGee's presentation. Steve said, "We have to get the whole chapter to feel the same pride for IFMA we all feel right now!" Steve wasn't phoning it in my friends. Like so many FM's that are passionate about their vocation, Steve believes we can make a difference. I am sure by now, if you have been reading this week's blog, you can obviously deduce that I am an emotional guy. I cry at Hallmark card commercials. Hopefully between the laughs, tears and wisecracks, you can see that I truly believe that IFMA is an organization that can make a difference through the many exciting, interesting and dedicated people in its ranks. Ladies and gentlemen, I ask: what will you do today to make a difference? I have a pocket full of pebbles to throw in each of your ponds at the next monthly program. Bring a raincoat.

-WW

Dozing Off

2008-10-18T00:02:00.000-07:00

Chapter Family - I must apologize, but the final installment of my WWP blog will have to wait until I recover from this epic day. I have so much to relay and I want to do it justice. For now, I think this brief sneak preview (movie clip below) will whet your appetite for more. Check back on Monday for my final installment. Upshot...it was a grand, grand day for IFMA Sacramento.

The Ripple in The Pond

2008-10-16T22:42:00.000-07:00

Day Three at WWP Dallas 2009. What a day!
If there were ever an example of what a difference a day at WWP can make - today was one such day. It started with two IFMA Powerhouses - Cynthia Smith, CFM and Laurie Gilmer, PE, CFM, LEED AP who presented "LEED EB-The Road to Platinum" to a packed room of 300 people. This was a case study from the VSP/FEA LEED EB Platinum Project.

It is no secret that I am this duo's biggest fan. However, today, I had to share these two with the greater IFMA community - and whoa! were they a hit! Between well documented data and a back story about dragging VSP through the LEED knothole (Tuvey-ism) they pulled the veil back on what a LEED project of this magnitude means to a facilities team. The team's most powerful analogy of throwing even a small pebble in a pond will create a ripple effect was driven home with Cynthia's (she'll always be Cyndi to me) impassioned plea and gauntlet throw that was more like a boulder-toss in still water that left the room awash in wave of inspiration and awe for the impact FMers can, nay, MUST make on the built environment. After the presentation, the two were swarmed with people who were moved to action with hypnotic passion and data that bordered on leaving us ashamed if we were to go home and do nothing with this knowledge. If you get a chance to get to know either of these two ladies, be prepared to be challenged, encouraged and to be magnetically drawn to the green horizon where these two are sure to take us all. To Cyndi and Laurie - Thank you from all of us charged with the responsibility of managing the built environment. Today, you are heroes.

Later that morning, Cynthia and I had the opportunity to network with two gentlemen (Samson from Nigeria and Dave from Orlando) who share a passion to marry the facilities management profession with a faith-based commitment to people and the stewardship of our planet's resources. Our goal is to create a networking community for those in IFMA that share a desire to live out their beliefs in day-to-day activities as a facilities professional. Only at IFMA can you two Californians sit down with a guy from Florida and another from the African continent and make plans to impact the world in so many positive ways through our interaction with the built environment. Look for our group on the IFMA Facebook Groups - perhaps, by next year in Orlando, our small ripple with morph into a surfable wave.

After more meetings and time on the expo floor, we headed to a lovely dinner hosted by my company, Corporate Care, for FMers from around the country. We were fortunate to have so many great folks join us at Bob's Steak and Chop House. I am so grateful to work for a company that ponies up the dough for IFMA because they believe whole-heartedly in the long-term relationships that are created and cultivated as a result. I am so proud of my company's commitment to IFMA. I just wished more associate companies would realize that associate participation in committees and through sponsorship is essential to chapter health. The business will come as a result, but only to those who are prepared to put in the time and commitment to the local chapter. For all the time and sponsorship dollars Corporate Care has given, I received it back in education and career coaching alone from Kit Tuveson and Cynthia Smith in ways that have improved my skills and bottom line with all my clients. Between the two of them, I am routinely pushed and motivated by the incessant ripples in the water these two emanate even while they are just standing still in a room.

We ended the evening at Eddie Deen's Ranch where there was more line dancing and live music. We had a chance to relax and catch up after a busy day of classes and meetings. When I walked through the door with Cynthia, a fellow FMer walked up to Cyndi and conveyed to her how much her and Laurie's presentation earlier in the day had affected her. She had obviously been hit with the same wave that tore through that class room twelve hours earlier. Here she is with Cyndi in the inset picture. Ladies and gentlemen, the future of FM got a lot greener today. We have been cast back to our facilities and local markets on a current of change. What ripples will you make on Monday morning? I guarantee you that Cyndi's average Monday looks like the back of a dual-motor speed boat at full-throttle. Sometimes, I can barely hang on.

Until tomorrow,

Your White-Knuckled Correspondent

Key "Notes"

2008-10-15T22:29:00.000-07:00

Today, we assembled in the main expo area to attend the keynote speech. The speaker, Chip Heath was excellent. We are bringing back his book, "Made to Stick" for the Chapter library. Without going into detail, the message was simply, be simple in your communication. Drop the buzzwords and communicate in concrete ways that make people remember your "story." He also defined FM's in a way that really rang true. Given all the layers and business units with which Facilities Managers interact with and influence, he nicknamed them "The Decatheletes of The Buisness World."

Speaking of stories, tonight is installment number two of "WWWP" (Wayne's World Workplace). After my first WWP at Kansas City in 2001 (see next blog), I went Northward to Toronto for 2002. The city was immaculate and the locals were friendly and helpful. The WWP itself was just good ol' Classic WWP. Attendance was a little higher than the previous year and Toronto was an execellent venue. While there, I started a new tradition where I bring my guitar with me to different cities when I travel. Since I play blues, I am usually able to find a blues band or jam where I can go and sit in. While in Toronto, I hopped in a cab to the other side of town and played at a little club called the Silver Dollar.

Now, most blues musicians love the music and the magic that happens when the band locks in to a groove together. There is nothing on earth like it. Like our FM partners, we have to work with different personalities and temperments among our band members. Some musicians are generally easy-going while others can be, well....drummers. However, even those "difficult" folks can make a sum greater than the parts when headed toward the same groove. When our FMers are conducting their teams to get into a groove and lock in with one another, they are making music of sorts. Even though a coordinator on your team may be an anal-retentive pain, he can still contribute and add value to a team if the team has a concrete goal that everyone believes they are working toward. Our Keynote speaker challenged us by saying we could even get the accountants to get excited about goals which are simply communicated and concrete in nature.

Later in the evening, we all went to Gilley's for the Welcome Reception. Though it wasn't the same place where "Urban Cowboy" was filmed, it was still as big as Texas inside replete with line dancing and good vittles. There was something for everyone: Country music, Pop/rock music, billiards and bullriding (not at the same time), casino-style gambling, and lots of food. It was a good time. However, yours truly had to sceedaddle to a place about 30 minutes away in Grapevine. You see, one of my associates in Texas owns a bar where a SRV (Stevie Ray Vaughan) tribute band was playing. Coincidentally, Stevie himself played there before (see picture inset). I must explain that I am more than a fan of SRV - I am more like a disciple. Rarely does a day go by where I don't either listen to or play one of his songs.
I showed up a the bar and heard - hands down - the best SRV guitarist I have ever heard. This wasn't your average tribute band, this guitarist was someone who had studied the music to the point where it poured out of him in such a way that even the most diehard SRV follower could close their eyes and believe Stevie was in the room.

I was able to sit in with his band and it was a wonderful experience. But it was after his set when I found out that the guitarist, Tommy, has been here in Texas for only a year. He is from Hungary and ever since he saw Stevie Ray when he was five, he wanted nothing else but to play Stevie's music in Texas. I must tell you, the kid was one of the most humble and beautiful people I have met in this business. We got to talking about Stevie and both got a little misty as we talked about our hero. I am so happy to see his music carried on by this young man who is living his dream in a way that few can ever do. Knowing that he is playing in Stevie's home state with the uttmost respect for the music brings him a joy that few will ever experience. I am so happy to have met him and played Stevie's music with him while here in Dallas. It will definitely be the high point of this trip for me.
Until tomorrow....

Lucky Number 7

2008-10-14T23:41:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's right. This is WWP number seven for your humble correspondent and fearless Chapter VP. Chris (Pres) and Mark (past Treasurer) were on the flight with me. This is actually number two for Dallas. On the flight I got to thinking about past WWP's and I'd like to share a little about what I remember from previous WWP's throughout this week.

My first WWP was in Kansas City 2001. This was about one month after the September 11th attacks. It was an eerie flight from San Francisco because there were a total of seven people on the plane. As you can imagine, turnout was very low. The "art cows" exhibited on the city streets and the theme that year "Oz" seemed all the more surreal given all that we had just gone through and what this would mean for facilities around the world. But, what I remember is a West Coast dinner we put together; bolstered by a few straggler chapters we invited from around the western US to join us. There was a pride that we all made it there and defied those trying to frighten us. We were all laughing and eating the best corn fed beef I had ever had. Shortly after dinner, there was an almost sudden quiet across this room of about seventy people. At what seemed to be an awkward moment I heard someone to my right begin to sing "America the Beautiful" in a soft and tender voice. It was Britta from Monster Cable. As her voice grew more brave we all chimed in through smiles and tears. There were no political affiliations, no CNN, no Fox News, no polling. Just a group of people who huddled together for a brief moment of unity and comfort. I'll never forget that moment as long as I live.

Anyhoo, we are here now and I am going to bunk down for the night, but I'll report tomorrow about the day’s activities and another of my "Tales from WWP's Past." I just took this picture outside my hotel room window. I wish all of you in the chapter could be here with us. Because of the great, hardworking people in our industry WWP is truly a magical experience that I wish all of you were here to share. I'll do my best to give you the "virtual experience" this week.

Wayne Whitzell - IFMA Sacramento Chapter, Vice President

Professional Development: The Lean Culture

2008-10-07T17:23:00.000-07:00

As Chair of our Chapter’s Professional Development Committee, I’m always on the lookout for opportunities for those of us in the world of FM to develop within our profession while also gaining insight into business and economic trends. One area that has gained momentum throughout the business world, from hospitals to banks to industrial manufacturing is the concept of Lean. In simple terms, Lean concepts are all about using your resources more effectively and reducing or eliminating waste. In the world of FM, this touches home by the fact that Maintenance productivity in most American companies averages between 25%-35%. A more desirable, and yet realistic goal, is 60% productivity. Learning the concepts, tools and implementation of Lean culture is one means of achieving better productivity from your resources. In turn, better leveraging of resources helps to reduce costs, maintain project schedules and enhance customer support. Considering today’s economic turmoil and emphasis on good strategic planning, I expect Lean to become the standard platform for tomorrow’s business operations. To gain more insight into Lean culture, the SMUD Energy and Technology Center has two offerings on their 2008 calendar. On Oct. 29th they are offering “Lean Process Improvement Tools” and on Nov. 20th they are offering “Lean Culture”. These classes are four hours in length and are offered at no charge. Additionally, the SMUD Energy and Technology Center also offers several other classes, most of them at no charge, specific to HVAC, Lighting, LEED and Building Design. Registration may be done online at www.smud.org/etc. I’ve already signed up; I hope to see you there!

Serena from IFMA

Web Master's Wish

2008-10-07T15:30:00.000-07:00

Bring back a lot of pictures from Cow Town! I regret that I won't be at World Workplace with the chapter, but I know I'm not the only one missing what is sure to be a LOT of fun and excitement (and professional development, too, of course). So, please do take a lot of pictures to share on the web site.

Kathleen Smith -- Web Master

Treasurer Update

2008-10-07T12:29:00.000-07:00

With World Workplace only a few days away now, I am sure many of you are starting to think about packing and what to bring. This will be the "Cow Town to Cow Town" visit so be sure you bring your cowboy hats and Wranglers. The Adolphus Hotel is going to be our chapter meeting place and be sure to get your tickets to the Awards of Excellence banquet into Christian before the Opening Keynote Speaker. This is an exciting time as we wait to hear if we are the Small Chapter of the Year. This is our second entry and we are all hoping for the best. Be sure to celebrate or drown your sorrows after at the "O-Bar" as we will be having a grand party after the awards. This year will be as fun if not more than the past two WW events that I have attended. Looking forward to seeing you all there.

As for the actual report of the Treasurer, we are doing fine financially and I thank you all for turning in your receipts on the correct paper with the information we need for posting. Keep up the good work.

John Carey -- Treasurer

The Church of What's Happening Now (at IFMA)

2008-10-07T10:38:00.000-07:00

As I prepare for my annual trek to World WorkPlace in Dallas, I look forward to attending the IFMA Annual Meeting and the House of Delegates meeting on Tuesday afternoon. I highly encourage those who are able to get to these meetings to do so. This is where you learn about the direction, the challenges and the changes ahead for our association and how our Chapter can make the most of our IFMA experience.

I also encourage you to look into the Wednesday morning council meetings. Many councils have them and this is an excellent way to sharpen your "functional spear" and get in touch with FMers out there who are in the same business you are in - a great opportunity to find those connections to help you solve those difficult problems. For example, I am in the FM Counsultant's Council, and I network with others in the FM consulting field. In fact, I am the President for the coming year (always a sucker for volunteering!!).

This gathering in Dallas is a chance to get outside your normal networking comfort zone and get to know othes from around the country and around the world. I know it's tempting to pal around with your fellow chapter members, but work with each other and introduce your new friends to old friends.

I look forward to seeing some of you at the conference. Travel safely.

Kit Tuveson, CFM, IFMA Fellow

How I studied for the LEED exam

2008-09-23T17:12:00.000-07:00

Now that I've passed the LEED AP exam, I'd like to share with you my study curriculum in the hope it will help you pass yours.

Obviously I read the USGBC book, concentrating first on the highlighted pages. I underlined what seemed to be the most important key items or words. I used the flashcards from Professional Publications, Inc at http://www.ppl2pass.com/. I carried them everywhere I went and reviewing constantly.
I went to the back of the book and read the glossary of terms. Anything that was new to me or that I did not have a depth of knowledge in, I went to the Internet (thank God for Google) and checked it out.

A few weeks ago I subscribed to an online test from Green Building Education Services at https://www.greenexamprep.com/index.html . Wayne Whitzell and I discovered it about the same time. It is the best $50 you will spend in preparation for the exam! On the practice test, under "test setting" I chose from the dropdown menu to give the results "after every question". The explanations were great and when I missed a question it forced me to go the Reference Guide and review that answer. I took the various tests multiple times. The system scrambles the questions each time you take the exam. Two weeks before the test, every evening that I could, I did one of the four tests. It made me exceptionally prepared for the exam.

I purchased from the USGBC Colorado Chapter their "LEED Professional Study Guide and Practice Exam". It is concentrated more on NC, but it does have a good outline along with a small practice test for EB. In the middle of the book is a table covering all the credits/prerequisites and it was very helpful. The page called "Acronyms and Abbreviations" has an important synopsis. On the test, you have to know what is covered in the standards for ASHRAE 90.1, 52.2, 55, 62 and ASTM E408 , E903.

I also compiled a study spreadsheet for myself which I will make available to anyone who wants it. It is vital that you know the percentages for the various credits. So I put them on the spreadsheet along with an abbreviated requirement cell. It prints out on 8.5x14 paper. It is not all inclusive but if you have read the materials, it is a concentrated study help like the flashcards but with more information. If you want the file, email me at cesgro@comcast.net

When I took the exam, I noticed that there were a couple of questions that I had not seen in any of the materials that I had studied. I contacted the USGBC and they replied in an email that there was an "erratum for the Reference Guide" that corrected errors and omissions in the Reference Guide book. I went online but haven't yet found it. Whichever LEED exam you are taking, it may be a good idea to check if there is an errata for that Reference Guide.

I hope this helps.

Charles Esgro LEED AP (I like how this looks)

What Does the "I" in IFMA mean?

2008-09-23T12:54:00.000-07:00

Hello IFMA-Sac Community!

I wanted you to know that I have been selected to be on a International Task Force to "Define the focus of IFMA's international development strategy as it relates to the organization's member-centric culture as opposed to our products/services culture." There are nine of us on this TF.

This has been a passion of mine for many years, especially ten years ago when I was the IFMA Board Chairman. The profession of FM has been evolving differently around the globe and at different speeds, so it is appropriate for IFMA to establish a clear approach to growing the global membership and to provide the unique products and services that advance all these different member's careers.

Our first official meeting will be in Dallas next month at WWP, and I am looking forward to helping our association evolve as needed to meet the global challenges we are facing.

I will report some of the findings along the way as this TF proceeds. As always, I would love to hear any thoughts you may have about the "I" in IFMA, and promise to get back to any who offer some ideas or ask questions.

Thanks for checking in!

Charles Esgro Passed his LEED AP!!!!

2008-09-16T11:52:00.001-07:00

Everyone joing me in congratulating Charles! Hopefully we can get him to post a blog about his experience. Nudge Nudge :-)

Speaking of LEED AP, there has been a change in the EB testing. Below is taken from an email issued by the GBCI regarding the changes:

Registration to take the current LEED for Existing Buildings v2.0 Accredited Professional (AP) exam will close on September 30, 2008 and the last date that the exam will be offered is December 31, 2008.
As of September 1, 2008, all projects registering with the U.S. Green Building
Council (USGBC) for LEED for Existing Buildings are required to register under the new LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Rating System.
As a registrant for the LEED for Existing Buildings v2.0 AP exam please review the following options available to you:
• If you have not yet scheduled an exam session: You have until September 30 to schedule your LEED for Existing Buildings v2.0 exam and you may take the exam up until December 31, 2008.
• If you have scheduled an exam session between now and September 30, 2008: There is nothing you need to do. In the event that you do not pass your exam, you will still be able to register for a new LEED for Existing Buildings v2.0 AP exam through September 30, 2008.
• If you have scheduled an exam session between October 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008:
Option 1: Keep your appointment. If you need to retest, you will need to study from the new LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Rating System and Reference Guide.
Option 2: Cancel your scheduled exam using the procedures outlined in the candidate handbook. Once your exam is cancelled, you have the option to participate in the Beta testing of the new LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M exam for free. Beta testing will occur in November, 2008. Although specific details will follow, please know now that if you participate in the Beta testing event, it will take several months to receive your pass or fail notification. If you are interested in this option, please contact GBCI at volunteer@gbci.org.
To schedule, reschedule, cancel or confirm an exam appointment, please visit Prometric’s Web site: www.prometric.com/gbci. Please note that Prometric charges a $30 rescheduling fee for any appointment cancelled or rescheduled within 30 days of the original exam date. For instructions and policies regarding Prometric scheduling, please see pages 6-8 of the LEED AP Candidate Handbook. If you have questions regarding your exam appointment or the scheduling process, please contact Prometric at 1-800-853-6769.
For more information on the LEED for Existing Buildings v2.0 exam retirement, please visit GBCI’s Web site. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to call our Customer Service Staff at 1-800-795-1746.
Thank you for your interest and involvement in the LEED Accredited Professional program. Good luck in your endeavors towards a sustainable built environment.
Sincerely,
_________________
Accreditation Staff
Green Building Certification Institute
1800 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Third Floor
Washington, DC 20036
800 795-1746
www.gbci.org

World Workplace 2008 Hotel

2008-07-13T21:29:00.001-07:00

Team,

We have chosen the Adolphus as the "official" hotel for the chapter. I suggest you book now since one hotel has already been completely booked. Remember, after August 1st, the early registration discount ends. We will be sending out an overview of events for general WWP activities as well as our chapter-specific events at the end of July. In addition, we will distribute a master list of attendees with hotel, cell-phone, etc...

If you have never been to a WWP, drop me a line. I'd be happy to give you a little insight. This will be my 7th or 8th one as an associate member. I hope to see many of you there! :)

Wayne Whitzell - Sustainability Comittee Chair

Speaking the Language of FM

2008-06-13T15:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I received an invite from Councils of IFMA to "Learn the Language of FM". I already speak this language, although with varying degree of advancement and correctness, so it is fortunate that the Councils have put together this wonderful item called the FMpedia which properly defines and explains the words of the FM language. This got me thinking about other languages I have learned and how my experience of learning those languages is not so different as my experience in learning the language of FM. Let me explain. I took Spanish for two years and after the 2nd year, despite passing grades and hours of verb conjugation and noun memorization, I could not hold a basic conversation. My hindrance was that outside of class I did not practice or use my Spanish and very soon I was reduced to only recognizing an occasional word or two. When I studied Italian some years later, the experience and the results were remarkably different. I studied Italian while living in Tuscany and therefore had the daily opportunity to practice what I was learning. Granted, there were many mistakes. I had a tendency to mix up the verbs for hearing; I would say "I'm not listening to you" when I really meant "I can't hear you". I also used the more aggressive verbs whereas Italians use the passive. So while I meant "will you do this for me?" what I actually said was "you will do this for me now." Fortunately, Italians are cooperative in sharing their language and I was gently correctly and instructed. I knew progress was being made when the corner shops sold me espresso and cigarettes (yes, shameful past Euro-habits) at the lower "native price". My foreign language experience is thus similar to my IFMA experience. I've been an IFMA Member since 1999 yet it's only since the fall of 2007 that I have been an Active IFMA Member and it has been a remarkable difference indeed. While we all speak the language of FM, I believe it is through active participation in IFMA that one becomes fluent. Outside of our work, how often is there the opportunity to converse about the necessity of a jockey pump, the importance of good switch gear or the difference between predictive and preventative maintenance? Like Italian, the language of FM has regional differences and not all IFMA Members will completely understand. In my own job I perform ergonomic evaluations yet blindly asking other Members "do you experience much ulnar deviation at your site?" might bring about blank stares or unintended offense. But like the citizens of Italy, the members of IFMA are cooperative and understanding when FM is spoken. Similar to learning new and different words, the nouns and acronyms of FM may be chosen and spoken, then retracted and corrected, and spoken anew in a supportive environment. "Did I say gross area? Sorry, I meant usable area." "What is Ashray? Oh! You must mean ASHRAE..." "You're not familiar with AB 32? Let me explain..." As a formerly passive IFMA Member, I averaged a few programs per year and only spoke FM at work. But the language of FM is global, not local, and the more exposure you have, and the more network you do, the more you will learn. My own advance from passive to active member was brought about by earning my CFM and attending my first World Workplace in New Orleans. Since then, I've become the Chair of the Education Committee and a member of the Membership Committee. I attend as many monthly programs as I am able and I'm exciting to be to presenting the first program offering from Education in September with my fellow committee members. And I'm also exciting about the new FMpedia...that's how I recently learned that "bake-out" (in FM) means "the process by which a building is heated in an attempt to accelerate VOC emissions from furniture and materials." And that VOC acronym? A quick click in FMpedia will tell you "volatile organic compound." That one I already new from my AQI permitting. What's AQI? Well, that's not in the FMpedia but if you want to know, call me, or look for me at a Program and we'll speak some FM. That's one of the many treasures of active membership; you're always learning something that's new and different and relevant. So...I hope to see you soon! Or as they say in Italian, "spero di incontrarlo presto!"

Serena from IFMA

Green Facilities Class at Sac State

2008-06-12T12:55:00.000-07:00

Team,

Don't forget, Kit Tuveson's Green Business Operations Class series continues at Sac State next Tuesday with the GREEN FACILITIES module! For only $383, you get six, three-hour classes with the always info-taining Kit Tuveson! If you are looking to get up to speed quickly or get some useful tips for your toolbox and career, contact CSUS today at http://www.cce.csus.edu/catalog/course_group_detail.asp?group_number=344&group_version=1

Below is a description of the course starting on June 17th.

Green Facilities
Until recently most sites and buildings were designed for
lowest initial cost. Many organizations are now setting
new policies for incorporating “green” practices into
their asset management strategies. This course covers
the facility management responsibilities, policies, and
practices involved with implementing and managing
sustainable goals connected to real property. It identifies
those competencies needed by the facility management
function to properly design, operate, and maintain the site and buildings.

See you there!

W-Squared

2008 Strategic Planning Session

2008-06-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

Howdy Partners! (I'm practicing for WWP-Dallas

I am organizing the 2008 Strategic Planning Session for our chapter. The session is open to all board members, committee chairs & co-chairs as well as any members identified by said board or committee chairs. For example, Serena or John may have a person in mind for eventual succession down the road, and they want to involve that person more. Or, there may be a particular volunteer who has demonstrated a skill that would make him/her a valuable participant during the session. Therefore, board members and committee chairs: please have your participation lists back to me by July 15th please.

Secondly, to prepare for the session, please review our current strat plan (I will be sending out an end of the year recap with our percentages of accomplishments, etc...) after July 1st. We have an exceptionally creative leadership team. It would be helpful if, at the committee level, some brainstorming was done prior to the strat plan session. So, please engage your committees and bring some ideas!

We are looking at an all day (9:00am to 5:00pm) Friday time slot on either August 22nd or 29th in Sacramento. Email me at wwhitzell@corporatecare.com to let me know if you can make these dates.

I can't tell you how gratifying it has been to be at these sessions each year and then compiling the Awards of Excellence submittals. I have seen so many things come full circle thanks to the hard work and creativity of this chapter. We have the first twenty years behind us and we are on the road to "Large Chapter Excellence" - Let's put the accelerator down and kick it up a notch!

-Your most grateful and IFMA-Indebted chapter member,
Wayne

New Jobs Page on Chapter Web Site

2008-05-22T18:28:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to all that have been involved in the process of our Web Page Re-Design. What a great internet image we have now on our 20th anniversary year. We have come a long way from when Bob Sawhill, Scott Hillis and I first sat down at a Chapter Website Committee Meeting and commissioned Steve Willis along with Mike Dowd to invent and then re-invent our first “presence” on the internet.

I think you will agree with me that we now show an updated excitement and dedication that we have stood for here in the Sacramento Valley for over 20 years. You owe it to yourself to take a look at our website and especially our “Jobs” tab and see what we have been up to. There you will find job postings, resumes, and a link to our brethren in the BAY AREA IFMA CHAPTERS. Not only will you be getting the exposure of the Sacramento Valley Chapter of IFMA but also that of our big brothers to the West. Give our new look a gander. I think you will be impressed and will join me in saying job well done to the folks that have made this thought for improvement a reality.—Tim McGuire, Chairman, Job Referral Committee

California Sustainability Mayday 2008 Sponsors

2008-04-22T14:41:00.000-07:00

The Sacramento Valley Chapter of IFMA has been hard at work putting together California Sustainability Mayday 2008—a first of its kind workshop presented BY Operations People FOR Operations People—and we wish to thank our many sponsors who have stepped up to the plate to make it happen.

In addition to our Event Sponsor, Corporate Care, sponsors include DPR Construction, EMCOR Services, HMH Builders, Hogue, Milliken, Pacific Building Care, RetroCom, Sacramento State, and special contributor, Rider Levett Bucknall. And, yes! We are still accepting sponsorships.

We are also excited to partner with IFMA Foundation, IFMA East Bay, IFMA Redwood Empire, IFMA San Francisco, IFMA Silicon Valley, IIDA and USGBC in this endeavor.

Join us in changing the world for the better -- one building at a time!