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| December 2011 Newsletter |  |
| Special Feature - | Community Service Committee Changes |
| Special Feature - | Kevin George Selected for New Sustainability Program |
| Special Feature - | Sponsorship Program |
| Program Recap - | State of the Union President's Luncheon [includes photos] |
| Meet The Member - | Karen Koury - Fiserv, Inc. |
| Sponsor Spotlight - | Clara I. Brown Interiors, Inc. (CIBI) |
| Vice President Practices - | Fresh Start for Facilities Managers: Year of Possibilities |
Community Service Committee changes that began last year will continue into the new year, according to committee co-chairs Steve Niswonger and Jennifer Hickerson.
Because of concerns by the International of chapters’ potential misuse of their 501 (c)(6) status, the Central Ohio Chapter is looking for more individual community participation.
In issuing new community service guidelines, the International said:
“The IFMA Board of Directors is not suggesting that you (chapters) discontinue supporting your community or other activities for another non-profit…but are encouraging you to re-invest the majority of your common or discretionary funds in meeting the objectives of our balanced scorecard, namely your members, facilities management education, and the profession.”
In complying with this directive, the Central Ohio Chapter’s emphasis has shifted somewhat toward educational programs. Members may click on the banner at the top of the chapter’s Home Page for a listing of the educational programs and financial assistance offered.
No longer will raffles at the President’s Luncheon or the annual golf outing be used to raise funds for community projects as in the past.
However, members will still have many opportunities to become involved in community service projects.
For several months, members have had an opportunity to become involved in Project Seedlings, a non-profit organization that offers environmental education for inner city youth. Locations and dates for volunteering are also posted on the Home Page.
The committee will continue its support of an inner-city school but not to the extent that it was involved with Eastgate Elementary School where it bought and prepared Christmas gifts for the 350 students for several years.
Hickerson said this year the committee is supporting Weinland Park Elementary, 211 E. Seventh Ave., Columbus, with a clothing and supplies drive from January through June.
Hickerson said, because of the International’s concerns, “We no longer accept monetary donations or do some of the things we did in the past where we requested items to raise money through raffles. We can no longer do that so we are asking you to purchase and donate the items directly.”
Weinland was selected when a teacher at the school told committee member Christine Corcoran of the needs there. As a result, Niswonger delivered meals for three families to the school just before Christmas. The meals for 16 people were the typical holiday fare—turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, and pumpkin pie.
Weinland is one of three schools in the Columbus district that follows a year round calendar.
Hickerson said students there wear uniforms, which members may purchase at Target or Wal-Mart and then bring to chapter meetings and events. She will collect the items and see that they are delivered to the school in the summer.
Clothing items needed for girls include:
Clothing items needed for boys include:
Classroom items that are needed include:
Niswonger said the committee will continue its support of the Community Kitchen that operates from the basement of St. John Center, 640 S. Ohio Ave, and the Directions for Youth and Families’ Short Stop Youth Center, 1066 N. High St.
Niswonger also pointed out that by moving chapter meetings and events to LifeCare Alliance, 670 Harmon Ave., the chapter is supporting community programs “to help aging people stay in their homes and out of nursing homes.” He is a member of the LifeCare board.
“We (the community) save $50,000 per year, per person by keeping people from nursing homes. Last year, programs such as this (President’s Luncheon) enabled us to serve every single person who signed up for Meals on Wheels.
“We also added 600 new clients this past year, so you can see how important LifeCare is to the community. I would encourage you to call LifeCare if you have a catering need,” he said.
It’s only natural that Kevin George, known for playing the last three IFMA golf outings with the same golf ball while hitting all the fairways and greens, would be the first member of the Central Ohio IFMA Chapter to be selected for the Sustainability Facility Professional (SFP) program
Those who complete the program are known as SFP Champs.
George, a member of the chapter since January 2001, is director of engineering and maintenance for The Columbus Dispatch. He was selected recently by the chapter to participate in this new program initiated in March by the International.
(Just for the record, George won $50 gift certificates for the longest putt and closest to the pin in 2009, and a $50 certificate in 2010 for the longest drive.)
The SFP program is designed to help facility professionals play a key leadership role in creating, managing, and operating sustainable facilities by giving them the skills they need to impact their organizations’ economic, environmental, and social bottom lines.
The program, which consists of electronic or printed reading materials, interactive online study tools, and SFP final assessments, offers a single source for learning about sustainable facility management, and earning the SFP credential.
The SFP is open to all professionals, and those pursuing the credential are not required to have the association’s Facility Management Professional or Certified Facility Manager designation beforehand. A foundation of facility management knowledge, however, is needed to get the most out of the program.
This is a self-study program that combines downloadable materials, interactive online study tools, and online final assessments to help earn the SFP credential. Facility managers selected for the program receive fee assistance from both the International and local chapter.
Last October, an e-mail was sent to all professional members of the Central Ohio Chapter about the program. It was accompanied with an application asking those interested to submit a brief essay as to why they should be selected the SFP Champ for the chapter and how they would promote the credential.
George wrote in part:
“Being involved in facility maintenance for 24…years, I have been practicing sustainability before it became the 21st century’s new buzzword in facility maintenance and building design.
“The 11 facilities I manage, along with my staff, have been participating in office recycling, waste reduction, product substitution, reuse of office systems and equipment, and any other program that will reduce the amounts of trash being sent to landfills, hazardous waste requiring treatment before disposal…(and) evaluating chemicals used in the facility or production process….
“As a corporate department our programs have reduced the volume of waste sent to the landfill by 90 percent, and changed our hazardous waste generator status from on the cusp of being classified as a ‘Large Quantity Generator’ to a ‘Conditionally Exempt Generator.’”
George pointed out that he has received several awards and recognition for sustainable initiatives, including the Green Emerald Award in Leadership in 2009 from the Central Ohio Solid Waste Authority. He received this award for spearheading a project that achieved 94 percent recycling of a 50,000-square-foot EPDM ballast roof, and has since removed the same roofing from a 60,000-square-foot facility.
Facility manager professionals who earn the SFP Champ certification are required to:
To this, George responded:
“If I were selected…I feel my strong credibility with my peers will be even more enhanced when I would speak about sustainability to the group. They realize I live what I am so passionate about—protecting the environment, reducing waste, cost-effectiveness, providing a safe, healthy, and enjoyable work place for all occupants.”
George also said he would work with the Program/ Education Committee to locate speakers to discuss sustainability initiatives, and would encourage members to share their sustainable successes.
The 2012 chapter sponsorship program is off to a flying start with good results through the end of December, Dan Schellkopf, Associate Relations Committee chair, reports.
A new “Partners of IFMA” program has replaced the current one. No longer will chapter sponsors be designated as platinum, gold, or silver based on monetary commitment levels. The new program sets a $500 investment for each sponsor, and offers more exposure in return.
“The program this year is extremely affordable,” says Schellkopf, “and companies wishing to sponsor the chapter have the option of a single payment of $500 or two payments of $250, one in January and the second in June.
“As of the end of 2011, we have 14 company sponsors, and several others have indicated they will be sponsors. It doesn’t matter if the company is large or small, the benefits of partnering with IFMA are great, and we look forward to working with these and many other companies this year.”
The “early” 2012 sponsors include:
Under the new program, sponsors will receive:
Photos of this event - click here
It was a review of 20ll as well as a look into the future for the Central Ohio IFMA Chapter at the President’s Luncheon December 14 at LifeCare Alliance, 670 Harmon Ave.
Advertised as a “State of the Union” event, it was just that as chapter President Stephan Cooke and committee chairs outlined the numerous changes that have taken place within the chapter in recent months as well as those that will continue into 2012.
Cooke first thanked the committees for their hard work during the year then thanked those who continue to support the organization as sponsors:
“It has been somewhat of a challenging year for the chapter with the economy being what it is. We realize it is harder for companies and individuals to be involved with associations, and the fact that you are involved is greatly appreciated.
“We are changing a lot of things…to hopefully create a good plan for going forward while sustaining the organization and our committees. We are trying to define who we are as an organization while getting the facility manager more involved because we understand how difficult it is for them to get away (for events).”
Areas of change include:
These scholarships are available to all professional members who have been with the chapter for a minimum of two years. Members must be active and have accumulated a minimum of 10 points from the member awards program between August and July annually to qualify. One scholarship will be available for each program.
While Fiserv, Inc., a leading global provider of information management and electronic commerce systems for the financial services industry, has 200 locations and 19,000 employees worldwide, it’s the 900 who occupy the company’s Dublin office that concern Karen Koury.
Koury is facility manager of the 160,000 square-foot building at 6000 Perimeter Dr. where she is responsible for “the building inside and out whether it is janitorial, HVAC, cafeteria, or the grounds—anything from unstopping a toilet to reconfiguring furniture.”
She and her team of two do it all when it comes to building maintenance and seeing that the needs of her employer and fellow employees are met. This also includes managing employees who work in the cafeteria, mail room, security and janitorial.
Koury came to Fiserv, headquartered in Brookfield, WI, via CheckFree, an electronic commerce company specializing in bill payment services that occupied the Dublin site when acquired by Fiserv in 2007.
Her association with CheckFree dates to 1995 when she left a purchasing position with Atlas Industrial Electric in Columbus.
“When I interviewed for the position in 1995,” she said, “I was told that while CheckFree needed a purchasing manager I would also have to deal with facilities”.
“I was told, ‘You will spend most of your time in facilities and a little bit of your time in purchasing.’ I said I had never done facilities before, but was told that ‘it was nothing’ and I would be fine.”
Koury’s first task at CheckFree was to establish an automated purchase order system, “which drove purchasing down to nothing each day. I then began concentrating on facilities and just reconfiguring furniture, moving people around, getting painting done, purchasing new furniture and furnishings, and setting up conference rooms.”
She’s been moving people since—at least “4,000 moves internally” since first occupying the Dublin building after CheckFree consolidated its Columbus operations there in 1998.
Her major move entailed getting CheckFree’s then 800 employees to Dublin from its two Columbus locations. That transfer of employees, equipment, and furnishings was accomplished over eight weekends “with no impact or down time to associates.”
Koury also has created reporting processes on vendor contracts, developed a disaster recovery plan and facility handbook, and revised internal employee communications to insure clearer goals and better transfer of information.
A native of Greensboro, NC, Koury and her daughter, Samantha, 4, live in Lewis Center. She holds an associates degree in business administration from Guilford Technical Community college in Greensboro, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in business administration from Franklin University.
Koury joined the Central Ohio IFMA Chapter in 1996, and has just completed the course requirements for Facility Manager Professional designation and is awaiting her certification from the International. She expects to begin working soon on Certified Facility Manager designation.
Koury said she became an IFMA member because she was looking for career development and an opportunity to network with facility manager professionals.
“I enjoy IFMA, but my attendance at events has been somewhat lacking in the past two years. Because of my responsibilities at Fiserv, it is difficult to make the early-morning meetings. I just can’t make them and get the day started. I do, however, like what IFMA represents and the camaraderie it offers.
“Several of my vendors are IFMA members and I always try to promote IFMA when I talk with vendors. Lisa Schultz (Membership Committee co-chair) is always trying to encourage me to get back in the groove. I haven’t been able to yet, but that is one of my goals after the first of the year,” she said.
For “relaxation,” Koury enjoys scuba diving and has investigated the waters of the Caribbean Islands of Bonaire, Turks & Caicos, the Grand Caymans and “anywhere else it is warm.” She also enjoys riding her Harley, but admits riding has slowed down since the birth of her daughter.
Click the banner to visit sponsor's website
Clara I. Brown Interiors, Inc. (CIBI), is a corporate healthcare, institutional, and government furniture dealership at 111 W. Nationwide Blvd., in Columbus’ Arena District.
CIBI, a Gold level sponsor of the Central Ohio IFMA Chapter, also provides design services for clients. The company’s “signature” is customer service, and is proud of the fact that it is a business built on relationships developed over 20 years.
Brown, who heads the company, says, “We have avoided dependence on the status of certifications, preferring to generate business on the basis of performance and merit. CIBI has grown and increasingly had an impact on the Ohio deucational, business, and healthcare communities.
“To accomplish this, our company has aligned itself with over 50 premier furniture companies. Allsteel, Inc, CIBI’s lead systems line, is owned by HNI Corporation, the second largest furniture manufacturer in the world,
“Our client base ranges between the public and private sectors. In the public sector, examples include departments within the State of Ohio government as well as Ohio colleges and universities. In the private arena, CIBI has worked with banks, hospitals, small companies, and large corporations.”
An Arena District fixture even before there was an Arena District, CIBI has expanded three times since 1995 from its original 700 square feet to approximately 8,000 square feet for better visibility, product display, and office space for its employees.
Brown, who heads the company with husband, Jim, and daughter, Erika, operated out of their home until moving downtown and into a section of an old Dean & Barry paint manufacturing building.
CIBI provides its clients an ongoing team to support needs in:
CIBI also supports the following needs:
Editor’s Note: This is another in a series of articles of informative topics specifically for facility management professionals. This article, however, is one every chapter member should read and weigh. The articles, entitled Vice President Practices, are prepared by Joyce Strait, vice president, Central Ohio IFMA Chapter.
“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.”—Edith Lovejoy Pierce—(English poet)
As we know, this is the time of year we clean out the old and consider the new year for resolutions. What exactly is a new year's resolution? It is considered to be a commitment that an individual makes to one or more lasting personal goals, projects, or reforming of a habit?
This might be something like “improve deleting e-mails,” or “file more paper documents.”
To reflect upon self-improvement annually, it is not enough to say “improve.” To establish a goal one must have a place to start with concrete examples to measure, such as “delete 16 e-mails” once a week on Tuesdays or “file 12 paper documents” on Wednesday afternoon at 4:30.
Facility mangers are responsible for leadership of a company business unit. They can start the year by drawing a “line in the sand”—This is what we are going to do and this is when we will do it.
Goals can be thought of in different ways. One is SMART goals - Specific, Measurable, Realist and Achievable.
Be specific because you know your business. An example may be ideas (maintenance schedule for HVAC) into specific measurable targets (monthly inspections) leading to early economical maintenance repairs (achievable budget goals). You make a difference by managing a specific function in your company.
Another way to work a goal is backwards from goals to milestones to tasks.
Suppose “launch a facility management blog” was on the top of your to-do list. Just listing it this way will probably not get it started. Break down work into smaller and smaller tasks that can be accomplished in a few hours. This could be “sketch a wireframe outline introduction for a blog video.” Break down work into 60-90 minute intervals.
After any work for 60-90-minute intervals take a break. Walk, look outside, eat a snack, or anything to recharge.
Time management is not about time but about you. Enjoy!
Only set approximately three goals early in the new year by using the Backward or SMART method. This is enough for annual work direction or self improvement. “Bonne chance” (luck) for the new year!
“Another fresh new year is here...Another year to live! To banish worry, doubt, and fear, To love and laugh and give! This bright new year is given me To live each day with zest...To daily grow and try to be My highest and my best! I have the opportunity, once more to right some wrongs, To pray for peace, to plant a tree, And sing more joyful songs!”—William Arthur Ward (American scholar, author, editor, pastor, teacher)
