President's Message

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The IAAM Annual Conference & Trade Show is different things to different people. For some it is the opportunity to sit in education sessions to hear and learn from the very brightest in the industry. For others, it is walking the trade show floor and making those necessary purchases for the venue.Still others will say that the overall networking sets this conference apart from any other.

While all of the above are strong components of the industry’s premier conference and trade show, I have to admit that I always look forward to the Inaugural Luncheon when the newest group of individuals who have earned their Certified Facilities Executive (CFE) designations are announced to the crowd. As someone who carries a CFE designation, I know the work involved to reach this plateau in the industry and can appreciate the efforts of these individuals who now proudly carry three extra letters after their names.

With the specialty meetings completed, with the recent success of the Performing Arts Facility Administrators Seminar in Philadelphia, thoughts now turn to the Association’s professional development offerings Two that are special to me are the Senior Executive Symposium and the Public Assembly Facility Management School at Oglebay, both of which will be held in June and help build toward one’s CFE designation.

Allow me to share why I believe these to be essential to anyone who strives to increase his or her professionalism in our exciting industry.

Your customers may not know it, but …
I have yet to meet anyone who said that they would not enter my facility because I did not carry a CFE designation. But what a designation does say to the public is that we have invested our time that is already busy enough to continue our industry education. That education, in turn, allows us to be better stewards of our facilities and to be better prepared to deal with any potential problems that come up from time to time.

Simulated knowledge gained through reading articles and studying trends works only to a certain extent. Until you spend the time in hands-on intensive study do you truly grasp and appreciate the knowledge that is yours to have. I am a strong advocate of participatory-style meetings where a diversity of opinion and experience comes together resulting in my being a more enlightened facility manager.

So be sure to include the CFE designation on your business card. It can make for a nice introduction about who you are and what you do when you hand one to a patron. Besides that, it should be a source of pride for you!

It should serve as a source of encouragement for others
This is an industry made up of individuals who are passionate about their jobs and their careers. When we all gather at the IAAM Annual Conference & Trade Show as well as other IAAM meetings, seminars and functions, we should encourage those without the designation to strive for it.

We can certainly make a difference individually at our venues and in our communities by carrying a CFE designation. But just think about how much more influence we can carry collectively if more and more people continue their professional development education. What if every IAAM member was a CFE?

Don’t hesitate to speak to one of your peers about the professional development opportunities that are available. Encourage them to become actively involved in the offerings. Describe your personal experience as you worked towards your designation.

You will grow personally and professionally
I found one of the most rewarding aspects of my professional development growth the opportunity to get to know many more of my peers on a personal basis. We can all appreciate and respect each other because we are all striving for the same goal. Many sacrifices are made and it helps during those – times when it is easy to just want to give up – to have a support group surrounding you who knows exactly what you are going through. I have been fortunate to make many new friends thanks to the professional development programs.

Professionally, I carry my Certified Facilities Executive designation with pride. Previous articles have been written in this magazine about whether having the designation actually helps one rise through the ranks in this industry. The issue is debatable and in my opinion should not be the primary reason why someone sets out on a professional development trail.

I believe the more valid reason is that we simply become better at what we do. Ours is in many ways a behind-the-scenes business, where we open our doors to wonderful events taking place. From where we sit, we can admire how smoothly an event takes place, until it is time for that event to leave and the next one to come in.

Make this the year you either begin or continue down your professional development path. You will find the journey to be incredibly rewarding and one that will have lasting implications on your life and your career. Out of Many, We are One … Educated Mind.!

Jimmy Earl, CFE IAAM President