Reflecting on IFMA’s Global Leadership and Growth: A Personal Journey at World Workplace 2024

As Immediate Past-Chair of the Global Board of Directors for the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA), I had the opportunity to attend the World Workplace 2024 Conference October 9 - 11, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. This annual gathering is always a celebration of innovation, community, and the continuous evolution of our profession, and this year was no exception. As I reflect on the experience, I feel immense pride and gratitude for the journey IFMA has taken and the role I have been fortunate to play in its growth.?I wanted to share just a few of the weeklong highlights.

The State of the Association: A Financially Sound, Debt-Free Future

The World Workplace Conference is preceded by the House of Delegates meeting, where Component representatives are given a detailed “State of the Association” address. While I no longer have an official role in this meeting, it was a pleasure to witness the address from the audience for the first time in several years. IFMA reported its sixth consecutive year of positive financial results, a testament to CEO Don Gilpin 's strong leadership and sound fiscal management. The Executive Team shared a long list of prior year accomplishments along with objectives for the current year. Equally exciting was the announcement that global membership would surpass 25,000 members during the conference—a new milestone that underscores our growing influence and reach.

Celebrating the “I” in IFMA: A Truly Global Organization

One of the developments I’m most proud of during my tenure is helping to expand IFMA’s global footprint. The diversity represented on our Board of Directors speaks volumes. Our 1st Vice-Chair, Christa Dodoo, CFM, CIWFM, FMP, CMQ-OE , and 2nd Vice-Chair, Luis R. Vi?a , bring international perspectives,

while Board Chair Lynn Baez, Global IFMA Chair and Fellow I CHIEF , a proud champion of Latin American growth, continues to lead with passion.

We’ve recently added new chapters in Greece and the UAE, marking another step toward making IFMA a truly international community.

Launching “Gamechanger: A Facility Manager’s Guide to Building a Relationship with AI”

A highlight of this conference was the release of “Gamechanger: A Facility Manager’s Guide to Building a Relationship with AI.” Leading the multi-disciplinary working group that created this report has been an enriching experience. Launched on October 1, 2024, this guide provides FMs with the knowledge they need to embrace AI in their day-to-day operations, from predictive maintenance to energy optimization. The conference featured a panel discussion where we explored the transformative role AI will continue to play in the built environment.

The World Workplace Experience: A Tradition Like No Other

World Workplace is more than a conference—it’s a reunion of colleagues, friends, and innovators. This year’s sessions were once again packed with quality content, leaving no time to see it all. The Expo floor was alive with cutting-edge technology and solutions that will continue to shape the future of commercial real estate and facilities management. The keynote speakers were as inspiring as ever, from NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith

to industry thought leaders, making this year’s event unforgettable. I was delighted to visit with many of my FM colleagues from around the world. The size of the event makes it impossible to spend time with everyone I hoped to see – so please accept my apologies if we missed each other.? If you still want to connect post-conference, you know where to find me…

Gratitude and Optimism for the Future

As I close this chapter of my leadership journey within IFMA, I am filled with pride for the strides we’ve made as a global association and the personal connections I’ve forged. The future of facilities management is bright, and I look forward to witnessing the continued growth and impact of IFMA in the years to come.

#IFMA #WWP24 #FMTraining #FacilitiesManagement #AIinFM