View Thread

Thrilled to have an IFMA Engage Group where we can connect with fellow YPs! This will be a helpful resource for us to share ideas, innovations and best practices and tackle challenges together.

I stumbled into FM in my early 20s and instinctively knew I'd found my career of choice. New projects and challenges each day, opportunities to collaborate with many colleagues and teams throughout our organization, but most importantly - I enjoyed my work and the skills came naturally. What brought you to facilities management? College track? A mentor? Serendipity? Share your #futureFM story!
​​​

------------------------------
Laura Svitak, FMP
Volunteer, IFMA's Young Professional Group

Administrative Services Manager
Cleveland Foundation
Cleveland OH
------------------------------

I was studying architecture and had a “4 month” internship working for a facility management consulting firm that effectively never ended and I haven’t looked back!

---------------------------------
Geoff Williams FMP, SFP
Director, Operations
Angus Consulting Management Limited
Toronto ON
437-995-7253
---------------------------------



Original Message:
Sent: 10/25/2017 9:41:30 AM
From: lsvitak@clevefdn.org
Subject: #futureFM

Thrilled to have an IFMA Engage Group where we can connect with fellow YPs! This will be a helpful resource for us to share ideas, innovations and best practices and tackle challenges together.

I stumbled into FM in my early 20s and instinctively knew I'd found my career of choice. New projects and challenges each day, opportunities to collaborate with many colleagues and teams throughout our organization, but most importantly - I enjoyed my work and the skills came naturally. What brought you to facilities management? College track? A mentor? Serendipity? Share your #futureFM story!
​​​

------------------------------
Laura Svitak, FMP
Volunteer, IFMA's Young Professional Group

Administrative Services Manager
Cleveland Foundation
Cleveland OH
------------------------------

I “fell into” a Facility Management degree program in college, and it was so awesome I’m still doing FM 12 years later!

I’m now passionate about helping others discover FM earlier in their lives and make it a deliberate career path or Career of Choice.

---------------------------------
Carolyn McGary CFM, SFP, FMP
Director, Workplace Services
Vertafore
Parker CO
---------------------------------



Original Message:
Sent: 10/25/2017 9:41:30 AM
From: lsvitak@clevefdn.org
Subject: #futureFM

Thrilled to have an IFMA Engage Group where we can connect with fellow YPs! This will be a helpful resource for us to share ideas, innovations and best practices and tackle challenges together.

I stumbled into FM in my early 20s and instinctively knew I'd found my career of choice. New projects and challenges each day, opportunities to collaborate with many colleagues and teams throughout our organization, but most importantly - I enjoyed my work and the skills came naturally. What brought you to facilities management? College track? A mentor? Serendipity? Share your #futureFM story!
​​​

------------------------------
Laura Svitak, FMP
Volunteer, IFMA's Young Professional Group

Administrative Services Manager
Cleveland Foundation
Cleveland OH
------------------------------

​I was a mechanical engineering student at SUNY Maritime College, and switched over to the facilities engineering program. Maritime College trains merchant mariners, and it was known as the "shipping out degree," for students that just wanted to work on ships.

In my Facilities Design Class, someone asked the professor "why we need to learn how to design a building, if we're all going to be shipping out?"  After a quick conversation, the professor learned what we had been told about the degree and what we thought our career path would have to be.  He spoke to us about how we would be the ones running buildings, stadiums, and all kinds of locations around the world.  Later that semester, the Professor had a networking event between us and IFMA.  It was my first exposure to the FM world.

I graduated in 2007 and joined Con Edison, the local power company.  I worked in three different plants until making the move into Facilities.  I love it.  I manage two locations, and I have a team the works well together.  I use a combination of vendors in addition to my own in-house staff.  I'm working on a few NYC licenses and credentials, in addition to my FMP, and hope to continue to move up.

I have my eyes set on being the facilities manager of our corporate headquarters, a 27 story building in union square.  ::fingers crossed::

------------------------------
Daniel Pego
Operating Supervisor
Consolidated Edison of NY
Brooklyn NY
6468327100
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-25-2017 09:41
From: Laura Svitak
Subject: #futureFM

Thrilled to have an IFMA Engage Group where we can connect with fellow YPs! This will be a helpful resource for us to share ideas, innovations and best practices and tackle challenges together.

I stumbled into FM in my early 20s and instinctively knew I'd found my career of choice. New projects and challenges each day, opportunities to collaborate with many colleagues and teams throughout our organization, but most importantly - I enjoyed my work and the skills came naturally. What brought you to facilities management? College track? A mentor? Serendipity? Share your #futureFM story!
​​​

------------------------------
Laura Svitak, FMP
Volunteer, IFMA's Young Professional Group

Administrative Services Manager
Cleveland Foundation
Cleveland OH
------------------------------

It started when the educational consultant for the company I work with suggested to me to take the FMP credential. I believe it was one of the best decision I made in my career and I am enjoying the new challenges every day. In addition to the FMP credential, My background in mechanical engineering helped me to make the transition to the FM.
It is been almost a year and 1/2  in the FM field; I learned a lot, still learning and I am hungry to learn more.

Laura, it is a good idea to have this kind of networking and sharing experiences. #futureFM story!

------------------------------
Walid Hacini, FMP
facilities Maintenance Specialist
Eli's Cheesecake Company
Chicago IL
7735400786
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-26-2017 08:17
From: Daniel Pego
Subject: #futureFM

​I was a mechanical engineering student at SUNY Maritime College, and switched over to the facilities engineering program. Maritime College trains merchant mariners, and it was known as the "shipping out degree," for students that just wanted to work on ships.

In my Facilities Design Class, someone asked the professor "why we need to learn how to design a building, if we're all going to be shipping out?"  After a quick conversation, the professor learned what we had been told about the degree and what we thought our career path would have to be.  He spoke to us about how we would be the ones running buildings, stadiums, and all kinds of locations around the world.  Later that semester, the Professor had a networking event between us and IFMA.  It was my first exposure to the FM world.

I graduated in 2007 and joined Con Edison, the local power company.  I worked in three different plants until making the move into Facilities.  I love it.  I manage two locations, and I have a team the works well together.  I use a combination of vendors in addition to my own in-house staff.  I'm working on a few NYC licenses and credentials, in addition to my FMP, and hope to continue to move up.

I have my eyes set on being the facilities manager of our corporate headquarters, a 27 story building in union square.  ::fingers crossed::

------------------------------
Daniel Pego
Operating Supervisor
Consolidated Edison of NY
Brooklyn NY
6468327100

Original Message:
Sent: 10-25-2017 09:41
From: Laura Svitak
Subject: #futureFM

Thrilled to have an IFMA Engage Group where we can connect with fellow YPs! This will be a helpful resource for us to share ideas, innovations and best practices and tackle challenges together.

I stumbled into FM in my early 20s and instinctively knew I'd found my career of choice. New projects and challenges each day, opportunities to collaborate with many colleagues and teams throughout our organization, but most importantly - I enjoyed my work and the skills came naturally. What brought you to facilities management? College track? A mentor? Serendipity? Share your #futureFM story!
​​​

------------------------------
Laura Svitak, FMP
Volunteer, IFMA's Young Professional Group

Administrative Services Manager
Cleveland Foundation
Cleveland OH
------------------------------

As I was reading, a few people "stumbled" into Facilities Management. Unfortunately I stumbled into Facilities but I am not an FM yet. I stumbled into Facilities, because the department was short staffed and needed some assistance. From then I was hired into it fully and I have been apart of Facilities since. I would love to become an FM eventually but being a Facilities Coordinator has its "management" part to it lol.

------------------------------
Shardai Rhodes, FMP
Facilities Coordinator
The Aerospace Corporation
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-25-2017 09:41
From: Laura Svitak
Subject: #futureFM

Thrilled to have an IFMA Engage Group where we can connect with fellow YPs! This will be a helpful resource for us to share ideas, innovations and best practices and tackle challenges together.

I stumbled into FM in my early 20s and instinctively knew I'd found my career of choice. New projects and challenges each day, opportunities to collaborate with many colleagues and teams throughout our organization, but most importantly - I enjoyed my work and the skills came naturally. What brought you to facilities management? College track? A mentor? Serendipity? Share your #futureFM story!
​​​

------------------------------
Laura Svitak, FMP
Volunteer, IFMA's Young Professional Group

Administrative Services Manager
Cleveland Foundation
Cleveland OH
------------------------------

It sure does! I started as a coordinator, too - a very demanding role. I trained under our FM in a succession plan for several years. I waited for the opportunity within my organization (though there's many opportunities out there - the FM industry is facing a talent gap) and focused on earning my FMP credential during that time. It paid off when our FM retired - I was prepared and qualified to step into the management position. 

Wishing you the best in your career! Happy to share more and interested to hear from our peers.

------------------------------
Laura Svitak FMP
Volunteer, IFMA's Young Professional Group

Administrative Services Manager
Cleveland Foundation
Cleveland OH
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-26-2017 16:47
From: Shardai Rhodes
Subject: #futureFM

As I was reading, a few people "stumbled" into Facilities Management. Unfortunately I stumbled into Facilities but I am not an FM yet. I stumbled into Facilities, because the department was short staffed and needed some assistance. From then I was hired into it fully and I have been apart of Facilities since. I would love to become an FM eventually but being a Facilities Coordinator has its "management" part to it lol.

------------------------------
Shardai Rhodes, FMP
Facilities Coordinator
The Aerospace Corporation

Original Message:
Sent: 10-25-2017 09:41
From: Laura Svitak
Subject: #futureFM

Thrilled to have an IFMA Engage Group where we can connect with fellow YPs! This will be a helpful resource for us to share ideas, innovations and best practices and tackle challenges together.

I stumbled into FM in my early 20s and instinctively knew I'd found my career of choice. New projects and challenges each day, opportunities to collaborate with many colleagues and teams throughout our organization, but most importantly - I enjoyed my work and the skills came naturally. What brought you to facilities management? College track? A mentor? Serendipity? Share your #futureFM story!
​​​

------------------------------
Laura Svitak, FMP
Volunteer, IFMA's Young Professional Group

Administrative Services Manager
Cleveland Foundation
Cleveland OH
------------------------------

I don’t know if I stumbled into FM. I was educated and trained as an architect - about five years ago got to beta test some new BIM software for construction coordination and delivery and immediately saw the use in FM. Within the last year I made a move to open a new service under an engineering firm providing FM services with technology integration.

Amazing enough about everyone I talk to asks me where I get my passion for FM from. I think everyone else that has replied to this post will say that it found us - it’s an incredible exciting and ever changing field.

---------------------------------
Jacob D'Albora LEED AP BD+C
Director of BIM-FM Services, AVP
McVeigh & Mangum Engineering, Inc.
Charlotte NC
704-547-9035
---------------------------------



Original Message:
Sent: 10/25/2017 9:41:30 AM
From: lsvitak@clevefdn.org
Subject: #futureFM

Thrilled to have an IFMA Engage Group where we can connect with fellow YPs! This will be a helpful resource for us to share ideas, innovations and best practices and tackle challenges together.

I stumbled into FM in my early 20s and instinctively knew I'd found my career of choice. New projects and challenges each day, opportunities to collaborate with many colleagues and teams throughout our organization, but most importantly - I enjoyed my work and the skills came naturally. What brought you to facilities management? College track? A mentor? Serendipity? Share your #futureFM story!
​​​

------------------------------
Laura Svitak, FMP
Volunteer, IFMA's Young Professional Group

Administrative Services Manager
Cleveland Foundation
Cleveland OH
------------------------------

​Some really great stories and sharing here - FM professionals are coming from different backgrounds and experiences.

My undergrad was based in Architecture, but focused on Project Management and FM, and I have had the opportunity to work in both public and private sectors in some really interesting roles within FM and Real Estate.

I became involved in IFMA early as a student, and have continued to grow my involvement which has been really valuable to my career progression.


------------------------------
Nick Heibein, FMP
Chair, IFMA's Young Professional Group

Vice President, PMO Lead
Project and Development Services, RBC Account
JLL
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-30-2017 08:20
From: Jacob D'Albora
Subject: #futureFM

I don't know if I stumbled into FM. I was educated and trained as an architect - about five years ago got to beta test some new BIM software for construction coordination and delivery and immediately saw the use in FM. Within the last year I made a move to open a new service under an engineering firm providing FM services with technology integration.

Amazing enough about everyone I talk to asks me where I get my passion for FM from. I think everyone else that has replied to this post will say that it found us - it's an incredible exciting and ever changing field.

---------------------------------
Jacob D'Albora LEED AP BD+C
Director of BIM-FM Services, AVP
McVeigh & Mangum Engineering, Inc.
Charlotte NC
704-547-9035

Original Message:
Sent: 10/25/2017 9:41:30 AM
From: lsvitak@clevefdn.org
Subject: #futureFM

Thrilled to have an IFMA Engage Group where we can connect with fellow YPs! This will be a helpful resource for us to share ideas, innovations and best practices and tackle challenges together.

I stumbled into FM in my early 20s and instinctively knew I'd found my career of choice. New projects and challenges each day, opportunities to collaborate with many colleagues and teams throughout our organization, but most importantly - I enjoyed my work and the skills came naturally. What brought you to facilities management? College track? A mentor? Serendipity? Share your #futureFM story!
​​​

------------------------------
Laura Svitak, FMP
Volunteer, IFMA's Young Professional Group

Administrative Services Manager
Cleveland Foundation
Cleveland OH
------------------------------



​​