IFMA Seattle Board of Directors Letter |
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With 2022 in the rearview, the IFMA Seattle Board has our sights set on providing our members a year full of events and opportunities to engage, learn, grow, and have a little fun while we are at it. In 2022, we focused our energy on building our committees to allow us to offer even more benefits to you.
Our Programs Committee has close to 50 (fifty!) events planned for the year and have kicked off bi-weekly Facility Manager Roundtables and hosted a tour at F5 tower.
In addition to the roundtables, the committee is scheduling golf and poker events; additional building tours including an opportunity to get an inside look at Climate Pledge Arena; a facilities expo; and monthly in-person lunch and learns that focus on an IFMA Core Competency to connect you with best practices in Facilities Management. Also, not to be missed is our chapter’s first Ax Throwing event on Thursday, March 23rd! Be on the lookout for more details and registration to open soon.
Our Education Committee formalized a charter committing ourselves to becoming the go-to resource for FMs at all stages in their career. The Charter outlines the Chapter’s Education vision and mission:
- Vision: To serve as the recognized leader in Facilities Management professional development and career path navigation resources in the Pacific Northwest, empowering industry professionals throughout their careers.
- Mission The IFMA Seattle Education Committee develops content and provides regional platforms for member engagement to enhance expertise and foster the collaborative exchange of knowledge in the FM industry.
Our chapter is also honored to continue our partnership with the Electric League to offer the 2nd Annual Powerful Facility Energy Conference, which will be held March 16th at the Lynnwood Convention Center. This is our showcase education and energy event of the year. More info is below and registration is open, so grab your seat or table soon!
These are just a few highlights of what is to come for our chapter in 2023. We hope to see you at an event soon, and if you are looking to get more involved on a Committee, we would welcome new ideas and energy so drop a line to the sign up form here: https://www.ifmaseattle.org/boardandcommittees and one of our Board members will be in touch.
The IFMA Seattle Board of Directors
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March 16th, 2023
Powerful Facility Energy Conference
Lynnwood Convention Center
3711 196th St SW, Lynnwood, WA 98036
Registration Coming Soon!
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March 31st, 2023
Seattle IFMA Axe Throwing Event
Axe Kickers
10843 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98168
Registration Coming Soon!
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Members and non-members, including +1's are welcome! This is a community event for associate and professional members to come meet their peers in the Facility Management and associated fields. Enjoy food and drinks with the chance to win some awesome prizes, including a cash prize for 1st place!
Tuesday, February 28th | 5PM - 10PM
The F5 Tower | 21st Floor Event Space
801 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
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FM Roundtable - General Discussion
February 3rd (FM's Only)
The Facility Manager Roundtables seek to create a forum for collaborative learning and community building among FM's and professionals of the built environment. The general discussion roundtables are spaces to meet peers and answer the question: "what's coming across your desk this month that's keeping you up at night?". As FM's we can at times be siloed into back rooms or under the impression that we might be the first person to deal with an off-the-wall issue. Experience has shown though, that FM's deal with everything under the sun, so come out, put that issue on the table, and some other FM's might just be able to help you find a solution. The General Discussion roundtables are led by Adam Thordarson, VP of Programs and Sponsorship for the Seattle Chapter IFMA.
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FM Roundtable - Core Competency Edition (Information Technology)
February 27th (FM's Only)
The "Core Competency Edition" FM Roundtable brings the same community discussion spirit as the General Discussion but focuses the conversation on a different IFMA Core Competency each month. This month's topic is Information Technology, providing a place for FM's to get together and discuss the finer, or sometimes even the basic points of lT (everybody needs a good background in 802.11 at some point!) and are led by Tony Kaufmann, Chair of the Seattle IFMA Education and Mentorship Committee for the Seattle Chapter IFMA.
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Recipient of Our SFP Giveaway |
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Congratulations Cody O'Conner |
Cody O'Connor manages the UW Valley Medical Facilities of Engineering team and enjoys his new position there. He transitioned into healthcare from commercial property management during the pandemic when he wanted to advance his studies and earn his CFM credentials from the International Facility Management Association. It was a new purpose where his degree background in business management and entrepreneurship from Seattle University could expand. He first started at Swedish Medical Center where he learned more about the functions and processes of facilities on the job. It was quite the immersive experience, and he emphasized the need for strong interdependence and communication when working. To him, healthcare has the highest level of facility standards and Cody strives for setting best practices as a facilities leader. He continues to cultivate growth opportunities and to enhance the working environment at UW Valley Medical. He also very much enjoys connecting with coworkers at social networking events outside of work such as WSSHE. |
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Board Member and Professional Member Spotlight |
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Adam Thordarson is the Director of Facilities Management for Bouldering Project LLC, a series of climbing gyms with facilities across the US. Having started at the front desk at the Seattle location, he fell into the local FM role and began building his skillset over the last 7 years. After receiving the Certificate in Facilities Management from University of Washington and the ProFM Credential, he decided to become an active member of the local Seattle Chapter of the IFMA. Moving into the Director Role was a process of building a department from the ground up, using ground level experience and a holistic, high-collaboration staff community strategy, he currently directs a team of 7 FM's to help drive the FM programming of Bouldering Project as the company grows.
As the VP of Programs and Education for the Seattle Chapter of the IFMA, Adam has taken an events calendar from a post COVID lull to a packed schedule full of opportunities for community engagement and FM learning and is continuously looking for opportunities to create conversations that help the FM on the ground and in real time. He has also joined the ISO TC267 and is currently working with members to revise and create new standards for the ISO 41000 series in Facility Management.
In his (running short) spare time, Adam likes to snowmobile, spend time with friends, car camp, and is currently studying for the Cisco Certified Network Associate exam. His outlook on FM is that it is the nexus of policy, community, tech, and user experience combined into one (cost conscious) built environment.
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Associate Member Spotlight |
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Bonnie Brooks started her career in HVAC in 2007 where she began fine tuning her skill set. Over the years, she has focused on building strong interpersonal relationships and mastering the fine art of client satisfaction. Currently, she works with Mechanical & Control Services, Inc. as an Account Executive where she enjoys working with property managers and building owners to maintain their HVAC and controls systems.
Bonnie has also spent the majority of her time in the service industry volunteering with various associations related to her field of expertise. Having experience in event and portrait photography, Bonnie has been appointed IFMA’s Membership Recognition and Photography Chair.
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Clean Buildings Performance Assistance Helpdesk |
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The Smart Building Center is offering a Clean Buildings Performance Standard Technical Assistance Helpdesk offering support to building owners, managers, and facility personnel responsible for their building's compliance with the Washington State Clean Buildings Performance Standard.
The utility-sponsored helpdesk offers:
- Free one on one coaching during office hours via phone, virtual meetings, and email
- a resource webpage including training videos
- a searchable table for Qualified Persons and Qualified Energy Auditors
- FAQs
For more information, please visit us online.
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