HOUSTON, TX -- IFMA’s World Workplace® 2024 Conference and Expo welcomed thousands of facility management (FM) and related built environment professionals and exhibitors to the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas.

In addition to a full slate of educational sessions, networking activities and time in the expo hall, attendees heard from keynote speakers Andrew Busch, former first chief market intelligence officer for the U.S. government; nonverbal communication expert Pamela Barnum, MPA, J.D.; and NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith.

Each day featured celebratory programming highlighting organizational and individual achievements, inspiring a sense of collective accomplishment, optimism and gratitude throughout the conference. In her opening remarks, Chair of IFMA’s Global Board of Directors Lynn Baez, FMP, SFP, IFMA Fellow shared a message of confidence in the association’s ability to continue meeting the needs of a diverse and fast-growing industry. “We’re the largest community of FM professionals on the planet, and our global reach keeps getting wider. More than ever before, IFMA is where you are,” she said.

Presentations leading up to the sit-down interview with Emmitt Smith focused on the IFMA community taking an active hand in advancing opportunities for facility management. “Our industry, our association and the facilities we manage are strengthened each day by our belief that everything is possible in shaping the future of FM. Todo es posible formando el futuro de FM,” said Baez.

A champion for FM career growth in Latin America, Baez honored IFMA’s LATAM Working Group with this year’s board chair citation, recognizing group members Luis Viña, Ricardo Bolanos, Jorge Borges, Tatyana Galeana, Ted Ritter and Rebeca Arguedas for their efforts to build engaged, synergetic FM communities throughout more than 20 Latin American countries and territories.

Kate North, Joseph “Matt” Dawson and Wayne Whitzell were officially inducted as the 2024 Class of IFMA Fellows by Jury of Fellows Chair Geoff Williams, CFM, FMP, SFP, IFMA Fellow. Honored for their professional and volunteer achievements, North, Dawson and Whitzell join an elite corps of association advisors and ambassadors. Read about this year’s Fellows at ifma.org/news/whats-new-at-ifma-new/ifma-announces-2024-class-of-ifma-fellows.

Certificate Commission Chair Paul Ratkovic CFM, FMP, IFMA Fellow took the stage to mark the 20-year anniversary of IFMA’s Facility Management Professional™ (FMP®) credential. As the first person to earn the FMP 20 years ago, Ratkovic announced that the program would reach 20,000 FMPs worldwide this year.

IFMA’s Ghana Chapter was awarded for their dedication to accelerate growth and opportunity for FMs in Africa. In addition to raising FM awareness through nationwide university tours and engagement with local government agencies, the chapter was instrumental in launching the first-ever IFMA Global Africa event this past August.

IFMA also announced the recipients of its 2024 Awards of Excellence (below). Winners were recognized in 18 categories representing exceptional contributions to the association, outstanding examples of FM initiative, and innovative FM projects, practices and solutions.

“Our awards program is the embodiment of who we are and what we value. It celebrates teamwork, individual accomplishment and dedicated volunteer service,” said awards ceremony host Thomas L. Mitchell, Jr., CFM, IFMA Fellow and past chair (2009-10) of IFMA’s board. “These awards give every type of member from every corner of the world the chance to be applauded for their contributions.”

Awards were presented to individuals, teams and IFMA Networking Groups (chapters, councils and communities) from around the world. Baez congratulated each winner on stage. “Honoring achievement is extremely important to IFMA. Striving for excellence and growth through innovation, leadership, and knowledge-sharing is one of our values as an organization. We know that everything IFMA accomplishes is directly attributed to the efforts and innovations of those in our professional community,” said Baez.

IFMA’s 2024 Awards of Excellence Winners

Distinguished Author Award: Book
Co-editor Edmond P. Rondeau, AIA Emeritus, RCFM, IFMA Fellow
“Facilities @ Management: Concept - Realization - Vision, A Global Perspective”
Edited by Edmond P. Rondeau & Dr. Michaela Hellerforth

Distinguished Author Award: Research Paper
Susan Clarke, Building Operations Strategy, Autodesk
Ted Ritter, Global Co-chair of IFMA's IT Community
“Optimizing Building Management with a Lifecycle Approach”

Community Award of Excellence in Communications
Information Technology Community of IFMA

Chapter Award of Excellence in Web Communications, Large Chapter
Hong Kong Chapter of IFMA

Chapter Award of Excellence in Web Communications, Small Chapter
Trinidad and Tobago Chapter of IFMA

Chapter Award of Excellence in Government Affairs
Silicon Valley Chapter of IFMA

Chapter Award of Excellence in Professional Development
Hong Kong Chapter of IFMA

The Sheila Sheridan Award for Sustainable Facility Operations and Management
Joint BGIS & CBC Facility Management Team

George Graves Award for Facility Management Achievement
JLL Operational Excellence FMP Team

Facility Management Innovation Award
Data Center Operations, Kaiser Permanente

Associate Member Award
Richard Peterson, CFM, FMP, SFP
Impec Group

Emerging Professional Award
MJ Nagarajan Gomathi, CFM, FMP, SFP, LEED Green Associate

Distinguished Educator Award
Geoff Williams, CFM, FMP, SFP, IFMA Fellow

Distinguished Member Award
Richard Gunpat, CFM, FMP, SFP

Student Chapter of the Year
Brigham Young University Student Chapter of IFMA

Community of the Year
Sustainability Community of IFMA

Chapter of the Year, Small Chapter
Belgium Chapter of IFMA

Chapter of the Year, Large Chapter
Greater Seattle Chapter of IFMA

Hosted by the International Facility Management Association, IFMA’s World Workplace is the most longstanding and well-respected FM-focused learning and networking event. IFMA’s World Workplace 2025 Conference and Expo will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, Sept. 17–19, 2025. For more information, visit worldworkplace.ifma.org.