On Sept. 27-29, thousands of industry professionals from across the globe converged on Denver for the International Facility Management Association’s (IFMA) World Workplace Conference and Expo. The event offered educational sessions, networking opportunities, and more.
On the closing day, IFMA announced the recipients of the 2023 Awards of Excellence. The annual awards recognize exceptional contributions to the association, outstanding examples of facility management initiative, and innovative FM projects, practices, and solutions.
IFMA Fellow and past IFMA Board Chair (2009-10) Thomas L. Mitchell Jr., CFM, hosted the awards ceremony, and current IFMA Board Chair Dean Stanberry, CFM, SFP, congratulated recipients and acceptors on stage.
“Thousands of IFMA members and volunteer leaders around the world are ready and able to serve,” said Mitchell. “We share our expertise, ideas, and tips freely. We write articles, author books, educate, instruct, mentor, and innovate. We apply our talent and skills to benefit our chapters and councils, students and young professionals, fellow FMs, and the association itself. We don’t do it for recognition, but it is gratifying when recognition is received. Today, we offer that appreciation.”
Stanberry awarded IFMA EMEA Managing Director Lara Paemen with the 2023 Board Chair Citation for her leadership in elevating IFMA and FM throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA); for aligning IFMA’s European chapters to a global standard, providing each with a deeper sense of purpose and connection to the association; and for her vision and enterprise as a co-producer in reinventing World Workplace Europe to be of the utmost interest and benefit to European FMs. “She is the face, heart, and soul of IFMA in EMEA,” said Stanberry.
In addition to EMEA, Canada, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Trinidad, Tobago, and several U.S. states were represented by this year’s honorees.
IFMA’s Awards of Excellence winners were recognized in 14 categories. Nominees were scored individually across a variety of category-specific criteria by judging panels comprised of industry experts. Recipients of the IFMA Foundation’s Board of Trustees Awards were also honored, announced, and congratulated by Foundation Chair Regina Ford Cahill.
Immediately following the awards presentation, attendees were captivated by closing keynote speaker Erin Brockovich, environmental activist and consumer advocate. Earlier at the World Workplace show, IFMA also officially inducted the 2023 Class of IFMA Fellows.
IFMA’s 2023 Awards of Excellence Winners
Distinguished Author Award: Book
Lisa Whited: “Work Better. Save the Planet: The Earth-first Workplace is Good for People, Great for Business”
Distinguished Author Award: Research Paper
Roger C.K. Law: “COVID-19: Research Directions for Non-clinical Aerosol-generating Facilities in the Built Environment”
Distinguished Author Award: Social Media
Delia Burl, SCLogic
Chapter Award of Excellence in Web Communications
Greater Phoenix Chapter of IFMA
Emerging Professional Award
Richard Gunpat, Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago; Vice President, Trinidad and Tobago Chapter of IFMA; Board Member, IFMA Environmental Stewardship, Utilities, and Sustainability (ESUS) Community
Associate Member Award
Matthew Korytko, New York City Chapter of IFMA
Facility Management Innovation Award
ThermaClear, ECM Technologies
George Graves Award for Facility Management Achievement
JLL@Google
The Sheila Sheridan Award for Sustainable Facility Operations and Management
ESFM / Compass Group USA
Distinguished Educator Award
Shukri Habib
Student Chapter of the Year Award
Greater Phoenix Student Chapter of IFMA
Council of the Year
Public Sector Facilities Council of IFMA
Chapter of the Year, Small Chapter
West Michigan Chapter of IFMA
Chapter of the Year, Large Chapter
Greater Toronto & South Central Ontario Chapter of IFMA
IFMA Foundation Trustees Awards
Individuals and groups who not only answer the call to make a difference but create dynamic opportunities through inspired projects and programs are recognized each year by the IFMA Foundation Board of Trustees.
Global Workforce Initiative of Excellence
Denny Mulgrew and Brian Holt of Sodexo; Irene Thomas-Johnson of Jones Lang LaSalle; Tony Pucci and Angela Johnson Culver of ABM; and Luis Morejon of Newmark
Community Involvement of Excellence
Edgar Montezuma
Global Workforce Initiative Partnership of Excellence
Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency and Office of Economic Development and Opportunity – Goodwill of Denver
IFMA Foundation Component of Excellence
New York City Chapter of IFMA
IFMA Foundation Volunteer of the Year
Brent Ward, FMP, SFP
Learn more about IFMA’s Awards of Excellence at awards.ifma.org.