IFMA Surpasses 20,000 Members
The association represents professionals in 78 countries who manage more than 37 billion square feet of property and annually purchase more than $100 billion in products and services.
The International Facility Management Association now has more than 20,000 members worldwide. IFMA announced Sept. 6 that it had reached the milestone and now represents professionals in 78 countries who manage more than 37 billion square feet of property and annually purchase more than $100 billion in products and services.
Included in that membership number are facility managers, architects, engineers, interior designers, property managers, and real estate professionals. "Facility management is maturing, and 20,000 members is a sure sign of progress," said Kathy Roper, CFM, MCR, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow, chair of the IFMA board of directors, and associate professor in the Georgia Institute of Technology's Building Construction Program. "In less than 35 years, IFMA has grown to become a truly international organization empowering facility professionals worldwide. We are excited to reach this milestone but must continue pushing for recognition of facility management and the value that facility professionals bring to their organizations. I am proud to be part of such a significant association that continues to expand its membership and the services it provides."
IFMA said nearly 850 professionals joined during the past two months, putting the association above 20,000 members. These newcomers represent organizations that include CB Richard Ellis, Deutsche Bank, Jones Lang LaSalle, Lockheed Martin, the Minnesota Vikings, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Rolls Royce, the Smithsonian Institution, and the U.S. Department of Energy.
IFMA was formed in 1980 by George Graves of Texas Eastern Transmission Corp., Charles Hitch of Manufacturer's Bank, and David Armstrong of Michigan State University. At the association's first annual meeting in October 1980 were 47 participants, 25 of whom were association members. That meeting eventually grew to be IFMA's World Workplace Conference & Expo, which attracts thousands of attendees annually. "Twenty thousand members: I cannot believe it after all these years," said Graves. "It's been great to see all the advances that IFMA has made since the founding back in 1980. I would not be able to keep abreast of all the things going on in this organization now. I'm very happy that we've reached the 20,000 mark and look forward to going beyond it. I would advise the next generation of facility managers to keep on persevering and building the reputation that FMs are go-to professionals and problem solvers."
For more information about IFMA, visit www.ifma.org.