Dear GTC IFMA members,

On Tuesday, October 2, 2018, just prior to the start of the IFMA Foundation Denim & Diamonds Gala and Charlotte’s World Workplace event, the IFMA Foundation Academic and Scholarship Awards ceremony took place.  This year’s theme was, Ignite FM: Join the Charge to Make FM a Career of Choice. Twenty-three deserving students were awarded scholarships for accredited Facility Management-related college degrees (bachelor’s and master’s) for the 2019 academic year from IFMA chapters across the world.

GTC of IFMA chose Devin Shackelford, a Senior at Kennesaw State University in Atlanta, Georgia, as the recipient of their $10,000 scholarship (which includes attendance to World Workplace).  Devin has a passion for sustainability in the field of construction management and wants to use his talents in a way that will help preserve and repair our global environment. His professors identify him as having natural leadership skills and for the last three years he has been actively involved in student organizations and competitions.  Devin’s career goals include managing facilities internationally and to become an expert in sustainability measures.

GTC of IFMA is able to fund the scholarship through the efforts of our Golf Committee, co-chaired by Todd Taintor and Buck Fisher.  Each April, the Golf Committee is proud to host the Mike Bradley Memorial Golf Tournament.  The tournament is almost always an instant sell-out with over 130 participants. Next year’s golf tournament will be held April 24, 2019.  Devin is invited, and we hope will be there that day so that members can have the opportunity to learn how their scholarship dollars help emerging Facility Management Professionals.

Also looking forward to seeing our membership at the annual Membership Appreciation event at the Angus Barn tomorrow.  These are busy times for our Professional Facility Managers and the Associate Members who support them. Recent weather events have taxed time and resources in ever more demanding ways. Let’s use this event as a time to be thankful and celebrate the relationships that GTC allows us to cultivate and grow.

Cris Karasek
President 2018-2019