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12 | may/june 2014 | Facilities Manager from the appa board A s APPA's Vice President for Professional Affairs, I have had the honor to spend two terms in office and represent the membership on the APPA Board of Directors. The experience has been invaluable to me; it has allowed me a seat at the table for those critical decisions that make APPA a better organization for its institutions and individual members. This experience has changed the way I respond to issues that matter to members and the differ- ent types of educational institutions that APPA serves (K-12, community colleges, private and public institutions, small and large schools, historically black colleges and universities, museums, the military) It is true that when you serve on a board of any kind, you can see, hear, and feel things about the entire organization, and such has been my experience. MY OWN APPA JOURNEY My journey began during my graduate studies, by way of conducting research for an advanced degree, while working at a large public institution in facilities management for auxiliaries. For most of us, APPA has become the "go-to organization of choice." As such, it has helped me frame my employment path and develop how the facilities man- agement profession could become my career. How we all get to FM is our in- dividual journey, and what makes APPA's offerings and its members the best ever. REFLECTIONS Along my journey, I have had the opportunity to play a role in some of APPA's greatest achievements to date. Among these was being selected as part of the Strategic Assessment Model (SAM) task force, which developed into today's Facilities Performance Indica- tors (FPI). Being data-driven will help carry APPA into the future to what I think will surely transform facilities management into the next realm of "asset management." This will broaden our responsibility and duty portfolio. Not only will we be responsible for the physical facilities, but all assets—tan- gible and non-tangible—thus allowing us leverage for maximum benefit to the entire educational enterprise. Another APPA program I am proud to have beeen involved in is the Thought Leaders Series. This education program allows APPA to bring a high level of individuals together in a "think tank" environment to "unpeel the onion" on key issues in higher education that impact the facilities professional. This research is published annually in a concise, easy-to-understand format that provides solutions in today's competitive environment. This program also directly helps APPA stay on point and charts its future direction. Certainly, APPA's certification pro- gram is near and dear to my heart. From the beginning, it was conceived from a membership study, and was not with- out some controversy. This venture has had its challenges, but its value to our members has always been evident. The program gives personal recognition to those who become credentialed and/ or certified, and validates their skillset to the institution. Once certification reaches the threshold of 1,000 certified educational facilities professionals, it will be APPA's newest gold standard for the profession. A REWARDING EXPERIENCE As I reflect on my APPA journey, I think how it has influenced and shaped me into a much better person. Getting involved in APPA at the local, state, regional, or international level is one of the best things I have done. It has certainly been the most rewarding. I hope in a small way that my jour- ney encourages you to find your own journey, and a way to give back to your profession. David Cain is APPA's Vice President for Pro- fessional Affairs and an associate faculty member at Coconino Community College in Flagstaff, AZ. He can be reached at cain. david@gmail.com. Service to APPA By David A. Cain HOW WE ALL GET TO FM IS OUR INDIVIDUAL JOURNEY, AND WHAT MAKES APPA'S OFFERINGS AND ITS MEMBERS THE BEST EVER.