Issue link: http://digital.corporatepress.com/i/445610
12 | january/february 2015 | Facilities Manager membership matters I t was the fall of 1990, and I had been recently hired by the physical plant department at Illinois State University to be an assistant director, and to create a "work control center." This was my third facilities- or build- ing-related job, but the first with the campus facilities management depart- ment. My degrees were in accounting and finance. What did I know about physical plant? RELATIONSHIPS AND EVENTS THAT MOTIVATE I was fortunate enough to attend a MAPPA regional meeting in Minne- apolis/St. Paul. This was my first real introduction to MAPPA and APPA. I met a lot of great people there and at other regional meetings—people like Jim Christensen, John Harrod, Gary Reynolds, and Ron Flinn, just to name a few. This enabled me to network with facilities professionals with similar issues to mine, and I found that everyone was willing to answer questions and offer suggestions. These meetings shaped my career and made me want to learn and succeed in the facilities world. While in Minnesota, I met Wayne Leroy, the executive vice president of APPA at the time. He spoke about APPA and the educational opportuni- ties it had to offer. The following year I was able to attend my first APPA Annual Meeting and Conference in Orlando, Florida. At that meeting I met Charlie Jenkins, Don Mackel, Jack Hug, and many others. The relation- ships you build by attending APPA annual, regional, and chapter events are phenomenal—and you can call on these professionals when you need advice or guidance. Chances are they have experienced the same issues you have, or know someone who has. These rela- tionships and events motivated me even more to succeed in the facilities world. EDUCATION MATTERS As I learned more about APPA, I also learned about the APPA Institute for Facilities Management and the Leader- ship Academy. Both are excellent edu- cational programs that are now com- bined every fall and winter as APPA U. I have been fortunate to attend and graduate from both the Institute and the Academy programs—they are great educational programs supported by APPA staff and deans, who are always tweaking these offerings to improve their content. I would suggest that everyone attend the APPA Institute for Facilities Management and the Leader- ship Academy to better prepare them for the future. ENTER THE BUSINESS PARTNERS In addition to the networking and educational opportunities that APPA provided me, I was able to gain and build fantastic relationships with APPA's Busi- ness Partners members. Our business partners are not here just to sell you something; they are also available to APPA: Elevating Facilities Professionals By Jerry Carlson, CEFP