Issue link: http://digital.corporatepress.com/i/445610
From the APPA Board from the appa board I recently re-read an article written by APPA Past President Mary Vosevich. It was published in the March/April 2014 edition of Facilities Manager maga- zine and was titled, "Those Who Make Things Happen." I couldn't help but wholeheartedly agree with what Mary said about the people of APPA and how it is the people that indeed "make things happen." And, it is the people that I am indebted to who have provided me the opportunity to serve as APPA's Vice President for Professional Development these past two years. Yet, serving in a leadership role in the premier educational facilities association is not the focus of this article. Instead, I want to concentrate my efforts on some of the training products that APPA has to offer. As I speak of these offerings, please keep Mary's article in mind, and remember that the people of APPA are truly what makes things happen. THE OFFERINGS Drive-In Workshops could arguably be the first gateway into APPA training for many of our members. These day-long programs provide networking and profes- sional development within a localized vicinity. They are excellent for business partners, as they are afforded an inex- pensive opportunity to share the content and promote their products or services. Responsibilities of the host institution are minimal—essentially just providing adequate meeting space and menu options for the business partner to fund. The Supervisor's Toolkit is another early entry into APPA programming. This week long ven- ture into the world of supervision is a great team building expe- rience. Not only is daily "administrivia" explored, but there are also several modules that focus on communi- cation, customer service, and leadership. On my campus, Il- linois State University, I hosted a Supervisor's Toolkit for the facilities management superviso- ry team. Many of these individuals knew each other's names, but had rare oppor- tunities to interact in a more personal or social way, which this venue afforded them. This is primarily due to the nature of a 24/7/365 operation that works mul- tiple shifts, and I expect many of you are in that same situation. I encourage you to consider hosting a Toolkit on your campus. The benefits are long-lasting and worth the investment. Regional conferences are likely the most well-attended of all APPA pro- fessional development opportunities. Individual regions coordinate, sponsor, host, and facilitate these educational ses- sions. Typically held in the fall, regional conferences offer a vast array of educa- tional presentations, complete with a business partner hall of resources. The APPA Annual Conference offers educational programming at a broader international perspective through innovative perspectives, as well as a hall of resources that brings to you products and services that will keep your campus on the cutting edge. Additionally, there are keynote speakers or panels that touch on the most pertinent and timely topics relevant to the educational facilities industry. These sessions are intended to provoke thought and educate attendees so that they can also inform leadership on their respective campuses of salient topics. Speaking of provoking thought, the annual APPA Thought Leaders Series is hosted by APPA International each spring. This annual symposium takes a deep dive into a single topic. The result of this intense look is a manuscript that is, or should be, shared at the highest levels of all of our institutions. This year's monograph is now available at the APPA website (http://www.appa.org/ What APPA Has to Offer By Chuck Scott APPA Vice President for Professional Development 44 | january/february 2015 | Facilities Manager