IFMA’s

World Workplace The Facility Conference & Expo

Sept 17-19, 2014 | New Orleans

7 California Buildings News • September/October 2014

Californians Shine Brightly at IFMA’s International Conference Bob Dills: The Best Associate Member in the World…Literally! One man can make a helluva difference in his industry, a fact illustrated best by the example of Robert Dills, judged at the International Facility Management Association’s World Workplace Conference in New Orleans as the “Chapter Associate Member of the Year.” What did the Menlo Park-based vice president of Western Allied Mechanical do to win such recognition? Since 2000, the IFMA Silicon Valley member has served as membership chair, vice president and president. He helped form and led his chapter’s successful Diversity, Mentoring and Scholarship Committee, which raises money for university scholarships and certification training. He also co-founded the GROW organization, which is closely aligned with IFMA and other organizations like the Association for Facilities Engineering. GROW provides mentoring, internships and scholarships to youth of diverse Dills (right) receives award for best associate. backgrounds, encouraging them to consider careers in the facilityPhoto credit: Eric Lee. related professions. And he played a key role in forming the Graduate Certificate in Facility Management & Operations at California Polytechnic State University— including programs available worldwide online. Also on the international level, he volunteers time and energy to the IFMA Foundation. Lately, he has been coordinating the selection of the International Student of the Year, and running an ePoster competition at the annual IFMA’s World Workplace Conference.

Best IFMA Chapters: IFMA Silicon Valley…and Sacramento Outstanding IFMA members like Bob Dills are a reflection of a culture of excellence fostered by his chapter, IFMA Silicon Valley, where high levels of dedication to the industry are widely practiced. And they got the award to prove it in New Orleans, when their IFMA peers voted Silicon Valley the best large chapter in the world —for the fifth time since 1997! In yet another indication of the high standards of facilities association work in California, IFMA Sacramento won the award as the world’s best IFMA small chapter. The leadership of the IFMA Silicon Valley chapter receives the award for best large chapter in the world at the IFMA World Workplace conference. Photo credit: Eric Lee.

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