IFMA’s Facility Fusion 2021 Conference and Expo will focus on synthesizing ideas and industries for a new world of work

COVID-19 has hastened dramatic changes in how and where people work. Solutions that were created out of necessity are now becoming preferred workplace strategies. As organizational priorities shift, preparing to lead in unfamiliar territory is crucial for every built environment professional.

Held virtually April 21-22, IFMA’s Facility Fusion Conference and Expo will explore both the expected and unanticipated challenges of a new world of work. The online event begins on Wednesday, April 21, with a live 1.5-hour Reimagining FM Symposium, featuring a stellar panel of multidisciplinary experts and forward thinkers who will discuss reinterpreted roles in a reinvented workplace.

Moderated by IFMA Board Member and BGIS Global Senior Vice President of Strategy and Innovation Lori Rowlandson, symposium panelists will address the question: If workplace has new meaning, how is our work in supporting it defined? Attendees will gain beneficial perspectives on the future of facilities and better understand why it will take a cross-functional approach to manage, protect and sustain them. Panelists include:

• Melissa Fisher, Ph.D., Cultural Anthropologist, New York University
• Cheryl Duvall, CID, FIIDA, LEED-AP, NCIDQ, Regional Consulting Practice Area Leader, Gensler
• Lakisha Ann Woods, CAE, President & CEO, National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS)
• Enrique Rubio, Founder, Hacking HR
• Michael Gould, VP Project and Facilities Management, TD Bank — what it looks like and why it will take a multidisciplinary approach to manage it. Gain beneficial new perspectives on yo Enterprise Real Estate
• Rick Huijbregts, Vice-President, Strategy & Innovation, George Brown College

Following the Reimagining FM Symposium, panelists will provide a broader view of their respective areas of expertise during Ask the Experts sessions; then address questions raised from the insights and revelations presented in the symposium.

IFMA’s Facility Fusion continues on Thursday, April 22, with power speaker Jessica Rector, MBA. A top burnout expert, Rector is a former TV talk show host and the top sales performer at a Fortune 100 company. As the FM leadership learning event of the year, Facility Fusion is about building future-ready leadership skills. High-performing achievers agree that 98% of success comes from your inner game. Rector’s tips for turning negative thoughts into positive action will help attendees change their mindsets to improve their outcomes.

Several hours of concurrent educational sessions follow, including “The Art of Managing Everyday Change for the FM,” presented by Peter Stroup, P.E.; “Accelerating Workplace and Workplace Technology: The Positive Impacts of COVID-19,” presented by FM technology expert Simon Davis; and “Diversity in the Workplace: The Power to Change the World,” presented by Forest Lamb, CFM, MBTI, Lt. Col., (Ret) USAF. As an added benefit, full-event attendees will have access to on-demand content through May 21, 2021. The full educational program is available at facilityfusion.ifma.org.

Attendees will also be able to participate in the virtual expo each day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (CT) with opportunities to connect live with vendors, discover solutions for their workplace and play the expo scavenger hunt for a chance to win prizes. 

Professional networking has always been a top reason to attend Facility Fusion, and the same holds true for the virtual edition. Day one concludes with an IFMA Community and Council Happy Hour. All attendees are invited to participate and will be able to hop between networking happy hours hosted by IFMA’s communities of practice (geared toward FMs who share an interest in a particular topic, regardless of location or industry) and councils (geared toward FMs who practice in similar industry sectors or facility types).

Full-event registration is available for just US$99. Attendees have the option to purchase a one-day pass for the Reimagining FM Symposium LIVE! for only US$59. Join IFMA today to take advantage of member pricing. Register today at facilityfusion.ifma.org.