On behalf of the Executive team and the board of directors, I want to welcome everyone to the IFMA Greater Orlando Chapter. This year, the Chapter will continue to promote and encourage membership development through formal educational opportunities at both the national (World Work Place, Facility Fusion, & Advocacy Day) and local (monthly programs or tours, formal certification training, and informal study groups) levels.   However, this year the Chapter is seeking to expand the facility career paths for the younger generation, starting within the high schools.  The Chapter will build on the work started from our participation in the Skills USA Facilithon activity at the local and state high school levels students; but is pushing for even greater innovative ideas to reach the young people of our Greater Orlando Community to encourage participation in the Facility Management world.  We need you.

Additionally, the Chapter is dedicated to becoming the Central Florida preferred resource for all Facility Management information.  The Chapter will develop toastmaster like membership speakers on a variety of pertinent facility topics.  Additionally, the Chapter will seek out and republish pertinent information, including legislation and news or magazine articles that are relevant for both members and non-members. Please alert us to any such material that you find useful to yourself or the industry in general.

Finally, the Chapter will explore and develop a marketing strategy that reaches out to the community on services and benefits we can offer to the profession.  If you have expertise, please step forward as this is a unique skill that we lurks within our membership that is highly needed and valued at this time. 

This year, our goals are growth in membership participation. We have a lot of opportunity and truly look forward to you helping us in any way you can.

B. Renee’ Ponik

President, Greater Orlando Chapter of IFMA