by Brianna Crandall — March 6, 2013—The 23,000-global-member International Facility Management Association (IFMA) recently announced a new area of interest for professionals concerned with innovation in the workplace. The Workplace Evolutionaries (W.E.) group was created by IFMA’s Corporate Real Estate Council (CREC) to provide a collaborative and learning environment to help evolve the workplace, expand workplace innovation and empower people.
Tony Keane, IFMA president and CEO, said that IFMA is “delighted” to welcome this new group of “passionate, dedicated professionals interested in the integration of workplace, facility management and real estate.” Keane noted that this area of interest is aligned with one of IFMA’s eleven core competencies, and added, “We will all benefit from the focus this group will bring to the organization on new innovative ideas for creating more productive and cost-effective places for work.”
Jim Ware, president of the CREC, said he is enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with Workplace Evolutionaries leader Kate North “and her talented and passionate leadership team.” Ware observed, “The CRE council’s mission is to align real estate and facility management. Workplace innovation is part of the CREC’s charter, which is now supported through the council’s new energy and growth. We plan to align ourselves with the work of the IFMA Foundation and IFMA Foundation Research Committee, other IFMA councils and the global academic community to be in tune with the latest thinking in workplace design, management and technology.”
Jim Ware, PhD, is executive director of The Future of Work…unlimited and global research director for Occupiers Journal Limited. Kate North, vice president of global development for e-Work.com, will be assisted in the Workplace Evolutionary initiative by CREC board members Diane Coles Levine, of SCAN Health Plan; Nancy Johnson Sanquist, with Manhattan Software; Janice Cimbalo, with JLL; and Erik Jasper of Planon.
The CREC Workplace Evolutionaries will have its official kick-off during IFMA’s Facility Fusion conference in Los Angeles, California. Those interested are invited Monday, April 1 for a “Rock the Foundation” event from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. CST and Thursday, April 4 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. CST for a CREC W.E. workshop. Both events will be followed by a reception to welcome the new addition to the council.
