Guiding New Talent and Solutions at IFMA World Workplace

November 14, 2024
A graphic from IFMA World Workplace featuring photos of ESFM's scholarship presentation and panel presentation on Better Data, Better Buildings, Better Experiences.

ESFM leaders took center stage at the facilities management industry’s premier event, IFMA World Workplace, held this year in San Antonio, Texas, sparking innovation and inspiring the next generation of FM talent.

The celebration extended to the IFMA Foundation’s annual gala, where ESFM joined in honoring the Elevating Solutions in Facilities Management scholarship recipients with an ’80s-themed event.

Vice President of Technical Services & Energy Solutions John Ramsden and Regional Vice President of Operations Melissa Grimes served as judges for the IFMA Foundation’s IgniteFM! Student Challenge. In this competition, 35 scholarship winners, including two ESFM-sponsored students, collaborated on solutions for balancing safety and emergency preparedness in facility operations.

“These scholarship winners are intelligent and on the leading edge,” Grimes said. “You can just see the light in their eyes, the excitement that this is all fresh and new. That was a breath of fresh air.”

Ramsden echoed her sentiment noting, “To advance in the FM industry, we need diversity in fresh perspectives and talent,” he said. “The energy and passion they brought was super cool to me.”

As shared in Buildings Magazine, Ramsden and Grimes also joined Director of Client Engagement, Technology Alisia Davis on ESFM’s panel “Better Data, Better Buildings, Better Experiences,” moderated by Director of Proposal Development Danielle Lanciano.

The group discussed how data-driven insights enhance facility management, improve building performance and create better workplace experiences.

On another panel, “Awardees Lead the Way in Sustainable Operations,” Lead Facilities & Sustainability Engineer Jess Riccardi and Senior Director of ESG & Brand Strategy Andrea Rossitter shared strategies from ESFM’s award-winning energy management solutions, contributing valuable perspectives on sustainability program execution and stakeholder engagement, sponsored by the IFMA Sustainability Community.