NFMT Baltimore Blog
3/15/2012
Final Day ... Or is it?
Well, Wednesday was so successful I didn't have time to blog. We started the day off with Solutions Exchange. Nearly all the tables were full and some of the discussions carried on long after the speed-learning event finished. Another highlight of the day was the special Women in FM panel. The high-power leaders shared the keys to their professional successes in facilities management and together the group discussed career advancement, corporate culture and managing a work-life balance. The exhibit hall was once again packed and it was great to see smiles abound. Business as well as freindships were clearly forged at the same time.
Today is off to a great start. Idustry veteran Lenny Jachimowicz shared wisdom from his 40 years working for Marriott International in our special general session. A nice big crowd woke up early to learn about the 5 C's of Facilities Management.
I personally am looking forward to the I Survived Series today. At 10:00 Michael Abels will be sharig his experiences working as an FM pro in the Arctic Circle. Wondering how he'll feel about the unseasonal 80 degree weather in Baltimore right now!
If you are a social media person, be sure to follow NFMT on Twitter and Facebook today. I have prizes to give away and would love to meet you in person.
Hoping everyone enjoys the final day of NFMT and returns to their facilites better equipped to manage with excellence ... even more so than before. And the good news is that NFMT doesn't end when the convention center doors close today. NFMT360.com and NFMT Virtual carry on the networking and learning from you computer after you get back to your desk. We also hope you'll join us for NFMT Vegas Oct. 2-3 at the Mirage Event Center this fall.
As always, if you have any questions or suggestions, please don't hesitate to contact an NFMT staffer either today at the show or after the event via email.
Travel safely!!
3/12/2012
Flurry of Activity
This is always one of my favorite days. Watching the show floor transform from an empty concrete box to a bustling trade show is exciting. Watch out for the fork lifts! These guys mean business -- they are on a mission to make NFMT look good. Real good!
The grand prize stage area, sponsored by GEM by Polaris and UGL Services, is up and looking fantastic. Be sure to be there at the end of each day for your chance to win $1000. I just talked to our frineds fom Automated Logic and visited the enormous ASSA Abloy semi truck display. I've never seen a truck so shiny. By the end of today, the exhibit hall will be 100% and we'll be ready to open for business. This is quite fun.
Pre-conference workshops are well underway too. Participants are in the throes of intensive, hands-on workshops covering facilities master planning and communicating performace vs. goals. If you're interested in attending the Friday workshop on ADA, you an register on site.
See you bright and shiny tomorrow morning.
3/9/2012
ADA - Are You Where You Need to Be?
Next week, while we are enjoying NFMT, major changes to titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) -- published in September, 2010 -- will become required for ALL new construction, alterations and barrier removal. Facility managers have had nearly two years to prepare changes, but not every FM or building in the country is ready.
If you need a review or want to talk to an expert about these sweeping changes, you should consider attending the post conference workshop on Friday, March 16, The Top Five Things FMs Should Know About the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Presented by ADA guru, Joan W. Stein, President & CEO for Accessibility Development Associates, Inc., this in-depth workshop walks you through the top five changes to titles II and III of the ADA.
After attending the workshop, you'll be able to identify the technical and scoping differences between the 1991 and 2010 Standards, learn about the new areas that were not requirements in the 1991 enforceable standards and understand the new policies for effective communication and use of service animals.
There is a small fee for the four-hour post-conference workshop. The cost is $99 for members or $149 for non-members who register in advance online via the NFMT website. Onsite you can register for $249. More information can be found here.
Thursday, March 15 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 339. Join us for "A Review of the Final ADA Regs." Over the course of an hour, you'll learn what has changed with the new final regulations, become aware of the timeline for these changes to go into effect, and gain an understanding of a facility manager's role in implementing these changes. More info can be found here.
Mixing things up a bit, also on Thursday is the next part of our "I Survived Series". Join us for I Survived: ADA & Safety Code Compliances in Pakistan. Speaker Saquib Naveed Cheema, Architect/Design Manager for Camp Dresser & McKee, will explain the enormous challenges he faced after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit Pakistan. Cheema will talk about how he and his colleagues had an opportunity to "build back better" and how he, did so following ADA guidelines and strict sustainability and cost-conscious mandates. This I Survived session will be held in room 337 on Thursday at 9:00. Seats are still available. More info here.
All three educational opportunities are excellent resources that will help you to ensure that your facility is compliant and your occupants and building visitors are taken care of properly.
3/6/2012
One Week from Today!
It's hard to believe that one week from today, the doors will be open at NFMT 2012. In fact, at this time next Tuesday we'll be getting ready to celebrate at the opening night networking party. As final preparations are being made, travel arrangements are confirmed and comfy shoes are being packed, it's a good time to take a look at the NFMT full event schedule www.nfmt.com/baltimore/schedule.asp and exhibitor roster www.nfmt.com/baltimore/SearchResultsAll.asp to map out where you want to go and what (or who) you want to see. NFMT is a big show and with proper planning, you'll get to take it all in.
Now is also a good time to think about what fun activities you might want to enjoy at the end of each day. Baltimore is a robust, diverse and exciting city packed with phenomenal restaurants, attractions and nightlife. I had the pleasure of living in Baltimore for about four years. Here are some excellent resources for making the most of your visit.
* Baltimore's City Paper, Eats section citypaper.com/eat
Search for eateries, find reviews and feedback from the locals.
* General Baltimore Tourism information can be found at www.baltimore.org
Also, many of the Convention Center
staff who serve as educational conference room scanners are well versed on
events and happenings in the city.
* If you're hungry for some carbs to fuel your exhibit hall walking, be sure to visit Little Italy, which can be walked to from the Convention Center. My favorites include:
- Isabella's Brick Oven Pizza and Panini, located at 221 S. High St. www.littleitalymd.com. No tables, just take out. Deli style. Casual, affordable and delicious.
- Amiccis, located at 231 s. High Street www.amiccis.com. Casual, but fine for a business dinner. Our staff loves The Pane Rotundo starter, a round loaf of bread with garlic butter, filled with shrimp in a creamy scampi sauce.
- Vaccaro's Italian Pastry Shop. 222 Albemarle St. www.vaccarospastry.com Just desserts here. Everything is enormous! Fantastic gelato sundaes. Cannoli, tiramisu, espresso drinks. It's a fun way to wrap up an evening.
- If the weather cooperates and you want to do yet more walking, be sure to stroll by the Little Italy Bocce Ball Courts and residential area; look for the neighborhood's famous painted rowhouse screen doors.
* A must if you’re in town beyond NFMT, be sure to visit the Visionary Art Museum http://www.avam.org. The museum is always entertaining, and raw or brute art. In their own words: "Visionary art as defined for the purposes of the American Visionary Art Museum refers to art produced by self-taught individuals, usually without formal training, whose works arise from an innate personal vision that revels foremost in the creative act itself."
* Even if you're not a sports fan, you'll enjoy the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum. And yes, Baltimore does claim Babe as their own. baberuthmuseum.com/
* Just a stone's throw from the convention center is Gepppi's Entertainment Musuem, which is also the setting for the IFMA Chesapeake Chapeter Reception on March 14 at 5:00 p.m. (all are invited, $25 per person). Geppi's celebrates classic Americana and vintage pop culture with an impressive display of posters, comic books, antique toys and much more. It's nostalgic, it's historic, it's really fun. www.geppismuseum.com
* Last but not least, an excellent way to get around the area, if weather and the season allow for operation, is the extensive water taxi system. Your ticket covers the entire day and often includes discounts for local attractions. www.baltimorewatertaxi.com/
If that's not enough for you, there's also Edgar Allan Poe's grave site, Camden Yards, the B&O Railroad Museum and much, much more. Just ask a native, and don't fell shy if they call you "Hon!"
2/22/2012
Calling All Women FM Professionals
2/8/2012
Spring & NFMT Are Right Around the Corner
It feels like spring outside, both here at NFMT HQ and in Baltimore. It feels like today could be March 13th! Thank goodness it's not because we still have some finishing touches to button-up before we open the doors at the convention center.
For example, we recently announced some brand-new sessions, which are sure to be very popular. Please check them out:
Tuesday:
T2.37 10:00-10:50 Seven Keys to Facilities Asset Sustainability
T2.41 10:00-10:50 Basics of Standby Power
Wednesday:
W2.41 10:00-10:50 Remote Diagnostics and Failure Prevention on Standby Generator Systems
W3.39 3:10-4:00 Gaining C-Level Support for Sustainability Projects
Thursday:
RS.16 8:00 - 8:50 General Session - Engage in the Five C's of Leadership for Success
At NFMT we are flexible, feel free to attend any session you're interested, so long as seats are available. Or, if you'd like to feel more official, revise your registration here. Just use the "Already Registered area" on the right. Our goal is always to make sure you have the best experience and attend to most beneficial sessions.
If you're not ready for NFMT to be over on Thursday join us for "The Top Five Things FMs should know about the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design", which will be held on Friday, March 16 from 8:00 a.m. - noon. The speaker, NFMT all-star, Joan Stein, president of Accessibility Development Associates, will be sharing her expertise on the recent 2010 Standards and updates to title II and title III of ADA. This special 4-hour workshop, costs $99 for NFMT Members and $149 for non-members March 11. Onsite registration is $249. For more information and to register, visit here.
