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Facilities Management: Behind the Curtain

Spotlight on This Year's BLB Honoree: Jeanne Kopacz

Emerging Leader Profile: Featuring Charlotte Green
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 Facilities Management
Behind the Curtain


Project teams, big and small, usually have a facilities member from the company, institution or building they are working in. Our role as designers is to dream the impossible but also understand how those designs are lived in and maintained once they are put back in the owners hands. The facilities management team then become the stewards of our designs moving forward. Facility management is a profession that encompasses multiple disciplines to ensure functionality of the built environment by integrating people, place, process and technology.

In New England, there are many schools that offer robust programs to help educate and prepare you for a career in Facilities Management. The certificate program at Wentworth is an on campus part-time program the prepares you for the Certified Facility Managers exam. Boston University has a similar offering for a certificate program geared towards practicing facility management professionals. Their 8 courses are designed to prepare students to "develop and execute the strategic and operational mission of corporate facilities management." Manchester Community College offers a programs who's goals are to prepare graduates "to work in a variety of management positions in both public and private institutions and organizations." 

Annually, IFMA (International Facility Management Association) gives awards of excellence recognizing outstanding achievements of IFMA members, chapters, councils and communities of practice. This years awards took place on Wednesday May 9th, 2018 at the Institute of Contemporary Art. A few highlights from last night's event included COP Furniture's Kyle Prates winning the Emerging Young Leader Award, Brown University's South Street Landing taking home the Large Projects Award and Fine Gold Alexander winning a Small Projects Award for their renovation at UMass Amherst's Old Chapel

Don't forget to check out this year's People's Choice nominee's for some incredibly inspiring projects. 
 

Spotlight on This Year's BLB Honoree
Jeanne Kopacz


The 2018 Business Leaders Breakfast Honoree will be Jeanne Kopacz, Senior Project Manager at Leggat McCall Properties, for her commitment, involvement and dedication to the success of our industry.

Jeanne has practiced and taught in the New England design community for over 35 years. Jeanne has said that it's been her lifelong interest to improve upon the environments where we work, learn, and socialize. She has experience as a designer, business owner, team leader, author, professor and mentor. A true supporter of IIDA, Jeanne has participated on committees over the years and has been a well-respected member of the Boston design community for decades.

Please save the date and join us on May 24th at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel in honoring Jeanne and all of her achievements and contributions to the Boston design community at the IIDA Business Leaders Breakfast.
26th Annual IIDA NE Business Leaders Breakfast
5.24.18 // You are invited to attend the 26th Annual IIDA New England Business Leaders Breakfast, hosted at the Westin Boston Waterfront.

IIDA NE Providence Business + Brews
5.31.18 // Join IIDA NE Providence City Center and AIA Rhode Island for their membership appreciation event, Business + Brews.

IIDA NE Connecticut Clambake
6.07.18 // Kick off the summer on the beautiful Branford shoreline for the IIDA NE Connecticut Clambake!
Did you know, the Harvard University Facilities Management group services more than 12 million square feet of building space over 150 acres of University-owned landscape?
Do you have an idea that you would like to share with the design community or see highlighted here in The Wire? Send your ideas to communications@iidane.org.
PROFILE HIGHLIGHT

Charlotte Green


Company: Stantec Architecture
Concentration: Multifamily Residential
College/University: Bates College (undergraduate), Boston Architectural College (graduate) 
Year(s) of Graduation: 2011, 2016
What is your strongest personal quality:  Upbeat - I love to laugh and joke around!
What skill set are you most proud of professionally?:  I am most proud of my presentation and communication skills. Public speaking has always come relatively easily to me, but I am always looking for ways to improve both verbal and visual presentation skills. I have found that communication is so important in our line of work - the design can be amazing, but if we can't communicate that design to our client then they will never approve it.
What was your first thought when you woke up this morning?: I hope we finally get some nice weather today!

What is your best childhood memory?: My favorite memory was picking up our family dog for the first time when she was just a puppy. She was so tiny her legs barely cleared the grass in the lawn, but she quickly grew to be 85 lbs of chocolate lab mischief!
What's your go to for de-stressing?:  When I am feeling really stressed, I find the best thing to do is to take a little time to exercise. I can always think more clearly afterwards and am much more efficient. 
Revit, CAD, or Sketchup?:  Revit - although Sketchup is also really helpful during particular phases.
Are you usually early or late?:  Late, as much as I hate to admit it!
What three things are in your bag?:  Pen, notebook, chapstick
If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would you have a good chance at winning a medal for?:  List-making! I make lists for everything, and then I usually split those lists into sub-lists (and sometimes even give each item time allowances!)

Why did you choose to become an Interior Designer?: I took a while to find my calling for Interior Design. In high school I had taken some architecture classes and became very interested in sustainable design, but decided I wanted to pursue some of my other interests in college. I majored in English with a focus on Medieval Literature, and for a little while I thought I wanted to get my PhD and become a professor. At the end of my senior year, however, I realized that I didn't want to stay in academia my whole life, so I revisited my interest in architecture and design. After lots of research and job shadows, I found that Interior Design was the path for me and I never looked back!
What is one goal you'd like to accomplish in your lifetime?: My life goal is to travel to as many new places as possible. I love to learn about different histories and cultures, meet new people, and find inspiration in the places I visit. 
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