This is a time for recognition and celebration. Associations are in the business of supporting their respective professions by providing quality education, research, and recognition. As APPA’s 2019-20 President, I was honored to work with and learn from a tremendous group of volunteer members. I presented the following individuals and teams with the President’s Award during the Awards Celebration on August 3 during APPA’s Virtual Facilities Summit.
I would like to begin by recognizing and thanking the individuals of the outgoing APPA Board of Directors for their outstanding leadership and service during the past year.
- Angela Meyer, Southeast Missouri State University (CAPPA)
- Arthur Walsh, Dalhousie University (ERAPPA)
- Jim Bogan, University of Wisconsin Madison (MAPPA)
- Bob Andrews, California State University East Bay (PCAPPA)
- Luis Rocha, University of Arizona (RMA)
- Dan Wooten, Discipleship Ministries (SRAPPA)
We also have a few elected officers who have left the Board. They have served us well for the past three years, and we are most appreciative of their tireless efforts on behalf of APPA, its governance, and the profession. My deepest gratitude to:
- Don Guckert, University of Iowa
- Tony Guerrero, University of Washington Bothell
- Ian Hadden, University of Arkansas Little Rock
Each year the President of International APPA is given the opportunity to recognize individual APPA members and/or a team of individuals who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in facilities management and who have made outstanding contributions to the association. This year is no exception!
- Shawna Code, Weber State University: Shawna and I met back at the first APPA training I attended, which was Supervisor’s Toolkit. We both knew we wanted to be trainers. Fast-forward a few years when we both represented our regions on the APPA Professional Development Committee; we connected and found ourselves having the same mission and passion for APPA, and we quickly became partners and friends. We became qualified APPA Toolkit trainers together, due to Shawna’s determination. Shawna has delivered multiple Toolkit trainings and is a dedicated faculty member of the Leadership Academy. She has always been a great mentor to me and is willing to assist our members in any way she can.
- Steve McKenzie, Redwoods Community College District: Steve and I met when we launched our first Customized Interactive Learning session for APPA’s Certified Educational Facilities Professional (CEFP) credential program. Although we had not met in person, he stepped up to take his CEFP designation and was in a group of 96 members who assisted us as we developed the structure of the cohort groups. As the facilitator, during these sessions I asked for people to please join us as facilitators of the next groups after they successfully passed the CEFP exam. Steve rose to the occasion and has since been part of the group of facilitators that has perfected the Customized Interactive Learning sessions. He has participated in over 40 webinars and has been the lead facilitator on 10 of the sessions. He is always willing to step up and answer the call to get involved. When you congratulate Steve, ask him how many people now have the CEFP designations.
- Tony Ichsan, Whitman College: Tony asked me to lean in. He took the time to get to know me and what I was interested in and helped me map out my APPA journey. Tony was on the Certification Board and knew I had a passion for training, and he invited me in and got me involved. He coached me along the way and continually supported me. He has served on the PCAPPA Board in many positions, including PCAPPA President. Tony brings passion and dedication to everything he does and is a mentor to many of us.
- Robert Andrews, California State University East Bay: From the minute I met Bob Andrews, I knew I had to get to know him and build a relationship. The energy and enthusiasm he has for our profession and for APPA is electrifying. Bob is a dedicated Supervisor’s Toolkit trainer who goes above and beyond to reach out to our new members and invite them in. He takes the time to listen to every person he meets and is willing to lend a helping hand. He has served as PCAPPA President twice, among other regional positions, and has served on the APPA Board of Directors. Bob is a leader whom you will be happy to follow. I did, and I am honored to call him one of my friends and mentors.
Governance Study Team: Jack Colby, William Daigneau, Jack Hug, Jeri King, Gary Reynolds, Glenn Smith
The work of these APPA Fellows provided the deep analysis and bold recommendations for governance changes that are clearly a “gift” to the membership. Each of them has made a significant difference, and their collective recommendations have set APPA on a course for the future that will allow us to continue to be relevant and resilient, and will provide increasing value to our members and to the profession. Their work on the Governance Study Team is yet another significant contribution in their long history of service to this association.
Governance Study Transition Task Force: James Bogan, Don Guckert, Tony Guerrero, Jeri King, Angela Meyer, Luis Rocha, Arthur Walsh, Daniel Wooten
I want to thank the members of the Governance Study Transition Task Force for the extraordinary effort, dedication, creativity, and camaraderie with which they approached their charge to outline the plan for implementing the Board-adopted recommendations in the Governance Study Report developed by the APPA Fellows. This integrated, comprehensive plan lays the structural foundation for APPA’s future and provides the framework for the extensive work that lies ahead.
I was extremely privileged to announce the bestowing of the Distinguished Leadership & Professional Ethics Award to William Daigneau, APPA Fellow, by the Presidential Triad. Bill formally and most recently chaired the Governance Study Team’s game-changing report of November 2019 and facilitated a formal Body of Knowledge (BOK) review group in December 2019.
Bill has had a stellar career in the facilities management profession and made major contributions to APPA, which include the following roles: author of magazine articles (he’s a four-time recipient of the Rex Dillow Award for Outstanding Article), books, and chapters in the BOK; section lead for the BOK; accomplished speaker and long-time faculty member of the Leadership Institute; participant in numerous Facilities Management Evaluation Program (FMEP) institutional reviews; APPA Board officer; and, finally, cocreator of the Center for Facilities Research (CFaR) research program and the Leadership Academy that ultimately produced the Fellows program. He is most deserving of APPA’s highest individual merit award.
As we close out recognizing a few of our incredible APPA members, I am reflecting on how honored I am to be part of the facilities management profession and the APPA community. This is a time that we as professionals have stepped up our game to ensure our campuses continue to operate and function as needed. This is a trying time for all of us, with so many questions and concerns arising from our students, staff, and faculty, and it is apparent that you have risen to the occasion. Many of you are cleaning out housing units and supporting labs and research to further the COVID-19 efforts that may be housed on our campuses.
On top of these demands, you are taking care of your families and learning to live in this unprecedented time. You are appreciated. We will get through this together. We are the APPA community. We are a strong and vibrant profession. Take the time to lean on each other and support one another. Be patient and kind and find time to breathe and laugh.
I want to say thank you for all you have done to make my year as APPA President memorable and for supporting my theme, “Cultivating the Community.” I hope you will continue to cultivate our facilities community and that you will say YES to getting involved and engaged within APPA, your regions, and chapters. Take the time to reach out to an APPA member whom you met at a conference, training, or on a webinar to just check in and share your resources. Remember APPA’s two brand strengths: professional development and community. I wish you a healthy, productive year and look forward to seeing you all again at future APPA events.
Ruthann Manlet is an associate district director for facilities at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, and recently served as APPA’s 2019-20 President. She can be reached at [email protected].
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