Austin, TX
June 2007

Logistically Speaking…         with Ted Ulmer, Editor

Newsweek, on April 23, called it the "move from hell." We're talkin' over nine million tons of equipment with an estimated relocation cost of $800 million. And that's leaving behind up to 40 per cent of the gear at origin. Nope, it's not a "dot bomb" debacle.

Picture a stream of tractor-trailers lined nose to tail from San Francisco to New York and back. No, Sematech is not involved.

Give up? As part of the transport team, you're likely to encounter armed citizens and groups. And they're not pointing pea shooters.

Who's moving?

Well, chances are that you're familiar with one or more of the crew, or possibly their kin.

The "crew" is collectively known as the American military. The origin is Iraq.

This project cannot be bid in "Not-To-Exceed" format. The costs incurred by the thousands of men, women, children and families in America, Iraq and other affected or participating countries aren't measured in dollars, pounds or lira. Danger exists until the move back home is complete.

We are deeply in debt. Choose your own spiritual currency, and please continue to contribute often and generously.

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(N)ew & (R)enewing Members:

Al Artus, Retro Studios (R) Doug Christensen, Accord Irrigation (N)
Herb Ganz, Heliovolt Corp (N)John Gillum, Austin Public Library (R)
Martha Horlander, Susman Tisdale Gayle (R)David Kruse, UT System (R)
Joseph Latteo, Williamson County (R) Brian McGroty, Sunrise Senior Living (R)
Ben Robertson, ErgoGenesis (R)Shannon Schiermann, Symantec (R)
Scott Slaughter, OM Workspace (R)Amber L. Vaughn, (N)
George M. Walker, Siemens (R) Erin Whalen, Southpro Restoration (R)
Be sure to call, e-mail and thank these members for joining & renewing with IFMA Austin!
And if we missed you here, please let us know.

Changing of the Guard - Robin Connolly
As I pass the baton to your new Chapter President, I start with a heart-felt "THANK YOU" for all the energy, time and talent lent to our chapter this year. We have a very balanced board, one that is willing to put their time and energy into creating a chapter that has a vision of what facility management is today, and what it might be in 10 years. We want to continue to educate, involve our members, and have fun in the process.
As with anything, the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. Be a part of the team that sets the tone for facilities in the city of Austin and beyond. This is your association, and we welcome everyone's participation. An e-mail or a phone call is all it takes to be a contributing chapter member.
As your president, I learned much about the organization that IFMA is today, and what direction headquarters would like it to become. The organization has grown internationally, which benefits our local members with global facilities as long as we take advantage of the knowledge base.
I leave the chapter in a positive financial position, and in Shannon's (Schiermann's) capable hands. Thank you again for this experience.













Lunch Break

Thursday June 14, IFMA monthly luncheon.

"A/V Infrastructure Planning & Design"

11:30 - 1:00. Embassy Suites 
on North IH 35.
Members $25.00. Non-members $30.00.

Presented by:

Marvin Hecker, Director 
of Audiovisual Design
JanCom Technologies, Inc.

Sponsored by:

Accord Irrigation Technologies

 

 

Performance Review Q & A with Mark Wendland, Facility Manager for Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation

"Performance Review" is a regularly featured interview with one of our professional members.

Ed.: We regret that our current "victim's" profile was not returned to us by press time. Last month's contribution from Mark Wendland was highly informative and is included in its entirety below.

Provide some insight on your Employer/Company's core function/service.
We guarantee student loans for the U.S. Federal government. Created by the Texas Legislature in 1979, TG is a public, nonprofit Corporation that administers the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). TG is the fourth largest guarantor in the U.S. In Texas, we maintain 85% of market share.

Identify Company's total number, sq. ft., types, and locations of offices, e.g., corporate, industrial, owned, leased, downtown, suburban, local, regional, international.
Our owned Round Rock three story office facility, (195,413 sq. ft, on 7.25 acres) is our corporate
headquarters. We are in the process of purchasing a 40,800 sq. ft. distribution center/industrial space
in far north Austin. We currently lease half of this space. We also have approximately 20 team
members who work from their home offices in other states.

Identify Company's total number of employees:
Approx. 600

What are your primary job functions?
Coordinate space planning/modular furniture/construction and space/cubical assignment. Accountable for facilities services including: Effective management of building/property operations, physical security, and facilities services.  Preparation, review and selection of RFB's, development of scopes of work, contracts and schedule management. Ensures facilities SOP, O&Ms and policies are current and in effect. Development and implementation of operating, maintenance and capital improvement budgets.

How many total sq. ft. are you responsible for?
195,413 office space and 40,800 industrial space

How long have you been in the FM field? Education, certifications?
I have been in the FM field since 1985 and with TG since 1992. I have been a member of IFMA Austin since 1996. I obtained my CFM (Certified Facility Manager) certification in 2000. I have also earned my FMA (Facilities Management Administrator) and RPA (Real Property Administrator) designations from BOMI (Building Owners and Managers Institute). In December 2005, I earned my Bachelor in Business Management degree from Concordia University Austin.

Who do you report to?
John M. Sutton, AVP, Corporate Services. He is responsible for facilities, purchasing, risk management, safety & health, records, and mail and shipping/receiving.

Who reports to you?
(1) direct report-Chief Engineer
(3) indirect reports-Building Engineer and (2) Maintenance Technicians

Do you outsource any functions? Which ones?
We outsource the majority of facility services… janitorial, security, landscaping, space/furniture design, and mechanical.

Describe any energy conservation measures you have implemented in your facility.
We are fortunate to own a facility which was designed for energy efficiency in mind and that we were able to add additional features during the build-out. These include a light harvesting system, Direct Digital control system, occupancy motion detectors, high efficiency transformers, and VFDs. TG submitted and was granted EPA's Energy Star Building Label the past two years. Buildings that rate in the top 25 percent of energy-efficient buildings in the nation may qualify for the ENERGY STAR.

What are some FM challenges you face within your organization?
While it is basic FM function to create space and furniture standards, it can be a difficult process to maintain consistently across the corporation all of the time. For instance, time limitations, space limitations, and budget timing, or a combination of these can play a role in allowing variances. In other situations it can be difficult to match it up a position's job functions to the applicable space standard.

Identify some challenges the FM industry as a whole must face in the near future:
The convergence of technology based products will result in the blending of facility and IT related job functions. This is very evident in the support of data centers and physical security applications. More is coming. This just means that facility managers must remain cognizant of this and ensure they devote time to improve and strengthen their IT skill-sets.

What are some of your hobbies and interests outside work?
Hobbies include walking dogs with my wife Amy, home improvement projects, travel, and smoking different kinds of  meats with my professional grade smoker pit.



Cold Call                          Q & A with Gaines Bagby, Vice President, CB Richard Ellis

"Cold Call" is a regularly featured interview with one of our associate members.

Describe your company's core competency (service-oriented? Product driven?).
Largest and most resourceful full service commercial real estate firm in the world. We are
a service organization.

 

What is your primary job function?
User representation- strategy, negotiation, purchase, build to suit, leasing and disposition. 

Describe an average day.
No day is the same as any other. Prioritization is key. Our day is client-driven. Respond to
client emails and phone requests. Listen to client requirements. Evaluate and compare to
opportunities in the market. Prepare and tour properties. Analyze and evaluate market
opportunities. Prepare RFP's. Review and analyze proposals. Advise clients. Negotiate with owners. Negotiate some more. Manage architects, engineers and project managers. Call on prospective clients.

What type of clients do you work with (industries you serve or specialize in? 
size of companies you work with, etc.)?
All types, from IBM and Ford to local start ups. The gate is a clear understanding that the company has its business and financial footing firmly planted and its mission on a solid path.

What percentage of your work and clients is local/regional/national?
Fairly balanced. We work with local and regional clients, but are blessed to have access to our global platform and the clients and resources that are sourced from it.

How long have you been in this field?
In commercial real estate in Austin since 1983. Experience includes the largest disposition in Austin- the former IBM Campus- that we disposed of for IBM. The 2.1 msf, 235 acre campus was sold to the developers of the Domain. Clients include the American Cancer Society, State Farm, Columbia HCA, CAPCOG, Austin Board of Realtors, LIN Television, Frost Bank, University of Texas and Austin Community College.

Tell us about an interesting situation(s) you've encountered related to your current work. End result?
A potential client interviewed us and chose to work with a local developer to handle its real estate needs. After many months, the client returned to ask if we would complete the job. Within a short time, we found a site that was far superior and better met the client's requirements for a fraction of the cost. We also later showed the client how it might create significant tax savings using a recent provision of the tax code with which even the corporate CFO was not yet familiar. Needless to say, the client was extremely pleased.

How's business right now?
Rarely better.

What's the best lesson you've learned from a client?
Work hard. Don't get in a hurry. Do it right. Always keep the client's interest foremost in mind.

Identify some challenges to your industry.
There is so much activity in the market that it is often difficult to keep up with everything that is happening. It is critical to have an excellent team in place that can work together to keep track of the nuances that can be critical to the decision-making of each client.

Tell us about your personal life, family, hobbies and interests outside work.
Swimming, backpacking, Scuba diving, snow skiing, wakeboarding, international travel. Rotary Club of Austin, VP PR. Life Member of National Eagle Scout Association and former Scoutmaster. Trustee, Elder and past Chair of Youth and of Discipleship at Covenant Presbyterian Church. Caritas Community Advisory Board. Leadership Austin Graduate. Commercial Leasing Brokers Association, Board Member. Member: Real Estate Council of Austin, Greater Austin
Chamber of Commerce, IFMA, Trinity University Alumni Association.

Can we quote you on that?
Behind HR, real estate is the second largest expense item on the balance sheet. Just as every person is unique, so is every property. It is paramount that we select the right environment under the right terms in which our employees will be able to do their best work. In order to do this, it is critical to hire the right real estate professional with the right skill sets to represent our needs in making this happen for us.


What's Next?      
Reminder, there is no July luncheon. August 9th is Professional Member's Recognition Day.

Hosted by Austin Party Cruises, this event is free to our chapter's professional members. Reservations required. 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Stay tuned.


Prior Engagements

Our May luncheon featured a presentation by Diana Holford of The Staubach Company and Amy Mitchell of Fulbright & Jaworski: "How to Negotiate Tenant Improvements." We learned the importance of structuring a lease to include specific wording in the work letter about the condition of new and returned space, who performs the work, allowances, and more.

A sample agreement is posted on the website: http://www.ifma-austin.org/tennant.pdf.

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Our May program provided for a pre-opening, narrated tour of the Dell Children's Hospital conducted by Seton project manager Shawn Lavin (left), who says the facility is drawing attention from all over the globe. An amazing amount of planning and research was dedicated during design to create a healing environment for the special customers that DCH serves. Fantastic!

 










Learn more about this remarkable facility at:

http://future.childrenshospital.com/features/




Are you a facility specialist and need some info? Check out our knowledge links:

http://www.ifma-austin.org/link_fr.htm