Knowledge Is Power

Upcoming Events Abroad << Upcoming Events   Dancing w/ the Stars: Survive the Boardroom Presentation May 7, 2009 I-Sessions Research & Development, and Health Care Council Spring Symposium May 10-12, 2009 San Francisco IFMA 2009 Spring Symposium May 12-15, 2009 Charlotte, NC CFM Exam Review May 14-15, 2009 Charlotte, NC CFM Exam Review May 14-15, 2009 Hartford, CT iSession - Green: The Missing Link in Most Supply Chains May 21, 2009                                                    ...More...

Resources Online Learning Center Course Demo Featuring multimedia self-study course modules developed from the nine facility management competencies and performance skills, IFMA’s Online Learning Center allows you to earn CEUs and successfully complete the Facility Management Professional credential. Click here to take an interactive tour of the Learning Center's features. CFM Self-Assessment Test How ready are you to take the CFM Exam? Try the 54-question online self-assessment test for US$39.95 members, (US$79.95 nonmembers). Earn your CFM IFMA’s Certified Facility Manager® program was the first in facility management and still reamins the only globally recognized FM certification. The CFM process is designed to assess competence in the field through work experience, education and the ability to pass a comprehensive exam. Order Now! The CFM Exam Review Course Study Set

**Please note that Sustainable FM is a new course, and may become the
10th Competency of FM in the very near future.  Get the jump!
 

"Performance Review"
A regularly featured interview with one of our chapter's professional members.
 
Meet George Walker, Project Manager for Siemens Real Estate

Provide some insight on your Employer/Company's core function/service.  
Siemens Real Estate (SRE) provides all corporate real estate services for all Siemens business units in the United States.  Typical services include transaction management, lease management, facilities management, project management as well as development and disposition of properties..

Identify Company's total number, sq. ft., types, and locations of offices, e.g., corporate, industrial, owned, leased, downtown, suburban, local, regional.  How many square feet are you responsible for?
Siemens has over 800 locations in the US comprising in excess of 30 million square feet.  The locations include all types, areas, geography, ownership and use required of a diverse, multi-national industrial/energy/healthcare company.

Identify Company’s total number of employees.   
Siemens Real Estate employs 65 people in the US and about 2400 worldwide – worldwide there are over 430,000 Siemens AG employees.  

What are your primary job functions?
I coordinate teams, comprised of both internal and external resources, to complete assigned projects.  Team members can include commercial property brokers and landlords, A/E, construction, IT, furniture vendors/consultants, legal and finance, and tenant stakeholders.  Individual projects vary from small renovations and relocations to major tenant improvements and facility consolidations.

How many total sq. ft. are you responsible for?
Varies by project, from a few thousand sq. ft. to in excess of 100,000 sq. ft.

How long have you been in the FM field?  Education, certifications?
Although I’ve never really been a Facilities Manager or part of a Facilities department, my positions and projects over the last 30 years have always had interaction and/or requirements related to the FM field.  From coordinating the interior renovations at the US House of Representatives, to planning facility fit-out, occupancy and use for diverse clients such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Victoria’s Secret, US Environmental Protection Agency, National Public Radio, US Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health and The Library of Virginia.

I earned a BBA in Finance from the University of Texas and completed two years of graduate studies in Urban Planning  in the School of Architecture.

Certifications:  CFM from IFMA and PMP (Project Management Professional) from the Project Management Institute. I plan to pursue LEED certification in the next year.

Who do you report to?                                                                         
VP/General Manager – Industry Sector.

Who reports to you? 
No one – which is both good and bad.  It's good in the sense that I do not have to deal with the inherent HR challenges, but bad because my success is dependent on personnel who often have agendas that differ greatly from mine.

What functions do you outsource?
With only 65 employees managing a large portfolio, a number of outsourced services are required.  Some, if not almost all, portions of Facilities Management, Transaction Management, Project Management and Lease Administration are outsourced to Strategic Partners.

Describe your recycling program, if applicable.
Varies greatly by location and use.

Describe any energy conservation measure you have implemented in your facilities.
Various by location and function.

Identify some FM challenges you face within your organization.
Always attempting to reduce costs and space requirements in a diverse portfolio where needs and requirements don’t necessarily align with available space.

Identify some challenges the FM industry as a whole must face in the near future.
On-going cost reductions while implementing sustainable practices.

What are some of your hobbies and interests outside work?                               
Golf, travel and architecture.

Thank you, George! 
                                                            #                #                   #
   
                                                                 Bowl-a-Rama

                                        Thursday May 21
                                            5:30 to 8:30
                                          
           If you haven't registered yet -- don't worry!  You can still attend!                   

              E-mail Programs Chair Crystal Green for info:
                             Crystal.Green@us.issworld.com