Category: Connex News

Become an integral part of the new ConnexFM Mentorship Program Pilot!

The ConnexFM Mentorship Program is a mentee-driven program that fosters a mentoring relationship between two ConnexFM members and involves the mentor coaching, advising, and supporting the professional goals of the mentee for one year—April 2022 through March 2023. The program is intended to help shape the multi-site FM marketplace and positively impact the careers of ConnexFM members by improving their skills in coaching, leadership, and relationship building. The program provides:

• A supportive relationship to help mentees meet their professional objectives;
• An open exchange of ideas and feedback; and
• A confidential environment.

Participants agree to:

• Meet with one another at least 12 times during the program
• Participate in a program orientation session
• Provide quarterly feedback about the program experience
• Commit to program work, including an estimated 20-25 hours for mentors and 25-35 hours for mentees

– 12 monthly in-person or virtual meetings (12 hours)

– 1 in-person networking event (1 hour, optional)

– 5-10 hours for orientation, miscellaneous activities, sharing feedback and ongoing communication

Eligibility: Any ConnexFM member in good standing is eligible to participate in the program and we encourage members of all ages and experience levels to sign up as a mentee for career guidance and support. For the inaugural pilot program, participation is limited to 20 mentors and 20 mentees. Space in the program will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that this program is for professional development purposes and not intended to be a sales/prospecting opportunity.

When you join the inaugural group of ConnexFM members you’ll not only benefit from your new mentoring relationship, but you’ll also be help future program participants by providing your feedback to the ConnexFM team that will provide direction on the future of the program.

Be a Mentor

Become a Mentee

Sign Up by February 4 (Space Is Limited!)

 

“Mentorship is one of the most important aspects of personal and professional development. A mentor is there to guide you through the obstacles that inevitably arise while growing in your position and industry – not only acting as a sounding board, but a teacher. Mentorship is a rewarding experience for both parties involved.”  – Jenna Dominguez, Branded-Group, ConnexFM Member

Kevin Gillen, Director, Facility Services – Southeast, Extra Space Storage, has earned his ProFM Certification. Read below to see why the ProFM was a great fit for him.

Why did you choose the ProFM program? 

Connex and the ProFM team were organize and very professional.  The course content is available in print and online which helped with my studying and satisfactory completion of the course and certification.

How has the knowledge gained from the ProFM program helped you in your day-to-day work responsibilities and/or in your career overall? 

The program covers a wide array of topics and interests.  The certification tests a wide range of Facilities, Asset Management, Risk Management, Business Management, Operations and Maintenance gets tested.  The way the course and testing is designed, I picked up a good general knowledge of areas that I have had not yet had the opportunity to deal with.

Why would you recommend other multi-site FMs to earn the ProFM credential?

The ProFM credential program is not for everyone, but it is quickly becoming the baseline for Facility Management professionals that want to further their careers.

Watch Kevin Gillen on The Daily Grind 

 

The ProFM credential defines global FM standards and provides facility professionals with the knowledge and skills that have evolved beyond traditional FM responsibilities. Now is a great time to earn the credential. For more information about the ProFM credential, click here.

ConnexFM, the Multi-Site facilities network, is proud to honor Ulta Beauty with the U.S. Multi-Site Company of the Year Award.

 

The ConnexFM Annual Awards, chosen by the membership and presented at the recent CONNEX2021 National Conference, honor organizations that have impacted the facilities management industry through innovation, operations, and outstanding work performance within the industry.

 

“We are incredibly proud of the resilience and collaboration of our teams in supporting the business and each other while we navigated an unprecedented global pandemic,” said Melissa Marria, Facilities Manager, Ulta Beauty. “The new remote environment challenged us to get creative with how we stay connected while maintaining and building upon the culture that we have crafted without the in-person dynamic that we have been accustomed to.”

 

Serving as a visionary for nearly 30 years, Ulta Beauty demonstrates how investing in the future is essential to building a sustainable organization. Ulta Beauty has committed to reporting on greenhouse gas emissions starting in 2020 in order to identify reduction opportunities and grow our overall sustainability strategy, including robust renewable energy and recycling programs. The Multi-Site organization has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Institute for Market Transformation and the U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings Alliance for their efforts.

 

“Ulta Beauty, a longtime ConnexFM member, leads the retail industry with their creative store formats, commitment to sustainability and most importantly dedication to their customers,” said Bill Yanek, ConnexFM CEO. “The Multi-Site organization continually moves the facilities management industry forward by building strong Supplier partnerships, customer-centric environments and prioritizing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.”

 

Additionally, in 2021, the organization announced tangible commitments across five key areas— Amplifying & Investing in Underrepresented Voices, Black-Owned Brands, Guest Experiences, Associate Experiences, Ongoing Learning and Accountability— to ensure all guests, associates, partners, and communities feel connected to and reflected at Ulta Beauty; these efforts reflect an investment of more than 25 million in 2021.

 

Read the full coverage of the 2021 ConnexFM’s Annual Awards here. Tune in to the upcoming virtual fireside chat, “The ROI of DEI: Ulta Beauty,” on Thursday, November 4 at 1 pm CT with Crystal Banks of Ulta Beauty and ConnexFM Board of Directors Secretary and DEI Committee Co-Chair Kim Goei of Fexa.

 

About ConnexFM
ConnexFM, the Multi-Site facilities management network, is the leading membership organization for multi-site facilities managers and supplier professionals. Established in 1995, and based in Irving, TX, ConnexFM empowers facilities management professionals with events, best practices, benchmarking, education, discussion forums and trusted partnerships. Members depend upon ConnexFM to help them achieve greater success and a competitive advantage through quality programs and resources. For more information visit www.connexfm.com.

ConnexFM, the Multi-Site facilities network, is proud to honor Amanda Smith, Sr. Manager, Business Development, Superclean Service Company, Inc. as the 2021 Young Professional of the Year.

 

The ConnexFM Annual Awards, chosen by the membership and presented at the recent CONNEX2021 National Conference, honor individuals that have impacted the facilities management industry through innovation, operations, and outstanding performance within the industry.  

 

“Amanda Smith embodies a volunteer spirit by donating her time to the ConnexFM Board of Directors and Connex Foundation Fundraising Committee,” said Bill Yanek, ConnexFM CEO. “As we hone our events, education and resources for young professionals, we look to leaders like Smith to share how the industry’s rapid changes are impacting these individuals.”

 

Starting her career with Target on the store side, Smith worked her way up to the district level, giving her a behind-the-scenes view to retail and Multi-Site organizations. When Smith needed a new challenge, she took a leap of faith and entered the world of facilities maintenance. This new, and somewhat scary, role led her to Superclean Service Company, Inc., six years ago, gaining experience in everything from operations to sales.

 

As a highly engaged member of ConnexFM, Smith has served on several committees and was elected to the ConnexFM Board of Directors in April this year. Additionally, Smith is co-chair of the Connex Foundation Fundraising Committee, where she has led year-over-year efforts to ensure strategic and well-planned fundraising initiatives, designed to help the foundation achieve its mission.

 

“It is humbling to be chosen for this award and touches my heart to know that my peers support and recognize my efforts. I share this award with the Connex Foundation as I believe it is my work with the Foundation that earned me the Young Professional of the Year,” said Smith.

 

Smith shares advice for all the young professionals in the industry. “Don’t be afraid to try and fail – it’s the best way to get over your fear of failing. Every single time that I’ve done something that really scared me, it paid off. When I’ve failed, I’ve learned so much about myself, grown, become more confident,” said Smith. “Young professionals struggle with confidence because we’re all green and fresh but don’t be afraid to lean into everything the world gives you and take a leap of faith.”

Smith will be joining ConnexFM’s “The Daily Grind” livestream show to discuss her career journey and advice for young professionals. Watch her episode on Friday, October 29 at 2 pm CT. Read the full coverage of the 2021 ConnexFM’s Annual Awards here. 

 

About ConnexFM

ConnexFM, the Multi-Site facilities management network, is the leading membership organization for multi-site facilities managers and supplier professionals. Established in 1995, and based in Irving, TX, ConnexFM empowers facilities management professionals with events, best practices, benchmarking, education, discussion forums and trusted partnerships. Members depend upon ConnexFM to help them achieve greater success and a competitive advantage through quality programs and resources. For more information visit www.connexfm.com.

ConnexFM Education & Resources is now accepting proposals for education sessions at CONNEX2022 National Conference in Long Beach, CA from April 25 – 27, 2022. 

Is there an upcoming or new regulation/standard to share with ConnexFM membership? Do you have a guideline, template or strategy as an example? Get your thinking caps on and submit a proposal for an education session!

Presentation submissions are evaluated on the following criteria:

• Complete presentation submission, submitted by the deadline.
• Session learning level is appropriate for the audience and topic.
• Identification of three actionable learning objectives.
• Presentation is designed to encourage high audience interaction/participation.
• Content is focused, current, practical, or innovative.
• Clear and concise organization of ideas and clearly written learning objectives. 

Submit your presentation proposal by Friday, November 5. 

Successful presenters will be notified in November 2021. If you have any questions, please email education@connexfm.com.

DALLAS – May 12, 2021– ConnexFM, the multi-site facilities management network, formerly known as PRSM, is excited to announce Tom Kay, Chief Revenue Officer, SMG Facility Services is transitioning to a two-year term Supplier Board member filling the vacated seat by Mandy Rennehan, CEO & Founder, Freshco.ca.

Moving into a one-year term as a non-voting alternate member vacated by Tom Kay, is Steve Hearon, President, BrandPoint Services.
ConnexFM thanks Rennehan for her time and commitment to the board during the past year and appreciates her continued membership within the organization and inspiring dedication to the FM industry.

We look forward to Kay and Hearon’s upcoming roles on the Board and impact on ConnexFM’s future.