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Branded Group Receives Great Place to Work® Certification for Fifth Year

Posted on by Andrew Warth

Anaheim, Calif. (April 22nd, 2022) – Branded Group Founder and CEO Michael Kurland recently announced that, for this fifth consecutive year, the company has been certified as a great workplace by the independent analysts at Great Place to Work®.  Branded Group employees noted that fairness, pride, respect, and camaraderie ranked high on their responses. A summary of these ratings can be found here.

 

“Branded Group is honored to be certified as a Great Place to Work once again,” Michael Kurland, Branded Group CEO, said. “Our team members gave us high marks for our community involvement (98%) and customer dedication (95%), which are reflective of our company culture.”

 

Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention and increased innovation. The comprehensive and anonymous survey contained questions regarding company culture, diversity and community service, as well as team dynamics.

 

“Certified companies put employees first,” says Michael C. Bush, chief executive officer at Great Place to Work. “Thriving employees increase revenue and profit, and provide market-leading customer experiences.”

 

Ninety percent of Branded Group’s employees noted that the company was a Great Place to Work compared to 57% of employees at a typical U.S.-based company. Ninety-eight percent noted how the organization makes new hires feel welcome.

 

For more information about Branded Group, contact Michael Kurland at mkurland@branded-group.com.

 

About Branded Group

Branded Group is an award-winning facility maintenance and construction management company servicing multi-site commercial properties. Through its BeBetter Experience, Branded Group provides clients with peace of mind and preserves their brand standards. Services include on-demand facility maintenance, construction management, and special project implementation for retail locations, restaurants, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions, among other industry verticals. The company has been repeatedly certified as a Great Place to Work® and has been ranked multiple times on the Inc. 5000.

Branded Group Supports The Priority Center’s Pinwheels For Hope

Posted on by Andrew Warth

Anaheim, Calif. (April 20th, 2022) – Branded Group recently partnered with The Priority Center of Orange County in support of the 2022 Pinwheels for Hope initiative, which is being held in April to raise awareness during childhood abuse prevention awareness month.

 

“We continue to partner with The Priority Center in their work to end child abuse and neglect in Orange County,” Kurland said. “Every child deserves to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment feeling loved and protected.”

 

Pinwheels for Prevention is a national public awareness campaign that puts a new ‘spin’ on prevention. The positive campaign allows pinwheels to highlight efforts and change the way we think about prevention. The pinwheel is the symbol of a safe, happy, and carefree childhood, which is why the pinwheel was selected for the symbol associated with Child Abuse Prevention Month.

 

Branded Group team members are purchasing pinwheels, which will be displayed at the Pinwheels for Hope Garden, located at Lido Marina Village, at the courtyard fountain. Each costs $25 and donor’s names will be placed on their designated pinwheel in recognition of their support. The garden will be on display throughout the month of April, in recognition of National Child Abuse Month.

 

“We are grateful to have the support of Branded Group and its employees” Lisa Fujimoto, CEO of The Priority Center said. “When businesses and nonprofits join together on important causes such as child abuse awareness and prevention, we can make Orange County a better place for children and families.”

 

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than two-thirds of children have had at least one traumatic event by the time they are sixteen. Each day, more than 1,000 youth are treated in emergency departments for physical assault-related injuries. Being aware of the signs of trauma and abuse is critical to getting help for these innocent youth.

 

For more information about Branded Group, contact Michael Kurland at mkurland@branded-group.com.

 

About Branded Group

Branded Group is an award-winning facility maintenance and construction management company servicing multi-site commercial properties. Through its BeBetter Experience, Branded Group provides clients with peace of mind and preserves their brand standards. Services include on-demand facility maintenance, construction management, and special project implementation for retail locations, restaurants, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions, among other industry verticals. The company has been repeatedly certified as a Great Place to Work® and has been ranked multiple times on the Inc. 5000. For more information, visit branded-group.com.

ConnexFM Announces 2022/2023 Board of Directors and Board Officers

Posted on by Andrew Warth

DALLAS – April 18, 2022– ConnexFM, the multi-site facilities management network has announced its Board of Directors, and has selected new officers for the 2022-2023 term. The new officers are: 

 

Chair: Patricia Bacigalupo, Store Maintenance Director, Gap, Inc. 

Vice Chair: Kim Goei, COO, FEXA 

Treasurer: Sean Coakley, RFMP, Senior Director, Retail Store Maintenance North America, Luxottica 

Secretary: Tony DiSpirito, Director, Store Preservation, Sephora 

 

As Immediate Past Board Chair, Jordan Campbell, Manager of Architecture Preservation, BOTTEGA VENETA, will continue to serve on the Board. 

 

The Association membership also elected three new Multi-Site Board members to a three-year term. Newly elected multi-site directors are: 

  • Director: Catherine Barnes, Vice President Facilities & Energy Management, Rite Aid 
  • Director: Kurt Gnessin, Vice President, Facilities & Construction, Extra Space Storage 
  • Director: Adam Oryszczak, Director Facility Services, Ulta Beauty 

 

One Supplier Board member was elected for a three-year term. The newly elected supplier director is: 

  • Director: Alex DiPietro, Strategic Sales Manager, Herc Rentals 

 

Supplier Directors returning to the Board include:  

  • Director: Amanda Stephen, Sr. Manager, Business Development, Superclean Service Company Inc. 
  • Director: Siddarth Shetty, Vice President – Major Accounts, ServiceChannel 
  • Director: Tom Kay, Chief Revenue Officer, SMG Facility Services  

 

For the 2022-2023 term, the ConnexFM Board of Directors new alternate members will provide the ConnexFM Board of Directors with their expert opinions and experiences to ensure the Board is a trendsetter in the facilities management industry. 

  • Jason Miller, Construction/Facilities Manager, The Buckle, Inc. 
  • Justin Bergen, Account Manager – National Accounts, Carmichael Engineering Ltd. 

 

The 2022-23 Connex Board of Directors will be introduced live to membership, Tuesday, April 26 during the ConnexFM|2022 National Conference in Long Beach, California. Visit connexfm.com for more information. 

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ConnexFM 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. 

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Branded Group Listed on Financial Times Fastest Growing Companies in America

Posted on by Andrew Warth

National Facility Management Company Ranks #345 in Third Annual Survey

Anaheim, CA. (April 06, 2022) – Branded Group CEO Michael Kurland recently announced that his company has been ranked #345 in the 2022 Fastest Growing Companies in America by The Financial Times and Statista. Recipients include businesses from twenty countries in north, central and South America who have experienced strong revenue growth.

“Branded Group is honored to be among these outstanding organizations who have persevered through challenging times,” Kurland said. “We will continue to focus on delivering our BeBetter experience to our valued clients as well as providing an outstanding workplace for our team.”

The FT Americas’ Fastest Growing Companies 2022 is a list of the 500 companies in the Americas that have the highest growth in publicly disclosed revenues between 2017 and 2020. Companies who are eligible for the award must have had annual revenues of at least $100,000 in the prior year. Complete results of the 2022 FT’s Fastest Growing Companies in America, including an interactive listing with links to company websites can be found at https://www.ft.com/americas-fastest-growing-companies-2021.

For more information about Branded Group, contact Michael Kurland at mkurland@branded-group.com.

About Branded Group

Branded Group is an award-winning facility maintenance and construction management company servicing multi-site commercial properties. Through its “Be Better” experience, Branded Group provides clients with peace of mind and preserves their brand standards. Services include on-demand facility maintenance, construction management, and special project implementation for retail locations, restaurants, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions, among other industry verticals. The company is a certified Great Place to Work® and been ranked on the Inc. 5000 for multiple consecutive years. For more information visit https://www.branded-group.com

KBS Acquires Kimco Facility Services

Posted on by Andrew Warth

Marks 15th acquisition in four years and expands KBS’ position as the largest privately held facility services company in North America

 

Oceanside, CA (April 4, 2022) – Kellermeyer Bergensons Services, LLC (“KBS”), a trusted partner to leading operations and facility managers across North America, today announced the acquisition of Kimco Holdings, LLC, and Kimco Facility Services, LLC (“Kimco”). KBS is a portfolio company of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. (“Cerberus”), a global leader in alternative investing. 

 

Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Atlanta, Kimco is a leading national provider of customized commercial cleaning programs, facility maintenance, and associated services. With its array of technology-enabled facility services, the company supports clients across business and industrial end markets, including telecommunications, industrial and manufacturing, government, education, healthcare, and banking and finance. Kimco will operate as a KBS company.


“Kimco is a respected facility services leader with a deep track record of building trusted client relationships,” said Mark Minasian, CEO of KBS. “More than ever, clients require partners who can deliver reliable, high-quality services at scale while overcoming complex market challenges. Kimco provides us with greater depth in the business and industrial sectors and we warmly welcome their talented team to the KBS family. Together, we will leverage our collective industry knowledge, best practices, and technology capabilities to help clients raise standards and improve operational performance.”   

 

Sandeep Gupta, CEO of Kimco, commented: “We are excited to join KBS, a recognized leader who shares our commitment to providing best-in-class client experiences and leading solutions to create healthy and safe environments. Our clients will now have access to a broader portfolio of services supported by nationalscale, enabling us to serve their facility needs today and well into the future.” 


Over the past four years, KBS has acquired 15 companies to build on its market-leading solutions and expand into new end markets and regions. Today, KBS is the largest privately held provider of facility services in North America, providing scalable, technology-enabled solutions across more than 100,000 locations. 

 

Bob Warden, Global Head of Private Equity at Cerberus, added: “Healthy operations remain central to organizations across sectors and KBS continues to grow to meet the mission-critical needs of clients. The addition of Kimco further expands KBS’ ability to provide tailored, technology-driven solutions and builds on its distinct market leadership.”

About KBS

Kellermeyer Bergensons Services, LLC (“KBS”), is a trusted partner to leading operations and facility managers across more than 100,000 client locations throughout North America. We provide essential facility services that deliver healthy operations to businesses through scalable solutions customized to meet client-specific requirements. Our expertise and technology enable our teams to anticipate issues, ensure quality, and maximize efficiency. With decades of experience in facility hygiene, including being on the front lines throughout the COVID-19 crisis, KBS is committed to partnering with clients to Stay Ahead of the Curve™ with the latest advances for maintaining healthy operations. For more information, visit www.kbs-services.com. 

 

About Kimco Facility Services, a KBS Company
Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Atlanta, Kimco is a leading national provider of customized commercial cleaning programs, facility maintenance, and associated services. With its array of technology-enabled facility services, the company supports industry leaders across key business and industrial end markets, including telecommunications, industrial and manufacturing, government, education, healthcare, and banking and finance. For more information, visit www.kimcoserv.com. 

 

About Cerberus 
Founded in 1992, Cerberus is a global leader in alternative investing with over $55 billion in assets across complementary credit, private equity, and real estate strategies. We invest across the capital structure where our integrated investment platforms and proprietary operating capabilities create an edge to improve performance and drive long-term value. Our tenured teams have experience working collaboratively across asset classes, sectors, and geographies to seek strong risk-adjusted returns for our investors. For more information about our people and platforms, visit us at www.cerberus.com.

KBS Contact

Erik Bratt, KBS

erik.bratt@kbs-services.com

ConnexFM Announces Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Task Force

Posted on by Andrew Warth

ConnexFM, the multi-site facilities management network, is proud to announce a new task force focusing on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). The task force will address how ESG impacts the multi-site facilities industry, what resources are available and should be created, and recommendations on how individuals and organizations should address the ESG needs on the horizon.   

  

“Our Multi-Site FM members are increasingly being asked to report on ESG initiatives and depend on their Supplier Partners to meet their goals,” said Bill Yanek, CEO, ConnexFM. “This task force will develop resources and educational opportunities, providing members a competitive advantage and empowering the FM, with support from their partner organizations, to demonstrate to the C-Suite how facilities management contributes to the organization’s ESG initiatives.”   

  

Leading the task force will be Joshua D. Witte, Director, Energy and Sustainability, Dollar Tree, Inc. and Tom Kay, Chief Revenue Officer, SMG Facilities and ConnexFM Board of Director.  

 

“ESG is becoming one of the most important topics at the corporate level. Shareholders want to know it is integral to the operations of the companies they are investing in, and executives want to know they have a team in place that can execute on these initiatives,” said Witte. “Multi-Site FMs will be at the forefront of these efforts. ConnexFM and the newly formed ESG Task Force will be well placed to offer the support and resources needed by the FMs who will be playing a role in shaping the future of these initiatives.” 

 

Kay will be presenting, ESG 101: Understanding ESG and Its Impact, at ConnexFM | 2022 National Conference on Monday, April 25. “ESG is fast becoming a corporate duty and social responsibility. Facility Professionals – now more than ever – have the ability to effect positive change by carefully aligning their roles and responsibilities with their corporate initiatives,” said Kay. “I believe that the ConnexFM ESG Taskforce has a unique opportunity to shape the ESG narrative and those who choose to get involved will play a critical part in the education, growth and development of the facility professional, the supplier community and the association as a whole.”  

  

If you are interested in joining the ConnexFM ESG Task Force contact LeeAnn Norton, Chief Operating Officer of ConnexFM at lnorton@connexfm.com. 

 

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.  

2022-23 ConnexFM Board of Directors Voting Now Open

Posted on by Andrew Warth

Each year, ConnexFM takes great pride in the quality member candidates nominated and selected for the ConnexFM Board of Directors slate. The ConnexFM Nominating Committee strives for candidates that exhibit leadership qualities such a strategic planning, foresight, innovative thinking, industry expertise, and understand the varying interests of our diverse membership. 

 

ConnexFM is calling on YOU, the primary and/or voting ConnexFM member of your organization, to cast YOUR VOTE for the 2022-23 ConnexFM Board of Directors. The deadline to vote is March 31, 2022 at 5:00PM CT. 

 

There are five Multi-Site Corporate Member candidates that the ConnexFM Nominating Committee believes are strong potential board members. From these candidates, three Multi-Site Board seats will be filled based on your votes. There are two Multi-Site Alternates that will be selected this year with a separate ballot and voted on by the 2021-22 Board of Directors. 

 

There are five Supplier Corporate Member candidates that the committee believes are strong potential board members. From these candidates, one Supplier Board seat will be filled based on your votes. There is also one Supplier Alternate that will be that will be selected this year with a separate ballot and voted on by the 2021-22 Board of Directors. 

 

Visit vote.connexfm.com to learn more about the candidates. 

 

Robbie Drake of Murphy Oil USA, Inc. Earns ProFM Credential

Posted on by Andrew Warth

Robbie Drake, Sr Manager, Operations Maintenance, Murphy Oil USA, Inc. has earned his ProFM Certification. Read below to see why the ProFM was a great fit for him.

 

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

 

For the day to day, the program as a whole allowed me to look at things in a fresh new light, I learned skills that I really didn’t know I needed and will apply them to make myself a better Facilities Manager, and in turn our Facilities Department will be better. For my career, the ProFM credential shows a commitment to the industry and the dedication to continuously improve.

 

How will the knowledge you gain through the ProFM help your company?  

 

Efficiencies and process improvements learned through the content will improve the operation of our department and contribute to the continued success of the company.  

 

Would you recommend that other FM professionals earn the ProFM credential?  

 

I would absolutely recommend the program to others in the FM industry. It’s a great way to show what you’ve already learned through experience, and a great opportunity to gain additional skills.   Every company does things a little bit differently and FM professionals can get tunnel vision on how things should work but the program does a really good job of giving a much broader view of the industry which allows improvements in your current role, or the skills to quickly adapt if another job opportunity arises.

 

Watch Robbie Drake 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.

Ed Donaghy of Extra Space Storage Earns ProFM Credential

Posted on by Andrew Warth

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

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

The information taught during the ProFM class covered many topics that overlapped with what I do daily at Extra Space Storage. Being able to review each topic in more detail will help me make good business decisions in the future weather dealing with a certain asset or personal. 

How will the knowledge you gain through the ProFM help your company? 

I can see the knowledge I learned helping me with the training of our newer managers on explaining the “why” we do certain things or follow certain policy’s. 

Would you recommend that other FM professionals earn the ProFM credential? 

I would, the ProFM course was very challenging and covered a wide range of Facility management topics that a facility manager would use daily.

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.


Watch Ed Donaghy on The Daily Grind


Stash Romanowicz of T-Mobile Earns ProFM Credential

Posted on by Andrew Warth

Stash Romanowicz, P.E., PMP, ProFM, Sr Program Manager, National Retail Facilities, Disaster Response & Recovery, T-Mobile has earned his ProFM Certification. Read below to see why the ProFM was a great fit for him.

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

The ProFM has been helpful in sharpening my existing knowledge and skills while “filling-in the cracks” with new concepts to reinforce a well-rounded professional background.  Having years of experience in the Facilities Management, this program has provided a great opportunity to look at this comprehensive material from a fresh perspective.  In looking at my career, I appreciate how the ProFM would have helped me at any stage of my professional journey.

How will the knowledge you gain through the ProFM help your company?

The ProFM program provides a standard for the level of knowledge, competencies, skills, and abilities of the FM team.  In addition, it sets a common language across the FM organization, fosters an environment that promotes innovation, encourages greater efficiencies, and delivery of more effective results.

Would you recommend that other FM professionals earn the ProFM credential?

The ProFM is valuable at any point in your career.  It’s a comprehensive curriculum that allows you to reinforce and absorb the Functional FM Knowledge Areas that are most relevant to you.  There are multiple ways to take this program through instructor-led groups or self-study and using the online resources or printed materials, which provide a flexibility to fit into most personal or professional schedules.

 

Watch Stash Romanowicz 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.

 

 

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