Boston, MA When you think about IFMA your mind constantly goes to the great networking events such as the Holiday Gala and the Golf Tournament. IFMA’s main focus is to provide an avenue for facilities managers to learn and develop. In October IFMA Boston hosted a session for its Thought Leaders focusing on Creating a Roadmap to a Digital FM. Douglas Shapiro from Gartner led the discussion on how different software packages and other technologies could help facilities. The audience was filled with people from different companies from a vast variety industries. IFMA Boston’s Thought Leaders program is made up of member end users that come together three times a year to share their experiences in a roundtable setting and to provide the chapter their valuable feedback on upcoming programming, content and benefits.

The Working Nomad: All the Work without the Desk: On Halloween morning, while the streets of Boston were filling with Red Sox fans in anticipation of another rolling rally, IFMA Boston members assembled for a discussion on an emerging trend. The concept of a flexible work environment is becoming more and more common. The program focused on the many factors to be aware of when considering a flexible work environment. Companies are realizing that, on average, employees actually come in just 55-65% of the time In North America. By transitioning to a flexible work environment where the employee can work from home part time, employers are experiencing increases in employee satisfaction, productivity and retention. Ashley White from Ropes & Gray moderated the session and guided the conversation for the panel members. The panel members consisted of Melodee Wagen, MCR, president of Workspace Strategies, Inc., Jessie Wigfall, MBA, CFM, senior manager, design and construction operations at Liberty Mutual and Kate Thibeault, MCR, MBA, CFM, ABCP, vice president governance, policy and process optimisation for Pearson/Global Property and Facilities. 

The Formal Rules of Courtship: Getting to a Letter of Intent: In Early December the Corporate Real Estate Network (CREN) gathered downtown to discuss different perspectives on the Letter of Intent phase of a real estate deal. Surrounded by views of Boston from the offices of CBRE, IFMA end-user members heard from Boston Properties and CBRE, and broke down the thinking and business strategy from the perspectives of the broker, the developer and the landlord. With the speakers’ hundreds of deals over 25 years of industry experience to call upon, specific tips and suggestions were shared for how the role of the FM can be planning ahead and participating in the process. The program was moderated by Alex Plaisted, first vice president at CBRE and the panelists included Dave Provost, senior vice president at Boston Properties and Andy Majewski, executive vice president at CBRE.