HOUSTON, TEXAS (Sept. 5, 2023) – The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) is pleased to announce that Marshall MacFarlane has been distinguished as an IFMA Fellow. MacFarlane is one of three highly respected IFMA members who have been recognized this year with the association’s highest honor.
IFMA’s Fellows program was established in 1992 to honor association members whose professional achievements, contributions, and dedication to IFMA and the facility management (FM) industry are transcendent. Only 0.5 percent of IFMA membership may hold the title; and as of 2023, only 134 individuals have been honored as IFMA Fellows.
In addition to excelling in their professional careers, IFMA Fellows volunteer countless hours and serve in a number of capacities to support and advance the facility management industry and IFMA programs and initiatives. IFMA Fellows serve as advisors and ambassadors, frequently called upon for their unmatched knowledge of the FM profession.
“Being named an IFMA Fellow is the professional pinnacle of our industry,” said IFMA’s Global Board of Directors Chair Dean Stanberry, CFM, SFP. “Marshall isn’t just an innovator within the built environment, but leads by example and shares the wealth of knowledge and experience he’s attained with others.”
Known for his affable teaching style and dynamic leadership, IFMA Fellow Marshall MacFarlane’s passion for giving back to the FM profession has led him to actively support the IFMA Foundation, taking an instrumental role in furthering the objectives of the Global Workforce Initiative.
He is a constant fixture in Metro Phoenix, speaking with and representing local economic and workforce development and advocating Accredited Degree Programs, mentorships, apprenticeships, certificate programs and IFMA courses to local schools, colleges and universities.
“To say this is an honor is an understatement,” MacFarlane said. “But in some ways, my IFMA journey is just beginning. Becoming a Fellow just highlights my commitment to continue teaching, mentoring, and advancing the profession. I am very grateful to the Phoenix Chapter and a number of individuals who not only supported me, but were an active part of the nomination process.”
As president of IFMA’s Greater Phoenix Chapter, he led the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic and after, using his professional position as parks and facilities manager for the town of Gilbert, Arizona, to enhance his ability to support membership. With the aid of a strong board, the chapter experienced near-record metrics in membership, sponsorship, community outreach and programs.
His accolades include Committee Member of the Year and Professional Member of the Year by IFMA’s Greater Phoenix Chapter. MacFarlane’s selflessness has extended to lead IFMA’s FM Consultants Council as Special Projects Committee Chair, which improved engagement levels globally; and as a veteran, he was an early supporter and member of IFMA’s newly formed Military Community.
The 2023 Class of IFMA Fellows will be inducted officially on Sept. 27 at the opening session of IFMA’s World Workplace® 2023 Conference and Expo in Denver, Colorado.
About IFMA
Founded in 1980, IFMA is the world’s largest and most widely recognized international association for facility management professionals, supporting more than 24,000 members in 105 countries. The association’s members, represented in 134 chapters and 17 councils worldwide, manage more than 37 billion square feet of property and annually purchase more than $100 billion in products and services. IFMA certifies facility managers, conducts research, provides educational programs and produces World Workplace, the world’s largest facility management conference and exposition.
The Greater Phoenix Chapter of IFMA, formed in 1985, is one of the top association chapters in the world and winner of IFMA’s Large Chapter of the Year in 2012. It is dedicated to continuous improvement of the facility management profession by providing relevant educational and networking opportunities for its membership while supporting the community as a whole. For more information about the Phoenix chapter ifmaphoenix.org.
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