While the economy is struggling to regain a foothold, many businesses are also struggling to make ends meet.  Businesses are looking for ways to stretch the dollar even further.  Most businesses hesitate to adopt green practices because they fear it will hurt their bottom line.  Adopting pollution prevention and green practices, businesses are discovering that they can actually save money, while bringing in new customers who are looking for “green” companies to do business with.    Improving their bottom line is just icing on the cake.

Michelle Vattano, with the New Mexico Environment Department, Pollution Prevention Program will introduce the various waste streams that businesses are dealing with,  benefits  to improving  waste management, tools and ideas for improvement, and  “Green Team” implementation. 

Ms. Vattano has been working with New Mexico businesses for the last ten years – performing waste assessments, providing trainings, and workshops on waste management and reduction.  Along with managing the Pollution Prevention Program, she also manages the Green Zia Environmental Leadership Program, a voluntary recognition program for those who are reducing their environmental footprint.    

Plan today to join the Facility Manager Association of New Mexico on Wednesday morning, November 16, 2011 at 7:15 am at Garduno’s Uptown Restaurant  in Albuquerque, NM, to hear this important information.  Reservations are required.  Please email carolee@fmanm.com (preferred) or call 505-377-5309 to save your place.

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Supplier Showcase Deemed a Success
By Exhibitors and Facility Managers Alike

Forty-five suppliers and seventy-five facility professionals convened on the Albuquerque Convention Center in October to share resources and information at the Supplier Showcase.     Free food, fifty dollar gift cards, and a fun Fall Festival theme set the stage as facility and building operations and maintenance folks visited with their current and future suppliers.

Skip Hess with Chaparral Materials found new customers at the event.  “I came away with five appointments,” he said.  Facility Engineer Don Smith with the Indian Health Services commented, “I found that folks were willing to take the time to discuss their products and services in unhurried detail.”

Tom Plummer with the Army Corps of Engineers and Karen Wine with Williamson Restoration Services both agreed with Facility Manager Association of New Mexico (FMANM) Vice President Joseph Rodriguez that the spirit of friendliness and cooperation made the event unique.  The trade show was jointly sponsored by FMANM, the New Mexico Society for Healthcare Engineering (NMSHE), the International Facility Managers Association (IFMA), and the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM). 

Click here for more pictures.

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Nov 11 Executive Director Column

Most people would agree that the opportunity to give something back or facilitate the growth and development of others is one of the “greater goals” in life.  In giving, we receive.  In being of service, we are served.

My mom taught public school for 30 years.  The silence on the phone was deafening when I told her I was going for a music degree (coupled with the powerhouse minor in philosophy). But after fifteen years and three USO tours in front of over 30,000 military men and women,   780 Sunday performances at two services in church, not mention the many gigs entertaining in nightclubs, my mom saw that I too, had chosen a life of service, albeit my path was different from hers.

Recently I have had the opportunity to be of service and help raise scholarship money for folks entering into the mechanical trades at Central New Mexico Community College through my position as Executive Director with the Facility Manager Association of New Mexico.   These students are likely to become the facility managers of the future and the skilled professional tradesmen that society desperately needs today, and in the future.  I am truly grateful for this opportunity to be of service in this important effort.

There is room for YOU in this organization to serve as member on our Board of Directors.  The requirements are relatively minimalistic and your guidance and opinions are respected, valued, and necessary for the health and sustainability of this organization.   Facility managers are needed but so, too, are motivated supplier members who want to make a difference.  Please contact me and I will be happy to discuss with you how you can contribute to an important effort.    

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