The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) has named three new IFMA Fellows: Steve Lockwood, IFMA Fellow, CFM, Marc S. Liciardello, IFMA Fellow, CFM, MBA, CM, and Howard K. “Buck” Fisher, IFMA Fellow, CFM. The 2015 Class of IFMA Fellows was inducted at IFMA’s annual Awards of Excellence banquet Friday, Oct. 9, in Denver, Colorado, USA, held during IFMA’s World Workplace 2015 Conference and Expo. Being named an IFMA Fellow is the highest honor the association bestows upon members.

“Fellows are respected leaders who have distinguished themselves through years of service to the FM industry and the association,” said IFMA president and CEO, Tony Keane, CAE. “Each of this year’s Fellows has worked tirelessly to advance and strengthen facility management’s prominence in the workplace. They have done this through notable accomplishments in facility management education, research and advocacy, and through their own professional achievements. Their dedication has paved the way for the FM profession’s future.”

IFMA’s Fellowship program was established in 1992 to recognize members’ lifetime contributions to the association and the facility management community. Fellowships are awarded each year by a jury consisting of the current IFMA chair, the president/CEO and three Fellows. The past chair of the association has executive oversight for the Fellows program and acts as the spokesperson on matters pertaining to the Fellows.

When considering a candidate for Fellowship, the nominating committee assesses professional experience and accomplishments; association involvement; and how that person has enriched the profession. No more than .5 percent of the membership may hold the title of Fellow, and with the induction of the 2015 class 103 members in total have been awarded this distinction.

Fellows form a core of IFMA advisers and ambassadors, frequently called upon for their unmatched knowledge of the facility management profession. Below are brief summaries of contributions made by each of this year’s Fellows.

Steve Lockwood, IFMA Fellow, CFM, has been a dynamic figure in the FM profession and a strong advocate for FM higher education. His career includes senior positions at Meijer, Steelcase and the Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network. He was the assistant professor and FM program coordinator at Ferris State and North Dakota State Universities. He is the recipient of IFMA’s Educator Award of Excellence, as well as Ferris State University’s Outstanding Educator of the Year Award. He developed and taught Ferris State University’s FM bachelor degree and certificate programs and he redeveloped and taught North Dakota State University’s FM program to meet IFMA guidelines. Joining the IFMA Foundation five years ago as director of accreditation and academic affairs, he continues to shape FM higher education through IFMA’s Accredited Degree Programs.

Marc S. Liciardello, IFMA Fellow, CFM, MBA, CM, is a Vietnam-era veteran of the United States Air Force. He was the aviation manager of facility management for the City of Philadelphia Division of Aviation, senior facility manager and director of facility services for Elliott-Lewis Corp., and vice president, global corporate services for Aramark. He served on IFMA’s board of directors as a member, second vice chair, first vice chair and chair. He helped guide the IFMA headquarters relocation project and has represented IFMA at speaking engagements in the U.S. and internationally. He is dedicated to the advancement of FM higher education, serving on the FM advisory boards for the Community College of Philadelphia, Temple University and Widener University.

Howard K. “Buck” Fisher, IFMA Fellow, CFM, was honored as an IFMA Member of the Year in 2002, received an IFMA Chairman’s Citation in 2013 and had an IFMA Foundation scholarship named in his honor in 2014. His engineering and FM career has spanned more than four decades, including service in the United States Army Corps of Engineers as commander and principal engineer staff officer over 22 years. He was the director of physical plant operations for the Wake County Public School System; the director of construction management for the Town of Cary, North Carolina; and the senior manager of facilities services for SAS World Headquarters. He has been an IFMA chapter liaison and a scholarship selection committee member for the IFMA Foundation. He chaired the IFMA Board of Directors Governance Task Force and provided vital leadership as a member of IFMA’s Strategic Planning and Oversight Team.

IFMA is the world's largest and most widely recognized international association for facility management professionals, supporting 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 US$100 billion in products and services. Formed in 1980, IFMA certifies professionals in facility management, conducts research, provides educational programs and produces World Workplace, the world's largest facility management conference and exposition. To join and follow IFMA's social media outlets online, visit the association's LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages. For more information, visit the IFMA press room or www.ifma.org.