Two longstanding members of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) were honored for their contributions to the association and the facility management community with Chairman’s Citations issued by 2015-16 IFMA chair Michael D. Feldman, FMP, CM. The 2015 honorees are Eric T. Dillinger and William T. Conley, IFMA Fellow, CFM, FMP, SFP, LEED AP. The recognition was part of IFMA’s annual Awards of Excellence banquet, held Friday, Oct. 9, in Denver, Colorado, USA, during IFMA’s World Workplace 2015 Conference and Expo.

Each year, IFMA’s chair may elect to recognize individuals whose association involvement and professional achievements may not be widely known or otherwise formally acknowledged. Chairman’s Citations honor the behind-the-scenes leadership, hard work, selfless actions and exceptional accomplishments of those who help drive IFMA’s success.

Below are brief summaries of contributions made by each of this year’s Chairman’s Citation recipients.

Eric T. Dillinger is a published author and has contributed to facility management best practices for more than 25 years. He is a subject matter expert in facility management system design and implementation, capital finance, facility planning and design, operations and maintenance, emergency preparation and response, business continuity and recovery. His inspired leadership led to the formation of IFMA’s Airport Facilities Council, for which he provides outstanding continued support and guidance. He founded the Sustainable Aviation Guidance Alliance, a multi-organization sustainability initiative sponsored by six esteemed aviation and airport organizations, including the Federal Aviation Administration. His dedication to advancing the FM profession is demonstrated through his focus on employing and mentoring young FM professionals.

William T. Conley, IFMA Fellow, CFM, FMP, SFP, LEED AP leads by example as an award-winning IFMA member and author, a committed chapter and council leader, a former director on the board and an IFMA Fellow. He is the most prolific contributor in the history of IFMA’s FMJ magazine, with more than 50 articles published over a 20-year period. His commitment to a sustainable built environment is demonstrated through his role on IFMA’s Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Strategic Advisory Group. He also represents IFMA among leading sustainability organizations and initiatives, including the U.S. Green Building Council and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lighting Energy Efficiency in Parking campaign. He harnesses the tremendous power of professional collaboration across geographic, cultural and generational barriers, elevating the practice of FM by empowering others to succeed.

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 www.ifma.org.