By Jeff Wardon, Jr., Assistant Editor

The National Facilities Management & Technology (NFMT) Conference & Expo returns once again to Baltimore this March. Running from March 21 to 23, 2023, in the Baltimore Convention Center, there is much in store for attendees this year. 

At the core of the whole experience is the Exhibit Hall, where everyone gathers to see displays from more than 300 companies exhibit at. Products from building automation, HVAC, lighting and more will be on display and demonstrated to prospective customers.  

Returning to the show floor are the Product Zone stages. These quick 20-minute sessions allow vendors to explain their products and show them off to attendees. There are 24 different sessions in total, with products from different industries including building automation, emergency planning, water treatment and access control. The Product Zones will run free of charge on Wednesday, March 22 and Thursday, March 23. 

Trade shows present a great opportunity for networking and NFMT is no exception. Aside from the Exhibit Hall, where customers and companies can also meet each other, there will be two dedicated networking events. First up is the Networking Party on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Second is the Solutions Exchange on Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. During this “speed learning” activity people can exchange their knowledge and experiences over a bucket of beer.   

Additionally, there is the Women in FM Panel and Reception, headed up by Associate Editor Mackenna Moralez. This event is open to everyone, allowing for another opportunity to network with attendees of both the panel and reception. 

A brand-new event for NFMT in 2023 is “Test Your IQ.” Attendees will have the opportunity to "Test Their Facility IQ" at two kiosks — one outside registration and the other at the fnPrime booth. After answering a brief quiz, facility managers will discover how much they know about the industry and also have a chance to win a gift card during a prize drawing at the end of the day.  

Another new event for NFMT is the Facilities Playground. This area allows attendees to have some fun playing putt-putt on the greens and building giant Jenga towers, among other activities. 

On-site and post-show education 

NFMT has a wide selection of educational sessions to attend for trade show goers this year. Tracks for the 2023 conferences will be on the following topics: 

• Asset Management 
• Energy and Sustainability 
• Future Trends 
• Health and Safety 
• Maintenance and Operations 
• Security 
• Technology 

Among the 100 sessions are offerings such as "Safety and Security in Schools," "Equity in the Built Environment," "Planning for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructures," and "New Technology in Grounds," among others.  

Also returning this year are the popular Think Tanks. These 60-minute informal discussions allow attendees to ask questions and share experiences with like-minded facilities managers from around the country. Topics include hiring and retaining employees, capital planning, transforming the commercial workspace, working with the next generation and more. 

There are three tiered registration levels: Basic (Free), Pro ($49) and Elite ($249). Basic grants access to the exhibit hall, Product Zones and Networking Party. Pro enables more perks, like access to the educational sessions, general sessions and think-tank sessions. Elite unlocks all of the benefits.For a full list and breakdown of levels, click here.  

For those at the Pro and Elite levels, there will be benefits tied into fnPrime. The Pro level gives a 1-month free trial for fnPrime, whereas the Elite level gives a 12-month subscription to fnPrime. This service grants its subscribers access to weekly training content, monthly networking, and quarterly virtual summits.  

Also, Pro and Elite level members will have access to the fnPrime Lounge and Reception at NFMT. The Lounge is a dedicated space on the trade show floor for members to unwind and receive a “swag bag” of items. 

Members of fnPrime can register for Elite Level access for free by using the same email for their fnPrime membership. Members will also benefit from access to recordings from some of NFMT’s events. These recordings will be available after the trade show has wrapped up.   

Learn more at www.nfmt.com.