2023 Class of IFMA Fellows Inducted at IFMA’s World Workplace® in Denver, CO, USA

2023 Class of IFMA Fellows Inducted at IFMA’s World Workplace^® in Denver, CO, USA

Three Accomplished Individuals Will Continue Their Service to IFMA and the FM Profession as Association Advisors and Ambassadors

Three exemplary IFMA members were officially inducted today as the 2023 Class of IFMA Fellows. Bestowed with the association’s highest honor, this year’s inductees include Debbie Jaslow Shatz, CFM, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow; Marshall MacFarlane, IFMA Fellow; and Paul Ratkovic, CFM, FMP, IFMA Fellow.

As part of the opening session at IFMA’s World Workplace^® 2023 Conference and Expo in Denver, Colorado, USA, inductees were introduced by the 2023 Jury of Fellows Chair Cheryl Waybright, MCR, CFM, IFMA Fellow, and congratulated on stage by the Chair of IFMA’s Global Board of Directors Dean Stanberry, CFM, SFP.

“IFMA Fellows represent the best of who we are. They inspire us to contribute, they demonstrate how rewarding giving back can be, and they create opportunities for all of us to thrive,” said Stanberry.

IFMA’s Fellows Program was established in 1992 to recognize members who distinguish themselves by achievement in and around IFMA and the field of facility management (FM). Only one-half of 1 percent of IFMA membership may hold the title. IFMA Fellows continue serving the community as association advisors and ambassadors, frequently called upon for their unmatched knowledge of FM and dedication to IFMA.

“It’s important to note that receiving the esteemed title of IFMA Fellow is not a final destination or a mere accolade. It represents a continuous journey. No task is too large or too small for these servant leaders,” said Waybright. “We’re proud to welcome three esteemed colleagues who join the ranks of accomplished individuals spanning three decades. They will continue the noble mission and goals of IFMA, embarking on a new journey as distinguished ambassadors for the association.”

2023 Class of IFMA Fellows

Debbie Jaslow Shatz, CFM, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow is a trailblazer in facility management and sustainability. She created and executed strategies for the first building in the Northeastern U.S. to obtain LEED certification; and executed New York City’s first large-scale solar photovoltaic program that enabled partial conversion to clean energy. She was appointed to the NYC Mayor’s Office of Sustainability’s Carbon Challenge Task Force to represent FMs, ensuring their inclusion in conversations on criteria for changes in local laws.

Shatz has dedicated more than 40 years of service at both the IFMA chapter and global levels. Her contributions to IFMA’s NYC Chapter are legendary, from being on the steering committee to establish it, to developing a set of structures and practices to grow it, to being the first person in the chapter to serve as every officer on the board. She worked to add construction management and business courses to Pratt Institute’s FM degree program; and worked with Rutgers University to author a Sustainable Purchasing Credentials Program still in use today.

With an easy-going teaching style, Marshall MacFarlane, IFMA Fellow connects with students and peers at all learning levels. On nearly every stop in his career, he has filled voids where instruction was needed but not formalized, helping colleagues understand technical concepts and procedures. He has taken an instrumental role in furthering the objectives of the IFMA Foundation’s Global Workforce Initiative, working to bring mentorships, apprenticeships, certificate programs and IFMA courses to the Greater Phoenix area.

Recognized as Committee Member of the Year, MacFarlane revitalized chapter meetings with engaging content as chair of IFMA’s Greater Phoenix Chapter’s Programs Committee. As chapter vice president and president, he served as liaison between the chapter and IFMA Foundation and as a mentor to the local student chapter.

Renowned as the first recipient of IFMA’s Facility Management Professional^® (FMP^®) credential, Paul Ratkovic, CFM, FMP, IFMA Fellow has been a visible, vocal and valuable champion for IFMA education and credentialing for over two decades. He’s raised his hand to volunteer at every opportunity, impacting every corner of IFMA globally. He founded the Emerging Leaders Committee; contributed to the development of the SFP credential; was a member of the Certified Facility Manager^® (CFM^®) Item Writing Task Force; and was a member of the Education Committee, working to ensure the continued viability and relevancy of IFMA credentials.

Ratkovic’s advocacy efforts as a member of IFMA’s Government Affairs Committee helped pave the way for the Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act. When his term as a director on IFMA’s Global Board ended, the incoming chair asked him to serve another year as a strong voice for the next generation of volunteers.

Learn more about the 2023 Class of IFMA Fellows at ifma.org/news/whats-new-at-ifma-new/ifma-announces-2023-class-of-ifma-fellows. Learn more about the IFMA Fellows program at ifma.org/about/leadership-staff/fellows/.