IFMA Announces 2022 Class of IFMA Fellows

Four Outstanding Individuals Receive the Association’s Highest Honor

Sept. 1, 2022

IFMA is pleased to announce the 2022 Class of IFMA Fellows. Bestowed with the association’s highest honor – a distinction without equal among workplace-related recognitions – this year’s inductees include Lesley Groff, CFM, IFMA Fellow; Lynn Baez, CFM, SFP, FMP, CBCP, IFMA Fellow; Michel Theriault, FMP, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow; and Tony Khoo, CFM, FMP, MBA, IFMA Fellow.

IFMA’s Fellows Program was established in 1992 to recognize association members who have distinguished themselves by achievement in and around IFMA and the field of facility management (FM). IFMA Fellows form an elite core of respected leaders who advise and represent the association. No single action qualifies a member to become an IFMA Fellow. In addition to exceling in their professional careers, they dedicate countless hours and serve in a number of capacities to support and advance the industry and IFMA programs and initiatives.

“IFMA Fellows represent the best of who we are as an industry and an association of active, supportive and highly motivated professionals,” said Laurie A. Gilmer, P.E., CFM, FMP, SFP, LEED AP, chair of IFMA’s Global Board of Directors. “This year’s honorees are multifaceted individuals, achieving success in their careers, uplifting their communities, driving progress for IFMA and FM, inspiring each of us to contribute and creating opportunities for all of us to thrive.”

Each year, the IFMA Fellows Nominating Committee identifies qualified individuals and assists those who nominate members for consideration. Nominations are submitted to the Jury of Fellows, which consists of three IFMA Fellows, IFMA’s Global Board of Directors’ Chair and IFMA’s President/CEO. The Jury of Fellows utilizes a standardized evaluation methodology to determine results and ensure fairness and uniformity. No more than 0.5 percent of membership may hold the title.

“Over the past 30 years, IFMA Fellows have directly contributed to IFMA’s growth and global influence, while also elevating FM’s profile and impact in organizations around the world. We are privileged to have the counsel of these industrious and visionary leaders who continue to break new ground, light the way forward and demonstrate how rewarding giving back can be,” Gilmer added.

The 2022 Class of IFMA Fellows will officially be inducted on Sept. 28 at the opening session of IFMA’s World Workplace® 2022 Conference and Expo in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

2022 Class of IFMA Fellows

Lesley Groff, CFM, IFMA Fellow
Lesley Groff’s impact as a leader is evident in her ability to inspire and empower, bringing out the best in people so they can bring their best to work; in her passion for mentoring and teaching, helping students and colleagues believe in themselves; in her dedication to IFMA, with 25 years of volunteer service; and in her career, leading through change and rebuilding organizations by empowering individuals to form a more cohesive team. Contributing to the association at the international level, she served on IFMA’s 2011-13 Global Board of Directors, involved in both strategic planning and operational issues; and she served as an IFMA Credentials Committee member, an FMP® Scheme Committee member, an IFMA Emerging Leaders Committee member and an IFMA CFM® Qualified Instructor. Groff served on the advisory board of the Community College of Philadelphia Associates Program in Facilities Management, providing industry perspective to the department chair and professors, and meeting with students to talk about the viability of a career in facility management. She worked with Thaddeaus Stevens College to create their Facilities Technician Program, bringing together industry experts to build the program’s curriculum; and she worked with the IFMA Foundation Accredited Degree Program and Harrisburg Community College to explore the viability of an FM Associates degree program.

Lynn Baez, CFM, SFP, FMP, CBCP, IFMA Fellow
Dedicated to the causes of others, Lynn Baez is driven to continuously improve the world around her, no matter the time and energy needed. She is an inspiration to women in the facility management profession and within the Latinx community, encouraging them to succeed, flourish and recognize their own worth. Globally recognized as a subject matter expert on FM organizational development and integrated work management systems, Baez was twice sought out by the U.S. Pentagon to assist in transforming the organization into one of resilience. Among her many contributions to IFMA, she has cultivated growth in Latin America and elevated IFMA’s presence in Washington, D.C., USA, and the European Union as global chair of IFMA’s International Government Affairs Committee. She served as the second vice chair of IFMA’s 2017-18 Global Board of Directors, as well as global chair of IFMA’s Finance Committee, a member of IFMA’s Strategic Plan Oversight Committee, chair of the Governance Committee, a member of the Global Organization Strategy Task Force, a member of the Young Professional Task Force and a member of the Sustainability Advisory Group. Baez has been honored with awards for social responsibility and environmental commitment.

Michel Theriault, FMP, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow
Michel Theriault has dedicated his career to leading and elevating facility management through content creation, education, advocacy and as a participating member of ISO – Canada TC/267 Mirror Committee, reviewing, commenting and voting on ongoing work for FM standards, as well as an active member of the ISO 41018 (performance management in FM) working group. In addition to receiving IFMA’s 2010 Distinguished Author Award for his book, “Managing Facilities & Real Estate,” he has written more than 40 articles for industry publications in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, UAE and Hong Kong, focusing on helping FMs go beyond technical skills to succeed, garner attention and be influential within their organizations. Theriault has delivered more than 55 training sessions globally, primarily in emerging regions, such as the inaugural delivery of IFMA’s FMP® in Nigeria and the five-day FMP course, which he pioneered and introduced to Leoron Professional Development Institute, now a major provider of IFMA training in the Middle East. As academic coordinator of the Facility & Property Management certificate program from Toronto Metropolitan University, he redeveloped the program to focus on FMs as business leaders. He served as the organizer and director of the most successful Education Day conference for IFMA’s Toronto Chapter, enabling a partnership between the chapter and an FM publication to develop future events.

Tony Khoo, CFM, FMP, MBA, IFMA Fellow
Recognizing the immense potential and opportunities for facility management, especially in light of advanced building technologies coupled with the rapid rise of urbanization, Tony Khoo became an advocate for FM industry transformation, raising awareness among developers and building owners of FM’s importance. A champion for lifelong learning, he is an IFMA Qualified Instructor for the FMP®, and as the author of “Township Management in Singapore – Sharing Professional Practices,” he has raised the standard of training in local institutions of higher learning, providing insights into the success formula for managing one of the most successful public housing projects in the world. He has provided industry guidance on curricula for the National University of Singapore, Singapore University of Social Science, and Temasek Polytechnic – School of Engineering; and an advisory committee member for the Facility Management Diploma course, Singapore Polytechnic – School of Design & Engineering. Khoo served as a member of IFMA’s Asia Advisory Board, and has served on numerous committees within the Building & Construction Authority of Singapore, providing insights from the FM perspective and representing the interests of FM. As president of the Singapore Chapter of IFMA since 2014, he has organized conferences and networking platforms for practitioners, working closely with the Singapore government to drive industry transformation, growing the number of individual memberships in the last two years; and under the auspices of the Singapore government, launched a local accreditation for FM companies and individuals that is now a prerequisite for companies vying for government FM contracts.

If you know an active IFMA member whose years of service, leadership or efforts on behalf of IFMA and FM deserve recognition, please send an email to Fellows@IFMA.org to request a nomination data form. Nominators must be IFMA members in good standing. Visit ifma.org/about/leadership-staff/fellows/ for more information.