IFMA Announces 2023 Class of IFMA Fellows

The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) is pleased to announce the 2023 Class of IFMA Fellows. Bestowed with the association’s highest honor, Marshall MacFarlane, Paul Ratkovic and Debbie Jaslow Shatz will be inducted officially on Sept. 27 at the opening session of IFMA’s World Workplace^® 2023 Conference and Expo in Denver, Colorado, USA.

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). Only 0.5 percent of IFMA membership may hold the title; and as of 2023, only 134 individuals have been honored as IFMA Fellows.

In addition to excelling in their professional careers, IFMA Fellows volunteer countless hours and serve in a number of capacities to support and advance the FM industry and IFMA programs and initiatives. IFMA Fellows serve as advisors and ambassadors, frequently called upon for their unmatched knowledge of the FM profession.

“Being named an IFMA Fellow is the professional pinnacle of our industry,” said IFMA’s Global Board of Directors Chair Dean Stanberry, CFM, SFP. “Debbie, Marshall and Paul are not just innovators within the built environment, but they lead by example and share the wealth of knowledge and experience they’ve attained with others.”

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.

2023 Class of IFMA Fellows

As a true pioneer in FM and sustainability, as well as one of IFMA’s longest standing and most active champions, Debbie Jaslow Shatz, CFM, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow has spent more than 40 years demonstrating the value of involvement and furthering awareness of the FM profession. Shatz also cultivates future FMs as a mentor, guest lecturer and an integral member of Pratt Institute’s Curriculum Committee Working Group, for which she orchestrated the addition of construction management and business courses into the FM degree program.

Her stellar career has taken her from managing the renovation of the studio, dressing rooms and business offices for NBC’s “Late Night With David Letterman” to creating and executing strategies for the first building in the northeastern U.S. to obtain LEED certification. She was appointed to the New York City 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; and executing the city’s first large-scale solar photovoltaic program that enabled partial conversion to clean energy.

Shatz has served on IFMA’s Americas Advisory Board and the LATAM Task Force; served as chair of IFMA’s Environmental Stewardship, Utilities and Sustainability Community; co-chaired the joint effort between IFMA New York City Chapter and other organizations to teach sustainability initiative goals; is a recipient of IFMA NYC Chapter’s Most Valuable and Most Reliable Volunteer, as well as the chapter’s Lifetime Achievement Award; and was an instrumental part of a team that won IFMA’s Sheila Sheridan Award for Sustainable Facility Operations and Management.

Marshall MacFarlane, IFMA Fellow is known for his affable teaching style and dynamic leadership. His passion for giving back to the facility management profession has led him to actively support the IFMA Foundation, taking an instrumental role in furthering the objectives of the Global Workforce Initiative.

MacFarlane is a constant fixture in the Greater Phoenix, Arizona, USA, area, speaking with and representing local economic and workforce development and advocating Accredited Degree Programs, mentorships, apprenticeships, certificate programs and IFMA courses to local schools, colleges and universities.

As president of IFMA’s Greater Phoenix Chapter, he led the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic and after, using his professional position as parks and facility manager for the town of Gilbert, Arizona, USA, to enhance his ability to support membership. With the aid of a strong board, the chapter experienced near-record metrics in membership, sponsorship, community outreach and programs.

His accolades include Committee Member of the Year and Professional Member of the Year by IFMA’s Greater Phoenix Chapter. MacFarlane’s selflessness has extended to lead IFMA’s FM Consultants Council as Special Projects Committee Chair, which improved engagement levels globally; and as a veteran, he was an early supporter and member of IFMA’s newly formed Military Community.

The first recipient of IFMA’s Facility Management Professional™ (FMP^®) credential in 2004, Paul Ratkovic, CFM, FMP, IFMA Fellow again takes his place in IFMA history in the newest class of IFMA Fellows. Since earning his FMP, and subsequently becoming a Certified Facility Manager^® (CFM^®), Ratkovic has been a visible, vocal and valuable champion and advocate for IFMA education and professional credentialing over the past two decades.

An ardent volunteer, he has positively impacted nearly every corner of IFMA’s global outreach: authoring parts of IFMA’s CFM Exam, chairing the Emerging Leaders Committee, focusing World Workplace programming on a younger demographic, ensuring the viability and relevancy of IFMA’s credentials, and serving on IFMA’s Global Board of Directors. His influence goes far beyond IFMA. While serving on the Government Affairs Committee, his advocacy efforts helped pave the way for the establishment of future North American Industry Classification System codes for FM and the passing of the Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act (FBPTA).

Ratkovic’s career has taken him across the U.S. mainland, serving IFMA chapters at every stop. As a member of IFMA’s Oregon/Southwest Washington Chapter, he served as captain of the Rebuilding Together volunteer effort. An unwavering advocate for the future of the profession and association, his professional writing has focused on encouraging high-functioning, cooperative workplaces. As a speaker and lecturer, he focuses on the connection between experience, education and knowledge.

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 access to the nomination platform. Nominators must be IFMA members in good standing. Visit ifma.org/about/leadership-staff/fellows/ for more information.

About IFMA

Founded in 1980, the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) is the world’s largest, most widely recognized association for facility management (FM) professionals. Supporting more than 24,000 members in over 130 countries, IFMA is a key contributor to the development of international FM standards and works with decision makers to inform FM-related policy. IFMA provides career resources and continuing education, offers three industry-respected credentials, maintains the largest repository of FM-related content on the web and hosts year-round global events. With a vision to lead the future of the built environment to make the world a better place, IFMA believes in the benefit of global diversity, inclusion and social equity, and recognizes that sustainability, resilience and responsible environmental stewardship are paramount. For more information, visit ifma.org and our LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Twitter and Flickr pages. Follow IFMA’s Connected FM podcast and blog for expert insights on trending industry topics.