IFMA's 27th Annual Awards for Excellence dinner has a great turnout at The Pierre Hotel

IFMA's 27th Annual Awards Dinner was held January 21 at The Pierre Hotel. Ellen Hains, the distinguished associate member category award recipient, stated that the entire event was a smashing success thanks to the efforts of so many great IFMA volunteers. The twelve categories had outstanding nominees who deserved to be winners for their respective category. IFMA's 27th Annual Awards for Excellence amazing award recipients are: Ted Moudis Associates won the Distinguished Associate Corporation Category. This firm's continuous involvement in the IFMA chapter over 16 years has really helped the N.Y. chapter succeed. From sponsorship and tireless activity during chapter events, Ted Moudis Associates embodies the spirit that makes them an example of involvement to be emulated. And one can hear the commitment Ted Moudis Associates has with the IFMA chapter through Ted Moudis' words after his firm was the Distinguished Associate Corporation Award Recipient. "I'm pleased to be a part of this organization as a member and sponsor for all of these years." As for the Distinguished Educator of the Year Category, the award recipient was Peter Curtis, associate professor at the New York Institute of Technology and NYU where he provides online education courses in facilities operations and maintenance. Curtis said, "We, as an industry need to take the proper steps now or the next generations will suffer substantially which is why winning the Distinguished Educator of the Year Category meant so much to me, it validated my efforts with education, training, and publishing material that is imperative for today's professional." The Environmental Awareness Category winner, Knoll was proud to be recognized for its pace-setting programs focusing on climate change, third party certification and environmentally responsible materials and manufacturing technologies. Stephanie Bigelow from The National Basketball Association stated that it was an honor to have been selected as IFMA's 2009 Award Recipient for the Distinguished Professional Member of the Year Category. As Bigelow mentioned, as organizations become more globally diverse, facility managers are increasingly expected to deliver innovative solutions for providing a safe, secure, and environmentally maintained workplace. "And IFMA is the leader in providing facility management professionals with the knowledge and resources necessary for organizations to meet their strategic goals." The Facility Management Achievement Category was awarded to Denise Strong from A&E Television Networks who has proven herself with her direct yet refined approach and her problem solving capabilities. The new Rookie of the Year Category went to Renee Hicks from Alvarez & Marsal. Hicks said, "It was actually an honor to be nominated and a surprise even more to actually win. I love my work and the people that I have the pleasure of working with at A & M so it hardly seems fair to be given an award to gladly get up every day and do what comes naturally." The award winner for the Design & Construction of a New Facility Under 100K Category was Lifetime Television. Peter Zimbaldi said, "Lifetime Television was extremely excited and proud to be the recipient of the award for this category. Our vision of creating an environment that encourages creativity and collaboration across departments was realized and positively embraced by our employees." As for the Design & Construction of a New Facility 101K - 500K Category Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto was the award recipient. "Fitzpatrick is honored, but humbled, to receive the IFMA's Annual Award of Excellence for this category," said firm chairman, Nicholas Cannella. "We gratefully accept this tribute, recognizing that we are merely a surrogate for all the fine organizations and talented people who truly earned it - Newmark Knight Frank, Mancini Duffy, VVA, StructureTone and Evenson Best." The award recipient for Design & Construction of a New Facility Over 500K Category went to Marsh & McLennan Companies. Lastly, the Design & Construction of a New Facility Specialty Space Category went to Kaplan. "We are extremely honored that the Kaplan Leadership Academy training center has won the IFMA award for new construction of a specialty space" said John Scarnecchia, vice president, branded environments, Kaplan, Inc. Lastly, the Anthony Cornacchia Award went to Carole Green. She said, "Anthony Cornacchia was a very special person, and I am honored to be the recipient of this award. During my years as an IFMA member, I have grown both professionally and personally, and it has been my honor to serve this organization." As always, the IFMA Awards Dinner was a great success according to Ted Moudis. And now the awards committee is starting to work on IFMA's 28th Annual Awards Dinner next January 2011. So mark your calendar! Liz Arauz Chang, marketing/A&D sales for OLI, New York, N.Y.