I can’t believe autumn is here already. As I looked out onto my front yard wondering when my seasonal raking duties will officially commence, I got to thinking about this time of year, which is so strongly linked to kids returning to school. When I was a kid, I always liked fall and the start of a new school year. It was a fresh start and I was a year older and wiser.
That’s the same feeling I get now as we ramp up our preparations and planning the NFMT 08. Before we know it, registration will be open, speakers will be finalizing their presentations and exhibitors will start bringing the expo hall floorplan to life. That going-back-to-school feeling has a lot more to do with education than the crispness in the air.
Every year facilities professionals do go back to school too – at NFMT. As the show grows each and every year, I continue to be energized by the number of people who set aside three days out of their busy schedules and dedicate their time to professional development. That dedication to advancement and growth is at the heart of the future of facilities management as a whole.
Education, innovation and networking is what will drive the industry into the future. The big difference between this and school – the goal isn't graduation, rather we aim for unending growth and steady momentum.