IFMA names 2024 Class of IFMA Fellows; Kate North, Joseph "Matt" Dawson and Wayne Whitzell honored for contributions to facility management profession

Three Outstanding Individuals Receive the Association’s Highest Honor

IFMA is pleased to announce the 2024 Class of IFMA Fellows. Bestowed with the association’s highest honor, Kate North, Joseph “Matt” Dawson and Wayne Whitzell join an elite corps of leaders who serve as IFMA advisors and ambassadors, furthering the interests and influence of the association and the facility management (FM) profession.

For a professional association to thrive, it needs the sustained involvement of multifaceted, enterprising members who are dedicated to enriching the association, contributing to the profession’s body of knowledge, and elevating opportunities for both the organization and the industry. For IFMA and FM, these members are honored annually as IFMA Fellows.

“IFMA Fellows appreciate the responsibility that comes with this prestigious title and are committed to giving back to the association that has given so much to them,” said IFMA’s Global Board of Directors Chair Lynn Baez, FMP, SFP, IFMA Fellow. “Over the years, Kate, Matt and Wayne have had a direct impact on expanded opportunities for FM professionals and in elevating IFMA’s reputation as a global leader. Their contributions are vast, and their continued counsel will be indispensable to our progress.”

IFMA’s Fellows Program was established in 1992. Only 0.5 percent of IFMA membership may hold the title. In addition to excelling in their professional careers, IFMA Fellows volunteer countless hours and serve in a number of capacities to advance the FM industry and support and promote IFMA programs and initiatives.

The 2024 Class of IFMA Fellows will be officially inducted on Oct. 9, 2024, at the opening session of IFMA’s World Workplace® 2024 Conference and Expo in San Antonio, Texas, USA.

2024 Class of IFMA Fellows

Kate North, IFMA Fellow has been a tour de force in the facility management and wider buildings industry, leading discussions on the evolving world of work, bringing a holistic view of the workplace to the forefront of FM terminology and strategy, and advocating for FM professionals as key organizational leaders. She has driven FM focus on an integrated, strategic approach to workplace management, empowering FM professionals to shape more dynamic, efficient and responsive work environments.

North has been a trailblazer within IFMA, creating, building and leading the Workplace Evolutionaries, IFMA’s largest global community of practice focused on workplace transformation. She developed the Workplace Strategy and Leadership certificate program to enable FMs to implement workplace experiences that support a happy, healthy workforce, while also driving business results. North served on IFMA’s Global Board of Directors, and she worked with other IFMA leaders and buildings industry organizations to strengthen a collaborative global facility management and workplace culture. North’s leadership will remain pivotal in shaping the future of FM, driving innovation and furthering resilience within the industry.

Joseph “Matt” Dawson, IFMA Fellow has been an IFMA member since 1990 and has enriched the association as a respected leader. He provided strategic guidance to the board of directors as 2004-05 chair, fostering a culture of continuous advancement throughout the association. With a vision for a globally attuned facility management practice, he built strong alliances with other FM organizations to advance industry knowledge and best practice sharing.

In his years serving on IFMA’s Global Board of Directors, Dawson cemented a legacy of professional integrity, collaboration, innovation and improvement, introducing balanced scorecard methodology to keep the board focused strategically, enabling the association to equitably serve all people in alignment with IFMA’s values, and developing relationships to extend IFMA’s presence and influence across Europe, China, Japan, Korea, South Africa and Brazil. He promoted alignment of industry trends globally and helped establish Global FM as a town square for FM member associations. A proven leader equipped to tackle the evolving challenges of the FM industry and seize opportunities for growth, Dawson’s expertise will be of great value to the next generation of IFMA leaders.

Wayne Whitzell, CFM, FMP, SFP, LEED AP, BEP, GBO, IFMA Fellow has had a positive impact on the association and its members through multifaceted support. He has mentored peers in pursuit of professional credentials, coached individuals up the corporate ladder, championed chapter/council partnerships, and advocated for councils to operate in alignment with IFMA organizational strategies.

Whitzell has developed and delivered a diverse body of educational and informational material, including award-winning articles and presentations, and higher education facility management curriculum development and instruction, including the Green Business Operations Certificate Program for Sacramento State University. He is a prolific content creator, awarded twice with IFMA’s Distinguished Author for Web-based/Social Media Content award. He was honored as IFMA’s 2018 Distinguished Member and 2015 Associate Member. In leadership roles with IFMA’s Corporate Facilities Council, including council president, he created two international outreach arms in Canada and Mexico to help FMs navigate their careers and connect them to IFMA’s ecosystem of local chapters and conferences. With a lifetime of dedication to engaging and enriching FMs, Whitzell will be an informative, future-focused advisor for both the profession and association.

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 utilizes a standardized evaluation methodology to determine results. Visit ifma.org/about/leadership-staff/fellows for more information.