Beta Test of CFM Exam Review - September 14th & 15th, 2007

The exam review sponsored by IFMA San Francisco and held at Genentech was a complete success according to its three leaders:

Jon Martens, CFM, CFMJ - Redwood Empire Chapter,
Chris Hodges, CFM, IFMA Fellow – Capitol Chapter (Wash. D.C.) and
Kit Tuveson, CFM, IFMA Fellow – Sacramento Chapter.

This was an opportunity for the committee to test the new exam review and some of the new exam questions that they have worked so very hard on along with seven other members of the Team.

The Team started with a learning matrix that outlined what a CFM should know and understand. One of the concepts that was presented several times throughout the two day session is that this is a “competency” exam and as such requires the examinee to constantly understand what the perspective of the Facility Manager is and NOT what they would do individually in their own current work situation.

There were 15 participants signed up and all appreciated the discussion of the new materials and how to think when answering 180 questions that have between one and three correct multiple choice answers. Yes, that’s right, some questions required choosing the correct three of the five or six multiple choice possible answers. Although the exam is 180 questions instead of 300 and has less time to complete with no breaks, 4 hours versus the 6 hours previously, the consensus amongst the previous exam takers was that there was adequate time to complete the exam but no time to dawdle either. The testing service determined that no one who has taken the exam so far has taken more than 3 hours 15 minutes to complete it. We were very fortunate to have Jon Martens offer the review session at this time.

The three members of the team packed up and left for Washington, D.C. on Sunday to administer the review and Beta Test to a group from the Capitol Chapter on Monday and Tuesday. The review will also be given at WWP next month in New Orleans.

If you are interested in signing up for the next CFM Exam Review, there is a review session scheduled for World Workplace in New Orleans. If you are not attending WWP, then keep your eyes open for a notice on our Chapter calendar as to another offering next Spring. You can also contact Jon Martens directly at jon@jemcor.com or 707.326.5508 and he will put you on his list of interested parties.

Thanks for your interest in the CFM Exam,

John Dilges, CFM
SF Chapter of IFMA
Co-Chair of the Programs/Education Committee

Sustainable Landscape Design Round Table Discussion

On September 11th, we met at Genentech in South San Francisco for a encore presentation by David Nelson, ASLA, Principal-in-Charge and Senior Designer for Landscape Archtectural and Urban Design Projects at MPA Design. David's presentation revealed a world where hardcore engineering, green fundamentals (reduce, reuse, recycle), budgets and politics merge with the timeless values of nature and beauty.

The following sunset tour of the Genentech campus was punctuated by sightings of a Gen-cat (invaluable in the management of pestiferous but valued starlings and blackbirds), a magnificent memorial Norfolk pine, a solstice secret, strawberry trees, climbing ficus, 30-thousand pound ficus trees (on a laboratory roof), lichen covered Sonoma boulders, rubber duckies, 5% grades and 8% grades, wild grasses and naked ladies. Or maybe that's pink ladies -- the debate continues.

Special thanks to David for his help with many practical answers to questions regarding planning considerations and the facility management of landscapes.