The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) has named Don Gilpin as Chief Operating Officer (COO) beginning the week of Sept. 17, 2018. Gilpin has served as IFMA’s interim COO since Feb. 5.
“While this is welcome news, it isn’t a big surprise for anyone here at IFMA,” said IFMA board chair Graham Tier. “For the better part of this year, Don has led IFMA’s operations through some big changes, while contributing to an operational culture that promotes value for our members, partners and collaborators. In doing so, he has earned the trust and respect of staff and the global board. I’m confident that IFMA’s operations are in good hands.”
Gilpin is an accomplished executive with strong experience in international association management, trade show production, education/certification programs, legislative advocacy and workforce development. Prior to joining IFMA, Gilpin served as the Executive Director and COO at the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) located in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. While at CEDIA, he was instrumental in the formation of two industry organizations for the electronic systems industry, The Electronic Systems Professional Alliance (ESPA) and the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) trade show and served as chairman of the board for both organizations. Before that, Gilpin served as Executive Director – Interior Design Educators Council for Raybourn Group International; Director of Trade Shows, Marketing and Magazine Publishing for the National Precast Concrete Association; and in marketing roles for both Deluxe Corporation and Dayton Hudson Corporation.
“Over the past eight months, I’ve witnessed the positive impact IFMA has for our membership and the global FM industry,” said Gilpin. “This is an exciting time to be involved with everything happening in FM around the world, and IFMA is in an incredibly strong position to deliver unparalleled value, whether through our top-tier events, our world-class professional development products or more of the thought leadership that got us here in the first place. I want to thank Graham and the entire board for their confidence in me. I also want to thank IFMA’s hard-working staff who have made this role such a pleasure. Now, let’s build something great together!”
Gilpin has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Franklin College in Indiana, USA.
About IFMA
IFMA is the world’s largest and most widely recognized international association for facility management professionals, supporting 24,000 members in more than 100 countries. This diverse membership participates in focused component groups equipped to address their unique situations by region (136 chapters), industry (16 councils) and areas of interest (six communities). Together they manage more than 78 billion square feet of property and annually purchase more than US$526 billion in products and services. Formed in 1980, IFMA certifies professionals in facility management; conducts research; provides educational programs, content and resources; and produces World Workplace, the world’s largest series of facility management conferences and expositions. To join and follow IFMA’s social media outlets online, visit the association’s LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr pages. For more information, visit the IFMA press room or www.ifma.org.