Press Release For immediate release
Contact:
Carolyn McGary
(303) 656-8353
facilithon@gmail.com
Denver, Colorado
The FM Pipeline Team’s leadership announced today that The Facilithon, its high school springboard competition in facility management (FM), has moved to a live, online format in response to the threat of Covid19. While the pandemic threatens cancellation of many competitions, the team’s innovation allows students, including those in any cancelled hands-on events to compete in The Facilithon remotely at flexible times where SkillsUSA leadership allows.
Brent Kindred, SkillsUSA WI state director, said of the development “I’m impressed with the FM Pipeline Team’s visionary thinking to advance the mission of the Facilithon competition in SkillsUSA.” The FM Pipeline team customized a pair of applications to run the competition in its original quiz and role-play format to beat the threat of event cancellation. “FM’s who run big buildings are flexible and quickly adapt to challenges like this, so co-workers can still do their jobs. I bet most of our high school competitors already had this fix in mind. Facilithon’s FM Challenge works through emergencies just like this; it’s their favorite part of the competition.”, said Jim Zirbel, its co-director.
Volunteer groups responded positively. “Online judging really allows FM’s with limited time the ability to participate, give back to our profession and share their knowledge with our next generation.” said Gary McKelvey, VA & DC program champion. “I am excited that chapter leaders and members can now get involved in ways that were previously not an option!” said Todd Greenwald, local IFMA chapter president.
Rich Fanelli, Facilithon national content coordinator, shared “If I were an advisor, having my student participate in the Facilithon remotely solves our problem today and allows my students to tap into a greater resource in the future.”
The Facilithon is a state-level FM competition in SkillsUSA, the nation’s fastest-growing careertechnical student association. SkillsUSA students sharpen their career and job skills through mentoring and competitions to be job-ready, day one. Facilithon industry partners enjoy engaging their future facility management employees well in advance of post-secondary decisions. Since inception in 2015, Facilithon programs have engaged over 300 competitors, granted 36 scholarships
and over 7,000 SkillsUSA students know what FM is via The Facilithon’s “1 in 30” program.
To become a Facilithon industry, college or chapter partner, contact FM Pipeline Team, Inc. (501(c)(3) at 612-426-7227, facilithon@gmail.com or go to www.fmpipipeline.org to learn more.