There’s a general misconception when someone enters the trades that they forgo any learning opportunities, but that’s just not the case. Continuing education remains an essential part of facilities management. As the industry continues to embrace technology, more facility managers will be tasked with learning it all and passing that knowledge onto future employees.
Industry events like NFMT Remix encourage facility managers from across the country to come together and collaborate on industry best practices. Taking place in Orlando Oct. 15-16, NFMT Remix will also bring a series of education sessions to help facilities professionals grow in their careers.
“It’s very welcoming and encourage to try to educate and quip expos that are rather large,” John Rimer of FM 360 Consulting says. “I’ll see facility folks in there and they have their shopping lists and find the solutions they need. They make sure to hit those different booths and gather their information.”
Rimer encourages attendees to come with questions as there is most likely someone willing to help find the answer. Being in the same room with like-minded people encourages attendees to bounce ideas off of one another. It is so easy to be stuck in the same mindset day after day, being around people in the same professional as you, albeit in different locations, helps diversify thought processes.
Really try to leverage the collective wisdom and experience within the room,” Rimer says. “I don’t know everything – that's for darn sure. But there’s a lot of people in there (NFMT Remix) with their own experiences and expertise that we can learn from. That to me is part of the benefit of going to something like this. If you’re there with good reasons and have your ears open, you’ll be able to hear from a lot of people and gain a lot of insight.”
Along with education sessions and workshops, NFMT Remix hosts a plethora of networking opportunities for attendees. On Oct. 15 from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm, attendees are invited to come together for fun, food and drinks. Following that is the FM Huddle Happy Hour, where current trending topics in facilities management will be discussed.
“I go to NFMT for the education part, definitely,” Rimer says. “I like going in and visiting the Expo floor to see what new things are entering the marketplace – just trying to keep a finger on that pulse. As you’re doing that, you’re absolutely networking. You’re running around again seeing folks you haven’t seen since the last NFMT. The next generation is probably already learning this, but your career and elsewhere in life is really who you know. So, making those connections and networking is huge. Take advantage of the opportunity to gain connections. Leverage LinkedIn and build that network. Have places that you can ask questions because it would be great to be able to reach out to folks along the way.”
There is still time to register for NFMT Remix. Please visit nfmt.com/remix/2025 for more information.
Mackenna Moralez is the associate editor and the host of the Facilities in Focus podcast.
