Emerging Leaders Committee Co-Chairs
Caryn Jakucki, Art Holdings,
(763) 567-2215
Heather Grazzini,
Carciofini Company, 952-252-0303
Emerging Leaders Committee Members
Collin Anderson, Merchant & Gould
Jennifer Clapp Doane, Arlene Clapp & Co.
Greg Frey, Wings Financial Federal Credit
Heather Grazzini, Carciofini
Jed Johnson, Anderson Corp.
Heidi Nelson, KPMG
Janice Pyka, Fidelity Building Services Inc.
Katie Riddle, AmeriCom, Inc.
Alesia Schilke, NorthMarq
Renee Schwab, Steelcase
Maureen Slag, Onvoy
Chad Stout, Millicare
September 20, 2007 - IFMA’s Emerging Leaders held
its’ first Mentor Dialogue Breakfast with Fred Atkinson of Allianz as
the guest speaker. As a 20 year veteran in the Facilities Management
profession, Fred was asked to reflect on his career and provide some
insights to those just beginning in the industry.
After graduating Summa Cum Laude from Macalester
College in St. Paul, Fred took a job managing a game store in NE
Minneapolis were he discovered two things:
1.
He needed to make more money and
2.
He was ready for another challenge.
And that’s when his property management career
began. After building a relationship with his landlord’s property
manager he was eventually extended an offer to join them on a new
development known as, Riverplace. Fred learned fast and advanced quickly
and was soon managing his own buildings. For example, Fred managed:
Brookdale Shopping Center, Metropolitan Medical Office Building, Midwest
Plaza and Gaviidae Commons. In 1991 he parlayed this experience on to
the facilities side and started working for Park Nicollet Clinics. After
6 years with Park Nicollet Clinics, he took the helm at Blue Cross Blue
Shield where he worked until accepting his post as Vice President
Enterprise Property and Facilities Building Service at Allianz.
Fred talked about several lessons that he had
learned over the course of his career such as the importance of mentors.
For example, Fred’s mentor would help him problem solve by thinking
through all of his choices and related consequences. He also talked
about how important technology has become and the increasing role it
will play in the future.
At the end of the program we were treated to a tour
of Allianz’s new building, Phase Two. Wow! What a building!
- State of the art work out facility for only $15/month,
- fire pit/shuffle board/putting greed in the court yard,
- the largest projection screen television in America, and
- a 400 person conference room!
Not to mention that we got to learn about some of
the psychology behind the design process. For example, how they got the
employees to use both cafeterias and why they built the second phase
with a separate entrance.
The Emerging Leaders will be hosting its next happy
hour at the Loop Bar and Restaurant at 606 Washington Ave N in
the Minneapolis warehouse district on Thursday, October 18th
from 4:30-7:30pm. Complimentary appetizers will be served. The event
is open to all IFMA members and non-members. The cost is $10.00 per
person and you can register online at
www.msp-ifma.org
