Today’s facility professionals are under increasing pressure to “go green.” From governmental regulation to corporate social responsibility, the challenges posed by today’s green initiatives require facility operations teams to have the latest tools and strategies to implement sustainable business operations in their organizations. Addressing these challenges is California Sustainability Mayday 2008, a two-day workshop featuring some of the nation’s most renowned public- and private-sector facility experts analyzing the latest in sustainability trends and best practices.

Presented by the Sacramento Valley Chapter of the International Facility Management Association — in conjunction with the State of California and the Northern California chapters of IFMA, the U.S. Green Building Council and the International Interior Design Association — California Sustainability Mayday 2008 will help attendees learn how they can improve workplace productivity and reduce their organization’s environmental impact — all while increasing performance and profit.

Held May 13-14, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Sacramento, Calif., the workshop will feature seven presentations from top government and industry representatives from across the country. Workshop presenters will include Rosario Marin, secretary of California’s State and Consumer Services Agency and former treasurer of the United States; Stephen Ballesty, past chairman of the Facility Management Association of Australia and IFMA Foundation trustee; Panama Bartholomy, advisor to the chairman of the California Energy Commission; George Denise, CFM, CPM, FMA, RPA and general manager for facilities at Cushman & Wakefield; and Christopher Hodges, CFM, PE, LEED® AP, RRC, founding principal of Facility Engineering Associates and member of the IFMA board of directors.

“California needs affordable, technologically-advanced and energy-efficient workplaces to meet the needs of its citizens and businesses,” said Marin. “I am excited to know that industry leaders recognize the need to green our state and are taking action. This event is one more way to harness innovation and exchange ideas to continue the great progress our state has made.”

California Sustainability Mayday 2008 will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13, with an evening reception and “Shades of Green” — a framework for sustainable facility management covering the triple bottom line, what to do when deciding to go green and a case study of one facility’s journey to LEED-EB Platinum status. The workshop will continue on Wednesday, May 14, with a full-day program of speaker presentations from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food and beverages will be provided both days. All proceeds from the event will benefit the IFMA Foundation and will be used to further education, scholarships and research initiatives supporting the built environment.

To learn more about California Sustainability Mayday 2008, or to register for the event, visit www.californiamayday.com. Members of IFMA, USGBC, IIDA and government employees are eligible for a discount, and student scholarships are also available.