AFE May/June 2012 : Page 28CHAPTERS RISING : AFE CHAPTER 39, SILICON VALLEY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF CONNECTING THE PRESENT WITH THE FUTURE Other event supporters included gold sponsors IMPEC GROUP, Integrated Engineering Services, Trane, and Tech-nical Builders and AFE silver sponsors Cupertino Electric Inc. and United Mechanical Inc. “Th e kids [returning for the evening dinner and program] were absorbing every minute of it,” said both Debbie Gary and Melissa Mason, who helped organize the event along with James Elder, Andy Taylor, Kady Blake, Nakaso, and many others. Wrapping Up a Celebration of 50 Years At the end of the day, founder Bergtraun was commemorated during a celebration of the long-lasting tradition of “Day with a Facilities Professional.” Adamo shared (in his best Austrian accent) his memories of the talented Bergtraun: “Th e part for me that made it special was that Eric was my boss 32 years ago and he had me join the AFE, formerly AIPE, at that time.” Adamo also talked about his own career as a facilities engineer. He said he was proud to be celebrating 20 years of owning and running his own business, and being president of the same chapter, as his mentor and friend, Bergtraun. Th is relationship is an important ex-ample of the power of the AFE chapters and programs, and refl ects Bergtraun’s vision of growing facilities professionals through networking and mentorship, a tradition that continues 50 years later. Adamo said the event helps instill a sense of pride about the facilities fi eld in the stu-dents. “In January, we set a goal for this day to be special, and be a positive experience for the future leaders of the next genera-tion,” said Adamo. “Th e team eff ort and en-ergy of all the individuals that helped make this day a success will not be forgotten. I could see it in the faces of the students.” James Elder, vice president and mem-bership chair for Chapter 39, applauded the chapter members and volunteers whose work made “Day with a Facilities Professional” a success, and the enthusi-astic attendees. “Th e future of this profession is depen-dent upon the infl ux of young, educated professionals who bring a whole new level of technological know-how mixed with the traditional passion that drives this profession,” said Elder. “Each year our members give a tremendous amount of time and resources toward the success of this event. It’s a major undertaking but they make it seem easy in the end.” FEJ Talisa Th omas-Hall is AFE senior director of membership and operations. One of her primary responsibilities is to serve as the staff liaison to chapters and regions. She can be reached at 571-203-7236 or via email at TTh omashall@afe.org. 28 < Take your professional development and networking to the next level...Join AFE Toolkit for SUCCESS > CAREER-FOCUSED NETWORKING Gain access to solutions and best practices, events and opportunities to connect with fellow leaders and peers in facilities engineering. The Facilities Professional’s > EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION AFE supports your career success through a world-recognized certification program and training including webinars that keep you up to date on the latest industry technology and trends. > INDUSTRY NEWS AND INFORMATION Stay on top of industry information and emerging trends including the latest in green and sustainable technology. AFE is a clearinghouse for facilities engineering-related information, publications, news and updates. Already a member? Become an AFE Ambassador by inviting a colleague to become a member! Join at www.afe.org or call 571.203.7236. May | June 2012 ■ Facilities Engineering Journal ■ www.AFE.org Publication List Using a screen reader? Click Here |
