August 25, 2025 — When facility managers (FMs) want to find solutions and meet peers with the same professional challenges they have, they gather at World Workplace, the annual conference and expo presented by the International Facility Management Association (IFMA). This year’s event takes place in Minneapolis, September 17-19, 2025.
People attend World Workplace to get best practices, valuable takeaways and thought leadership from industry experts from around the world. They also stay updated on the latest trends and topics in facility management.
The WW expo offers a broad array of products, software and other solutions with the products and services to improve and transform your facilities. Connect one-on-one with leading companies in every category of FM solutions. Product demos and educational sessions show you how to use the latest tools and tech.
Education sessions are the heart
The World Workplace sessions are among the best in the industry and a major reason to attend the conference. The FMLink & McMorrow Reports editorial team has explored all the World Workplace sessions and makes these recommendations for attendance:
Thursday September 18
Beyond Hardware: True Costs of Technology Adoption in FM
Technology adoption in facility management often focuses on initial investment costs like hardware and software while overlooking critical organizational and human elements that significantly impact success. This session presents a comprehensive framework for understanding and managing the true costs of technology adoption, developed through extensive research and industry expert insights.
Speakers: Dean Stanberry, Past Chair, Global Board of Directors, IFMA and Andrew Steele, Senior Construction PM, The Boeing Company
Facilities Feud: The Ultimate FM Showdown
Survey says . . . Facility Management is evolving! Join us for Facilities Feud, a high-energy, interactive session where we’ll test your FM knowledge against the latest insights from MRI Software’s 2025 Voice of the FM survey.
Speakers: Steven McKissick is a Senior Director for MRI Software and Nicholas Frank is the Senior Director of Thought Leadership at MRI Software.
AI Strategies for Facility Leaders: Separating Fact from Fiction
Separating Fact from Fiction and Driving Real Value Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries, but for facility leaders, the challenge lies in distinguishing hype from practical applications. This session will demystify AI by separating fact from fiction, showcasing real-world use cases, and providing actionable strategies to guide investment decisions.
Speaker: Kaelin Leonard, who has been a part of the ABM team and responsible for the ABM/IFMA relationship for more than half a decade. Before joining the ABM team, Kaelin spent a number of years in the world of franchising, working for a parent company who owned multiple brands within the facilities industry as part of its portfolio.
FM Uncorked: Spilling the Secrets to Showcasing The Value of FM
Facilities Management (FM) is often seen as a cost center rather than recognized as a strategic asset. This misperception can lead to underfunding, understaffing, and a lack of support. In this session, we’ll uncork the secrets to effectively communicating FM’s true value to leadership, breaking through the noise with compelling data, real-world case studies, and interactive storytelling techniques.
Speakers: Maureen Roskoski, CFM, SFP, ProFM, LEED AP O+M, ISO 22301 Lead Auditor and Laurie Gilmer, CFM|FMP|SFP
The Future-Ready Facility Manager: Thriving in the Age of AI and Technology
Explore the evolving landscape of facilities management as we delve into the essential skills and business acumen required for FMs to excel in an AI-driven future. We’ll examine how data savviness, AI proficiency, and strategic thinking are reshaping the FM profession. Discover how to position yourself as a future-ready FM, driving innovation and operational excellence in your organization.
Speaker: Tim Bernardez, Global Head of Workplace Management Technology at JLL, bringing nearly 25 years of experience in facilities management, technology, and innovation.
Friday, September 19
Remanufacturing Office Furniture: A Pathway to Economic, Environmental, and Social Circularity
Exploring advances in sustainable office furniture and the economic and environmental impacts of outdated assets. We’ll promote circular economy strategies — remanufacturing, reuse, and take-back programs — over stockpiling or disposal, with real-world success stories. Participants will learn how remanufacturing and reuse create measurable value, including cost savings, landfill reduction, lower CO2 emissions, energy savings, and resource preservation.
Speaker: Doug Pilgrim, a seasoned environmental professional in the contract furniture industry with over 30 years of experience. He possesses LEED AP ID+C and WELL AP credentials, demonstrating expertise in green building and occupant well-being.
Beyond the Algorithm: Harnessing AI & Data for Dynamic Workplace Strategies
Join OfficeSpace Software’s Chief Product Officer and OpenAI’s Head of Strategic Occupancy Planning for an in-depth look at how high-quality data fuels AI-driven workplace transformation. This session will explore the critical role data plays in forecasting growth, optimizing occupancy, and fostering environments that inspire productivity and collaboration. You’ll learn why feeding AI the right data isn’t as complex as it sounds—and how doing it well can unlock powerful outcomes for your organization.
Speakers: OfficeSpace Chief Product Officer Andres Avalos is a seasoned SaaS product visionary and has developed category-defining solutions for enterprise data, AI, and user experience applications, including IBM’s AI Governance and Preparation Technologies (formerly IBM Watson Knowledge Catalog), UserZoom’s quick-start product offerings (now UserTesting), and AI struggle detection for IBM’s TeaLeaf CX (now Tealeaf by Acoustic). Co-presenter Zig Wu is OpenAI’s Head of Strategic Occupancy Planning and an accomplished real estate and workplace strategy leader with extensive experience across various high-profile organizations. He previously held key roles at Roche and Genentech, where significant contributions included the development of an automated Real Estate Portfolio Management Tool and advising on lab workplace design initiatives.
Unlocking the Full Potential of AI in Facility Management
Is your facility management ready for the AI revolution? Are you struggling to translate the promise of AI into tangible results? This session cuts through the hype and provides a practical roadmap for successful AI implementation. We’ll explore the key challenges facing FM teams today, from data silos and workforce skills gaps to ethical considerations and ROI justification. Drawing upon real-world examples of proven methodology, we’ll reveal a three-pillar framework – Seamless Process Integration, Enhanced AI Awareness, and Accelerated AI Enablement — that empowers organizations to transform their operations.
Speakers: James Waddell is a driving force in the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the built environment. At Cognitive Corp, James leads the charge in empowering organizations to leverage AI for optimized facility management, enhanced sustainability, and superior occupant experiences. His deep-rooted passion for technology’s transformative power is evident in his approach, which combines strategic leadership with a keen understanding of the dynamic technology landscape. Vik Bangia is the CEO and founder of Verum Consulting, LLC., a corporate real estate strategic advisory firm based in Minneapolis that works with clients globally. He has thirty years of experience in corporate real estate, outsourcing best practices, strategic planning, and workflow process improvement.
How Blue Zone Buildings are Revolutionizing Real Estate Health Standards
The Corporate Real Estate (CRE) and Facilities Management (FM) industries have the power — and the responsibility — to lead a revolution in workplace health. With people spending 90% of their time indoors, our buildings are not just workplaces; they are environments that directly impact well-being, productivity, and long-term health outcomes. The BGIS Blue Zone Buildings initiative is setting a new standard for how we design, maintain, and operate spaces to combat chronic disease and create healthier indoor environments. This session will challenge industry leaders to raise the bar in CRE and FM, exploring how we can make intentional, data-driven decisions to enhance air quality, optimize lighting, reduce toxic materials, and prioritize maintenance practices that foster well-being.
Speakers: Lorri Rowlandson is a senior executive and thought leader in corporate real estate, AI, and technology-driven innovation. As SVP of Strategy and Innovation at BGIS, she drives transformative initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and client value. Adriana Bitonte-Recourt is a seasoned professional in the real estate industry, currently serving as the Executive Vice President of Client Services at BGIS. With extensive experience in corporate real estate, she has a proven track record in strategic planning, portfolio management, and client relations.
Priming for AI: Unifying Data Across Real Estate Lifecycles
Large enterprises are rapidly adopting AI to reinvent service models, boost efficiency, and accelerate operations. CEOs are increasingly demanding that operational leaders demonstrate how AI will drive superior financial performance. However, many enterprises struggle to achieve these goals due to fragmented systems. Siloed point solutions, legacy systems, and spreadsheets hinder data synthesis across the real estate lifecycle, limiting the potential of AI-driven transformation.
Speaker: Kal Gyimesi leads go-to-market strategy and enablement for IBM’s Asset Lifecycle Management (ALM) solutions within real estate and facility management. He spearheads IBM’s primary messaging, content and analyst relations for this domain. Furthermore, he supports business development initiatives and enables a global network of ecosystem partners who resell and deploy IBM’s ALM solutions.
For more information about the education sessions and to register, visit World Workplace.
