Charlotte, NC – For the first time in its 22-year history, NFMT East, the National Facilities Management & Technology conference, is heading to the “Queen City.” Scheduled for March 10-12, 2026, at the LEED-Gold Certified Charlotte Convention Center, the event is set to deliver a robust educational lineup designed to help facilities professionals navigate a rapidly evolving industry.
With more than 90 sessions and a new specialized pavilion, this year’s program emphasizes practical solutions for modern challenges, ranging from aging infrastructure to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI).
A focus on innovation and efficiency
The 2026 conference is organized around six primary education tracks, allowing attendees to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) while diving deep into specific areas of interest:
- The Digital Evolution: Exploring the digital transformation of facility management, including AI, IoT and smart building ecosystems
- People & Performance: Strategies for workforce development, leadership and managing team dynamics
- Mission Critical Environments: Ensuring uptime and resilience in high-stakes facilities like data centers
- Tech Market Trends: Adapting to new infrastructure demands and emerging market technologies
- Energy Efficiency: Practical plays to lower utility costs and boost building performance
- Sustainability in the Built Environment: Meeting climate goals and implementing green operations
“AI, Arenas & the Future of Facility Ops” for opening session
A highlight of the Tuesday schedule is the opening General Session, “Game On: AI, Arenas, and the Future of Facility Operations.” Building Operating Management Editor-in-Chief Dave Lubach will sit down with Ronnie Bryant, CIO of the Charlotte Hornets, for an inside look at the Spectrum Center. The session will detail how the home of the Hornets uses AI to optimize HVAC, lighting and security to enhance the fan experience while maintaining high performance.
FMLink and The McMorrow Reports editors recommend these tracks and sessions, starting with The Digital Evolution track:
- Beyond Dashboards: AI for Real Operational and Strategic Decision Making, presented by Jeff Soplop, CEO & Founder, Nimble Energy, Inc.
- The AI Integration Playbook for Facility Leaders, presented by Gretchen Catlin, Chief Facilities & General Services Officer at University of Maine System.
- The One Thing AI Experts Won’t Tell You About Your Data, presented by Josh Lowe, Chief Solutions Officer & Co-Founder, AkitaBox.
- Designing for Intelligence: How OPR and Guideline 25 Enable AI-Driven Building Performance presented by Erin DeFrieze, Studio Lead / Automation at Stantec Consulting Services.
In the Mission Critical Environments track, three sessions will make any FM wonder which issue to address first:
- The Impact of AI on the Design of Data Centers presented by R. Stephen Spinazzola, PE, who serves as Shumate Engineering’s Director of Mission Critical Services.
- Design-Build: The Need for Speed, presented by Jeffrey Goetz PE, CEM, LEED AP, Fellow in Corporate Sustainability, Design Program Management Professional Data Centers at JScottG Inc.
- Surviving the Unthinkable: Preparing Your Facility for Disaster, presented by Nico Viola, CFM, SFP, Director of Facilities at Holden Forests and Gardens.
The People & Performance track addresses the most important part of FM — the people — with 14 sessions.
Introducing “Clean Buildings at NFMT”
New for 2026 is the Clean Buildings Pavilion, a featured experience on the expo floor. Formerly a standalone conference, this integration brings cleaning and maintenance professionals directly into the NFMT fold. The pavilion will host specialized “Learning Labs” and two dedicated tracks:
- Safe, Sound & Healthy: Five sessions focus on safety, security and wellness.
- Cleaning for Performance: 21 sessions address smart strategies for efficiency in commercial spaces.
NASCAR’s Hall of Fame hosts the opening night rally
Beyond the classroom, the event kicks off with an Opening Night Rally at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on March 10. Other notable events include the “Women Who Make It Work” panel and reception on March 11, which focuses on mentorship and leadership for women in the FM and cleaning industries.
Registration is currently open, with “All Access” passes offering full entry to all education sessions, networking events and the 12-month NFMT All Access membership.
