My first time attending a CAPPA event was in 2007. I was new to supervision in a higher education setting.
University of Arkansas Fayetteville was hosting the annual conference. I was attending Supervisor Toolkit with a co-worker. That year’s Toolkit facilitators were Glen H., Vickie Y., and Steve M. Toolkit was a great benchmark training experience. More than just a leadership checkup, it laid out some great ground rules. Coaching on the move has always stuck with me. Toolkit helped guide me through the transition of my skills from the military realm to the facilities environment.
The Annual Conference has been and continues to be a catalyst for friendships that have helped my career, with facilities folks and business partners alike. Several forces have influenced and shaped who I am: family, faith, and co-workers. As a professional in facilities management, the folks I have grown to know at CAPPA have added the best seasoning and sage advice. Knowing folks you can email or call for advice and input is critical to our mutual success.
Serving on the Professional Development Committee (PD) is voluntary and very rewarding. I look forward to the PD and Executive Board meetings. The folks I serve with have become my friends, and a few have taken the time and effort to mentor me. I am humbled and forever grateful. If you’ve not considered it, I encourage you to find your niche – your place to serve in CAPPA.
Training and Professional Development didn’t stop with Toolkit. I have benefited from educational sessions and scholarships to attend Academy on Campus (AOC). If you haven’t been – you need to attend! Session 2 is one of the best trainings I have participated in during my career. It has helped me be a better communicator by better understanding those around me. Touring other facilities, with their team (contextual learning in a tactile environment) is priceless! There are lots of opportunities to grow – no matter where you are in your career.
A lot has happened in the last 15 years. Looking back, I am far better equipped now than I was back then. CAPPA has been a big part of it. Our campuses, chillers, boilers, and budgets may vary, but the fundamentals are the same. Nothing sharpens one better than being around other professionals solving the same problems in a different way.
NOTE: Ben Boslaugh currently serves as Co-Chair of the CAPPA Professional Development Committee for 2021-2022.