AFE Silicon Valley is a regional branch of The Association for Facilities Engineering, a membership organization, and professional credentialing body that serves professionals in the built environment.
AFE aims to provide its members with the resources and tools to both broaden connections in the facility services industry and gain valuable expertise. From commercial to industrial, higher education to healthcare, Chapter 39 of AFE represents a diverse array of professionals dedicated to excellence in facility engineering in the Silicon Valley area.
The past few years have been challenging for many community organizations, and AFE Silicon Valley is no exception. The COVID-19 pandemic escalated unforeseeable challenges, which caused the organization to strategize a plan to relaunch the chapter. As an Engineering Manager in UG2’s Northern California region, I saw firsthand the bountiful network of individuals who could benefit from AFE’s opportunities.
As part of this revamp, I was approached to take the lead as AFE’s new chapter president. Eagerly, I accepted and was ready for the challenge. As I stepped into the role, I had a few key goals in mind. For one, it was crucial that as a team, we cultivate a network of engineering professionals in Silicon Valley to join AFE. The board also knew we wanted to focus efforts on networking, educational opportunities, and career guidance as we continuously work to expand the chapter.
Our first event since reactivating the chapter was a holiday happy hour, which exceeded our expectations. There was a turnout of over 40 attendees, which included facility engineers, vendors, architecture professionals, and more. This event served as a fantastic opportunity for networking and collaboration among industry peers. Fueled by this success, I was determined to work with the team to plan and execute more events and speaking engagements to further AFE’s goals.
To increase the visibility of AFE Silicon Valley, awareness of the organization and its functions is pivotal. From filling board positions to organizing monthly luncheons with guest speakers, we’re committed to developing valuable opportunities for our members. As president, I’m looking forward to working on initiatives that aim to inspire the next generation of young engineers as well. We must showcase the diverse roles within the field to help combat the talent gap we are facing in facility engineering roles.
As we look ahead, we have plans to make our mark in the community. For one, we are planning a golf tournament in the fall and are seeking sponsors and partners to make this come to life. Additionally, giving back to the community is one of our key priorities, so we are exploring opportunities to collaborate with charitable organizations through our events.
I’m honored to be a part of AFE’s journey as we work to create meaningful opportunities and futures for facility engineering professionals in Silicon Valley and beyond. At UG2, one of our core values is being a citizen of our customers’ industry and our industry. As AFE continues to expand its presence in the Northern California region, we will continue to support our members’ needs and goals. I’m looking forward to seeing what the future of AFE Silicon Valley brings.