By Kristin McGrath Pine, NEAHMA President – 2016
With over 500 attendees, 13 diverse workshops and a swearing-in ceremony, maintenance professionals found some much deserved recognition for their job roles on May 18th at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA. Once again, NEAHMA’s Annual Gillette Seminar was a success.
2016 proved to be another “banner year” for our Exclusive Sponsors for the event with amazing branding throughout the venue. Special thanks to our friends and sponsors at ARS Restoration Services, Sherwin William, and HD Supply for their generosity and continued support of NEAHMA and the property management industry.
NEAHMA was able to once again put together a fantastic event celebrating the importance of our maintenance team members and their contributions to a property’s success. Our workshops hosted some of the best local talent in the region, with topics ranging from Appliance Repair to Scope Developments/Bid Comparisons, from REAC Preparation to OSHA Safety, along with Fair Housing and how to apply for the NAHMT/NAHMS designations, to name just a few. New information, new knowledge, new tools of the trade learned and earned now reside in each participant’s proverbial toolbox.
The day started out with a lively registration period, an interview video of the day’s events produced and provided by the WeCast Productions, as well as the first of three workshops for Session One out of four sessions. Attendees gained valuable information on a variety of topics showcasing how property maintenance is the backbone of a successful physical plant, as well as the eyes and ears of the communities our residents call home. Several maintenance professionals in attendance made the most out of their experience by asking questions, networking with others, and taking home resource materials for review.
Throughout the day, presenters and many of the volunteers and sponsors took time to participate in our social media efforts on Facebook and Twitter.
As NEAHMA’s President, this always proves to be one of my favorite events each year. It is my honor to help with this event and to be a part of this very special effort each year, especially during my term in office. A synopsis of the ceremony: A swearing-in ceremony for 6 designees for HUD-endorsed industry credentials that included 2 NAHMTs (Nationally Accredited Housing Maintenance Technician), 2 NAHMS designee (Nationally Accredited Housing Maintenance Supervisor), and 2 NAHPs (National Affordable Housing Professional/Professional Level). Credential awards given out spanned over 2 member companies from NEAHMA.
A special “thank you” to all of our volunteers, presenters and program guide sponsors. Without everyone’s collective efforts and generosity, this event would not have been possible. Thank you to our presenters and trainers who generously donated their time and expertise to help others.
- Thanks to our program guide sponsors whose sponsorships helped to directly benefit the NAHMA Educational Foundation.
- Thanks to our agency partners at Boston HUD, MassHousing and Clean Green Solutions who worked the “Go Green with NEAHMA” tables to educate companies on the Better Buildings Challenge, energy and sustainability initiatives and green housekeeping products.
- Thanks to our friends at Roca, Inc., a second-chance program for job training based out of the Chelsea area, who volunteered their time to inform our attendees of their good works and their mission to help disengaged and disenfranchised young people move out of violence and poverty and back to gainful employment.
- Thanks to our valued NEAHMA sponsors and trainers who generously donated their time, talent and treasure (see “thank you” page ) to our event. Without their talents and donations, the success of our day would not have been possible.
- Thanks to all of our newly-credentialed designees who keep these important programs going and are excelling in their career development.
More importantly, all loose ends came together nicely due in very large part by the efforts of our amazing NEAHMA staff: Michelle Mitchell and Sarah Kaufmann.
Our biggest initiatives for this year were promoted and supported greatly at this annual event. NEAHMA encourages its members and companies to continually support training, whether it be online or instructor-led; promote “going green”; and support NAHMA’s nationally-recognized and HUD-endorsed industry designations for maintenance (NAHMS, NAHMT and CGPM). We challenge you and your company to join in on the effort. By simply attending the Gillette event, participants earn eight continuing education units (CEUs) toward the 16 CEUs needed to earn one of these important maintenance credentials.
To find out how to qualify for one (or all) of our maintenance designations, simply go to the NAHMA website or contact the NEAHMA office directly at (781) 380-4344.
It’s a new year, and I challenge you and all of our member companies to aim for the finish line and earn your designations in 2016. Our Annual Fall Conference will be here before we know it, where new students will earn their designations and be sworn-in at our ceremony on October 18th at Lombardo’s in Randolph, MA. We hope to see you there!
