Don Mitchell, Director of Strategic Solutions, Trane Northwest - Hawai'i District Scott Lagana, Hawaii Area Manager, Trane Northwest – Hawai'i District Sherry Proper, Director of Strategic Initiatives, UH West Oʻahu Rockne Freitas, Former Chancellor of the University of Hawai'i–West O'ahu Laurie Komatsu, Associate Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations, University of Hawai'i Foundation
WEST OʻAHU – The Ingersoll Rand Charitable Foundation has awarded $25,000 to support the University of Hawai‘i – West O‘ahu facilities management program. This funding will be dedicated to a pilot certification program for facilities managers to achieve a Sustainable Facility Manager certification through the International Facility Managers Association (IFMA).
“Commercial buildings are complex facilities. To a hospital, corporation or education system, the actual building itself is a critical asset for them to achieve their mission. The technical skills required to manage these buildings are changing as technology evolves and people’s expectations around energy efficiency and indoor comfort increase,” said Scott Lagana, Hawai‘i business leader for Trane, a leading global provider of indoor comfort systems and services and a brand of Ingersoll Rand. “As an industry, we need to address this skill gap by partnering with educational institutions to introduce this field to students. By doing so we can demonstrate the impact facility managers have - not only the overall productivity of the organizations they support -but world issues like energy efficiency and climate change.”
Buildings and facilities of all types have become much larger and more complicated. Computerized building control systems, networks and equipment devices have significantly increased the need for expertise in technical facilities management.
Two facilities management concentrations will be offered at UH West Oʻahu – one in the business administration division and a transfer pathway option for community college students into the bachelor of applied science program at UH West Oʻahu. Both options are designed to prepare students and working professionals for positions in the building and facilities management fields. Participants will learn about topics including building operations, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system design and optimization, LEED™ building design, capital and operational budget planning and personnel management.
“We are extremely grateful to the Trane and Ingersoll Rand Corporations for this generous support of our facilities management initiatives,” said UH West Oʻahu Director of Strategic Initiatives, Sherry Proper. “This sponsorship will enable us to further connect our facilities management curriculum with industry needs. Specifically, we will run a pilot program in May 2016 to provide a continuing education course in energy-efficient, sustainable facilities practices using the International Facilities Managers Association (IFMA) Sustainable Facilities Professional (SFP) curriculum that leads to professional IFMA SFP certification.”
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The University of Hawai‘i Foundation, a nonprofit organization, raises private funds to support the University of Hawai‘i System. The mission of the University of Hawai‘i Foundation is to unite donors’ passions with the University of Hawai‘i’s aspirations by raising philanthropic support and managing private investments to benefit UH, the people of Hawai‘i and our future generations. www.uhfoundation.org
Established in 1976, the University of Hawaiʻi - West O‘ahu offers quality education, small classes and personalized attention with academic programs that emphasize the exploration of interdisciplinary and cross-cultural studies. UH West O‘ahu serves approximately 2,700 students at its brand new, state-of-the-art campus that opened in the City of Kapolei in 2012. For more information, visit www.uhwo.hawaii.edu, call (808) 689-2800 or toll-free (866) 299-8656. Find us on Facebook and Twitter.
About Ingersoll Rand and Trane
Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR) advances the quality of life by creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments. Our people and our family of brands — including Club Car ®, Ingersoll Rand®, Thermo King ® and Trane ® — work together to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings; transport and protect food and perishables; and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. We are a $13 billion global business committed to a world of sustainable progress and enduring results. Trane solutions optimize indoor environments with a broad portfolio of energy efficient heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, building and contracting services, parts support and advanced control. For more information, visit http://www.ingersollrand.com or http://www.trane.com.
