The CFE Challenge - go for it!
By Sally Arch, CFE (Adelaide Entertainment Centre)
Sally Arch, CFE, Manager - Venue Services at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre completed the International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM) Certified Facilities Executive (CFE) program and graduated at the IAAM s Annual Conference in Washington, USA in July 2005. The CFE program originated in the United States by IAAM in 1976 to recognise excellence in the professional development and competence of managers of public assembly facilities.
The CFE designation recognises three main qualities about a facility executive; he or she is a competent, skilled venue manager, is committed to the industry, and is pledged to continued professional growth and development. Managers who earn the CFE designation are recognised as experts in their profession throughout the global venue industry. Here Sally goes through the process and offers some insight on how to get through:
Step 1 Professional Development and Service
You need to accumulate a minimum of 300 points in certain categories. The IAAM website details exactly how this is calculated. It is probably the most time consuming of the steps as you have to dig out all of you old certificates and position descriptions. Don t let this put you off. It is great finding out how much you have achieved.
Step 2 The Essay
Included in your original application with Step 1 you will need to write an essay outlining your philosophy of facility management for a range of topics. What again could be seen as challenging is quite enlightening. Writing down all of the things that you put in practice and questioning their strength and validity is worthwhile.
Step 3 The Written Examination
On passing Step 1 and 2, you will be invited to sit the written examination. My recommendation is to purchase the CFE Study Manual from IAAM to help you through. Not only will the manual assist you with the exam, it is a good reference source for other staff in your venue. You will be asked a range of questions, on a range of issues, on a range of venues and business sectors. You will undertake a supervised multiple choice exam and you will probably be surprised how much you know over a broad range of questions.
Step 4 The Oral Interview
On passing all of the previous steps, you will be invited to attend an oral interview. At this moment the oral interview takes place at the IAAM Conference in the USA. The VMA is hoping to qualify enough Venue Managers as CFEs to enable us to conduct the interviews in Australia. The panel will evaluate your responses to a series of detailed and specific industry questions that probe professional experience, management philosophy, professional contributions and basic knowledge regarding the overall management of public assembly facilities. (NOTE: The VMA and IAVM have made changes to the earlier requirement to travel to the USA for the oral interview. NOW...you may take the oral interview in either Australia at the annual VMA Congress or by web cam if living in New Zealand.)
The interview was daunting, but not overwhelming. Think of it as a job interview, particularly focusing on the detail of the chosen questions.
Commenting on the value of the award, Sally said, the program was very intensive, but rewarding. It gave me the opportunity to look back on my venue career and see just how far I've come. My colleagues at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre were very supportive in my quest to complete the program and I thank them for their long term support. The Adelaide Entertainment Centre CEO, Anthony Kirchner applauded Sally s CFE status saying The Adelaide Entertainment Centre has been recognised through nine industry awards achieved over the last three years. A key element to that success is our staff and their attitude to lifelong learning and personal development. Sally Arch is a valued member of our team and I congratulate her on this achievement. Sally joins 3 others in Australia and New Zealand, who will now work together with the Venue Management Association (Asia Pacific) to bring the management program to Australia to allow more venue managers to participate without the need to travel to the USA.
THE CFE MESSAGE: SKILL, COMMITMENT, GROWTH
The Certified Facilities Executive (CFE) program was begun by IAAM in 1976 to recognize excellence in the professional development and competence of managers of public assembly facilities.
The program has undergone continuous modification to ensure fairness and objective measurement of candidates' qualification for the designation. In 1993, a new qualification phase was added to the program-successful completion of a written exam. Certification Board members are closely evaluating the validity of the exam, and in future years, objective measurement of candidates' knowledge and skills will increase in significance. In 1994, the Certification Board added a Recertification requirement for CFEs to maintain the Certified Facilities Executive designation. Every three years, CFEs are required to submit evidence of continuing education and professional development. In the Fall of 1995 the Certification Board approved a "Retired CFE" status; CFEs who have retired and notified the Certification Administrator in writing of their retirement will not be required to meet Recertification requirements.
The CFE designation says three important things about a facility executive: he or she is a skilled manager, is committed to the industry, and is pledged to continued professional growth and development. Managers who earn the CFE designation are recognized, by those inside and outside the industry, as experts in their profession.
The basic purpose of the voluntary certification program is to provide additional incentive for professional improvement in public assembly facility management, to assure recognition for those who attain certain specific standards, and to lead toward development of a full professional status in the field of public assembly facility management.
It is not the purpose of the certification program to determine who shall or shall not engage in the management of public assembly facilities. It is recognized that there are many who are successfully engaged in public assembly facility management who are not interested in applying for certification. The primary purpose is to encourage professional development and to recognize achievement.
