The New York State School Facilities Association is proud to serve as the voice for over 600 facilities directors, building supervisors, health and safety coordinators and other key school facilities personnel. It is truly an honor to serve my term as president, and represent our profession.
I have been called a lot of things in my life; most of them have been good. I am a husband, father, friend, colleague and coach. My leadership has been shaped by the roles that I play in life. These roles provide the foundation for leading with empathy, vision and balance.
As a husband you learn the value of partnership and communication, which are essential elements in running an organization. Just like in marriage, leadership requires listening, collaboration and working toward common goals.
As a father, you understand patience, guidance and the responsibility to nurture growth. These qualities translate directly to the workplace, where you inspire your team to develop and thrive.
As a colleague, you know the importance of teamwork and shared success. Leadership isn’t about going it alone, but about empowering those around you, building trust and working together to achieve greater things.
As a friend, you cultivate compassion and support. A great leader understands that people are the heart of any organization and fostering genuine relationships creates a positive and productive environment.
And as a coach, you learn to motivate, strategize and bring out the best in others.
These roles, each unique and vital to success, shape not only who we are but how we lead. A successful leader draws from all these experiences, understanding that leadership is about service, relationships and the drive to help other succeed.
I would like to thank my predecessor, Matt Erwin, for his leadership, and speaking of shared success, I also want to say thank you to the Executive Board and the SFMI Board for their hard work. Also this year I am looking forward to working with SMFI Chair Jamie Smith.
I also want to acknowledge the tremendous work being done by our committees and State Directors. These members are the engine behind so many of our organization’s achievements, and your dedication drives us forward.
Each committee, whether it’s tackling policy or innovation, has shown exceptional leadership and collaboration. Your thoughtful contributions have not only enhanced our organization but have also laid the groundwork for future success.
During my presidency, I would like to see the Finance Committee bring an investment policy with an RFP for a financial manager to the board for a vote. This is needed for our financial stability moving forward.
Membership Committee co-chairs Jack Rallo and Dennis Martin are both going to be busy as we launch our It Takes a Professional 2.0 campaign.
I would like to reintroduce our Facilities Assessment Program as a way to generate income, Dave Ciurszak and Kevin Storsberg and their group will have some creative thinking to do.
Our Bylaws Committee will be taking a look at the SFMI Bylaws.
We heard you about accreditation. Co-Chairs Matt Erwin and Joe Magliocca are going to take a deep dive into FM College and bring a newly revamped training program to the Board.
My theme is “The Power of Us.”
While each of us as individuals bring unique strengths to the table, it’s when we come together as a team that our true potential is unlocked.
The Power of Us means that collectively, we can achieve things that none of us could accomplish alone.
It’s the combination of diverse skills, perspectives and experiences that makes us stronger and more innovative. Together, we’re able to solve problems faster, come up with better ideas and push each other to be better.
As a team, we support each other. When one of us stumbles, the rest of us lift them up. When one of us succeeds, we all share in that victory. This unity makes us resilient and allows us to tackle challenges with confidence and trust in one another.
The Power of Us also means collaboration. When we communicate openly, respect each other’s ideas, and work toward common goals, we become unstoppable. Every success we’ve had as a team has come from people working together, contributing their talents and striving for excellence as a unit.
As we transition to this new chapter, let’s remember that our greatest strength is not just in what each of us can do individually, but in what we can accomplish together.
The Power of Us is limitless, and together, we can achieve remarkable things!
Best regards,
Mattthew Della Penna
President
Genesee Valley BOCES
