Governance

APPA’s Certification Mission

The mission of APPA’s Certification program is dedicated to strengthening and sustaining the profession by increasing professional competency and supporting the educational mission through establishing and validating standards for professional practice.

The purpose of APPA’s Certification program is to:

• Assure educational institutions of the quality of their facilities management professionals
• Drive professional development
• Establish standards for professional performance in educational facilities management

APPA’s Credentialing Board operates as an independent Board of Directors. The certification program is organized as a tax exempt, non-profit, 501(c)(6) organization that was formally incorporated in 2007.

2024 – 2025 Certification Board Members

Peter Strazdas, Chair, Retired, Formerly the Associate Vice President Facilities Management at Western Michigan University, CEFP

Erik C. Backus, Vice Chair, Howard E. Lechler Endowed Director, Clarkson University, P.E., LEED AP BD+C, ENV SP, FMP

Secretary/Treasurer, Currently Vacant

Dr. Russell Garcia, Director for Higher Education, Johnson Controls, CEFP

Elizabeth A. Clark, Education Program Manager, Penn State Facilities Engineering Institute, M.Ed., CEFP

Dan Whatley, Assistant Vice President, Facilities Operations Facilities Management, Auburn University, P.E., CEFP

Ana Thiemer, Associate Director, Office of Campus Planning, The University of Texas at Austin

Priti Bhatia, Director of Facilities & Capital Planning, Georgia Institute of Technology

David Smith, Supervisor, University of North Carolina Charlotte

Lalit Agarwal, APPA President & CEO

Michelle Frederick, APPA Senior Director of Learning & Certification

Board Member Access Only

For questions or inquires please contact us.