Letter from the Vice President of Professional Development

Reflecting on our recent Spring Conference in New Orleans, I appreciate the energy, engagement, and collaboration that made it a resounding success. This event marked a personal milestone—my first annual conference since joining the APPA staff last December. After more than three decades of volunteering with APPA’s professional development programs, stepping into this role has been both a homecoming and an exciting new beginning.

The Spring Conference was a true celebration of community and purpose. It reminded us how vital it is to gather, share insights, and support one another in our mission to elevate educational facilities. I want to recognize and thank the entire Professional Development team and our regional leaders for their extraordinary work in making the event so meaningful.

I’m especially excited about what’s next: APPAU in Orlando, which will be happening in the first week of June. This flagship event continues to evolve to meet the needs of our diverse membership, and this year, we’re introducing and relaunching several signature programs:

• Invest in Success—traditionally delivered on campus and structured as a train-the-trainer model to keep costs low—is making a special appearance in Orlando. This program is an investment in front-line staff by providing them foundational knowledge and skills for success in their roles and as contributors to the success of their institution. This is a great opportunity, especially for those within driving distance, to experience the program firsthand and consider how it might be brought back to your campus community.
• We’re thrilled to reintroduce Targeted Titles & Topics (T3), starting with an engaging focus on Artificial Intelligence in Educational Facilities. T3 is designed to be fast-moving, timely, and actionable, bringing together professionals navigating operational technology, intelligent systems, and data-informed facilities management. This session will foster rich dialogue, offer concrete takeaways, and build networks among peers leading digital transformation on their campuses.
• The Nexus experience is also being reimagined. Step into the decision-maker’s seat in a tabletop-style simulation, where you’ll make critical financial decisions for a fictional institution while navigating key considerations such as institutional politics, economic factors, and enrollment trends. Guided by experienced leaders who have faced these same challenges, attendees will gain insights, ask questions, and apply strategic financial concepts to real-time scenarios. This immersive experience will sharpen your ability to manage facilities budgets under real-world pressures strategically, equipping you to lead with clarity and resilience.

These innovations are part of a broader strategic effort to operationalize APPA’s professional development programs—an initiative recently adopted as a strategic priority by APPA’s Board of Directors. I’m honored to lead this critically important work to ensure our professional development offerings are more consistent, scalable, and impactful than ever before.

To advance this priority, we’ll host an in-person summit in late July, bringing together professional development leaders from all APPA regions and APPAU programs. This convening will be a critical step in identifying bold and effective ways to elevate how we deliver and grow our professional development portfolio for the future.

Whether you’re new to APPA or a long-time leader in our community, I encourage you to be part of this next chapter. I look forward to seeing many of you in Orlando and building what comes next together.

With appreciation and anticipation,

Michelle Frederick

Vice President, Professional Development, APPA – Leadership in Educational Facilities