How a Local Chapter Sparked a Nationwide Education Benefit for IFMA Members

Sometimes, the biggest opportunities start with a single conversation. 

In Fall 2024, IFMA Boston Chapter President Andrew DelPrete and chapter leadership visited Massachusetts Maritime Academy to speak with undergraduate students about business continuity and explore potential academic partnerships. What began as a simple campus visit quickly became the spark for a nationwide education opportunity for IFMA members. 

A Shared Commitment to Education and Growth 

During the visit, IFMA Boston leaders engaged with faculty, alumni and Captain James McDonald, dean of graduate and continuing education. It was clear they shared common goals: supporting emerging talent, aligning professional education with workforce needs and creating more accessible pathways for career advancement in facility management. 

Captain McDonald responded with immediate action, offering a full tuition waiver, valued at $4,000, for IFMA Boston members enrolling in the Academy’s online master’s programs in facility management and emergency management. The offer demonstrated a shared commitment to advancing the profession through education and strategic collaboration. 

From Local Initiative to National Impact 

The story didn’t end there. In Summer 2025, an inquiry from an IFMA Rhode Island member prompted further discussion. Captain McDonald agreed to extend the tuition waiver to Rhode Island members. Recognizing the national accessibility of the Academy’s online programs, IFMA Boston proposed extending the tuition benefit to more members. 

The result: the tuition benefit was expanded to include all members of the International Facility Management Association, regardless of chapter affiliation. 

What began as a local initiative is now a nationwide opportunity — available to every IFMA member. 

Opening Doors for Future Facility Leaders 

This evolution from a chapter-specific benefit to a global member resource highlights how local leadership, member engagement and purposeful partnership can deliver meaningful impact across the facility management profession.  

The tuition waiver represents more than a new educational opportunity. It’s a model for how chapters can lead innovation, strengthen professional pathways and amplify value for members worldwide. Together, these efforts reinforce IFMA’s mission to empower facility managers at every career stage, foster collaboration and shape the future of the built environment. 

Explore This Opportunity 

If you’re an IFMA member interested in earning your master’s in facility management or emergency management, visit Massachusetts Maritime Academy’s graduate programs or contact your local IFMA chapter to get started. 

Editor's Note: Andrew DelPrete is President of IFMA Boston and Senior Manager of Workplace Operations at Liberty Mutual Insurance. With nearly two decades of experience in leadership, facilities engineering and capital project management, he oversees operations at Liberty Mutual’s corporate headquarters and drives workplace excellence. He holds a B.S. in Facilities and Environmental Engineering from Massachusetts Maritime Academy and an MBA from Suffolk University.