As the host for ERAPPA 2025, the New Jersey Chapter of the Eastern Region of APPA invites you to submit a proposal to be considered for presentation at the ERAPPA Annual Meeting & Exhibit in Atlantic City, New Jersey, from September 28th – October 1st, 2025. These presentations will form the core of our educational program on September 29th and 30th, providing a platform for sharing knowledge and expertise.

Audience

Our conference attracts approximately 500 attendees, including facility managers,  from educational institutions throughout the northeastern United States and eastern Canada, as well as business partners supporting the APPA mission. We seek presentation ideas that cater to the needs of both our U.S. and Canadian members.

Theme

This year’s conference theme, “GUIDE YOUR FUTURE,” emphasizes the proactive role of facility managers in shaping the campuses of tomorrow. As we navigate the evolving challenges of the modern era, it’s essential for facility leaders to continuously enhance their skill sets to ensure campuses remain vibrant and dynamic. The task of maintaining and upgrading existing buildings and grounds to meet current and future standards involves integrating advanced technology and innovative space utilization strategies. Historic buildings, in particular, require thoughtful restoration to extend their lifecycle and utility. Our collective goal is to achieve sound stewardship of both new and old structures, seamlessly blending the past, present, and future.

Potential Topics/Areas of Interest

We seek presentations that align with our conference theme by sharing new ideas, success stories, and lessons learned. To support our members in understanding and implementing best practices, we envision “GUIDE YOUR FUTURE” presentations in the following five Professional Development Tracks:

1. Charting the Future: Design & Construction of Facilities

• Innovations in facility design and construction techniques.
• Case studies on recent construction projects.
• Strategies for future-proofing campus infrastructure.

2. Beacon of Excellence: Leadership & Management Strategies

• Effective leadership approaches in facility management.
• Building and nurturing high-performing teams.
• Navigating organizational change and fostering a culture of excellence.

3. Anchor in the Storm: Maintenance & Operation

• Best practices in facility maintenance and operations.
• Emergency preparedness and response strategies.
• Enhancing operational efficiency through new technologies.

4. Searching for the Horizon: Technology and Change on Campus

• Implementing cutting-edge technology in campus facilities.
• Adapting to and managing technological change.
• Data-driven decision making for facility management.

5. Shore up Your Future: Sustainability and Innovation

• Sustainable practices in facility management.
• Innovative solutions for energy efficiency and conservation.
• Case studies on successful sustainability initiatives.

The ERAPPA 2025 Host Committee also encourages submissions on other timely and relevant topics that offer value to attendees, focusing on the latest technology, policies, procedures, and best practices. Panel discussions and interactive sessions are highly encouraged to provide multiple perspectives and foster collaborative problem-solving. Participation from both business partners and their respective institutional clients that offer a collaborative “lessons learned” approach are encouraged.

Selection Process

Presentation opportunities are open to ERAPPA member institutions and business partners collaborating with member institutions. Joint presentations are particularly encouraged to highlight successful partnerships. All presentations must be non-proprietary and free of specific product or service endorsements.

The Professional Development Committee will evaluate each submission based on:

• Relevance to the conference theme
• Timeliness and interest
• Innovation
• Presenter qualifications
• Degree of institutional involvement

Preference may be given to presentations featuring institutions local or regional to the conference location.

Presentation Requirements

• Educational sessions are 60 minutes in length, including time for questions and discussion.
• Presentations must use the standard ERAPPA PowerPoint template.
• Presentations are subject to review and approval prior to the conference.
• Presenters are expected to register for the conference.
• This conference is fully in-person; no virtual sessions will be held.
• The Committee seeks innovative and engaging presentation techniques to enhance the attendee experience.

Learning Units and Professional Development Credits

Attendees may seek presentations for personal interest or to earn continuing education credits in various disciplines (e.g., AIA credits). Presentations offering such credits should indicate this in the submission form. For high-quality presentations without official certification, the ERAPPA Professional Development Committee can assist in the certification process. ERAPPA is a registered AIA/CES provider.

Submitting

Submissions will only be accepted online at: ERAPPA 2025 Presentation Submission Form.

Please provide the following:

• Contact person and contact information for future correspondence, if different from the presenters
• At minimum, 4 Learning outcomes.

The deadline for submission is January 6, 2025.

Notifications of selected presenters will be made in April 2025.

Questions may be directed to The ERAPPA 2025 Professional Development Committee:

• Earl Farrell at Montclair State University
• Joshua Johnson at Mercer County Community College

We look forward to receiving your submissions!

Best regards,

Amy Baker, New Jersey Institute of Technology & Sue Maddalena, Zack Painting
ERAPPA 2025 Host Committee Co-Chairs.