Home foreclosures have increased due to the sub prime mortgage meltdown, which has led to a lack of confidence in the bond markets and slowed lending activity. As a result, tenants can not afford the increased rent and lease rates, consumer spending is down, energy costs are up and companies are going out of business. We each have the power to stop this domino downfall and start on a trendsetting path by the way of efficiency.

There is always someone who can replace you, but increasing efficiency of your day-to-day activities can earn you the advantage. Improved efficiency can give you and your team confidence and motivation. In an economy where any attempt toward improvement can cost you, efficiency can be your secret weapon! So if you're worried about return on investment, ask yourself a better question: what is your return on education?

Your return on education and training can be the source of new found revenue. It's not about re-education of the basics, available in the mainstream learning environment. Instead, you need the day-to-day operations perfected, making every task more efficient, increasing quality and productivity. Advanced knowledge can be the perfect solution to save money and create new revenue streams, and that is the perfect equation in today's economy.

Efficiency is created and maintained through targeted training. It can improve staff moral and build a sense of commitment improving products and services while reducing unnecessary waste and risks. The staff at BOMI understands these issues are important to your department and organization, because we've experienced the economic rollercoaster. In fact, we often hear our students say, "I would have made the same mistakes, but sooner". Concerns and experiences like these are often discussed in our classes. Subject matter experts can answer questions such as "who knew" while also pinpointing the "know-how's". We continue to explore current conditions and draw on industry solutions, providing real-world, and applicable information in our course materials helping you to exceed bottom-line projections.

Every professional thinks about their return on investment and overall bottom-line. BOMI International offers premier education and training in property and facilities management improving efficiency and productivity for your organization, generating a positive return on education.

In August 2004 the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) reported a conservative estimate that each year the US capital facilities industry loses over $15.8 billion due to "the industry's continued paper-based business practices, a lack of standardization, and inconsistent technology adoption among stakeholders".

Shocked by these figures, designers, engineers and the construction industry began to explore alternatives to current design trends and how they are communicated and constructed. The answer reflects a "move from analog to digital design and construction," better known as Building Information Modeling (BIM), "a model-based technology linked with a database of project information," as defined by The American Institute of Architects (AIA).

In stride with industry advances, BOMI International, the education institute of choice for property and facilities management professionals, has created an innovative webcast series exploring solutions to building construction and maintenance that were thought too complicated or impossible before now.

Once a month beginning May 6, the Chief Technology Officer at Satellier, Inc., Paul Doherty, AIA, provides students with insight, tips and strategies on how BIM affects an organization's bottom line through case studies from real-world projects in the US, Europe, China and India.

Within four months, students will learn exactly how to save time and money by implementing BIM processes of standardization and consistent technology adoption that begins with the design team and ends with the building owner/operator.

After a successful run in 2007, BOMI International, in conjunction with Building Operating Management magazine, is proud to announce that its Master Facility Executive Program began in March.

This powerful series is a leadership course designed to increase business insight and executive level critical thinking skills for mid and senior level facility professionals. The series of six web based instructional seminars teaches students to analyze and evaluate complex issues in today's competitive building and facilities industry. During the MFE series students also learn how to apply course material to ones own organization and/or company needs.

Topics include:

• Thinking Like a CEO
• The Business of the Bottom Line
• The Art of Negotiation
• Lead & They Will Follow
• Creating Your Executive Brand
• Positioning the Organization