ConnexFM is the premier membership organization serving facility managers and supplier partners across the United States.
ConnexFM is the leading membership organization for multi-site facilities managers and supplier professionals, representing more than 3,000 individual and 700 company members across North America. The association provides education, advocacy, networking, and leadership opportunities that support excellence in facilities management. Under the leadership of CEO Bill Yanek, ConnexFM has strengthened its governance model by adopting a transparent and inclusive approach to board selection and evaluation.
The Challenge
ConnexFM’s existing board nomination process leaned heavily on personal networks and informal recommendations. This limited the candidate pool and risked overlooking talented leaders who could bring fresh perspectives.
CEO Bill Yanek and the Board sought to modernize the process by making it broader, more transparent, and aligned with ConnexFM’s policy governance model. The goals were to:
- Expand access to all members interested in serving.
- Identify leaders who could think strategically about the industry’s future.
- Build credibility and member trust in board elections.
Bill Yanek, CEO, ConnexFM
The Solution
ConnexFM partnered with Sterling Martin to create a structured Board Selection & Evaluation Framework.
The process emphasizes fairness, inclusivity, and alignment with ConnexFM’s policy governance model.
Key elements include:
- Open Nominations: All members are welcome to self-nominate or nominate peers.
- First-Round Screening: Sterling Martin conducts interviews to assess governance readiness and alignment with ConnexFM’s mission.
- Second-Round Structured Interviews: Board and nominating committee members interview finalists using refined, consistent questions.
- Transparent Elections: Members vote on the final slate, reinforcing ConnexFM’s identity as a member-driven organization.
The Impact
“Having Sterling Martin as an outside partner ensures the process is objective, transparent, and credible to our members.”
— Bill Yanek, CEO, ConnexFM
ConnexFM’s governance culture has been strengthened across several dimensions:
- More strategic boards focused on long-term direction rather than operational details.
- Greater member trust thanks to a transparent process that avoids perceptions of favoritism.
- Continuous improvement as the evaluation framework is refined annually, with interview questions now totaling nearly 20.
- Competitive elections that ensure members have real choices on the ballot.
- Inclusive access that allows senior leaders, including CEOs of major member companies, to participate even without prior committee service.
Sterling Martin continues to serve as ConnexFM’s partner for a third consecutive annual board nomination cycle and has also been engaged to support the ConnexFM Foundation Board—reflecting a trusted, ongoing collaboration.
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