Jeffrey J. Tafel, CAE, is the executive director of the IFMA Foundation, a Houston-based nonprofit organization promoting education, facility management degree program accreditation and research in the facility management profession.

Tafel manages all aspects of the IFMA Foundation’s daily operations, working directly with the foundation’s board of trustees to design and execute fundraising, marketing and program plans. He oversees the development of the foundation’s annual Balanced Scorecard, the foundation’s research and grant programs; and in coordination with the director of academic affairs, implements the foundations accreditation and scholarship programs.

He has worked for the International Facility Management Association since 2003, having served as director of membership and councils, associate director of member resources and director of allied services. Prior to joining IFMA, he served the National Association of Credit Management of South Texas as administrator and credit interchange services manager, The Radio Stations of Southwest Michigan as non-traditional revenue development manager and account executive, KQUE/KNUZ Radio in Houston as market research director and account executive, and WMPL Radio in Hancock, Mich., as assistant general manager and operations manager.

Tafel serves on the board of directors of the Association Foundation Group, and is a member of the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives and Houston Society of Association Executives. He holds a Certified Association Executive credential from ASAE and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Michigan Technological University.