Fueling Impact and Change Through Scholarships

July 14, 2025
A stylized blueprint graphic overlayed with professional photos of Jyothi Jatla and Carson VanderHoff.

Investing in the future of facilities management means supporting the people who will shape it. As a Corporate Sustaining Partner of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), ESFM is committed to strengthening the profession and helping it evolve to meet the demands of modern workplaces.

One way we do that is through our annual ESFM scholarships created to recognize and support emerging leaders who bring fresh ideas and a strong sense of purpose to the field.

From a competitive pool of more than 80 applicants, Jyothi Jatla and Carson VanderHoff were selected as the 2025 scholarship recipients — recognized not only for their academic achievements, but for their vision of how facilities management can make a lasting difference in the world around them.

MEET THE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Jyothi JatalaJyothi Jatla

With a master’s degree in construction and facilities engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Jatla has already demonstrated a passion for advancing the profession. As secretary of the IFMA Charlotte Student Chapter, she’s helped foster FM awareness on campus and in the community.

“Being selected is both an honor and a motivating milestone,” Jatla said. “It reinforces my commitment to making a meaningful contribution — especially in sustainability and operational efficiency.”

She’s focused on how smart technologies, strategic planning, and sustainable design can be integrated into existing buildings to improve performance and occupant well-being.

Carson VanderHoffCarson VanderHoff

A recent graduate of Ferris State University with a bachelor’s degree in facilities management, VanderHoff brings a wide-lens view to the profession. As vice president of the campus IFMA chapter, he gained firsthand exposure to how facilities teams operate across industries.

“I want my work to matter and create impact,” VanderHoff said. “Facility management gives me the platform to do that — in ways that truly help organizations and people.”

He’s drawn to the diversity of the field and sees opportunity in every kind of facility, from corporate campuses to healthcare and beyond.

A CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN TALENT AND THE INDUSTRY

Now in its fifth year, the ESFM scholarship reflects our belief that investing in the next generation is essential to advancing the field. Winners receive funds toward tuition, plus full sponsorship to attend IFMA’s 2025 World Workplace & Expo in Minneapolis, Minn., where they’ll be recognized on stage by ESFM leaders.

The scholarship is part of ESFM’s broader commitment to workforce development through IFMA. The company is a gold-level Corporate Sustaining Partner and a platinum-level advising partner of the IFMA Foundation’s Global Workforce Initiative, which works to promote facilities management as a career of choice. ESFM President David Hogland also serves on the IFMA Foundation Board of Trustees, helping shape the profession’s future at a strategic level.

“This scholarship is one of the many ways we help create opportunity and drive excellence across facilities management,” Hogland said. “Our industry depends on talented, values-driven professionals like Jyothi and Carson.”

LOOKING AHEAD: ESFM AT IFMA WORLD WORKPLACE 2025

In addition to celebrating the scholarship winners, ESFM will have a strong presence at this year’s World Workplace conference:

  • Education Session: “How Data Brings Hospitality to the Facilities Experience” — led by ESFM subject matter experts, showcasing how data and service strategy intersect to improve an environment and the experiences in it.
  • Innovation Award Finalist: ESFM is a finalist for the prestigious IFMA Awards of Excellence – Innovation Award, honoring organizations that are moving the industry forward.

From scholarship support to thought leadership, ESFM continues to champion the future of facilities management.