Building Consulting Firm zumBrunnen Participating in LeadingAge California & LeadingAge North Carolina State Conferences

May 3rd, 2013

Atlanta, GA – May 2, 2013 – zumBrunnen, Inc., an independent building consulting firm, is presenting an educational session at the LeadingAge California Annual Conference and exhibiting at the LeadingAge North Carolina Annual Meeting during the month of May 2013. Both state-level associations are affiliated with LeadingAge, a national association of over 6,000 not-for-profit organizations dedicated to making America a better place to grow old. LeadingAge advances policies, promotes practices and conducts research that supports, enables and empowers people to live fully as they age.

LeadingAge California Annual Conference May 6-8, 2013:

The LeadingAge California Annual Conference will be held in Monterey, CA on May 6-8, 2013. John zumBrunnen, Founder and President of the firm, will present an educational session titled “Ensure Mission – Financially and Physically Fit Facilities” from 2:15-4:15 PM on Tuesday, May 7, 2013.

Ensure Mission – Financially and Physically Fit Facilities:

The session will help executive officers and board members understand the critical financial and facility issues that must be identified and accounted for in their budgets. To achieve mission requires long-term financial stability. Communities must be more than financially fit on paper; they must also be physically fit. Executives and Boards need accurate, comprehensive reporting on the physical condition of their assets, and they need to know when they have the tools to maintain their communities while being as efficient and green as practical, and that they have the funds to act strategically when changes are necessary. This session provides the insight and strategy Executives and Boards need to preserve their physical assets. Participants will learn how Boards and Executives gain an objective analysis of their communities’ physical condition, actions necessary to maximize physical plant efficiencies and actions necessary to ensure physical assets are properly maintained.

About John zumBrunnen:

John zumBrunnen is President and Founder of zumBrunnen, Inc., an independent construction and building consulting firm founded in 1989. zumBrunnen has a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of North Dakota, and he completed the US Army Corps of Engineers Training Program in 1972. He is a member of LeadingAge and is also active with many state chapters of the national organization. He has been a faculty member since 2003 for the University of North Texas, Coalition for Leadership in Aging Services (CLAS), a national certification program for aging services professionals (CASP) and authored the “Asset Management” training module. zumBrunnen has 40+ years of experience in construction, property assessment, development, and reserve budgeting.  He is the inventor of the FacilityForecast® software system and a respected author and speaker in the industry.

LeadingAge North Carolina Annual Meeting and Exposition May 13-16, 2013:

The LeadingAge North Carolina Annual Meeting and Exposition will be held on May 13-16, 2013 in Asheville, NC. Representatives from zumBrunnen will be available to answer questions at booth #21 in the exposition hall.

About LeadingAge:

LeadingAge is an association of 6,000 not-for-profit organizations dedicated to expanding the world of possibilities for aging. LeadingAge CA and LeadingAge NC are state-level chapters of the national organization. LeadingAge strives to advance policies, promote practices and conduct research that supports, enables and empowers people to live fully as they age. LeadingAge’s members offer a continuum of aging services including:  adult day services, home health, community services, senior housing, assisted living residences, continuing care retirement communities and nursing homes. For more information, please visit www.LeadingAge.org.

About zumBrunnen, Inc.:

zumBrunnen, Inc. was founded in 1989. With offices in Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC, the firm specializes in construction consulting, property condition assessments, facility condition assessments, long-range capital reserve study planning and thermal imaging services for a diverse list of national clients. The firm is also recognized for their proprietary FacilityForecast® Software System, a unique facilities condition assessment and budgeting tool designed to forecast and manage long-term capital replacement expenses and to provide custom reserve funding plans designed to their client’s business model.

The firm has completed notable projects in a variety of market sectors including senior living, educational, multi-family, healthcare, institutional, mixed use, retail, office, warehouse, industrial, hospitality and public assembly. The firm is involved with numerous associations including LeadingAge (formerly the American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging or AAHSA), LeadingAge North Carolina (formerly NCANPHA), LeadingAge Florida (formerly FAHSA), LeadingAge Georgia (formerly GAHSA), Life Services Network (LSN), Coalition for Leadership in Aging Services (CLAS), Community Associations Institute Georgia (CAI-GA), Community Associations Institute North Carolina (CAI-NC) and the Community Associations Institute South Carolina (CAI-SC).

For more information about zumBrunnen, please call 404-601-4050 or e-mail info@zumbrunnen.com.

Posted in Conferences, Facility Maintenance, Reserve Studies & Capital Planning, Senior Living Facilities | No Comments »

Building Consulting Firm zumBrunnen Co-Presenting Educational Session at 2013 LSN Annual Meeting

April 30th, 2013

Atlanta, GA – April 26, 2013 – zumBrunnen, Inc., an independent building consulting firm, is co-presenting an educational seminar at the Life Services Network (LSN) 2013 Annual Meeting & Exhibition being held May 1-3, 2013 in Chicago. In addition to making a presentation, representatives from zumBrunnen will also be in booth 1211 in the exposition area.

Can We Afford Our Strategic Plan? – Using the Tools of Capital Assessment and Financial Analysis:

zumBrunnen will be co-presenting a session titled “Can We Afford Our Strategic Plan?” on Thursday, May 2 from 3:45 – 5:15 pm. John zumBrunnen will make the joint presentation with Jeffery Vrieze, a Partner with CliftonLarsonAllen LLP. The session will explore the philosophies and methodologies financial advisors and engineers use to support planning to implement new services and capital improvements. Attendees will learn how to measure financial strength and their capacity to access capital, and to model their capital capacity to fund their strategic plan, including new services and capital projects. The session will also explore how to construct a model to validate a renovation, repositioning or replacement of an entire facility.

About John zumBrunnen:

John zumBrunnen is President and Founder of zumBrunnen, Inc., an independent construction and building consulting firm founded in 1989. zumBrunnen has a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of North Dakota, and he completed the US Army Corps of Engineers Training Program in 1972. He is a member of LeadingAge and is also active with many state chapters of the national organization. He has been a faculty member since 2003 for the University of North Texas, Coalition for Leadership in Aging Services (CLAS), a national certification program for aging services professionals (CASP) and authored the “Asset Management” training module. zumBrunnen has 40+ years of experience in construction, property assessment, development, and reserve budgeting.  He is the inventor of the FacilityForecast® software system and a respected author and speaker in the industry.

About LSN:

Life Services Network (LSN) is the largest eldercare association in Illinois. For over 75 years, the association has represented providers of services for older adults, including nursing care, supportive and assisted living, senior housing and home and community based services. LSN is nationally recognized for its innovative programs, leadership and expertise on issues related to long-term care and senior housing and services. LSN is also the state affiliate of LeadingAge (formerly AAHSA) and the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA). For more information, please visit www.lsni.org.

About zumBrunnen, Inc.:

zumBrunnen, Inc. was founded in 1989. With offices in Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC, the firm specializes in construction consulting, property condition assessments, facility condition assessments, long-range capital reserve study planning and thermal imaging services for a diverse list of national clients. The firm is also recognized for their proprietary FacilityForecast® Software System, a unique facilities condition assessment and budgeting tool designed to forecast and manage long-term capital replacement expenses and to provide custom reserve funding plans designed to their client’s business model.

The firm has completed notable projects in a variety of market sectors including senior living, educational, multi-family, healthcare, institutional, mixed use, retail, office, warehouse, industrial, hospitality and public assembly. The firm is involved with numerous associations including LeadingAge (formerly the American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging or AAHSA), LeadingAge North Carolina (formerly NCANPHA), LeadingAge Florida (formerly FAHSA), LeadingAge Georgia (formerly GAHSA), Life Services Network (LSN), Coalition for Leadership in Aging Services (CLAS), Community Associations Institute Georgia (CAI-GA), Community Associations Institute North Carolina (CAI-NC) and the Community Associations Institute South Carolina (CAI-SC).

For more information about zumBrunnen, please call 404-601-4050 or e-mail info@zumbrunnen.com.

Posted in Conferences, Reserve Studies & Capital Planning, Senior Living Facilities | No Comments »

Questions to Ask Before Updating Your Reserve Study or Reserve Funding Plan

April 23rd, 2013

by John zumBrunnen, Founder and President, zumBrunnen, Inc.

Reserve funding plans (also known as replacement reserve studies) are critical planning and budgeting tools for effective facilities management. The process of developing an initial reserve study (or funding plan) involves a comprehensive facilities assessment of all fixed and movable assets. This property assessment provides the foundation to develop a list of immediate and long-term facility budget items to create the initial plan.

Funding plans, however, are not one-time, static reports. They require continual updates to maximize their effectiveness. National Reserve Study Standards (NRSS) recommend the initial reserve study (or Level 1 Study) be completed by a consultant with the next two annual updates completed by the owner.

Every three years, the NRSS recommends an update to the plan by a consultant. A Level 2 update includes a site visit and review of the plan by the consultant. A Level 3 update only calls for a review of the plan by the consultant without any trip to the property.

So, how do you determine if you need a Level 2 or Level 3 update to your plan? Below is a list of questions to help determine if you should conduct a site visit along with your update:

  • Has any significant maintenance been deferred?
  • Did annual funding contributions occur as planned?
  • Did all significant expenses occur as planned?
  • Has the reserve balance deviated more than 5% from the desired percent-funded goal?
  • Has local pricing or inflation been significantly impacted?
  • Has a significant building code citation been received?
  • Have there been any new mandated changes of significance made to the building codes?
  • Have any major systems or equipment become obsolete?
  • Has there been any extreme wear or tear to major components or critical systems?
  • Have any major systems or components been added, overhauled, or replaced?
  • Are any developer, contractor, or critical manufacturer warranties set to expire?
  • Are there new technologies or product developments that may impact operations?
  • Have any environmental/geological events occurred that may have a negative impact?
  • Has there been any significant change in demographics or competition?
  • Has there been a change in service vendors, property managers, or senior level executives?
  • Has there been a change in the leadership or membership of the board or trustees?
  • Is there a plan to refinance, apply for accreditation, renovate, expand, sell, or merge?
  • Is there any significant change to corporate goals or mission?
  • Has it been three years since the assessment and funding plan was completed (note: NRSS recommends every three years)?

If you answer “YES” to 1-3 of these questions, it is recommended you discuss this with your consultant to determine if a site visit is beneficial and the best course of action. If you answered “YES” to 4 or more questions, you should definitely consider the Level 2 update with a site visit to assure your scope, schedule, and funding plan align with your obligations and business model.

“Risk management” factors into literally every business decision, whether your business plan is margin or mission driven.  Funding replacement-reserves minimizes maintenance risk, one of the principal risks in property ownership.  Choosing to manage maintenance risk by funding reserves is a fundamental and sound business practice that will help ensure your mission and long-term goals are achieved!

About the Author:

John zumBrunnen is president and founder of zumBrunnen, Inc., an independent construction and building consulting firm founded in 1989 with offices in Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC. zumBrunnen has a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of North Dakota and completed the US Army Corps of Engineers Training Program in 1972. zumBrunnen is involved with LeadingAge (and various state chapters of the organization). His company is also a member of the Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina Chapters of the Community Associations Institute (CAI). zumBrunnen has been a faculty member since 2003 for the University of North Texas, Coalition for Leadership in Aging Services (CLAS), a national certification program for aging services professionals (CASP), and authored their “Asset Management” training module. zumBrunnen has 40+ years’ experience in construction, property assessment, development, and reserve budgeting. He is the inventor of the FacilityForecast® software system and a respected industry author and speaker.

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Building Consulting Firm zumBrunnen Exhibiting at LeadingAge Georgia & South Carolina Joint Annual Conference

April 16th, 2013

Atlanta, GA – April 16, 2013 – zumBrunnen, Inc., an independent building consulting firm, is exhibiting at booth #21 at the LeadingAge Georgia & South Carolina Joint Annual Conference being held April 16-18, 2013 in Augusta, GA. zumBrunnen specializes in providing senior living communities with critical services such as: property condition assessments, reserve studies, reserve study updates and construction monitoring services.

About LeadingAge:

LeadingAge is an association of 6,000 not-for-profit organizations dedicated to expanding the world of possibilities for aging. LeadingAge GA and LeadingAge SC are state-level chapters of the national organization. LeadingAge strives to advance policies, promote practices and conduct research that supports, enables and empowers people to live fully as they age. LeadingAge’s members offer a continuum of aging services including:  adult day services, home health, community services, senior housing, assisted living residences, continuing care retirement communities and nursing homes. For more information, please visit www.LeadingAge.org.

About zumBrunnen, Inc.:

zumBrunnen, Inc. was founded in 1989. With offices in Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC, the firm specializes in construction consulting, property condition assessments, facility condition assessments, long-range capital reserve study planning and thermal imaging services for a diverse list of national clients. The firm is also recognized for their proprietary FacilityForecast® Software System, a unique facilities condition assessment and budgeting tool designed to forecast and manage long-term capital replacement expenses and to provide custom reserve funding plans designed to their client’s business model.

The firm has completed notable projects in a variety of market sectors including senior living, educational, multi-family, healthcare, institutional, mixed use, retail, office, warehouse, industrial, hospitality and public assembly. The firm is involved with numerous associations including LeadingAge (formerly the American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging or AAHSA), LeadingAge North Carolina (formerly NCANPHA), LeadingAge Florida (formerly FAHSA), LeadingAge Georgia (formerly GAHSA), Life Services Network (LSN), Coalition for Leadership in Aging Services (CLAS), Community Associations Institute Georgia (CAI-GA), Community Associations Institute North Carolina (CAI-NC) and the Community Associations Institute South Carolina (CAI-SC).

For more information about zumBrunnen, please call 404-601-4050 or e-mail info@zumbrunnen.com.

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Building Consulting Firm zumBrunnen, Inc. Announces New Project Commissions

March 28th, 2013

Atlanta, GA – March 27, 2013 – zumBrunnen, Inc., an independent building consulting firm, is proud to announce several new project commissions for clients throughout the country. zumBrunnen’s services for the new clients include: construction monitoring services, property condition assessments, reserve studies, bank reports and the firm’s feature Strategic Capital Replacement Budget (SCRB) and their trademark Campus Wide FacilityForecast® (CWFF). The new projects span a variety of industries and market segments including: multifamily developments, senior living facilities, hospitality properties, educational facilities as well as condo and home owner associations (HOA).

“We are continuing to see strong activity in multifamily properties, senior living facilities, condo and home owner associations as well as an uptick in other sectors such as education and hospitality,” said John zumBrunnen, Founder and President of zumBrunnen, Inc. “Smart planning is critical for all businesses, and we appreciate the opportunity to serve such a broad range of clients. In the past six years alone, we have completed more than 600 assessments and budget plans. We are also seeing an increase in construction monitoring services indicating new construction is expanding once again. We sincerely appreciate the trust our clients put in us to help them maximize the value of their facilities.”

zumBrunnen’s representative new projects include:

  • Block Lofts in Atlanta GA (multi-family),
  • Canyon Ridge in Hermitage, TN (multi-family),
  • Collington in Mitchellville, MD (senior living),
  • Dock Meadows in Hatfield, PA (senior living),
  • Dock Woods in Landsdale, PA (senior living),
  • Embassy Suites in Elizabeth, NJ (hospitality),
  • Forum at Rancho San Antonio in Cupertino, CA (senior living),
  • Greystone at Vinings in Atlanta, GA (condo/HOA),
  • Magellan Charter School in Raleigh, NC (education),
  • Oakbrook Villas in Belleview, FL (multi-family),
  • Oakland Terrace in Jacksonville, FL (multi-family),
  • Peace Village in Palos Park, IL (senior living),
  • Reserve at Ashley Lake in Boynton Beach, FL (multi-family),
  • Richmond Place Home Owners Association in Loganville, GA (condo/HOA),
  • Souderton Mennonite Home in Souderton, PA (senior living),
  • Terraces at Los Altos in Los Altos, CA (senior living),
  • The Park Baldwin Palms in Orlando, FL (multi-family),
  • Vickery Village Condominiums in Cumming, GA (condo/HOA) and
  • Woodbridge at the Lake in Jacksonville, FL (multi-family).

About zumBrunnen, Inc.:

zumBrunnen, Inc. was founded in 1989. With offices in Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC, the firm specializes in construction consulting, property condition assessments, facility condition assessments, long-range capital reserve study planning and thermal imaging services for a diverse list of national clients. The firm is also recognized for their proprietary FacilityForecast® Software System, a unique facilities condition assessment and budgeting tool designed to forecast and manage long-term capital replacement expenses and to provide custom reserve funding plans designed to their client’s business model.

The firm has completed notable projects in a variety of market sectors including senior living, educational, multi-family, healthcare, institutional, mixed use, retail, office, warehouse, industrial, hospitality and public assembly. The firm is involved with numerous associations including LeadingAge (formerly the American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging or AAHSA), LeadingAge North Carolina (formerly NCANPHA), LeadingAge Florida (formerly FAHSA), LeadingAge Georgia (formerly GAHSA), Life Services Network (LSN), Coalition for Leadership in Aging Services (CLAS), Community Associations Institute Georgia (CAI-GA), Community Associations Institute North Carolina (CAI-NC) and the Community Associations Institute South Carolina (CAI-SC).

For more information about zumBrunnen, please call 404-601-4050 or e-mail info@zumbrunnen.com.

Posted in Educational Facilities, HOA & Condo Associations, Multifamily, News Releases, Property & Facility Assessments, Reserve Studies & Capital Planning, Senior Living Facilities | No Comments »

2013 Off to a Strong Start for the Independent Building Consultants at zumBrunnen, Inc.

January 24th, 2013

Atlanta, GA – January 23, 2013 – zumBrunnen, Inc., an independent building consulting firm, is proud to announce several new project commissions. zumBrunnen was recently retained to provide  services for clients in 13 states throughout the continental US and also commissioned for projects in Hawaii and Guam.

zumBrunnen’s services for the new clients include: property condition assessments,  reserve studies, construction monitoring services, transition reports, completion and compliance reports and the firm’s feature Strategic Capital Replacement Budget (SCRB) and their trademark Campus Wide FacilityForecast® (CWFF). The new projects span a variety of industries and market segments including: senior living, multifamily developments, educational facilities, mixed use developments as well as condo and home owner associations (HOA).

“As independent building consultants, we sincerely appreciate the trust our clients put in us to help them maximize the value of their facilities,” said John zumBrunnen, Founder and President of the firm. “We are proud to announce a growing list of new projects all over the country and also in Hawaii and Guam. Smart planning is critical for all businesses, and we appreciate the opportunity to serve such a broad range of clients in so many different industries. In the past six years alone, we have completed more than 600 assessments and budget plans. We want to thank our repeat clients for their continued business and extend a warm welcome to our new clients.”

zumBrunnen’s representative new projects include:

  • Alexan at Gunbarrel Flats in Boulder, CO (mixed use),
  • Brookdale in Broken Arrow, OK (senior living),
  • Deerwood Park Apartments in Jacksonville, FL (multi-family),
  • El Castillo Retirement Residences in Santa Fe, NM (senior living),
  • Fox Valley Technical College Tech Village in Grand Chute, WI (educational),
  • Friends Village in Newtown Township, PA (senior living),
  • Lakeshore Apartments in Hendersonville, TN (multi-family),
  • Laurel Lake Retirement Community in Hudson, OH (senior living),
  • Memorial Heights in Houston, TX (multi-family),
  • Polo Club at Weddington in Matthews, NC (single family HOA),
  • Sunrise Place in Tallahassee, FL (multi-family),
  • Terraces of San Joaquin Gardens in Fresno, CA (senior living),
  • The Astoria at the Aramore in Atlanta, GA (condo/HOA),
  • The Moorings at Arlington Heights in Arlington Heights, IL (senior living),
  • Towne Club Windermere in Cumming, GA (senior living),
  • Ukudu High School Expansion in Dededo, Guam (educational)
  • Wailea Point in Wailea, Maui, HI (condo/HOA), and
  • White Provision Residences in Atlanta, GA (condo/HOA).

About zumBrunnen, Inc.:

zumBrunnen, Inc. was founded in 1989. With offices in Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC, the firm specializes in construction consulting, property condition assessments, facility condition assessments, long-range capital reserve study planning and thermal imaging services for a diverse list of national clients. The firm is also recognized for their proprietary FacilityForecast® Software System, a unique facilities condition assessment and budgeting tool designed to forecast and manage long-term capital replacement expenses and to provide custom reserve funding plans designed to their client’s business model.

The firm has completed notable projects in a variety of market sectors including senior living, educational, multi-family, healthcare, institutional, mixed use, retail, office, warehouse, industrial, hospitality and public assembly. The firm is involved with numerous associations including LeadingAge (formerly the American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging or AAHSA), LeadingAge North Carolina (formerly NCANPHA), LeadingAge Florida (formerly FAHSA), LeadingAge Georgia (formerly GAHSA), Life Services Network (LSN), Coalition for Leadership in Aging Services (CLAS), Community Associations Institute Georgia (CAI-GA), Community Associations Institute North Carolina (CAI-NC) and the Community Associations Institute South Carolina (CAI-SC).

For more information about zumBrunnen, please call 404-601-4050 or e-mail info@zumbrunnen.com.

Posted in Educational Facilities, HOA & Condo Associations, News Releases, Property & Facility Assessments, Reserve Studies & Capital Planning, Senior Living Facilities | No Comments »

Is It Necessary To Fully Fund Depreciation?

December 6th, 2012

By: John H. zumBrunnen, President of zumBrunnen, Inc.

Often when providing Reserve Studies we are asked, “When funding replacement reserves, should we adhere to the national standards for a Fully Funded Plan (100% of depreciation) versus a Threshold Funding Plan (a plan based on a cash flow analysis with a contingency)?”

Before beginning this discussion, please note it has been our experience that one of the primary reasons for a budget shortfall, regardless of which plan is funded, is not due to selecting the wrong plan, but the omission of readily apparent expenses due to the inexperience of the consultant preparing the plan.  For the following discussions it is assumed the consultant is suitably qualified.

First, one must clarify what is meant by funding depreciation. The point to make is noting a Fully Funded Plan funds far more than just depreciable assets.  The plan must include the many expenses which are not depreciable assets; major skin repairs, painting, paving and concrete repairs, roof tune-ups, refinishing the pool, and major equipment overhauls are just a few examples.  A plan, whether based on depreciation or cash flow, should include all expenses with a life beyond one year and a recommended minimum cost of $1,000, plus any life safety, code or critical repairs regardless of cost.

With these clarifications in mind, we have two observations pertaining to a Fully Funded Plan: (1) If only depreciable assets are funded, there is a very high probability that reserves will be underfunded resulting in a budget shortfall and special assessments; (2) If all expenses as noted above are funded, in most cases excessive cash reserves will accumulate, far more than needed to properly maintain the facility. Based on these observations, we find it difficult to justify a Fully Funded Plan, with one exception. If a catastrophic event occurs, there should be funds available to help address such an event, thereby limiting exposure for a special assessment.

Aside from having adequate funds available, there are two primary drivers for funding depreciation among common interest real-estate properties (condos, co-ops, time shares, etc.), which are (1) so everyone pays their share of all current and future expenses, and (2) to minimize the potential for a special assessment. We believe these are achievable with a Threshold Funding Plan based on a cash flow analysis.  How?… by implementing these five parameters:

  1. Include all expenses with a life beyond one year and a minimum value of at least $1,000,
  2. Include all expenses regardless of their remaining useful life,
  3. Run the cash flow analysis for a minimum of 30 years, but never less than the longest remaining useful life,
  4. Realize the cash flow analysis must be recalculated each time after the year with the highest funding requirements occur, and
  5. Include a contingency based on the factors unique to the facility; age, type of construction, quality construction and maintenance programs, etc.

The consultant should help with contingency recommendations.

A primary reason reserves are underfunded when using a cash flow analysis is that most often some of the most expensive items with the longest remaining lives are excluded; above parameter number 3.  For example, when the analysis is run for 20 years but a major expense such as a $500,000 chiller is excluded because it has a remaining life of 25 years.

When considering a Threshold Funding Plan, make sure the analysis takes into account the above five parameters. If these are followed and the consultant has done his job correctly, expectations for “everyone pays their share and the risk for a special assessment is minimized,” should be realized.   In closing, just as it is important to have adequate funds, it too is important not to tie up valuable cash assets by over funding reserves.

About the Author:

John zumBrunnen is president and founder of zumBrunnen, Inc., an independent construction and building consulting firm founded in 1989 with offices in Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC. zumBrunnen has a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of North Dakota, completed the US Army Corps of Engineers Training Program in 1972, and is a member of the Association of Professional Reserve Analysts (APRA) and numerous other national and state associations. He has been a faculty member since 2003 for the University of North Texas, Coalition for Leadership in Aging Services (CLAS), a national certification program for aging services professionals (CASP), and authored their “Asset Management” training module. zumBrunnen has 40+ years’ experience in construction, property assessment, development, and reserve budgeting. He is the inventor of the FacilityForecast® software system and a respected industry author and speaker.

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zumBrunnen Announces New Project Commissions

December 3rd, 2012

Atlanta, GA – November 30, 2012 – zumBrunnen, Inc., an independent building consulting firm, is proud to announce ten representative new project commissions. zumBrunnen has been retained to provide a broad range of services for clients across the country. Their services include: property condition assessments, budget review, drawing review, reserve studies, construction monitoring services and the firm’s feature Strategic Capital Replacement Budget (SCRB) and their trademark Campus Wide FacilityForecast® (CWFF). The new projects span a variety of market sectors including: senior living, healthcare, multifamily developments, churches as well as condo and home owner associations.

“Smart facilities planning is critical for ALL types of business, and we are proud to announce a growing list of new clients,” said John zumBrunnen, Founder and President of zumBrunnen, Inc. “Since 1989, zumBrunnen has provided construction consulting, assessment and reserve study planning services for all types of clients, completing more than 600 assessments and budget plans in the past six years alone. We attribute our ongoing success and continued expansion into new markets to our internal team of Senior Project Managers, who are all licensed engineers and seasoned professionals each with over 30 years of experience, and to the proprietary systems and software our firm has developed over the years.”

Representative new clients include: The Astoria at the Aramore in Atlanta, GA (condo/HOA), Legacy on the Bay in Destin, FL (multi-family), Arbor Hills in Atlanta, GA (multi-family), Faison-Demonbreun Apartments in Nashville, TN (multi-family), Oakland Terrace Apartments in Jacksonville, FL (multi-family), St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Mechanicsburg, PA (church), 382 Cherry Street in Macon, GA (multi-family), The Hill at Whitemarsh in Lafayette Hill, PA (senior living), Thomas Eye Group in Sandy Springs, GA (healthcare) and Specialty Care of Marietta in Marietta, GA (senior living).

About zumBrunnen, Inc.:

zumBrunnen, Inc. was founded in 1989. With offices in Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC, the firm specializes in construction consulting, property condition assessments, facility condition assessments, long-range capital reserve study planning and thermal imaging services for a diverse list of national clients. The firm is also recognized for their proprietary FacilityForecast® Software System, a unique facilities condition assessment and budgeting tool designed to forecast and manage long-term capital replacement expenses and to provide custom reserve funding plans designed to their client’s business model.

The firm has completed notable projects in a variety of market sectors including senior living, educational, multi-family, healthcare, institutional, mixed use, retail, office, warehouse, industrial, hospitality and public assembly. The firm is involved with numerous associations including LeadingAge (formerly the American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging or AAHSA), LeadingAge North Carolina (formerly NCANPHA), LeadingAge Florida (formerly FAHSA), LeadingAge Georgia (formerly GAHSA), Life Services Network (LSN), Coalition for Leadership in Aging Services (CLAS), Association of Professional Reserve Analysts (APRA), Community Associations Institute Georgia (CAI-GA), Community Associations Institute North Carolina (CAI-NC) and the Community Associations Institute South Carolina (CAI-SC). For more information about zumBrunnen, please call 404-601-4050 or email info@zumbrunnen.com.

Posted in Construction Consulting, HOA & Condo Associations, News Releases, Property & Facility Assessments, Reserve Studies & Capital Planning, Senior Living Facilities | No Comments »

zumBrunnen Presenting Educational Session on Long-Term Facilities Planning and Exhibiting at Booth 1606 at 2012 LeadingAge Annual Meeting in Denver, CO

October 19th, 2012

Atlanta, GA – October 16, 2012 – zumBrunnen, Inc., an independent building consulting firm, is presenting an educational seminar at the LeadingAge Annual Meeting & Exposition being held October 21-24, 2012 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO. In addition to making a presentation, representatives from zumBrunnen will also be in booth 1606 in the exposition area.

Ensuring a Physically and Financially Fit Organization:

zumBrunnen will be co-presenting a session titled “Ensuring a Physically and Financially Fit Organization” on Tuesday, October 23 from 3:30 – 5:00 pm. John zumBrunnen will make the joint presentation with Mario McKenzie, a Partner with CliftonLarsonAllen LLP. The session will highlight strategic capital issues that are critical to the short-term and long-term financial and physical health of an organization. Attendees will learn how to assess their capital replacement needs in light of market defend-ability, physical aging of buildings and demand for new communities and services. The session will also illustrate ways to integrate financial analysis and assessment into comprehensive strategic planning efforts.

About John zumBrunnen:

John zumBrunnen is President and Founder of zumBrunnen, Inc., an independent construction and building consulting firm founded in 1989. zumBrunnen has a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of North Dakota, completed the US Army Corps of Engineers Training Program in 1972, and is a member of the Association of Professional Reserve Analysts (APRA) and numerous other national and state associations.  He has been a faculty member since 2003 for the University of North Texas, Coalition for Leadership in Aging Services (CLAS), a national certification program for aging services professionals (CASP) and authored the “Asset Management” training module. zumBrunnen has 40+ years of experience in construction, property assessment, development, and reserve budgeting.  He is the inventor of the FacilityForecast® software system and a respected author and speaker in the industry.

About LeadingAge:

LeadingAge is an association of 6,000 not-for-profit organizations dedicated to expanding the world of possibilities for aging. Formerly known as the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (or simply AAHSA), the association strives to advance policies, promote practices and conduct research that supports, enables and empowers people to live fully as they age. LeadingAge’s members offer a continuum of aging services including:  adult day services, home health, community services, senior housing, assisted living residences, continuing care retirement communities and nursing homes. For more information, please visit www.LeadingAge.org.

About zumBrunnen, Inc.:

zumBrunnen, Inc. was founded in 1989. With offices in Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC, the firm specializes in construction consulting, property condition assessments, facility condition assessments, long-range capital reserve study planning and thermal imaging services for a diverse list of national clients. The firm is also recognized for their proprietary FacilityForecast® Software System, a unique facilities condition assessment and budgeting tool designed to forecast and manage long-term capital replacement expenses and to provide custom reserve funding plans designed to their client’s business model.

The firm has completed notable projects in a variety of market sectors including senior living, educational, multi-family, healthcare, institutional, mixed use, retail, office, warehouse, industrial, hospitality and public assembly. The firm is involved with numerous associations including LeadingAge (formerly the American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging or AAHSA), LeadingAge North Carolina (formerly NCANPHA), LeadingAge Florida (formerly FAHSA), LeadingAge Georgia (formerly GAHSA), Life Services Network (LSN), Coalition for Leadership in Aging Services (CLAS), Association of Professional Reserve Analysts (APRA), Community Associations Institute Georgia (CAI-GA), Community Associations Institute North Carolina (CAI-NC) and the Community Associations Institute South Carolina (CAI-SC). For more information about zumBrunnen, please call 404-601-4050 or email info@zumbrunnen.com.

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zumBrunnen Selected to Present Educational Session at 2012 LeadingAge Ohio Annual Conference and Trade Show

August 24th, 2012

Atlanta, GA – August 23, 2012 – zumBrunnen, Inc., an independent building consulting firm, is presenting an educational seminar at the LeadingAge Ohio Annual Conference and Trade Show being held August 28-30 at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, OH. Tom Doyen, Director of Business Development for the firm, will present the educational program.

Ensure Mission – Lower Operating Expenses – Improve Facility Programs:

Tom Doyen, Director of Business Development for zumBrunnen, will present his program called Ensure Mission – Lower Operating Expenses – Improve Facility Programs on Thursday, August 30 from 3:00-4:30 pm. The educational session is designed for Executives and Board Members who are responsible for ensuring the mission of their communities.

Doyen will explain how long-term financial stability is critical to ensure the overall mission of the communities. The presentation will also explain why communities must be more than financially fit on paper; they must also be physically fit (and what that means in relation to financial stability). Doyen will explain why executives and boards need accurate, comprehensive reporting on the physical condition of their assets, how to identify the proper tools to maintain their communities while being as efficient and green as practical, and how to ensure they have the funds to act strategically when changes are necessary. This session provides the insight and strategy executives and boards need to preserve their physical assets.

About LeadingAge Ohio:

Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, LeadingAge Ohio is a nonprofit organization that represents approximately 400 nonprofit long-term care organizations located in more than 150 Ohio towns and cities, as well as those providing ancillary health care and housing services. Member organizations serve more than 50,000 elderly Ohioans daily and employ more than 20,000 persons statewide. For more information, please visit www.leadingageohio.org.

About zumBrunnen, Inc.:

zumBrunnen, Inc. was founded in 1989. With offices in Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC, the firm specializes in construction consulting, property condition assessments, facility condition assessments, long-range capital reserve study planning, thermal imaging services and energy audits for a diverse list of national clients. The firm is also recognized for their proprietary FacilityForecast® Software System, a unique facilities condition assessment and budgeting tool designed to forecast and manage long-term capital replacement expenses and to provide custom reserve funding plans designed to their client’s business model.

The firm has completed notable projects in a variety of market sectors including senior living, educational, multi-family, healthcare, institutional, mixed use, retail, office, warehouse, industrial, hospitality and public assembly. The firm is involved with numerous associations including LeadingAge (formerly the American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging or AAHSA), LeadingAge North Carolina (formerly NCANPHA), LeadingAge Florida (formerly FAHSA), Aging Services of Georgia (formerly GAHSA), Life Services Network (LSN), Coalition for Leadership in Aging Services (CLAS), Association of Professional Reserve Analysts (APRA), Community Associations Institute Georgia (CAI-GA), Community Associations Institute North Carolina (CAI-NC) and the Community Associations Institute South Carolina (CAI-SC).

For more information about zumBrunnen, please call 404-601-4050 or email info@zumbrunnen.com.

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