March 2016
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Moving at the Speed of Your Ideas!

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I take goals seriously and when my administration took office January 1, we had an ambitious list to accomplish. But I knew our talented BOMA/NY members were ready for a challenge. I asked for your help, and am gratified to say that your willingness to serve and provide input has been far greater than expected. It has been especially rewarding to welcome all of our new members personally by phone, and hear their ideas and hopes for the future as part of BOMA/NY.

Even better, member enthusiasm helped us fulfill a "campaign pledge" just four weeks into the year. Here’s a quick look at how far we’ve come in 12 weeks, with more details throughout this issue.  

•    In late January we hosted the first large-scale Allied and Professional Member Town Hall in years. The first order of business went right to the bottom line—how BOMA/NY is striving to drum up greater attendance by commercial real estate professionals at the May BUILDINGSNY show, so that exhibitor goods and services will reach the right audience with greater visibility.

All present were encouraged to get involved in our committees; many have new leadership and your talents are welcome and needed. And in a candid discussion on the future, we listened to concerns ranging from not having time to attend events, to the need for more information on important new technologies/products, how to address the needs of younger members, the value of case studies and more. Feedback was very much in sync with our committees as their 2016 plans got underway—we already had a seminar on cybersecurity in the works.

•    Committee chairs and vice chairs are now attending our Board meetings, giving us frequent and valuable updates

Additional Goals Accomplished Include:

•    Our advocacy to achieve commercial real estate’s perspective on ADA was heard and received; Congressman Charles Rangle signed on to sponsor the legislation immediately following our meeting. Congressman Dan Donovan spoke with us personally about our work, and will be meeting soon with our Preparedness Committee at BOMA/NY headquarters.

•    The newly-launched Emerging Leaders campaign targeting the next generation of BOMA/NY now has several applications ready for review at the April Board Meeting.

•    We are now hearing directly from key governmental officials and decision-makers at Board Meeting briefings, where we also share the BOMA/NY perspective. Manhattan Borough President Gail Brewer met with us in February.

Still in the Early developmental Phases are:

•    Technology Committee: Headed by Deborah Tomasi of Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. Six members have volunteered to serve and are putting forward ideas ranging from social media opportunities to creating apps that bring value back to the ownership.

•    Long Range Planning Committee: Led by Cindy Boyea, RPA/CPM of Paramount Group, Inc.. This group is now formed, and the focus of its work will form the critical backbone of BOMA/NY’s way forward over the next three to five years.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to call or email me. Keep sending your thoughts and suggestions, and I look forward to reporting back as we make progress on BOMA/NY’s vital initiatives.

BOMA/NY President
James R. Kleeman, RPA