January 2016
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2015 Report Card: Your Colleagues, At Work For You

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BOMA/NY's 2016 officers, l-r: Treasurer Hani J. Salama, PE LEED AP (CBRE); President James R. Kleeman, RPA (The Port Authority of NY & NJ); Vice President Ronald S. Zeccardi (The Moinian Group); and Secretary Matthew J. Duthie, RPA (JLL).


On Jan. 5, the new Kleeman administration, (shown here above) and members of the Board of Directors got down to work, with President Jim Kleeman stressing the importance of participation, calling for more volunteers across all generations and skill levels, launching town halls with Allied and Professional members, and much more. Details on programs, initiatives and opportunities will be rolled out in successive issues of BOMAfacts.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the Annual State of the Association report, delivered by Thomas L. Hill, RPA, who had just concluded his two years of service as president. The far-ranging report covered all aspects of the Association’s service and development. We’ve summed up the most salient points here. 

The State of our Association is....Very Good and Getting Better!

Advocacy and Committee Work: We raised our profile substantially over the past year among the City Council, Mayor’s Office and agency staff, testifying on more than a dozen Council bills ranging from Legionella prevention to noise, pollution waste transfer and training. We commented on Proposed Rules, challenged the process for drafting new commercial recycling rules, suggesting a formal study and called for a task force to shape policy, among other charges and challenges.

Currently, BOMA/NY members are lending expertise to a DOB advisory group revising the 2016 Energy Conservation Code, as well as Working Groups focusing on amending the current Buildings Code. Members are also active on two sub-groups intrinsic to the Mayor’s 80 X 50 Working Group, helping to devise a path to achieve an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

In conjunction with the Mayor’s Office and through collaboration with our colleagues at REBNY and the Urban Green Council, we’re also working to establish a voluntary, energy management training program for management teams in order to pre-empt potential mandated requirements from the City.

And, by meeting with Con Edison, the PSC and other leading energy stakeholders, our voice has been heard on standby tariffs, the self-direct program (large buildings/portfolios can retain their system benefits charges, and spend it instead on energy efficiency upgrades), and the NYS REV program.

See "Newsmakers" for more details on Committee accomplishments in 2015.

Events/Seminars: Among the highlights of our educational presentations were three seminars—FDNY codes and risk reduction, active shooter protocols taken to a higher level, and the latest information on Legionella contamination—that educated almost 450 individuals on these timely issues. Also well-attended was our November Annual Conference and Leadership Breakfast, featuring the DOB Commissioner discussing his ambitious plans for modernizing the department at all levels, and Energy Action Day, with its focus on making energy storage work drawing strong attendance. And our Pinnacle Awards continued to raise the bar of management excellence while engaging new participants, attendees and sponsors. 

Membership: BOMA/NY continues to dominate the BOMA International Federation as the Association with the largest number of members worldwide. We’re also making inroads into developing the next generation of leadership by bringing emerging leaders into the fold. And BOMAfacts continues to deliver the news at the highest "read" rate—three times higher—than any fellow BOMA Association.

Not a bad record for busy New Yorkers!

Thank you to all the volunteers that make BOMA/NY what it is and what it can be. And a special thanks to the members of our Board and Officers who volunteer an extraordinary amount of time to make our industry and Association work for you.

Seated (L-R): Director Bridget M. Cunningham (Vornado Office Management LLC); Secretary Matthew J. Duthie, RPA (JLL); Vice President Ronald S. Zeccardi (The Moinian Group); President James R. Kleeman, RPA (The Port Authority of NY & NJ); Treasurer Hani J. Salama, PE LEED AP (CBRE); and Director Deborah Tomasi (Cushman & Wakefield, Inc.)

Standing (L-R): Allied Membership Director Joseph G. Graham (Graham Restoration Company, Inc.); Director Javier Lezamiz, CPM (Normandy Real Estate Partners); Professional Membership Director Hershel Weiss, CIPE (Ashokan Water Services Inc.); Director Frank Lynch (Colliers International); Director J. William Grosvenor (Related Management Company LP); Former President Thomas L. Hill, RPA (Boston Properties Inc.); Director Frank R. Scaffa (SL Green Realty Corp.); Director Jeremiah O’Shea (Madison Square Garden); Director Michael Spagnola (L & L Holding Company, LLC); and Director Cynthia M. Boyea, RPA/CPM/CCIM (Paramount Group, Inc.).

Not Pictured: Ron Jerman (The Durst Organization); Michael F. Sullivan, RPA/FMA/MSRE (Edward J. Minskoff Equities); and Joseph Szabo (Tishman Speyer Properties).