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June 2014
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Ernie Conrad: A Very Special "Fellow"
 "I am so honored to be a part of this special Fellows ‘family’ of BOMA, and I will continue to give back to the Association and our industry as an advocate for commercial building needs," said Ernest A. Conrad, PE, LEED AP, CEM, BEAP (or just plain Ernie to his BOMA/NY colleagues), of the special recognition he received this past week in Orlando at BOMA International’s annual conference and trade show. An engineer by training who excelled in solving complex problems for historic buildings, among others, Ernie was named one of four BOMA Fellows for 2014, a distinction demanding a very high bar of achievement and one conferred on very few. The Fellows represent an unusual group within BOMA Internationa--part brain trust, part ambassadorial contingent for the Association and its mission. Or as the official definition says, to "support and enhance its strategic vision...and programs... (by acting as) speakers, writers, thought leaders, advisors and advocates for BOMA." And whenever possible, to mentor, recruit and develop future leaders. To become part of this elite group, Ernie was partially judged on his credentials--it took 15 pages to summarize his accomplishments and service. Most New Yorkers remember him best in his role as head of "Ernie’s Army," or the Codes & Regulations/Government Affairs Committee (Codes & Regs), which he chaired for more than a dozen years starting in 1997. Ernie, who first joined the committee in 1989, when he recalls it "met in a room the size of a closet" and only four people attended at most, led the committee to become a cadre of more than 60, with experts covering every area of expertise under its domain. He created the fall seminar that became the Annual Conference, helped launch Advocacy at BOMA/NY and won a Pinnacle for Outstanding Local Member of the Year in 1999. His focus on Codes & Regs helped guide the committee to a position of prominence within the industry, with a voice--and influence--at City Hall. He marshaled the talents of multiple BOMA/NY members to advise and consult with City officials on the development and interpretation of NYC’s ADA and Construction codes, among others. But perhaps Codes & Regs’ crowning achievement came in May 2007, when the landmark accomplishment of seeing the International Building Code finally signed into law was reached. It had taken dozens of BOMA/NY volunteers three tedious years to review all aspects of the Code affecting property management, and hone them into a workable piece of New York-focused legislation. Ernie was also very active our behalf beyond New York, with contributions almost too many to list. Still, he found time to head his own consulting engineering firm while acting as BOMA International’s Vice Chair of the Energy & Environment Committee (among other committee assignments), serving as a Middle Atlantic Conference TOBY judge, and working side-by-side with such groups as ASHRAE to create green building standards. Ernie is making good on his pledge to continue to work on our behalf. This year he has already been in Washington, DC as part of the National Issues Conference and a member of three key committees, served as a MAC TOBY judge, and is working with ASHRAE on a filters position paper. It is often said that Associations stand on the intellectual strength and contributions of its members. By that definition, BOMA International, and unquestionably, BOMA/New York, is all the stronger for having Ernie as one of our own. The extraordinary foundation, structure and results he helped build, have been, and continue to be, vital to our industry’s progress. All of BOMA/NY applauds this richly-deserved recognition—no one could be more worthy of this honor.
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