Daniel Avery Joins BOMA/NY as Head of Legislative Affairs
With his wealth of experience in sustainability, recovery and resiliency, former NY City Council Senior policy analyst Daniel Avery is a perfect fit for the newly-redefined BOMA/NY position of Director of Legislative Affairs. Daniel, who has more than a decade of experience in public policy after graduating from Yale University with an MA in Environmental Studies (he’s also a Columbia graduate with a degree in History), took over the reins of the Directorship Aug. 18.
BOMAfacts caught up with Daniel just a few days after he had started on the job, and he expressed his excitement at joining the BOMA/NY community. "It’s a great honor to come to work for BOMA/NY. I look forward to building on my experiences working for the city of New York to help the organization and our members navigate the legislative process to meet their goals. I thank Tom Hill and the rest of the Board, as well as Bobbi McGowan, for entrusting me with this position."
Shaping Issues and Agendas
Officially speaking, Daniel is responsible for the management and execution of Association activities, program and services related to advocacy, and education concerning governmental and legislative issues. In membership terms, that wide umbrella encompasses a number of tasks, among them, serving as our Association’s point person with the many governmental officials and departments with which we interface--from his former employer, the city of New York, to the Department of Buildings, NYPD and FDNY, to Homeland Security, the FBI, ATF and more. He is also charged with maintaining and enhancing the relationships BOMA/NY has developed over the years with the Mayor’s Office and other official and legislative bodies.
In consultation with our BOMA/NY officers and Committee heads, Daniel will help shape and define our stands on various issues, and advocate for them at the appropriate governmental level. He will also be supporting those committees that are involved with governmental institutions--Codes & Regulations/Government Affairs, Energy/Sustainability and Preparedness (including the Advocacy Response Committee)--in all their initiatives and events.
Diverse Experience, Strong Background
While he may be switching to the Association side of the table, Daniel’s diverse experience includes a solid history with the issues that concern the Association. Previously, he advised the Speaker of the City Council Christine Quinn and her staff on a host of environmental and sustainability issues, including those relating to resiliency and energy. He also acted as point person for the Speaker’s office on issues arising from Superstorm Sandy, future resiliency plans, FEMA and flood insurance issues. In that same position, he developed strategies for advancing legislation in areas including clean on-site power, energy efficiency, building commissioning and much more.
His sustainability credentials run deep, having served as Program Manager for Sustainability and Climate Change at the world-renowned New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, and spent three years, including those encompassing 9/11, with the Mayor’s Office of Environmental Coordination. There, he advised on formulating environmental policy, revised city environmental review procedures, advised on the technical ramifications of the application of environmental laws and much more.
He has helped plan and staff innumerable City Council Hearings on environmental, sanitation and resiliency issues, and worked with various agencies to solve complex problems--which will stand him in good stead as BOMA/NY’s voice at hearings on the wide range of issues affecting our industry.
As we welcome Daniel to the BOMA/NY community, he extends a welcome to all members to reach him with insights and ideas at daniel@bomany.com or 212-239-3662 ext 204.
BOMA/NY
http://www.bomany.org/