2022 BOMA Family - Winter Issue

When you think about growth, what comes to mind?

For some, it may be physical growth. We change in size as the years go by. Most of us hope the growth is vertical and not horizontal.

Others may think about professional growth. Considering life to this point, one might consider the schooling, training, mentorships, or real-world experience that shapes who we are as real estate industry professionals.

Still others might think of maturity. Life’s experiences and opportunities help shape us and allow us to gain wisdom. This wisdom not only benefits our own lives, but the lives of others that are placed within our spheres of influence.

Growth also applies to families. You might think of weddings, newborns, adoptions, or the welcoming of other families to join in the life of your own.

In this issue, we are celebrating the growth of the BOMA Family. As you will see, we have been growing substantially. With this growth, BOMA Georgia members are Building the Future.

2022 was a record year for membership growth at BOMA Georgia with the association surpassing its all-time high in property management and service industry members. As we head into 2023, we continue to see strong membership growth.

Our family also grew smarter and wiser as the BOMA Georgia Foundation released new research projects and reports to aide real estate industry professionals and companies. Whether it is the 2022 Metro-Atlanta Salary and Benefits Research or an updated review of Firearms in Georgia, the BOMA Georgia Foundation continues to advance real estate industry research. Learn more on page 3.

Families also celebrate historic milestones and achievements. This year, the BOMA Georgia Family honored the career of Pat Freeman, who announced his retirement in March. We invite you to read this issue’s feature story on Pat Freeman and learn how Building Value Doesn’t Stop – even in retirement.

In our BOMA Family News section on page 11, you can also catch up with other members of the BOMA Family who are continuing to enhance the professionalism and value of the real estate industry.

The BOMA Family is also generous, and this impact is felt throughout the association and industry. The BOMA Georgia Foundation’s Annual Donors (page 4) and Leadership Society (page 10) demonstrate their leadership in giving that has enabled the foundation to release nearly 750 scholarships and produce more than 15 research projects and reports to date.

There are many reasons to give, and we hope you will be inspired by the story of Orlando Ojeda on page 5 who became the BOMA Georgia Foundation’s first-ever Dean’s List donor. Through generous donors like Orlando, the foundation can reach farther than ever before to advance real estate education and research by creating new opportunities like the now Award-Winning Inclusive Leadership Certificate Program (page 9).

Whether as an active and engaged member of BOMA Georgia or as a generous supporter of the BOMA Georgia Foundation, thank you for being a part of our GROWING BOMA Family.

Marie Worsham BOMA Georgia Foundation Chair

Gabriel Eckert BOMA Georgia Foundation Executive Director

NEW RESEARCH, NEW INSIGHTS!

One of the core pillars of the BOMA Georgia Foundation is its dedication to research for the betterment of the commercial real estate industry. From research studies to salary reports to partnerships with CRE Insight Journal, the foundation wants to meet property professionals where they are with what they need. Below is new research released by the foundation in 2022!

2022 Metro-Atlanta Salary and Benefits Research

In order to more accurately document the changes in salaries and benefits among property management and building operations and maintenance professionals, the Foundation conducted the 2022 Metro-Atlanta Property Management and Building Engineering Salary and Benefits Survey following the 2021 survey to help property management professionals better assess their workforce and benefits structure. The research includes extensive salary and benefits data for various property management and building engineering positions. Position titles have been standardized and include descriptions, which enable Georgia real estate companies to benchmark their salary and benefits.

2022 Austin Salary and Benefits Research

The BOMA Georgia Foundation partners with other markets and BOMA local affiliates to conduct research like the 2022 MetroAustin Salary and Benefits Survey. In 2022, the BOMA Georgia Foundation partnered with BOMA Austin to conduct and publish this research for property management professionals in Austin, TX.

Updated Firearms in Georgia Research Report

With the 2022 passage of Georgia’s new Constitutional Carry Act (SB 319), the BOMA Georgia Foundation has updated and released its research report on Firearms in Georgia.

There have been several watershed firearms bills in Georgia over the last decade, including the Georgia Safe Carry Protection Act, enacted in 2014. While many of those provisions remain in effect today, the more recent Georgia Constitutional Carry Act (2022) made changes throughout Georgia’s weapons statute. This paper reviews Georgia’s current firearms laws as it relates to property management.

“Thanks to our generous donors and the partnerships that the BOMA Georgia Foundation has formed across the country, the BOMA Georgia Foundation is leading the way in providing real estate industry professionals with the research and data they need to make better decisions and return more value to the assets and people they serve,” said BOMA Georgia Foundation Executive Director Gabriel Eckert, FASAE, CAE.

Purchase these surveys and access these reports and other foundation research at www.bomageorgiafoundation.org

INDIVIDUAL ANNUAL DONORS

ASSOCIATE

Alfredo Garcia • Bart Parker • Casey Dixon • Chonte’ Martin

Dara Nicholson • Don Moore • Grace Meyers • Holly Hughes

Jacob Wilder • Kinsey Hinkson • Lauren Armistead • Michael Knox

Natalie Tyler-Martin • Russell Copeland • Wesley Bloeme

BACHELOR

Andrea Allen • Constance Hodges • Dusty Muck • Elaine Bare

Hal Moore • Jenifer Wright • Jimi Broderick • Judi Clements

Laure Biel • Linda Beauchamp • Neschune Henry • Patti Brown

Renee Williams • Scott Doksansky • Stacy Abbate • Tammy Weeks

MASTER

Florence Barbour • Ian Hughes

DOCTORATE

Christine Bailey • Jeff Graham • Jessica Nix • Mark Gallman Morgan Cohen • Shawn Benjamin

POST-DOCTORATE

Billy Gray • Dena Rodrigues • Gabriel Eckert • Marie Worsham

Mark Dukes • Melody Frcek • Patrick Freeman • Tiffany Wilson

DEAN’S LIST

Orlando Ojeda

CORPORATE ANNUAL DONORS

ASSOCIATE

ABM • Allied Universal Security Services • Arborguard

Atlanta Property Group • Banyan Street Capital

BMS CAT of Georgia • Brand Real Estate Services

Capital City Mechanical Services • CapRidge Partners

CBRE • Colliers International • Cushman & Wakefield

Duke Realty • Empire Roofing • Engineered Restorations ENTEK

EPIC • Georgia Paving • Gray Contracting • Highwoods Properties

Lillibridge Healthcare Services • Madison Marquette

Mayberry Electric • OA Management • P3 Painting & Renovations

Parker Young Construction • Physicians Realty Trust • PM&A

Pope & Land Enterprises • Portman Management

Pritchard Industries • Prologis • Remediation Group • Roof Partners

Rubbermaid Commercial Products • Russell Landscape

Sesmas Tree Service • SOLID • The Morley Companies

The RMR Group • The Simpson Organization

The Surface Masters

BACHELOR

DOCTORATE

POST-DOCTORATE

AWARD TRIBUTE DONORS

Billy Gray • Bo Reddic • BOMA Georgia • Brenden Welch

Christine Bailey • Dusty Muck • Full Circle Restoration • Gabriel Eckert Gray Contracting • Hal Moore • Highgrove Partners • Jacob Wilder

Marie Worsham • Mark Dukes • Mark Gallman • Melody Frcek

Natalie Tyler-Martin • Orlando Ojeda • Prosegur • Russell Copeland Scott Doksansky • SERVPRO of Decatur SERVPRO of N. Lilburn/N. Lawrenceville • Shawn Benjamin Tiffany Wilson

MARK DUKES TRIBUTE DONORS

Alfredo Garcia • Billy Gray • Bo Reddic • BOMA Georgia Brenden Welch • Christine Bailey • Cotton Foundation Dena Rodrigues • Dusty Muck • Florence Barbour

Full Circle Restoration • Gabriel Eckert • Gray Contracting • Hal Moore Ian Hughes • Linda Beauchamp • Marie Worsham • Jacob Wilder Mark Dukes • Mark Jacobus • Mark Gallman • Melody Frcek

Natalie Tyler-Martin • Orlando Ojeda • Pat Freeman • Prosegur Russell Copeland • Scott Doksansky SERVPRO of N. Lilburn/N. Lawrenceville • Shawn Benjamin Tiffany Wilson

NATALIE TYLER-MARTIN TRIBUTE DONORS

ABM • Alfredo Garcia • Billy Gray • Bo Reddic • Brenden Welch Chonte’ Martin • Christine Bailey • Don Moore • Dusty Muck Etrudy Mitchell • Florence Barbour • Full Circle Restoration Gabriel Eckert • Glenn Kurtz • Gray Contracting • Hal Moore HighGrove Partners • Ian Hughes • Jacob Wilder • Jennifer Cooper John Wetherald • Judi Clements • Kinsey Hinkson LandCare, LLC • Linda Beauchamp • Lisa Hollingshed Mad Matter GA • Marie Worsham • Mark Dukes • Mark Gallman Mark Kelley • Mayberry Electric • Melody Frcek • Michael Knox Miller Getz • Orlando Ojeda • Pat Freeman • Patti Brown • Prosegur Ryan Braswell • Russell Copeland • SERVPRO of Decatur SERVPRO of N. Lilburn/N. Lawrenceville • Shawn Benjamin The Morley Companies • Tiffany Wilson • Todd Mitchell • Toni Green Trenton C. Patterson • Zurix Roofing Systems

WHY I GIVE: ORLANDO OJEDA

“It’s all about giving back,” says Orlando Ojeda when asked about why he gives to BOMA Georgia and the BOMA Georgia Foundation.

Orlando Ojeda is president and founder of Full Circle Restoration a Cotton Company, a disaster recovery and restoration services provider headquartered in Duluth, GA.

“BOMA Georgia and the commercial real estate industry have been an integral part of our success over the past years,” says Ojeda. “It’s important to Full Circle that we give back to that community.”

Orlando and his company have been members of BOMA Georgia for over two decades dating back to the early 1990s. During his company’s tenure, Orlando has served as an active volunteer of the association and insists that the other members from his company play a forward-facing role in BOMA and the real estate industry.

A regular smiling face at BOMA luncheons, trade shows and networking events, Orlando hasn’t just received the benefits of BOMA Georgia, his volunteerism has been vital to the success of the association and the opportunities created for other members of the industry.

From very early in his membership, Orlando could be found serving and leading on committees of the organization. In fact, he has probably completed a term on nearly all the association’s committees, including key roles in leadership on BOMA Georgia’s Industry Insight Committee, Allied Member Resource Group, BOMA Technical Organization Council, Community Service Committee, Sports Outing, Government Affairs, Trade Show and Foundation Development Committee.

His reputation for dedicated service to the association did not go unnoticed by the BOMA Family and the association’s leadership. To help strategically move the association forward, Orlando was selected to serve on several special task forces that were needed to keep the association flourishing. These special assignments included the 2017 and 2019 Southern Region Conference Sponsorship Task Force and Foundation Fundraising Task Force.

In 2022, Orlando Ojeda became the first individual donor to the BOMA Georgia Foundation to be recognized as a Dean’s List donor making an annual donation of $25,000 or more to support scholarships and research. In this picture, Orlando can be seen wearing his Foundation Donor pin, that recognizes individual annual donors to the BOMA Georgia Foundation contributing $125 or more to the BOMA Georgia Foundation in a year. The 2022 pin features the motto “Building The Future,” which is a firm belief that Orlando embraces. Giving back can start small, and the Foundation Pin Donor program is an excellent place to start! Learn more by scanning the QR Code below or visit www.bomageorgiafoundation.org/pin22

“What an incredible honor it is to serve the association through these impactful initiatives,” Orlando said.

“Not only do these opportunities allow me to give back to the association that has given so much to me, my employees and my family, but I can continue to plant and grow new relationships and connections that have allowed by company to be so successful.”

Orlando encourages all members to pursue active membership in the association. He suggests starting simply on a BOMA Georgia committee. From there, members can take on additional responsibility and pursue leadership roles within the association’s governance.

With demonstrated care for the association and servant leadership through committee service, Orlando would eventually be nominated to serve as one of the allied member representatives on BOMA Georgia’s board of directors for a two-year term from 2015 to 2016. His board service helped foster relationships across the state as part of BOMA Georgia’s statewide expansion effort; expanded and enhanced the association’s educational services; and supported the decision by the association to have the BOMA Georgia Foundation host the 2017 BOMA Southern Region Conference.

When Orlando completed his board service, it would have been easy for him to rest on his laurels; however, he ‘got back to work’ finding new opportunities to serve and give.

In recent years, Orlando and his team have invested substantial portions of their budget into both the association and the foundation. In 2019, Orlando’s company became the BOMA Georgia Platinum Sponsor, a commitment that they will continue through 2023. Additionally, you can find Orlando and his company supporting various association and foundation programs and fundraisers throughout the year from flagship events like the Sports Outing to educational programs that are enhancing the professionalism and value of BOMA members.

“When you think about legacy, it is not just mine,” says Orlando. “It is also the legacy of association and real estate industry members that we must consider. You hear the constant worry voiced by many about finding the next generation of talent and leaders for our industry. We want to help alleviate that worry by providing the support needed to help foster that next generation.”

Perhaps one of the most remarkable investments that Orlando has made is in his donations to the BOMA Georgia Foundation. As a champion of the BOMA Georgia Foundation, Orlando and his company have demonstrated leadership in giving by being annual donors to the foundation since its founding in 2014.

In 2022, Orlando became the first-ever Dean’s list donor to the BOMA Georgia Foundation making a personal donation exceeding $25,000. His company is also supporting the BOMA Georgia Foundation as a doctorate-level donor signifying an annual donation between $5,000 and $9,999 to the Foundation in a year.

Orlando went a step further and surprised the BOMA Georgia Family at the BOMA Georgia Trade Show Luncheon in May of 2022 by announcing that his parent company’s philanthropic organization, The Cotton Foundation, made a $10,000 donation to the Foundation earning The Cotton Foundation recognition as a post-doctorate level donor in 2022.

Solidifying his leadership in giving, Orlando and his company Full Circle Restoration became one of the founding members of the BOMA Georgia Foundation’s Leadership Society. Membership in this special society highlights a commitment to serve others and signifies a leadership role in advancing the real estate industry. Individuals and companies commit to making an annual tax-deductible donation over three years.

“We often hear words like ‘family’ and ‘legacy’ used when referring to BOMA,” says Orlando. “This is what family does. Family members are generous, committed, and mindful of their family’s future. I give because my BOMA family has done so much for me and my company; so, it is only fitting that I should be just as generous, committed, and mindful with the blessings I have received.”

Orlando Ojeda addresses attendees of the 2022 BOMA Georgia TOBY & Association Awards Luncheon.

BUILDING VALUE DOESN’T STOP: PAT FREEMAN

Patrick M. Freeman, RPA, SMA, CPM, CCIM, LEED AP, BOMI-HP, BOMA Fellow, entered commercial real estate in 1984 after a brief stint as a high-school band director. Since his entry into the industry, he has mentored generations of property managers, and continued learning and growing all along the way. He has been a mainstay of Atlanta real estate and BOMA Georgia for decades and continues to help raise the next generation of property professionals to this day.

There’s an old saying, that you are either green and growing, or ripe and rotting. If nothing else, the alphabet that follows Pat’s name shows that he never finished growing and continues to be one of the greenest of us.

Starting in the Industry

Pat Freeman graduated from Florida State University cum laude with a degree in Music Education in 1980, and he went on to instruct with DeKalb County schools for nearly four years. By the end of his educational career, he began looking for something new.

“I was a high-school band director when I realized that I didn’t enjoy it. It didn’t work well for me. So, I did a bunch of informational interviews, and did one with a VP with Carter.” Freeman explained. “After that interview, I became an office manager with Carter & Associates, and after about a year and a half of that I moved into property management in ‘86. Great field, love it.”

While at Carter & Associates, Freeman had the opportunity to meet one of his greatest mentors, the incredible Rutledge Beacham.

“Rutledge was one of my first bosses at Carter. He was an exemplary person on all fronts. He knew the business very well and he was a great mentor and teacher. He was a great person to learn from, and I miss him dearly. Great great great man, great friend.”

Freeman was with Carter & Associates for eight years and grew and learned immensely under the tutelage of Beacham. While there, he gained his Georgia Real Estate License in 1990, and the first of his long list of designations, the Real Property Administrator (RPA) in 1993.

Growing Into a Leader

Freeman went on to work with Childress Klein Properties as a senior property manager. While there, Freeman continued to grow and learn, achieving his Systems Maintenance Administrator (SMA) designation in 1996, Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation in 1998, and his Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation in 1999.

Through all of this, Freeman was an active participant in the BOMA family, achieving recognition as the BOMA-Atlanta Member of the Year in 1999 and again in 2001. Freeman served as BOMA-Atlanta’s 2001 president, and he served spectacularly, with grace and humor.

“When I was president, the sports outing group was coming up with a creative way to pitch, if you will, the activity.” Freeman explained. “So, there were a bunch of people in the back of the luncheon with tennis balls, and they were hurtling them to the front.”

“The intention was that [the tennis balls] would go over the crowd’s heads. They didn’t. I remember one hitting my head, and I stood up and fell down, feigning death. Got a good laugh.” Freeman added. “It scared the sports committee to death, but it was a lot of fun, and I like making people laugh.”

During this time, Freeman served his community as a deacon at Intown Community Church in North Druid Hills, and as an instructor for numerous BOMI RPA and Facility Management Administrator (FMA) courses. He continues to serve as an elder at Intown Community Church to this day, and instructs BOMA Georgia’s Property Management 101 and 201 courses, as well as a few BOMI classes.

In between all this, Freeman found time to continue growing and learning, attaining a Master of Science degree with great praise (magna cum laude) from Georgia Tech. His thesis looked at the value of learning opportunities in CRE, and his work demonstrated the benefit education has for property professionals. At this point in time, Freeman held four designations, RPA, SMA, CPM, CCIM, and served as a senior property manager.

Pat Freeman (center) stands with past presidents of BOMA Georgia at his March 17, 2022 Retirement Luncheon.

BOMA Family

After nearly a decade with Childress Klein, Freeman went on to become a vice president of Trammell Crow Company in 2003, and then as senior vice president of property management with Wells Real Estate Funds in 2005. Through his roles with Trammell Crow Company and Well Real Estate Funds, Freeman oversaw class A assets in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Nashville, and Pittsburgh.

Freeman served on BOMA International’s Board of Directors from 2005 to 2007, and he was named a BOMA Fellow in 2013. In 2008 he achieved the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design –Accredited Professional (LEED AP) designation, growing the alphabet after his name. Freeman continued to teach, grow, and work with BOMA-Atlanta/Georgia.

“BOMA is a huge enhancement,” Freeman explained. “You get to network and meet so many peers, friends really, over the years. Education and advocacy have been a big deal, but the friends I’ve made along the way have been awesome.”

Pat Freeman has had an enormous impact on commercial real estate, in Atlanta and beyond. A large part of that has been his kindness, humor, and dedication to education, which has enabled him to make connections everywhere he stopped along the way.

“Pat has got a dry sense of humor, and that was always appreciated in the BOMI classes we taught.” Recalled Dave Ferguson, RPA, FMA. “Pat and I taught DOM I and II [Design, Operations, and Maintenance] together for a few years. I’d do the morning half, and he would do the afternoon. He developed this great handout on the refrigeration cycle that compared it to a roller coaster with its ups and downs. I still use that handout in my DOM I and II classes, twenty years later, and it still holds up.”

Always Green

While at Wells Real Estate Funds, Freeman moved laterally to the newly formed Columbia Property Trust, Wells Real Estate Funds’ second REIT, in 2013. His role grew even further, and he became steward of over 8 million square feet across Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Houston, and Pittsburgh.

Freeman then became an executive vice president with Brand Real Estate Services in 2015. In 2016 Freeman was named as the chair of the BOMA Georgia Foundation Board of Trustees, where he oversaw the expansion of the BOMA Georgia Foundation’s scholarship and research. In 2017, Freeman received the Huey Award for Lifetime achievement from BOMA Georgia.

In his distinguished career, Freeman served on nearly every BOMA Georgia committee possible, including the Trade Show, Sports Outing, Membership, TOBY, Nominations, Community Service, and Industry Insights committees. He has also served in the Allied Member Resource Group and Professional Development Council.

In 2019, Freeman served as chair of the BOMA Southern Region Conference Education Task Force, ensuring the Southern Region Conference in Savannah had strong educational offerings. Freeman has been a mainstay of the BOMA Georgia Foundation, both as a supporter and leader, and received the Foundation Philanthropic Leadership Award in 2019.

“Pat is a lifelong learner, supporter of continuing education, leads by example, and has made a tremendous impact in the lives of so many people through his commitment to the BOMA Georgia Foundation,” said Gabriel Eckert, FASAE, CAE, BOMA Georgia Chief Executive Officer. “It is fitting that he is being recognized by the BOMA Georgia Foundation for his many years of helping others.”

Freeman still somehow found time for continuing education, achieving the BOMI High Performance (BOMI-HP) designation in 2020. When Freeman won his Huey Award in 2017, the 2013 president, Miller Getz, had this to say.

“This year’s winner is famous—dare I say infamous—for holding nearly every designation available to a real estate professional,” Getz said. “I have heard it joked that it is easier to list the letters of the alphabet that are not in his name, than those that are. Fun fact: just in case you are wondering, it is nine. There are nine letters of the alphabet that you won’t find in Pat’s name and in his designation listing that follows it.”

With his BOMI-HP Designation, Patrick M. Freeman, RPA, SMA, CPM, CCIM, MS, LEED AP, BOMA Fellow, BOMI-HP, only has G, J, U, V, X, Y, and Z left. Freeman has constantly been growing and educating himself throughout his career. He has been a mentor to generations of property professionals. His humor has made classrooms of nervous property administrators and managers bowl over in laughter.

His work to promote education in commercial real estate has been tireless and profound. Even after he retired in 2022, he continues to assist CRE and his own community as a member of BOMI International’s Board of Trustees, an elder at Intown Community Church, and as a board member of Decatur Cooperative Ministry Incorporated. Even in retirement, I think we can all agree that Patrick M. Freeman, RPA, SMA, CPM, CCIM, MS, LEED AP, BOMA Fellow, BOMI-HP, is still green and still growing.

Scan to Watch Pat Freeman’s Reflections on BOMA and Leadership on BOMA Legacy!

Pat Freeman addresses BOMA Family and friends at his retirement luncheon.

AWARD-WINNING LEADERSHIP

Real estate professionals work in an increasingly diverse environment, interacting with tenants, building visitors, co-workers, service partners, and more. That is why it is essential for today’s real estate industry leaders to be equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to be more inclusive leaders.

To address this need, BOMA Georgia, the BOMA Georgia Foundation and CRE Insight Journal partnered together to develop the Inclusive Leadership Certificate Program.

Now, this award-winning program is helping individual leaders build skills that are essential in the specific areas of generational fluency, intercultural competency, emotional intelligence, and intentional cultural creation.

In 2022, BOMA Georgia was recognized by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) with a 2022 Summit Award in the Diversity and Inclusion Category. The Summit Award is the highest honor an association can earn from ASAE. In 2022, only six associations earned a Summit Award, each in a different category, through ASAE’s Power of Associations Awards program.

BOMA Georgia and its partners in the Inclusive Leadership Certificate Program were contending at the next tier with national associations from all across the country who were pursuing this honor. At the time the Summit Award was received, ASAE was a membership organization of more than 45,000 association executives and industry partners.

“The association community continues to experience rapid change and disruption, and association leaders continue to be quite agile and innovative in serving the needs of their members as a result,” said Mark A. Vasquez, CAE, senior program manager, IEEE TechEthics, and Chair of ASAE’s Power of Associations Awards Committee. “The committee was impressed by the scope of the activities recognized in this year’s Power of Associations Awards, which illustrate how associations continue to lead in challenging times and frequently go above and beyond their missions to benefit society and improve our quality of life.”

The interactive, web-based certificate program helps real estate professionals to more effectively and inclusively lead across generations in the workplace; better understand and relate to different cultures; assess and grow their emotional intelligence; and intentionally create a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion within their organization.

This study strengthens participants’ leadership skills, helps them to be more inclusive, and has a ripple effect of strengthening the tenants and communities served by real estate professionals.

While the program was initially envisioned to be local to Georgia, other BOMA associations throughout the United States asked if they could offer the program to their membership as well. This also strengthened the program, as it added geographic diversity to the cohort and group discussions.

The program was launched in November 2021. Participant feedback was so positive that the program was successfully offered again in 2022. Program graduates continue to praise the program and encourage others in their organization to participate. The BOMA Georgia Foundation supports the program through scholarships for every student, increasing real estate industry professionals access to this impactful program.

To meet this ongoing demand, the program is scheduled for its third class beginning in January of 2023.

“It is really exciting to see a program that’s helped so many people earn this level of recognition, and it is another validation of the tremendous value members receive through BOMA Georgia,” said BOMA Georgia CEO Gabriel Eckert, FASAE, CAE. “We look forward to serving and developing future cohorts of commercial real estate industry leaders who will enhance themselves, their teams, and the industry through this impactful program.”

BOMA Georgia CEO Gabriel Eckert, FASAE, CAE, accepts the Summit Award in the Diversity and Inclusion category from the American Society of Association Executives at the 2022 Power of Associations Awards program.

LEADERSHIP IN GIVING: LEADERSHIP SOCIETY

There is a significant need for additional access to continuing education in the real estate industry. While corporate budgets for training and development are often constrained, the pace of change in real estate continues to accelerate. To effectively lead in this complex and changing environment, people need new opportunities to access and afford education. The BOMA Georgia Foundation provides this support through a scholarship program that has proven to advance careers and transform lives. However, this would not be possible without the generous support of foundation donors.

Based on donor feedback, the foundation has created a new Leadership Society to recognize individuals and companies who have made a commitment to consistently support the foundation. Membership in this special society highlights a commitment to serve others and signifies a leadership role in advancing the real estate industry. Individuals and companies commit to making an annual tax-deductible donation over three years.

Learn more at www.bomageorgiafoundation.org/leader

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

EMERGING PROFESSIONALS ($125)

CASEY DIXON

CHRIS DLUGOLECKI

JACOB WILDER

LAUREN ARMISTEAD

RONI PAGE-DOWDY

SARAH FRANCIS

SAPPHIRE ($250)

AARON MORIARTY

AMANDA BARE

AMANDA MADRID

ANDREA ALLEN

ANITA SCARBOROUGH

CARLA MOULE

CHONTE’ MARTIN

CHRIS ALLEN

CONSTANCE HODGES

DEBI GILBERT

DENA RODRIGUES

ELAINE BARE

EMILY M. WHITE

IAN HUGHES

JENIFER WRIGHT

JENNIFER H. COOPER

JESSICA NIX

JIMI BRODERICK

JUDI SPONSEL

KINSEY HINKSON

LAURE BIEL

LAURIE HARPER

MORGAN COHEN NESCHUNE HENRY RUSS HAZLEWOOD STACY ABBATE STEPHANIE S. SCURLOCK

TAMMY WEEKS TRENT PATTERSON

EMERALD ($500)

ALFREDO GARCIA BRENDEN WELCH CHRISTINE BAILEY DUSTY MUCK HAL MOORE MARK GALLMAN NATALIE TYLER-MARTIN RUSSELL COPELAND SHAWN BENJAMIN

DIAMOND ($1,000)

BILLY GRAY BO REDDIC GABRIEL ECKERT MARIE WORSHAM

MARK DUKES MELODY FRCEK ORLANDO OJEDA TIFFANY WILSON

CORPORATE MEMBERS

RUBY ($1,750)

BCJ BUILDING SERVICES C.L. BURKS

ENGINEERED RESTORATIONS EVERCLEAR ENTERPRISES LANDMARK LANDSCAPES SAPPHIRE ($2,500)

EMERALD ($5,000) DIAMOND ($10,000)

STEVE HARRISON - PAST PRESIDENT UPDATE

2002 BOMA Atlanta President Steve Harrison is enjoying retirement as is currently serving as the president of the Northeast Georgia Mustang Club. You can find Steve leading and emceeing car shows all around North Georgia between his travels to Ford Mustang museums, spending time with family, and enjoying a day of golf at Chateau Elan in Braselton, Georgia.

INSTRUCTOR DAVE FERGUSON NEWS

After completing over 20 years in the commercial real estate industry, Dave Ferguson retired from the property management business in 2012, and since then has continued teaching BOMI courses for BOMA Georgia. In 2022, Dave marked the end of his decades long teaching career with BOMA Georgia to fully enjoy retirement. During his tenure, he taught hundreds of real estate professionals pursuing the RPA, FMA, SMT, and SMA designations. In addition to his excellent instruction, Dave was a favorite among students and known for his Friday pizza parties to celebrate the end of a successful class.

MICHELLE DIXON IS BUILDING VALUE IN FLA.

2010 BOMA Atlanta President Michelle Dixon recently retired and moved to Jacksonville, Florida. Despite her plans for a full retirement, the commercial real estate industry beckoned, and Michelle is now serving as a property manager for Realty Trust Group in Jacksonville.

PAT FREEMAN RETIRES

After a decades-long career in property management, Pat Freeman celebrated his retirement from Brand Properties on March 17, 2022. Pat served as president of BOMA Atlanta in 2001 and as chair of the BOMA Georgia Foundation Board of Trustees in 2016. With a passion for education and lifelong learning, Pat often championed education initiatives offered through the BOMA and the BOMA Georgia Foundation. You can read more about Pat’s storied career on page 7 of this issue.

PAST PRESIDENTS SHARE THEIR STORY

JACOB WILDER’S PROFESSIONAL ACCOLADES

BOMA Georgia’s Senior Director of Operations and Communications Jacob Wilder received several professional accolades in 2022. Starting in July at the 51st Biennial FarmHouse Fraternity Conclave, Jacob was initiated as an honorary member of the fraternity. He was also recognized in November by Association Forum with the distinguished Forty Under 40 Award. And in December, the Georgia Society of Association Executives (GSAE) elected Jacob to serve a two-year term on the GSAE board of directors. Jacob joined the BOMA Georgia staff in 2010 and has helped lead the growth of the association’s membership, education, and programs.

ASSOCIATION AND FOUNDATION LAURELS

In 2022, BOMA Georgia launched the first of a series of videos that tell the story of the impact, service, and career of the association’s presidents. The first video series featured the stories of Natalie Tyler-Martin (2021), Linda Beauchamp (2011), Pat Freeman (2001) and John Oliver (1991). Watch their stories online now at www. bomalegacy.org/legends/leaderships where you can select a past president and then scroll through their photos and video at the top of their individual profile page.

BOMA Georgia received several awards in 2022. BOMA Georgia received the 2022 Excellence in ENERGY STAR Marketing Award for the association’s 2021 ENERGY STAR Month Campaign.

The association was also recognized by Association TRENDS with a 2022 Gold Trendy Award in the eLearning & Live Training category for producing the Structural Inspection and Repair Webinar Series. Association TRENDS also recognized BOMA Georgia with a 2022 Bronze Trendy Award in the Best Product Launch category for its Inclusive Leadership Certificate Program.

The Inclusive Leadership Certificate Program also won the American Society of Association Executives’ (ASAE) 2022 Summit Award in the Diversity and Inclusion Category.

The Summit Award is the highest honor an association can earn from ASAE and only six associations earned this honor this year. Finally, the BOMA Georgia Foundation was recognized by Association TRENDS with a 2022 Gold Trendy Award in the Promotional Items category for its Foundation pin donor program.

BUILDING THE FUTURE...TOGETHER FOUNDATION