11 minute read
Conference Highlights
SF Members Play Key Roles at International Conference
Evoking the spirit of the American Revolution, the BOMA International Conference in Boston in June made some history of its own—and BOMA SF members played leading roles. Our members served on key panels, shared innovative building practices and showcased their unique solutions on the expo floor.
“The main themes that resonated for me throughout the conference were resilience and hope,” said BOMA SF Board Member Cortney Shadel. “The opening keynote, ‘Lessons in Resilience,’ was by far the best keynote I have attended over the years. Listening to presidential historian
and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin speak about lessons learned from our past was enthralling and left me feeling hopeful for the future. Although we still have very far to go in our journey, there was also a message of hope for the future in the sessions on diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as a focus on how we as individuals can effect changes in our personal and professional lives.”
Henry Chamberlain, president and COO of BOMA International, shared an optimistic message at the Saturday General Session. He noted that, despite the challenges of the past 18 months, one thing property professionals do better than anyone else is create value.
“This is an inflection point,” Chamberlain said. “We are going to be making lots of different changes. We’re going to be looking at space, we’re going to be looking at technology, we’re going to be looking at lifestyle and how we create those experiences. This is a time for us to learn from each other and get out of our comfort zones.”
Solutions for Safer Buildings
Collaborating with BOMA International, BOMA SF is actively working to provide CRE professionals with credible information on how to mitigate the potential health impacts of COVID-19. Ben Fish from Able Services, now an ABM Company, presented a Solutions Showcase entitled “The New Normal in Disinfecting Commercial Spaces.” The presentation focused on using Protexus Cordless Electrostatic Sprayers in the fitness center at 333 Bush Street, managed by Tishman Speyer. This touchless electrostatic disinfection and sanitizing system emits a magnetically charged spray so powerful that the droplets can reverse direction and coat in 360°, for 100% coverage of all curved, hidden and hard-to-reach surfaces. Able Services developed a program utilizing this technology to reduce the risk of the spread of infectious disease, including COVID-19.
BOMA SF Experts Share Their Knowledge
Malcolm Stanley, BOMA SF Director of Membership and Communications, participated in a panel on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) during a session for BOMA Account Executives from BOMAs across the U.S.
“We discussed the origins of the DEI efforts in each of our local associations/companies, what we’ve learned, what advice we’d give to any organization just starting or struggling, and where we hope to go in the future,” Stanley said. “Overall, it was clear that DEI is a significant focus for BOMA all the way up to the international level and will remain so moving forward, bringing changes throughout the commercial real estate industry.”
BOMA SF member Marc Gille, Vice Chair of the BOMA International Codes Committee, reported that the committee met for the first time in over 20 months after many virtual meetings. “Presentations were made on updates to the ASHRAE Legionella guidelines, as well as updates from NFPA and the ICC. A presentation by BOMA’s own John Collet about the Surfside building collapse tragedy and other structural failures was timely, as various regulatory agencies are reexamining their own requirements. It was a good reminder to continue best practices with regards to building maintenance and inspections,” Gille said.
He added: “the high-level takeaway is that no immediate code changes will be occurring. That being said, there is a lot that is percolating regionally that we will need to keep our eye on that will impact future codes. During the local BOMA roundtable, we heard about multiple agencies trying to piece together climate change-related code changes. These are taking different forms such as increasing the amount of EV charging stations, banning natural gas and moving to full electrification (not just on new construction) for building systems and implementing carbon caps.”
As Co-Chair of the BOMA International Workforce Development subcommittee, BOMA SF President Glenn Good addressed a session. “We’re focused on workforce development,” he said. “One of the key points made was the committee’s work to create a tool kit of resources on workforce development strategies for BOMA chapters to utilize. We are also working with the Department of Labor to recognize the commercial real estate profession’s efforts to ensure resources, including financial, to help train and recruit property managers, facility managers and engineers.”
PSW Attracts Strong Leadership
Pacific Southwest (PSW) President and BOMA SF member Sarah MacIntyre reported that “the PSW meeting was well attended with more than 80 people—a welcomed sight. We filled several PSW positions with BOMA SF members. Rebecca Aguilar from Vornado was elected PSW Secretary, and Cortney Shadel was named incoming TOBY Chair. We celebrated Karen Cowan of Restoration Management Company as our PSW Member of the Year.” Lastly, BOMA International Executive Committee members Manny Moreno (PJMB Commercial) and Ana Duffy (Hudson Pacific) delivered the Executive Committee’s report.
333 Bush’s TOBY Triumph
The BOMA International TOBY (The Outstanding Building of the Year) Awards celebrate the most prestigious awards program in commercial real estate. “The nominees this year are nothing short of revolutionary,” said BOMA Fellow and emcee Rob Brierley. Sixty-one buildings from across North America in 17 categories were nominated. San Francisco’s 333 Bush Street, managed by Tishman Speyer and owned by 333 Bush LLC, won the TOBY award in the 500,000–1 million square-foot category, competing against seven other buildings. Glenn Good, who was General Manager at the time, and two of his team members accepted the award. The TOBY awards program noted that “333 Bush continues to evolve with the latest innovations, sustainable features and amenities that delight tenants and enhance the property.”
Above: emcee Brian Harnetiaux, USAA Real Estate; Susan Engstrom, BOMA International Awards Committee Chairperson; Robert Healow, Glenn Good, and Bradley Cowgill (all with Tishman Speyer); and Rob Brierley, BOMA Fellow and emcee. Center: 333 Bush team celebrates its win (Bradley Cowgill, Glenn Good and Robert Healow). TOBY photos credit: Johnny Shryock/ BOMA International.
In Memoriam... Remembering Mary Anne Bogue
BOMA mourns the loss of Mary Anne Bogue who served as executive assistant/office manager at BOMA from 1987 until her retirement in 2009. For those that had the pleasure of knowing and working with her during her time at BOMA, you were greeted by her friendly voice, warm smile and signature white bun. She was the life of any party and brought that joie de vivre to work every day. In the words of former Executive Vice President Marc Intermaggio, “She was a gem. I was totally blessed to snag Mary Anne from Bechtel. Her sweet smile, pleasant demeanor, absolute professionalism and dedicated work ethic helped bring stability and balance to BOMA during a time when we were transforming the Association...making many big changes, instituting new programs and protocols, and growing rapidly. Mary Anne played a critical and valued role. She was the best partner one could have.” She and her husband John were avid sailors and longtime members of the Corinthian Yacht Club where they served in every volunteer capacity including Mr. and Mrs. Claus on an annual basis. She is survived by her husband John, son Steve and daughter-in-law Mimmi. Rest in peace, Mary Anne. (She is pictured above with Marc Intermaggio.)
President’s Q&A (Continued from page 2)
state-of-the-art technology. Soft skills are extremely important, too. Tenants and visitors want to feel valued. The more we focus on customer service, the more tenants are going to embrace returning to the office. Q – Since you moved to the City six years ago, which committees or activities have you participated in at BOMA SF and in the community? A – I’m a member of BOMA California, Secretary/ Finance Chair of the Downtown Community Benefit District, and a volunteer for AIDS Walk San Francisco. Recently I was appointed to the California State Historical Building Safety Board. The board provides regulations and standards for restoring and preserving historical buildings, structures and properties. Q – When you have some down time, what activities and interests do you pursue? A – I love to make homemade croissants/pastries, travel, and read. Sherlock Holmes is one of my favorites. Q – Anything else you would like to add? A – I’m honored to be elected President. I’m looking forward to working with the Board of Directors, BOMA staff, and members to ensure we’re doing our best to meet our customers’ needs.
Legislative Victories (Continued from page 13)
in the Civic Center, Yerba Buena and Union Square neighborhoods. Funds will support new SFPD outposts and patrols, enhanced ambassador programs, and additional programs to activate areas for tourism, arts and culture. n BOMA SF was an early leader in a business community and government working group to create the City’s new Welcome Ambassadors Program. This program places roaming community ambassadors to welcome tourists and office workers back to downtown San Francisco.
Transportation
BOMA successfully advocated to delay the San Francisco County Transportation Authority’s congestion pricing proposal in order to have a study that more accurately reflects commuting patterns beyond the pandemic. Recognizing the importance of reliable transit, BOMA pushed for the return of pre-pandemic service for BART and several MUNI Metro light-rail lines. Energy and Environment
n BOMA SF gave crucial feedback on the City’s Climate Action Plan, outlining the industry’s concerns about electrification and grid capacity. n BOMA SF laid the groundwork for negotiations on implementing climate legislation. As negotiations begin in 2022, BOMA is ready to fight for key exemptions where targets cannot be feasibly met or are not economically viable. n
EP Corner
Educating and entertaining its members was the focus of the Emerging Professionals Committee this season. An interactive Career Success Workshop (CSW) on property management and elevators was held in October. Michael Begale, Service General Manager for Otis, helped EPs understand the different types of elevators, service agreements and expectations on responsibility as far as compliance goes. Attendees also learned what to do in the case of entrapments. COVID concerns with social distancing and air purification, as well as new touchless technology, were discussed. A special thanks to Otis for sponsoring! A CSW on collaborating with the BOMA SF Energy & Environment Committee for a climate discussion is planned for Dec. 15, led by Energy & Environment Committee Chair Ana Duffy. On the social side, EPs joined in the celebration of BOMA Day’s Oktoberfest-themed event
BOMA SAN FRANCISCO EMERGING PROFESSIONALS with an enthusiastic turnout of well-attired members.(See Chair Matt Montanez above and more photos on page 23.) “We have lots planned for next year to get us back on track,” Montanez says. “Looking forward to seeing members at the holiday events and the next CSW!”
Emerging Professionals is for members with 0-7 years of industry experience. Visit www.bomasf.org (“Get Involved”) to learn more or send an email to matt.montanez@gshgroup.com.
Feature YOUR Building in BOMA Views!
Here’s an opportunity to showcase your building. If your building has cool or interesting features, we’d love to hear from you. In 2022 we will be highlighting members’ buildings and their teams in BOMA Views. Please contact Malcolm Stanley, Director of Membership and Communications, at malcolms@boma.com.
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