President’s Message: Connection in Action

As summer gave way to fall, our third quarter showed just how many forms Strength in Connection can take. It looked like a packed room concentrating on bingo cards, members meeting with lawmakers in Sacramento, colleagues learning together over lunch, and friends sharing a laugh at the casino tables. Each of these moments matters, and together they are what make BOMA San Diego so much more than an association.

Designer Purse Bingo was once again a smashing success and continues to be one of the true highlights of our year. The room was full of energy, friendly competition, and plenty of laughter. Thank you to Paris Cox, Amber Molina, and Michele Ignacio for organizing an event that so many of us look forward to every year.

This quarter, our connections also reached all the way to the State Capitol. Michele Ignacio, Thor Emblem, and I attended the California Commercial Real Estate Summit in Sacramento, where we met with State Senators and Assembly members to bring awareness to legislation affecting commercial real estate. I’m proud to report that most of the positions we took were successful, meaning commercial real estate owners were protected from potentially costly legislation.

Advocacy is one of the most valuable benefits of BOMA membership. When we show up together and speak with one voice, lawmakers listen. The relationships we build in those meetings help make sure our industry has a seat at the table long after the Summit ends.

Education remained at the heart of our programming as well. August’s luncheon tackled another hot topic in our industry: the development around Snapdragon Stadium. The program was informative and well attended, giving members valuable insight into a project that is shaping the future of our region. Thank you to the Programs Committee and Cali Bird for expertly organizing another outstanding luncheon and Cali Bird for standing in for me as emcee.

We capped off the quarter with our inaugural Casino Night, and what a way to close out the summer. Members spent the evening trying their luck at craps, poker, blackjack, and roulette.  The positive feedback I’ve received since has been wonderful. A big thank you to Angela Delgado and Megan Schroeder for executing an event that I believe will become one that our members look forward to for years to come.

Looking back, what strikes me most about this quarter is its range. Whether we were advocating in Sacramento, learning about the projects reshaping our city, or sharing a laugh at the roulette table, each of these moments strengthened the relationships that hold our community together. The relationships started over a hand of blackjack leads to the relationship where we pick up the phone and call a colleague when we need advice, a referral, or a partner in solving a problem.

That is Strength in Connection.

As we head into the final quarter of the year, I encourage you to keep showing up, bring a colleague along, and look for new ways to get involved. There is still plenty ahead, and I look forward to finishing the year strong together.

Thank you for being part of BOMA San Diego.

Stacy Kurko