Dear BOMA San Diego Members,
As I close out my term as President and reflect on the last decade of service within this incredible organization, I am filled with gratitude and an overwhelming sense of pride in what I have been part of - and what I’ve helped to shape and build.
When I first joined this Board ten years ago, BOMA San Diego was operating at an annual deficit of $134,000. Read that number again - $134,000. No organization, especially a nonprofit, can sustain that. While, as a 501(c)(6), we are not required to generate profit, we are absolutely responsible for not losing it. Through thoughtful and intentional planning, that loss was steadily minimized and mitigated year after year. Some of my proudest accomplishments during this journey include initiating an investment strategy that now generates more than $10,000 annually in interest and dividends; assuming the role of Chair of the Joint Expo, which consistently brings in approximately $10,000 each year; and launching the coveted Annual Designer Purse Bingo, which has averaged $13,000 per year since its inception four years ago. Through these increased revenue streams, for the first time in a very long time, we have presented and approved a realistic budget that is not projected to lose income.
This level of progress does not happen at the behest of one individual. It is a slow, deliberate build - a transition from leader to leader, from President to President - anchored in a shared commitment to economic oversight and long-term foresight. That commitment is the reason our Committee Chairs have that pesky little thing called a budget. We don’t ask you to follow it for fun; we ask you to practice fiduciary responsibility for the good of the association.
The financial stability we have achieved leaves a lasting legacy - one that allows for growth, adaptability, and, more importantly, room for error. It gives us the confidence to try new things, like moving luncheon venues to the heart of a local biotech corporate campus at the start of my 2024 term. It allows us to offer complimentary luncheons for Principal Members serving on our Board of Directors, a benefit introduced in 2025, and to lower the cost of Principal Member luncheons to an all-time low of $50, beginning in 2026. These outcomes represent more than dollars and cents; they reflect discipline, collaboration, and trust in long-term leadership.
Through this experience, a few leadership lessons stand out:
Leadership is not a title, it’s an action.
Some of the most impactful leaders I know never sought recognition. They saw a need and stepped in with consistency and care.
Strong organizations are built on relationships.
BOMA San Diego thrives because of mentorship, collaboration, and a shared willingness to support one another beyond our day-to-day roles.
Growth begins with saying “yes” - especially when you want to say no.
Every leadership role I’ve held started with a simple yes - whether to a committee, a task force, or a challenge that pushed me outside my comfort zone.
To the next generation of leaders: if you’ve ever wondered whether your voice matters here, let me be clear - it does. To evolve, this association needs fresh perspectives, fresh ideas, and fresh energy. I was once a young, fresh-faced newcomer, nervous to step into a new role. Someone threw me into the deep end in a Chair position, and before I knew it, I was sitting across from some of our most respected Past Presidents, talking about the change I hoped to be a part of. Whether through committee service, board leadership, or networking, your involvement shapes the future of BOMA San Diego. So say yes. Raise your hand. Step forward. The opportunity to grow is waiting.
Thank you to the Past Presidents who believed in me and nominated me at every stage of this long leadership journey. Your faith and confidence in me truly humbled me. And to the Board of Directors and leaders I’ve had the privilege to serve alongside over the years - what I cherish most are the incredible people I’ve met along the way. I’ve watched your journeys unfold. I’ve celebrated promotions (and weathered a few demotions). I’ve seen relationships begin and chapters close. I’ve witnessed many of you grow into remarkable working mothers and fathers. And in some moments, I’ve been honored to stand beside you as you navigated the loss of loved ones - myself included. Each of us walks a deeply personal path, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have witnessed yours and, in some cases, to have been part of it.
Thank you for a truly unforgettable decade of memories.
Sincerely,
Melanie Milinkevich
President of BOMA San Diego
