July President's Message
Monday, June 30, 2014
by: Kristin Howell, RPA, Meissner Jacquet Investment Management Services

Section: President's Message




June was an eventful month for your executive committee, with trips to Sacramento for the California Commercial Real Estate Summit and then to Orlando, Florida for the BOMA International Every Building Conference and Expo. Both trips were important to San Diego's commercial real estate industry as the Sacramento trip included legislative visits to discuss the impact of Split Roll Parcel Taxes on our industry as well as other proposed legislation.
 
It wasn't until I started attending the BOMA California events a few years ago that I realized how important the advocacy arm of BOMA is. Currently among the many pieces of legislation being proposed at the state level is a bill that would allow employees to file liens on an employer’s real or personal property, or property where work was performed, based on yet unproven wage claims. Can you imagine paying a service provider only to later have a lien placed on your property as part of their employee’s wage dispute? This is a bill that would be dangerous to commercial real estate.
 
We've touted the networking angle before and most members are familiar with the great educational offerings but does everyone really understand the importance of the advocacy piece of this puzzle?

The convention in Orlando included meetings of BOMA International's committees, with updates from the Preparedness Committee, Codes and Standards, Government Affairs, and many others. In one of the meetings, I learned that many BOMA affiliates face the same challenges we do and that is: how do we communicate the importance of BOMA to our members? How do we get “buy in” for participation from the heads of companies?  We've touted the networking angle before and most members are familiar with the great educational offerings but does everyone really understand the importance of the advocacy piece of this puzzle? I don't think so, because if they did, we would have a waiting list for the Government Affairs committee. 
 
And finally, I couldn’t help but think back to this time last year when so many of our members went above and beyond the call of duty working on the convention here in San Diego. I kept thinking about the countless hours our membership spent volunteering at the Welcome Booth, raising money for the BOMA PAC (more than $18,000!!), setting up the building tours, preparing Career Day, preparing the anniversary display, and of course, planning that spectacular party. Over and over during our time in Orlando, our group heard "San Diego knocked it out of the park last year!"; "We had such a great time!"; and "You set the bar at a whole new level for conventions". Team, we really did – I am so proud of our entire group for thinking outside the box and for stepping up to make the convention last year memorable for all who attended – and we did – they are still talking about it!
 
Flying back into Lindberg Field after these trips made me realize how blessed we are to live in this beautiful, thriving city with (almost) always perfect weather. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to represent San Diego at state and nation-wide industry events and I am so proud of this city we call home and of our group at BOMA San Diego.