Colorado-Real-Estate-Journal_423368

Page 22 — Property Management Quarterly — October 2024 www.crej.com Associations: BOMA T here is an old saying that says “Time flies by when you’re having fun.” I believe that it is safe to say that time also flies by when you are hard at work and get- ting things accomplished. Both of these concepts hold true for Denver Metro BOMA and its membership so far in 2024. We held numerous events and engagement opportuni- ties to network and have fun, while also rolling up our sleeves in count- less committee meetings, legislative engagements and discussions on how BOMA can best support com- mercial real estate needs in a chal- lenged market all the while working hard to keep a balanced and thought- ful approach to our environment and communities. As President of Denver Metro BOMA, I began the year with a call to diversify and engage our strengths as a membership. In a time and in a world that seems to have shifted to a focus on differences rather than on the strengths of each individual, it is important to engage all perspectives, backgrounds, experiences. To learn from the past, to reach for the future, to listen to one other, to be thought- ful and to do our best to discover grounded and core compromises that bring positive growth and change. While we can never rest in our laurels and there is still work to be done, I am so very proud of the hard work that our principal mem- bers and associate members have provided this year. Both new and existing members have stepped for- ward to engage their strengths and to diversify our thinking and approach. I would like to share some of those efforts and accomplish- ments that have occurred up to this point in 2024. Engage our Strengths - Through the strengths and engagement of our membership we: • Were asked to present to the Gover- nor’s Property Tax Commission in order to help legislators better understand the commercial side of the discussion and the impact to property owners, market and community. • Educated members on the value of the local PAC and Advocacy Fund in policy work. We strongly believe that Advocacy is about policy, not politics. Policies that are balanced and thought- ful. In 2024, BOMA experienced growth in support of the PAC by our member- ship. • Sent a team of membership volun- teers to Washington, D.C. in the first quarter of 2024 to network, learn and discuss the industry impacts of policies on commercial real estate and person- ally met with three federal legislators. • Support common-sense policies that encourage energy reduction goals and the care of our environment. Den- ver Metro BOMA is leading a coalition of organizations named the Energy Path Forward to discuss positive and reasonable opportunities. • Continue to provide education at all levels for industry professionals, both on policy and industry best practices. Diversified – Through our experienced and diversified membership we: • Continue to grow and modify the Workforce Development efforts within our industry for continued reach and involvement with both local higher and lower education schools and trade schools. Through this effort, two high school interns were hired as building engineers at member buildings. • Launched an industrial special interest group with a two-part educa- tion series. We look forward to contin- ued growth in this membership sec- tor and for the opportunity to grow a medical office building special interest group in 2025. • Supported the Upper Downtown Neighborhood Association (UpDoNa) including sponsoring the August National Night Out in downtown Den- ver with a commitment to making Denver vibrant on all levels. • Continue to maintain and grow diverse engagements with the City of Denver to keep BOMA visible and work on important matters together. • Launched the Leadership Academy to help grow and support future lead- ers within real estate companies. • Voted for the first time to have a building engineer serve on the Board of Directors starting in 2025. Their role and experience as an active building engineer will help bring valued per- spectives to future discussions. It is not the current President of Denver Metro BOMA or any other indi- vidual that brings these developments and successes into being. It is through the collective discussions, the value of opinions through experience and per- spective and by the active engagement of the membership to step out and become involved that provides positive change to our industry and the sur- rounding communities. In closing, for all of you who have remained involved and have sacrificed your time with Denver Metro BOMA throughout 2024, I extend a warm and appreciative thank you! For all of you who are reading this article and have not yet experienced engagement with BOMA, I encourage you to reach out and learn about how you and/or your company can become engaged and support the growth of diversified strengths within the industry. 2025 is just around the corner and you can be an active part of it with BOMA. Step out and engage your diversified strengths. s Denver Metro BOMA Diversified and Engaged in our Strengths Ashton Steele 2024 Denver Metro BOMA President, General Manager Brookfield Properties