Building Owners and Managers Association, Greater Los Angeles (BOMA-GLA) is a regional branch of BOMA, the leading trade association for those in the commercial real estate industry. BOMA has represented real estate professionals such as building owners, managers, services providers, and more for over 100 years. BOMA-GLA encompasses a multitude of commercial building types such as office spaces, corporate, industrial, medical, and mixed-use properties, and is one of the largest and most involved commercial real estate federations worldwide.
When I joined the UG2 team as Vice President, Engineering for Southern California in 2021, I knew continuing to expand my professional network and develop relationships in my customers’ industry was crucial. I had been a BOMA-Greater Los Angeles member with prior organizations and it was clear how instrumental BOMA could be as an educational and social tool in the market. With a member base of over 2,000 professionals in the Greater Los Angeles commercial real estate industry, representing 125 million square feet of both industrial and office space, the opportunities BOMA-GLA offers are incomparable.
Fortunately, I was able to take part in the 2021 BOMA International Conference & Expo in Boston. Among the exciting festivities was a special dinner for those from the LA/Orange County area, which I attended with UG2 CEO, Lou Lanzillo. Right off the bat, Lou personally connected with the BOMA-GLA board and committed that UG2 would proudly serve as a platinum partner. The perks of being a platinum partner are exceptional. Guaranteed foursomes at golf tournaments, two tables and a 3-minute video at the TOBY Awards, registrations for educational events, power hours, and regional round tables are just a few examples. There are also incredible market exposure benefits such as social media features, placements on the BOMA-GLA website, and inclusion in monthly newsletters.
I still remember my very first BOMA-GLA function; it was a trip to the GRAMMY Museum where I knew absolutely no one. This ultimately worked in my favor since I was able to start new conversations and learn about the people around me. That day, I made numerous connections and was recruited to get involved with the Codes and Regulations Committee. From that day on, I made sure to attend every networking opportunity possible. I could probably count on my hand the events I have missed in the past six years.
For the past two years, I’ve had the amazing opportunity to serve as co-chair of the Code and Regulations Committee. It’s been spectacular watching the strides the committee has made in such a short amount of time. We have worked to increase participation and opened meetings up to BOMA members as a whole. We’ve held many successful educational events such as panel discussions. Our committee chair led an expert panel called “Adaptive Reuse: What Is It and What Do I Need to Know?” which addressed the opportunities and challenges that arise when changing the use of a property from commercial to residential or life science. Last year, I led a panel on Fire Life Safety which had a great turnout as well. The committee holds two educational events yearly – one in the spring and one in the fall. I’m eager to lead this year’s fall session.
Nancy Breitman – who recently joined Team UG2 as Director, Strategic Partnerships & Solutions for Southern California – is another prominent member of BOMA-GLA. She began her BOMA journey in 2005 and stresses how instrumental it has been in growing her business network. She has met so many knowledgeable people who have, in turn, introduced her to others. In regards to the opportunity to make connections Nancy says “If you don’t use it, you lose it”.
Nancy has also been on several BOMA-GLA committees. Last year, she was a member of the TOBY Awards committee and has served on social committees for events like spring flings and clam bakes. For the past 20 years, she has also worked on the toy drive committee. Annually, the committee coordinates with buildings to place boxes for tenants to donate toys, clothing, and food items to various charities in their community. Last year, they had an impressive participation where 200 buildings helped collect items for the toy drive. Nancy hopes to partake in additional committees in the near future and implement educational programs regarding mental health, wellness, brain functioning, and stress.
The opportunities presented by BOMA-GLA are immeasurable. The monthly roundtables are a great way to learn about industry trends and practices. We always make sure we have an engineer or UG2 member involved at each session. Another particularly memorable event UG2 took part in was “ChrisMix”, an annual celebration where commercial real estate professionals commemorate the holiday season by getting together to enjoy some festive food and drinks. It was a fantastic experience where everyone had a blast and at the same time, provided a lot of exposure for UG2.
One of UG2’s core values is being a citizen of our customer’s industry and our industry. This means we are committed to staying up-to-date on relevant happenings, news, and practices. Our partnership with BOMA-GLA provides a unique platform that brings people together to network and establish long-lasting relationships and friendships within the industry. I speak for the entire team when I say the connections we have made and the educational opportunities we have participated in have greatly expanded our footprint in the commercial real estate market. Team UG2 is proud to support BOMA and the important work they do for our community and industry. We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with BOMA-GLA and look forward to seeing what the future has in store.
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