A Monumental Return to Washington

February 17, 2022 • Sabah Khodir

Hundreds of BOMA members excitedly gathered in Washington, D.C., in early February to attend BOMA International’s first in-person Winter Business Meeting & National Issues Conference since 2020. The meeting is a crucial opportunity for BOMA members, industry leaders and lawmakers to convene and discuss issues important to the commercial real estate industry, and this monumental return to Washington came at a time ripe with possibilities for the future of the industry and the association.

MEMBERS MEET, GREET AND TAKE A FRONT SEAT

On the first day, meeting rooms flooded with attendees eager for discussions covering everything from floor measurement standards to diversity, equity and inclusion in the commercial real estate industry. A number of special guests also joined the various committee meetings, including D.C.’s Fire Marshal and Deputy Fire Chief Mitchell Kannry, who delivered a presentation at the Preparedness Committee meeting.

A day of meetings led to an evening of networking, starting with a high-energy welcome reception sponsored by TK Elevator. The energy shifted into high-gear at an exclusive event later that night for Gold- and Platinum-level donors to BOMA International’s political action committee, BOMAPAC. Held at Five Iron Golf, an indoor golf simulation space, the event allowed everyone to show off their golf swings for a good cause.

INSIGHTS INTO THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

The highlight of the second day was a keynote luncheon featuring political reporter—and new chief election and campaign correspondent for CBS News—Robert Costa. Immediately upon taking the stage, Costa captured the attention of the audience by sharing anecdotes from his early career as an ambitious cub reporter. He also told stories of his first-hand experiences reporting on some of the major players of the modern American political landscape, including President Donald Trump and Senator Bernie Sanders. Costa offered insights into the dangers of assumptions, stating that assumptions can lead you to be blindsided, especially in politics. He also discussed the political issues impacting commercial real estate, including slow-moving infrastructure spending. “As you in the commercial real estate industry know,” Costa said, “these projects take time, and just because the infrastructure bill passes in September doesn’t mean people are going to see construction crews on highways and in buildings in October, November—or even January, February and March.”

Following the keynote luncheon, attendees reconvened for “Engaging Congress: Representing Commercial Real Estate on Capitol Hill,” a session led by BOMA International’s Vice President of Advocacy & Building Codes, Don Davis, Esq., and Director of Federal Affairs, Pearce Crossland. The insightful presentation highlighted BOMA International’s top federal legislative issues, workforce development, carbon reduction and the endorsement of the Green Energy Loan Enhancement Act. To make things interactive, members also were encouraged to take out their phones and express their support for the Green Energy Loan Enhancement Act to their elected officials simply by texting. Attendees also were treated to another special guest, Senior Program Advisor of Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy, Maria T. Vargas, who spoke about carbon reduction and commercial real estate’s recent successes in the sustainability arena.

A RETURN TO CAPITOL HILL

On the final day, the Board of Governors meeting featured updates from BOMA International’s various committees, along with a lively discussion about workforce development for the commercial real estate industry. BOMA International Chair and Chief Elected Office Mark Dukes, BOMA Fellow, CCIM, RPA, delivered optimistic predictions for the future of commercial real estate as part of his Chair’s Report, then unveiled BOMA International’s 2021 Year in Review video, which highlighted.

Following the Board of Governors meeting, BOMA local associations from across the United States got to work and advocated on behalf of commercial real estate—both in person on Capitol Hill and virtually. BOMA members met with dozens of members of Congress to discuss the key issues impacting the commercial real estate industry.

BACK TO BUSINESS

As the final day came to an end, members regrouped for a closing reception sponsored by Naylor Association Solutions to cap off another successful three-day event in Washington. Two lucky BOMAPAC raffle winners, Christine Alamed and Stephen Moore, also won a Dyson Airwrap and AirPod Pros during the event; BOMPAC raised a record $19,800 over the course of the meeting. Attendees felt excitement in the air as they prepared for BOMA International’s next in-person event in June: the 2022 BOMA International Conference & Expo in Nashville. Visit www.BOMAConference.org for more information!