Speaking of Able Services, what unique perspective do you bring as an associate member of BOMA International’s Executive Committee?
When you think about a building ecosystem, it’s important to remember that there’s a significant amount of labor and resources that are dedicated to non-management operations. What I provide to BOMA’s leadership is representation of the cleaning groups, the engineering groups and others that are essential to a building’s successful operation. And, bringing my perspective as a service provider, I’m able to provide insight into what’s going on with vendors and what trends we’re seeing.
How would you describe the importance of emerging professional development in the commercial real estate industry?
Young and emerging professionals are the workforce of the future, and it’s so important to not only mentor and empower young people early in their careers, but also to raise awareness of the industry among all emerging professionals.
I saw the power of mentorship firsthand after being paired with a recent college graduate through a mentor match-up program with BOMA/San Francisco’s Careers in Real Estate Committee. I was able to provide her with some perspective and direction on potential career paths, and she gave me valuable insight into how the next generation of commercial real estate professionals thinks and what their priorities are. It was the best feeling in the world watching her grow, and soon afterwards, she was hired by a property management company.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
In the 1920s, my great-uncle, George Kelly, played Major League Baseball. He was a tall guy and wore his baseball pants, which at the time had two large pockets, well above his waist. This distinctive look earned him the nickname George "High Pockets" Kelly. He’s now in the Baseball Hall of Fame.