By Cathy Powers, CAE, Executive Director, BOMA/Suburban Chicago
The Building Owners and Managers Association of Suburban Chicago (BOMA/Suburban Chicago) is known for well-conceived educational programing designed to meet the current needs of their members and the industry. Over the years, we have added programming and events to reach beyond the standard commercial office property owners and managers to also develop their assistants, building engineers, and security personnel, as well as expand our outreach to management professionals in niche markets, such as medical office, office condominiums, and industrial.
I’d like to introduce you to two resources for those in industrial property management: our Industrial 101, 102, and 103 Workshops, and our Industrial Specific Interest Group (SIG) — both open to our members as well as non-member professionals involved in industrial property management.
When members began inquiring about resources for industrial-specific management issues, some having acquired industrial properties in their portfolios for the first time, it soon became apparent no such local resource existed. In keeping with our Mission — to serve real estate professionals working in the commercial real estate industry through effective leadership, advocacy, education, professional development — a work group was formed to address this need. The result was Industrial 101 — a one-of-a-kind, half-day workshop designed to delineate the key differences between managing industrial properties and office properties, as well as provide a basic outline for industrial management. Formatted for managers looking for either an introductory course or a refresher program, the initial Industrial 101 agenda was comprised of: • An overview of industrial property management (landlord and tenant obligations, leases, risk management, and utilities) • Discussion on basic design components (systems, lighting, flooring, column spacing, power, office space, and other basics) • Specialty design components specific to industrial properties (precast panels, docks, roofs, and paving) • Q&A session and wrap-up • Building tour
After the first offering in 2012, the workshop was re-developed into a three-part offering, adding Industrial 102, to cover “Building Components,” and Industrial 103, geared toward “Operations and Management.” The modified offering of Industrial 101 in 2013 addressed “Why Industrial? … Why do developers, investors, brokers, tenants, and yes, even property managers, like industrial properties?” Specifically, the discussion centered around: • Tenant selection • Property uses and their impact • Building attributes • Traffic flow and parking • Lighting • Fire and life safety • Contracts • Restoration.
All Workshops are presented by professionals in their respective fields, representing a wealth of knowledge and differing backgrounds. Although the three workshops build on each other, they are designed so attendees can find value in each individually, even if they didn’t attend a previous level.
Our inaugural offering of Industrial 103 will be presented on October 21 in Downers Grove from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The agenda includes: • New Trends: Ware Malcomb • Major Capital Projects: o Facades: Ware Malcomb o Electrical/Lighting upgrades: Fitzgerald Lighting o HVAC: Air Comfort Corporation o Roofing: RRK o Parking lots: Professional Paving & Concrete Co., Inc. • Wrap up; Q & A
Another ongoing resource for industrial property managers, which is an outgrowth of the initial Industrial 101 workshop, is our Industrial Specific Interest Group (SIG), providing quarterly programs with networking for professionals involved in industrial property management. Topics addressed at past sessions include the polar vortex and industrial property restoration, and future presentations are planned on the new IEPA regulations covering vapor intrusion, intermodal transportation, a tour of Home Run Inn’s industrial facility, and risk management. The next SIG meeting is November 11 and features a discussion on “Managing Associations.” SIG meetings run from 8 to 10 a.m. and include continental breakfast, and will meet in our offices in Schaumburg.
BOMA/Suburban Chicago member Melissa Podolsky, RPA, Principal, Podolsky|Circle CORFAC International Commercial Real Estate Advisors, and active member of our industrial work group shared her appreciation of these resources, saying, “I am so happy BOMA/Suburban created the Industrial Workshops and provides SIG programs geared toward industrial property management. It is so valuable to learn from and network with my peers in the industry who are managing an industrial or mixed-product portfolio.”
Both the Industrial Workshops and the quarterly Industrial SIG meetings are open to BOMA/Suburban Chicago members as well as non-member industrial property management professionals.
If you are involved in industrial property management, I encourage you to look to BOMA/Suburban Chicago as a valuable resource of information, education, and peer networking. For more information on membership or these events, or to be added to the mailing list for future offerings, please contact BOMA/Suburban Chicago at 847/995-0970, email boma@bomasuburbanchicago.com, or visit our website at www.bomasuburbanchicago.com.
Cathy Powers is the new Executive Director at BOMA/Suburban Chicago. She is a seasoned professional in the non-profit community with experience managing trade associations, medical societies, and a Chamber of Commerce with a commitment to providing strategic, operational, ethical, and inspirational leadership to the organization. Dedicated to customer service and membership development, Cathy has a strong background working collaboratively with volunteer boards, staff, and strategic partners.
A Chicago native and graduate of the University of Illinois, Cathy is passionate about the value of volunteering, serving as a dedicated volunteer for a variety of civic and non-profit organizations.
The Building Owners and Managers Association of Suburban Chicago (BOMA/Suburban Chicago) has been serving the commercial real estate industry for over 43 years. Its members manage over 52 million square feet of commercial office space in the Chicago collar counties, including DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will and Winnebago counties, as well as suburban Cook County and outlying areas. BOMA/Suburban Chicago is federated with BOMA International, the association of commercial real estate building professionals and companies which provide services essential to the management of quality buildings.
