The asset, property and facility management business has evolved. Building owners expect their property management firms to act as true partners, handling problems both large and small. Owners can also point to professional property management teams as an incentive to encourage potential tenants to lease space in their properties.
It’s not surprising, then, that one of the main themes of the 20th annual Chicagoland Asset, Property and Facility Management Summit held May 29 by Illinois Real Estate Journal, was how important it is for property and facility management companies to evolve to meet the changing needs of their clients.
A large crowd of top asset, property and facility management professionals filled Maggiano’s Little Italy in Oak Brook for a morning of networking and knowledge.
The Summit led off with the A View From the Top – Asset & Property Management State of the Market panel. Industry experts speaking on this panel were Brian Keaty, Director of Property Management, Stream Realty Partners; Kirsten Bowersox, President, Xroads Real Estate Advisors, Inc.; Jennifer Costa, EVP of Property Operations, Pine Tree; Roger Daniel, President, Daniel Management Group; Natalie Cico, SVP, Property Management, Newmark; and Suzanne Boryscka, Senior General Manager, Lincoln Property Company.
The Why Good Management is More Critical Than Ever panel focused on how property management teams are becoming key selling points for building owners trying to attract tenants. Participating in this panel were Jeff Weinberg, President, Drexel Properties; Jonathan Swindle, President, Waveland Property Group; Juan F. Mendoza, Senior Regional Manager, Peak Properties; Heather Battaglia, Director of Management Services, Hiffman National; Agata Szlezak, Senior Director, Property Management, Link Logistics; and Tom Frye, VP Business Development, Crescent Cleaning.
The event concluded with the Tenant Improvements & Building Upgrades – What’s Next? panel, which featured Sean Peters, Business Development Manager, Kastle Systems; Veronika Bocanova Diffley, Principal, Director of Landlord Services, Architect of Record, Whitney Architects; Karyn Charvat, Executive Director, PowerForward DuPage; Tom Marsan, General Manager, Beverly Companies; Zinnia Olsson, Client Services, Confirmed Life Safety; and Carl Leno, Chief Executive Officer, Allegiance Construction Group.
