Professional Development

Latest News

Get to Know BOMA’s 2021 Rising Stars!

May 6, 2021 | By Caroline Pomilla

For the fourth year in a row, BOMA International asked its members to nominate the “rising stars” of commercial real estate. Whether they’re mentoring other emerging professionals, stepping up to support their companies during the pandemic or striving to make professional development opportunities more widely available, the three BOMA members featured this year continually demonstrate that they have what it takes to shape the future of the industry.

A Long Way to Go

January 8, 2021 | By Wendy Mann, CAE

CREW Network’s latest benchmark study finds diversity, equity and inclusion progress stalled

Stormy Waters, Steady Ship: Leadership in Times of Crisis

October 19, 2020 | By John Salustri

All times of challenge—no matter their nature—come with two basic leadership truths. First, they demand all hands on deck. Whether the crisis is regional, such as hurricanes or wildfires, or global, such as a pandemic, everyone on the property management team has to row together. And therein lies the second truth about leadership. You can’t row together without a qualified team. Leadership in times of calm or chaos is as much about those being led as the ability of the leader to inspire.

Manage Your Time and Be Happier For it

October 1, 2020 | By Murray S. Greene, BOMA Fellow, CPM, RPA, SMA

From understanding how the systems in a building work to accounting and financial skills to legal knowledge to tenant relations and more, commercial property managers must be exceptionally well-rounded. And, having these skills is one thing; making sure they are actually used effectively is another.

The Rules of Engagement

July 20, 2020 | By Linda K. Monroe

Public speaking—at a team meeting, during a client pitch or to a large group of conference-goers—may never be your favorite professional task. However, the challenges of COVID-19, including shelter-in-place and other social-distancing practices, present a unique opportunity for individuals to gain valuable experience doing just that, as video conferencing becomes a new model for business communications across the globe.

Can Working From Home Bring Us Together?

May 7, 2020 | By Joe Markling

Most of us are now several weeks into working from home as a result of COVID-19. This situation is hardly typical; under normal circumstances, we would have had time to prepare for working from home. Technology needs would have been evaluated, tested and, if necessary, adjusted. Children would be at daycare or school. And, of course, there wouldn’t be the stress, uncertainty and tragedy of a global pandemic. These circumstances have been a trial-by-fire for working from home, and many of us are finding we’ve missed heading into the office.

An Anti-Burnout Guide to Property Management

January 19, 2020| By Caroline Pomilla

Every morning, millions of people walk into clean, comfortable, efficient office buildings without a thought to how these spaces are operated. Behind the scenes are commercial real estate’s unsung heroes: property professionals who work hard so that building occupants never have to think twice about their surroundings. Even property professionals who love the variety and challenge of their jobs can find themselves getting burned out by workloads that sometimes require long hours and garner little acknowledgment.

The Business Imperative We Need to Talk About

November 8, 2019 | By Jessica Bates

"Diversity" and "inclusion" are popular buzzwords, but companies that succeed in these areas consider them core business principles. How do you turn buzz into impact? By necessity.

RISING STARS: The Next Generation of Commercial Real Estate

March 12, 2019 | By Tanner Johnston

For the second year running, BOMA International asked its members to nominate the "rising stars" of commercial real estate. Despite only working in the industry for a few years, the four emerging professionals recognized here all demonstrate exceptional drive, dedication and the potential to shape the future of commercial real estate.

The Myth of Work-Life Balance

April 1, 2018 | By John Salustri

In today’s highly plugged-in business culture, where professionals at all levels are being tasked to do more with less, finding the balance between work and life can be next to impossible. Add to that the reality that much of our socializing is also tech-based, thanks to such computerized narcotics as Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram, and the line blurs even more. Today, that deathbed scene might very well include one last selfie.

Millennials Have Major Issues—Generalizations Are The First Of Them

November 13, 2019 | By Caroline Pomilla

Millennials have been the subject of articles and water cooler conversations for years. But, are millennials—and now Gen Zers—really that different from the generations of workers that preceded them? Discover the challenges and opportunities the “next” generation of property professionals is experiencing.

Fast Track Your Career with the CMCP Certification

October 16, 2019 | By BOMA International

You’ve worked hard to establish yourself in a new career in commercial real estate. You’ve received great on-the-job training, and you’ve even started pursing professional development to enhance your knowledge. Now…how do you prove that you’re ready to take your career to the next level?

How to Stop Worrying and Embrace Change

July 11, 2019 | By John Salustri

The one constant in our lives and in our businesses is change. Mergers and acquisitions (M&As). Technologies advancing beyond our comprehension. Lease-bending approaches to work, such as shared space. The Silver Tsunami and the millennial rise into positions of power. Any one of these "disruptors," to use a buzzword that’s all the rage these days, would be enough for serious strategy meetings.

Get Real: Becoming an Authentic Leader

March 12, 2019 | By Jessica Bates

Just because someone is a manager doesn’t necessarily mean they also are a leader. So says Terri Maxwell, president and CEO of the business consulting firm Share On Purpose, Inc. “I think most of us have seen people in managerial positions who were not natural leaders,” she says. “And, just as many of us have been inspired and motivated by people who were, say, interns.”

22 Pieces of Advice Every Property Professional Should Know

April 1, 2018 | By BOMA International

There’s a saying that behind every great building is a great property professional—which is why we turned to property professionals like you to share their advice for commercial real estate’s emerging professionals. We have gathered some of our favorite responses on these pages. A few common themes popped up: make connections, never stop learning and, of course, get involved in BOMA. That’s advice everyone in the industry, from newcomers to seasoned veterans, can take to heart.

Turn Yourself into a Commercial Real Estate Superhero

January 7, 2017 | By Leah Grout Garris

Being a commercial real estate superhero doesn’t mean taking on more work—it means finding smarter ways to make a big impact. Even though the demands on property and facility managers continue to increase, true superheroes learn different disciplines and new skills because they want to find better ways to make tenants and occupants happy, keep their management team satisfied and improve the bottom line.

Talent: Commercial Real Estate’s Other Sustainability Issue

April 14, 2018 | By John Salustri

Sustainability is a topic very much in vogue these days. We hear it applied to our buildings, our wildlife, our forests. We hear it every time actor-turned-activist Leonardo DiCaprio steps off his private jet to comment on the environment.

What I Learned in Foundations of Real Estate Management

February 4, 2019 | By Maureen Mwangi

As the facilities coordinator for Northwestern University in Chicago, my property management experience has been focused on higher education. Over the last several years, I have been concentrating on managing spaces that the university rents in commercial buildings in downtown Chicago. Essentially, I am the liaison between the university departments housed in those spaces and the building owners we lease space from. As such, I thought it would be beneficial to take a course in commercial property management as part of my professional development. After doing some research, I discovered BOMA and the courses it offered and I realized BOMA was exactly what I was looking for. The Foundations of Real Estate Management course seemed like the best place to start, and it proved to be a very beneficial course for me.

Ask A Property Pro

March 19, 2019 | By BOMA International

Welcome to BOMA International’s new advice column, where industry experts answer questions from BOMA members. The questions for this first column were collected at the 2019 Winter Business Meeting and have been answered by the industry’s top property pros: the BOMA Fellows. BOMA Fellows are selected because they have displayed exemplary and sustained contributions to the industry, their profession, the community and BOMA at all levels and have continually answered the call to leadership and service throughout their careers. And now, they answer your questions!

Building Owners and Managers Association International