New mandate generates new BOMA/NY.

In post-Sept. 11 New York, there has been a very real mixture of uncertainty, civic pride and dogged determination in the faces and attitudes of those living and conducting business in the city. And for those in the building industry, there has never been a more crucial time to get the job done-and get it done right. BOMA/NY has been galvanized by the difficulties of this new era, prompting dramatic changes in how it serves the industry and the city.

As the first line of defense for New York's working public, the men and women of the building industry are accountable for the safety and security of 3 million office tenants, and though this mandate was well in place before the terrorist attacks, it has become paramount in the years since.

The combination of the city's general economic downturn with the looming threat of terrorism has also. presented new challenges-owners and managers must now balance the fears of the public with the financial ability of both private industries and government entities to provide all things (safety, tenant retention, high occupancy rates) to all people (visitors, tenants, staff, lenders).

One of the ways in which BOMA/NY has responded is through its refocused dedication to advocacy. "In certain ways, our industry has borne the brunt of 9/11 and with increased taxes, is now shouldering responsibility for the City's budget gap," says BOMA/NY president Vincent A. Fantauzzi, RPA. "We represent 400 million SF of New York's best office space and serve an educated and engaged tenant base-it was time for local, state and federal officials to meet the strength behind the skyline."

In recent months, BOMAJNY conducted an intensive lobbying effort, including "facetime" with top decision makers U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, U.S. Reps. Jerrold Nadler, Carolyn Maloney, Ed Towns and Nita Lowey, to name a few. In just two years, association volunteers have transitioned from lobbying one day a year and meeting a handful of legislators to a year-round program with monthly meetings at all levels.

BOMA/NY also came out in strong public support of the adoption and modification of the International Building Code (IBC) to bring uniformity, continuity, higher standards and greater efficiency to New York's building process. A BOMA/NY team is now analyzing the code and making city-specific recommendations.

Association members are already putting the weight of BOMA/NY behind such key issues as obtaining both federal and state funding to build infrastructure at the former WTC site, and speeding the construction of a Second Avenue subway. BOMA/NY is also monitoring the telecommunications forced access issue now at play in Texas, and is alerting and educating local lawmakers as to the potential dangers of allowing deregulation of this type. And in what executive director Roberta M. McGowan, CAR calls "a real vote of confidence for our role in keeping the skyline safe," BOMAINY was tapped by the Office of Emergency Management to join its emergency network, making it the only private sector organization to have a seat in its command center.

BOMAINY has also reached out to its 850-plus members by expanding communication, increasing networking opportunities and enhancing educational offerings. One of the most noticeable improvements has been the Association's website-www.bomany.org---which has been completely restructured as an immediate response site. Its new capabilities were recognized out of a field of 400 entrants with the 3rd Place win at the 2003 New York Society of Association Executives (NYSAR) Cyber Space Award ceremony.

The extensive coursework and seminars offered by the association has also been upgraded and now features an enhanced emphasis on security improvements and procedures-which has directly resulted in the highest enrollment to date. In fact, the seminar held immediately following 9/11 garnered the top education award from BOMA International.

President-elect Betsy Jacobs sees education and advocacy as "the two pillars" of BOMA/NY's public face, and has pledged to put her administration solidly behind the new transportation hub Downtown, and other growth-oriented programs. Yet she also cites the "rich diversity" of BOMA/NY member talent as another key attribute. "Information exchange now reaches out across the country through seminars and road trips made by veteran members," she explains. Participants have included BOMA/NY's "Outstanding Local Members of the Year" Steven W. Ford (senior managing director, facilities management for Cushman & Wakefield), Edward M. Fallon, RPA (director of New York operations for Brookfleld Financial Properties), and Anthony S. Lifrieri, RPA (president of Service Force, Inc.). These BOMAINY members participated in seminars nationwide to share the story of the building industry on Sept. 11 and in its aftermath.

This story has also been documented for posterity in the BOMA/NY-sponsored film "Everyday Heroes," a groundbreaking chronicle of the events of that day, the recovery and rebuilding as seen through the eyes of the industry. The film, which premiered one year after the 9/11 attacks, has been hailed as a moving tribute to the membership, and its vital role in the city.

That role is honored every year through the prestigious BOMAINY Pinnacle Awards, which has become New York's top award for building operations. This year's Pinnacles, held on Feb. 6 in the recently restored Winter Garden, paid tribute to the guardians of the skyline with its newly minted "Property Manager of the Year" award, which honored eight of the most hardworking and professional men and women in the industry and was presented alongside the night's traditional building-oriented awards. Pinnacle building winners then move on for judgment in the 'TOBY" Awards at the Regional and International levels. In the past six years, BOMA/NY winners brought home a TOBY a record-breaking 22 times.

After 35 years of operation, BOMA/NY is moving confidently forward with a renewed commitment to the membership, the industry and the great city it serves.