After operating independently of each other for many years, BOMA and BOMI announced at the beginning of this year that they now share a vision to partner individuals in the commercial real estate industry who choose to maximize value for their careers, organizations, and building assets.
Leaders of the two international organizations said that with intense focus on workforce development, coordinating their efforts to provide education and training, while enhancing the close working relationship that has existed for over 50 years, will enhance quality, expand offerings, and make them even more responsive to marketplace needs.
“This is a unique opportunity to bring the two organizations together as one synergistic business to capitalize on our respective strengths, leverage staff competencies, better serve our shared customers, and enhance product offerings,” said BOMA international chair Randal L. Froebelius, a BOMA fellow and P.Eng. “By coming together, we elevate our effectiveness at being the preferred provider of career-long education and training.”
Tim O’Donald, RPA, BOMI International’s chair of the Board of Trustees, agreed. “BOMI is dedicated to improving the skills of professionals with property, facilities and systems responsibilities,” O’Donald said. “This partnership will enhance our capabilities in education and training for management professionals and related disciplines. I want to thank BOMA Georgia chief executive officer Gabriel Eckert, FASAE, CAE, for all his work this fall that helped bring us together.”
The two organizations have signed a letter of intent to achieve shared management and governance structures, pending a due diligence period expected to conclude early this year and be approved by BOMA, BOMI, and the BOMA Foundation. Under the plan, BOMI International will become BOMA International’s nonprfit 501(c)(3) arm, combining with the BOMA Foundation.
BOMA International president and chief operating of cer Henry Chamberlain, APR, FASAE, CAE, will take on the added duty of BOMI’s volunteer president. BOMI’s retiring chief executive officer Jeffrey Horn will assist with the transition.
“During the last several years we have come together to create some valuable joint programs, and BOMI’s designations have set the standard in the industry for many years,” Chamberlain said. “It is incredibly exciting to be coming together now in this powerful way that will both enhance the quality of our offerings and expand our capacity and speed to market as we produce new education and training to meet workforce needs.”
BOMA International, a 501 (c)(6) organization, has been the leading trade association for commercial real estate professionals since 1907. Through its 85 local associations in the United States and 17 international affiliates it represents the owners, managers, service providers and other property professionals of all commercial building types, including office, industrial/warehouse, medical and healthcare real estate, corporate facilities, and mixed-use properties.
BOMI International, a nonprofit educational organization founded in 1970, provides critical education and expertise to industry professionals with property, facility, and building systems management responsibilities. As the Independent Institute for Property and Facility Management Education, BOMI delivers courses, certficate programs, and industry-standard designations—Real Property Administrator (RPA), Facilities Management Administrator (FMA), Systems Maintenance Administrator (SMA), Systems Maintenance Technician (SMT), and the High-Performance Sustainable Building designation program (BOMIHP)—with a proven record of increasing job performance and company efficiency.
