BUILDING OWNERS AND MANAGERS REPORT
Vilmar giving an update to BOMA
International’s Board of Governors
on the national Government
Affairs Committee
to attracting business.”
She says since Florida does not
have individual income tax, this is one
of the ways it has been creative with
other taxes.

BOMA Greater Tampa Bay also
sent members to Washington, DC to
lobby congressional leaders last year
for what she calls three main issues:
To prevent drive-by ADA (Americans
with Disabilities Act) lawsuits preva-
lent in the state by adding a notice pe-
riod to implement changes; to reduce
the depreciation period for mandatory
fire sprinkler upgrades from 39 years
to 15 years, and to extend the energy
efficiency investment tax incentives.”
Education is the second of the as-
sociation’s critical missions. Through
various educational series, and net-
working and learning opportunities,
Greater Tampa Bay vice president
Sara Wayson says members have ac-
cess to a wide range of BOMI courses
including Design, Operations and
Maintenance of Building Systems, En-
vironmental Health & Safety, Ethics is
Good Business, Managing the Organ-
ization and Real Estate Investment &
Finance, all scheduled for 2017.

Other educational opportunities in-
clude the Winter Business Meeting
and National Issues Conference (Jan-
uary 28) and the BOMA International
Conference & Expo set to take place
in June. Last year Trade Show Execu-
tive “ranked the 2015 BOMA Interna-
tional Conference & Expo as one of
the top 50 fastest-growing shows in
the category of total attendance” and
Wayson says it is an incredible educa-
tion and networking opportunity for all
members. Connections with BOMA Interna-
tional also provides BOMA Greater
Tampa Bay and its members with
eyes on what others in the industry
are doing with respect to issues in-
cluding sustainability. These relation-
ships can help drive new initiatives
and opportunities locally and gives
members an opportunity to be aware
of future issues, she said.

“In Orlando right now for instance
there is a benchmarking reporting that
buildings must do. BOMA Orlando is
working with the City of Orlando to
ensure there are provisions for build-
ings who must use higher levels of en-
ergy to support specific uses so they
are not discriminated against unfairly.

Though this reporting does not impact
us we recognize that it could in the fu-
ture so will watch their progress with
this.” As a trade association, BOMA
Greater Tampa Bay observes the gen-
eral BOMA principle that membership
should be equally divided between
property owners and managers and
allied members through a specifically
defined 50/50 Program.

Allied members may come from a
variety of interested sectors and in-
clude “firms that provide services and
products to the real estate industry, in-
cluding but not limited to lawyers,
consultants, accountants, designers,
Sandy Ballestra and BOMA GTB past
president Lynn Vilmar while in DC last
year meeting with congressman Gus
Bilirakis aid
Ballestra and Vilmar flank a
statue of former Speaker of the House,
Sam Rayburn.

contractors and architects.”
Allied members must, under the
50/50 Program “attend at least half of
the scheduled events per year; or ac-
tively participate in a BOMA commit-
tee attending at least 75 percent of
committee meetings or events; or be
an annual Platinum or Gold level spon-
sor of the local.”
Ballestra says the association
wants to ensure allied members are
there for the benefit of members and
the industry as a whole. Part of the
50/50 initiative, she says, is to ensure
a balanced, stable membership with
shared values. The aspect of shared
values is supported by an Allied Mem-
ber Committee who works to ensure
the allied members’ participation is
based on networking and expertise,
rather than simply a selling opportu-
nity for the allied member. “We look at
our allied members as partners and
rely on their expertise. We want them
there offering advice to our mem-
bers.” In order to ensure its 50/50 bal-
ance, the association requires that in-
terested parties apply for membership
and be placed on a wait list which is
maintained and monitored throughout
the course of the year.

For more information, visit
http://bomagtb.org. Florida Construction News — SPRING 2017 – 11