Advocacy
Q: Who does BOMA/Chicago represent? A: The Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago (BOMA/Chicago) represents the interests of Chicago’s office building industry including the owners and managers of commercial buildings, as well as the companies that service these buildings. BOMA/Chicago’s 260 member buildings comprise more than 80 percent of downtown Chicago’s rentable building area and nearly 90 percent of rentable Class A buildings downtown. Through a wide range of advocacy initiatives, educational programs, events and networking opportunities, BOMA/Chicago ensures the economic vitality of downtown Chicago’s commercial real estate industry.
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Q: What types of advocacy and government affairs initiatives is BOMA/Chicago involved with?A: BOMA/Chicago experienced government affairs team lobbies on behalf of the commercial real estate community at the city, county and statewide levels of government. Major government affairs initiatives include property taxation, energy procurement, building codes and emergency preparedness, among many others. For additional information, please visit government affairs and advocacy page or contact Ron Tabaczynski, director of government affairs, at 312-870-9611 or
rtabaczynski@bomachicago.org.
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Member Benefits
Q: What are the kinds of benefits that members receive?A: BOMA/Chicago members receive numerous benefits that enable them to run their businesses more efficiently, expand their knowledge base and positively influence Chicago’s commercial real estate industry. Specific benefits include lobbying efforts, labor negotiations, access to industry information, safety and security information, networking, events and professional education opportunities. For additional information, please visit the Member Benefits page.
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Education
Q: What are BOMA/Chicago’s educational offerings?A: BOMA/Chicago offers a wide range of educational offerings for its members. They include RPA courses, LEED certification classes, monthly brown bag lunches led by industry experts, as well as various other opportunities for professional development. For additional information, please contact Lisa Bluhm, director of education, at
lbluhm@bomachicago.org or 312.870-9612.
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Building & Affiliate Membership
Q: How do you become a member? What are the specifications? A: To become a member of BOMA/Chicago, complete the membership application that can be accessed
here and send it to Beth Halat, director of member services, at
bhalat@bomachicago.org.
The membership specifications and process vary depending on the membership level, however, all buildings, affiliate and allied buildings applying for membership must reside within Chicago city limits.
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Q: What’s the difference between affiliate, building and allied building membership in BOMA/Chicago? A: BOMA/Chicago’s three membership classifications are defined as:
- Building members are comprised of owners and managers of commercial office buildings
- Allied building members are operators of institutional, hospital and cultural buildings
- Affiliate members are vendors and professionals that service the office building industry
While the membership levels are distinct, all BOMA/Chicago members receive the same benefits and opportunities. For additional information on finding a membership level that’s right for you, please contact Beth Halat, director of member services, at bhalat@bomachicago.org or 312-870-9600.
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Q: How will an affiliate membership help my business? A: As a part of BOMA/Chicago’s affiliate network, you’ll have access to exclusive opportunities to build your customer prospect base by interacting with building owners and property managers on a regular basis. In addition, an affiliate membership in BOMA/Chicago creates ample opportunities for you to market your services and establish your company as an industry leader and expert in your space. For additional information on the benefits of becoming an affiliate member, please visit
here or contact Beth Halat, director of member services, at
bhalat@bomachicago.org or 312-870-9600.
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Q: What is the cost to become a member of BOMA/Chicago? A: The cost to become a building or allied building member varies depending on the number of buildings and their combined square footage. For affiliate members, the cost is $2,000 per year.
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