Leadership and Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C.

Candice Morse, Thayer & Assoc.

Members of the IREM Boston Chapter recently returned from a very successful Leadership and Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C. More than 400 IREM members were in attendance this year. To kick off the session, attendees heard from a panel of industry leaders that represented one of the world’s largest real estate service companies with two asset managers representing two major institutional investors.

IREM Board members with NH governor Jeanne Shaheen at Leadership and Legislative Summit in Washington D.C.

Speaking on behalf of third-party property management was John Santora, CPM, global chief operating officer and chief integration officer for Cushman & Wakefield, AMO. His fellow panelists were Donald Svoboda, director of real estate investments at MetLife, and Scott MacDonald, managing director at J.P. Morgan Asset Management – Global Real Assets.

Keynote speaker Anne Compton began her career with ABC News in 1973 where she reported from New York until 1974 when she was then assigned to the White House. She was the first woman assigned to cover the White House by a television network.  During her keynote address, she shared a historical perspective of the presidency and provided her insights on why the 2016 presidential election has been so unpredictable.

Attendees at the IREM Foundation Party with a Purpose helped raise more than $23,000 for the IREM Foundation. It is through the IREM Foundation that IREM members can apply for a series of scholarship programs that will provide financial assistance to those that may require it in order to further their IREM education and achieve their professional designations. 

Later at the IREM awards dinner celebration, 35 chapters were recognized for outstanding contributions to the Institute and the real estate management industry. Chapters were acknowledged for innovation, membership growth, financial support of the IREM Foundation, and support of the Income/Expense Analysis Program. In addition, IREM recognized Legislator of the Year, Representative Peter Welch from Vermont, for significant support and understanding of the issues important to our industry.

2016 IREM Board members at Leadership and Legislative Summit in Washington D.C.

Immediate upcoming events include a tour of the Massachusetts State House on May 5, one of the best networking events of the season on June 2 at Crossing 9’s, an evening out at the Red Sox on June 12, a monthly membership meeting and luncheon aboard the Spirit of Boston on June 23, and an IREM Family Fun day at Kimball Farms on July 21. We hope to see IREM members come out and support these great events.

Please also keep watch for information on the IREM Boston Chapter annual awards nominations. These awards will be presented at Chapter 4’s Annual Awards Dinner to be held November 10, at Top of the Hub Restaurant, Boston. The awards include CPM Manager of the Year Award, CPM Candidate of the Year Award, ARM of the Year Award, Friend/ Industry Partner of the Year, Associate of the Year, ACoM of the Year, Student of the Year, and Region 1 Chapter of the Year Award.

In addition the executive committee is currently vetting candidates to receive this year’s Women of Achievement in Real Estate award which will be presented at the December holiday meeting on December 7. The board will gladly consider nominations from the membership. If you have a candidate that you would like to be considered for this important award, please contact me by May 15.

For more information about the chapter’s planned events in 2016, please contact Kelley Hannon at the Boston Chapter office at 617-436-7565 or via email at iremboston@iremboston.com.

Candice Morse, ARM, CPM, is the 2016 president of the IREM Boston Metropolitan Chapter #4 and senior property manager at Thayer & Associates, Inc. AMO, Cambridge, Mass.