As in years past, we are again privileged to start the New Year with a stellar roster of industry professionals from prominent real estate management companies who will lead our chapter through the difficult challenges that we all will face in 2009. IREM's Boston chapter officers for 2009 are: Rob Crowley of Peabody Props., president-elect; Jeanmarie O'Brien of CJ Management Co., vice president; Jonathan Donahue of Barkan Cos., treasurer; and Lisa Maguire of Corcoran Management Co., secretary. We are also honored to have so many seasoned industry practitioners chair our working committees. Our chapter's continued success is truly attributed to the talent of our members. I encourage all IREM's members to consider volunteering for a committee or a specific IREM event in 2009 to continue enriching our chapter and enhancing the member experiences IREM offers.
On January 15th IREM's Boston Chapter #4 hosted our annual Economic Forecast Breakfast and Past Presidents Recognition Celebration at the Sheraton Needham. This event was sponsored by CIREES, Inc. a friend of IREM Boston Chapter #4. Steve Andrews, vice president of Sovereign Bank's capital markets group gave an in-depth presentation on today's economic status, both nationally and regionally, and shared his insight into expectations for our troubled economy in the months to come and into 2010.
Past presidents of the chapter were recognized at this meeting for the valuable contributions they have made to the chapter through the years. Past presidents in attendance were: Jan Brandon, 1990; Mike Weintraub, 1996; Anthony Carr, 1997; Donald Rawson, 1999; Nicholas Ruccolo, 2000; Ronald Brouillard, 2003; Christopher Mellen, 2004; Robert Krauss, 2007; and R. Winder Nordblom, 2008.
On February 25th, we will be hosting a Commercial Lease Law seminar with Daniel Polvere, Esquire, of McCullough, Stievator & Polvere, LLC. as our presenter. Attorney Polvere will share his experience with the participants on how to smoothly navigate the legal waters of general commercial real estate law with emphasis on lease compliance.

In closing, I would like to remind all industry professionals that once again it is time for the annual Income and Expense Exchange. Annually, IREM collects financial data for five property categories, including office, shopping centers, apartments, federally assisted apartments, and condominiums, co-ops and planned unit developments. With data submissions from thousands of real estate management organizations, IREM creates Income/Expenses Analysis reports that offer up-to-date, reliable data that provide our industry with a tool to help benchmark property performance. The Income/Expense Analysis reports are an indispensable and valuable resource in assessing where your properties stand in the marketplace. If you submit income and expense data online before the specific deadlines, you will receive a free report in your property's category. You'll also receive a free Individual Building Report. To learn more and submit data online for the reports visit http://ie.irem.org/irem/cwb.
Kathleen Franco is the 2009 president of the Boston Chapter of IREM, Boston, Mass.