Houston BOMA Highlights, Q1 2019

HIGhlights 

Q1 • 2019 

inside this Issue 

The New “Big Three” 

Dare to Dream About 

Property Tax Reform 

Texas BOMA 

Advocacy Day

President’s 

Message 

Ed Bovermann, 

Transwestern 

As we start 2019, I’d like to first thank the Nominating 

Committee, the Board of Directors, and of course our 

membership for the vote of confidence. There is no shortage 

of talent within Houston BOMA and I’m honored to 

be selected to take the helm this year. 

I’m also excited and anxious to get started on our 

goals and initiatives for 2019. This year is shaping up 

to be a busy one legislatively and one that could shape 

the Texas and Houston political scene for years to come. 

At the state level, the legislature is just getting into their 

2019 session. I hope to see many of you there in Austin 

for Texas BOMA Advocacy Day on February 19 and 20. 

We’ll have the opportunity to meet with state legislators 

This year is shaping up to be a busy 

one legislatively and one that 

could shape the Texas 

and Houston political 

scene for years to come. 

in small teams to discuss policy that impacts commercial 

real estate directly. This includes property taxes, school 

finance reform, lien laws, etc. They often don’t fully 

understand the impact of pending bills, so it is important 

for us to help explain how we would be affected. 

At the local level, we have mayoral and city council 

elections. As we did four years ago, we plan on having a 

mayoral debate at our fall luncheon before the election. 

Based on the candidates already in the race, this campaign 

season will be very interesting and one to watch. 

Regarding committees, as discussed during the Annual 

Awards Extravaganza in December, we’ve added a Community 

Outreach committee that will focus on our impact 

as it relates to area charitable causes. An early focus 

for this group will be to establish policies and procedures 

that lay the groundwork for this to be a strong committee 

for years to come. I think 

this will be a committee that 

we will all be proud of for 

the positive impact it will 

have in the community. 

Also, briefly discussed 

at the Annual Awards was 

our annual golf tournament 

and the Board’s decision to 

transition the event to Top 

Golf in 2019. I know many 

of us will miss having the 

traditional tournament, but 

unfortunately, we have not met our financial goals for 

the last several years and attendance has been trending in 

the wrong direction. With as much hard work that goes 

page 2 

Houston Building Owners & Managers Association Q1 • 2019

into planning these things, we need them to be successful. 

You’ll recall we held two tournaments each year, up until 

seven years ago, when the BAC PAC tournament transitioned 

into a clay shoot event. Our BAC PAC Sporting 

Clays Tournament has been successful every year, and 

we are optimistic we can have similar success with a Top 

Golf event. My hat goes off to all those that have worked 

on the golf committee from years past. I know it’s been 

a lot of work, and kudos to you for your commitment. 

I’m hopeful our 2019 group will be able to channel that 

energy into our new Top Golf event. 

I know many of you are on committees or plan to 

volunteer your time this year in some form or fashion. 

I know others are stepping up this year to be sponsors. 

Let me thank you in advance for this commitment. This 

organization does not run without all of you. 

I look forward to working with you, and please feel free 

to touch base if you have feedback or would like to discuss 

our direction for the year. Good luck, and here’s to a 

successful 2019! n 

Table of Contents 

Education 

2019 Education Calendar ................................................................ 4 

Spring Course Highlight: Foundations 

of Real Estate Management.............................................................. 5 

Read Your Boss’ Mind: Workshop Seminar..................................... 6 

members 

Fall/Winter 2018 Event Recaps 

• Engineer All Stars: Maintenance Olympics............................ 7 

• Golf Classic.............................................................................. 8 

• Building Engineering Management 101................................. 9 

• 2019 Business Exchange.......................................................... 9 

Annual Awards Extravaganza and Members of the Year............... 10 

Leadership Lyceum......................................................................... 12 

New Members................................................................................. 13 

Kudos Corner.................................................................................. 13 

Upcoming Events 

BOMA Mission 

The mission of the Houston Building Owners and 

Managers Association is to support and advance 

the interests of the commercial real estate industry. 

Houston BOMA will be an organization of advocacy 

and sustainable building practices that utilizes the 

strengths, talents and leadership of its members and 

industry associates to build value and lasting relationships 

with our community through professional 

development, networking and sharing of information. 

BOMA Vision 

To be the recognized industry leader in both 

legislative advocacy and professional development 

for a broad spectrum of commercial real estate 

professionals in the Houston market. 

Houston BOMA Foundation 3rd Annual Benefit: 

Viva Las Vegas!................................................................................ 14 

BAC PAC Sporting Clays Tournament.......................................... 14 

4th Annual Crawfish Boil............................................................... 15 

2019 Houston BOMA Building Expo............................................ 15 

Feature: The 2019 Texas Legislative Session 

Dare to Dream About Property Tax Reform................................. 16 

The New “Big Three”...................................................................... 18 

Texas BOMA Advocacy Day........................................................... 19 

In Other News 

Advertisers Index............................................................................ 20 

Annual Report................................................................................. 20 

Foodie Find..................................................................................... 21 

Houston Building Owners & Managers Association Q1 • 2019 page 3

2019 Educational Courses and Seminars 

Save the date for this year’s educational events! Keep up with all of our upcoming courses and seminars on our website here. 

Education 

BOMI RPA Designation Courses: 

Budgeting and 

Accounting 

February 11-14, 2019 

Real Estate Investment 

and Finance 

June 17-20, 2019 

Law and Risk 

September 16-19, 2019 

NEW! BOMI SMT 

Designation Course: 

Energy Management 

and Controls 

August 5-7, 2019 

Houston BOMA Courses: 

Foundations of Real 

Estate Management 

March 20 – April 17, 

2019 (Class held weekly) 

Building Engineering 101 

October 9 – 23, 2019 

(Class held weekly) 

Seminars: 

Read Your Boss’ Mind: 

Workshop Seminar 

March 6, 2019 

Building Systems Desk Reference 

Need to know the difference between a Bus Bar and a Bus Duct? How about a Traction Elevator versus a Hydraulic Elevator? BOMA’s new 

Building Systems Desk Reference provides a comprehensive guide to the equipment associated with various building systems, including: HVAC, 

electrical, plumbing, elevator and fire and life safety. The Building Systems Desk Reference also features sections on preventive maintenance and 

energy conservation. Written in layman’s terms and considered an essential publication for anyone involved in building operations and management, 

the Buildings Systems Desk Reference features more than 600 images illustrating the more than 500 terms associated with these systems. 

Through the month of February, you can save 20% on the newest edition of the Building Systems Desk Reference. 

Visit store.boma.org to purchase yours today. 

page 4 


Spring Course Highlight 

Foundations of Real Estate Management 

Class held every Wednesday from March 20 – April 17, 2019 

8:00 am – 4:00 pm each day 

Locations Vary 

Foundations of Real Estate Management is a soup-to-nuts, 6-module, 28-hour entry-level 

course covering the fundamentals of commercial real estate administration, management, 

building systems, accounting and reporting, contract management and more taught in person 

by a seasoned professional. 

Our 2019 course will be taught by member-favorite instructor Tom Easley, and each class will 

be held at various building locations around Houston to diversify your knowledge and align the 

course material to provide real-time educational opportunities! Whether you’re new to property 

management or you’re looking to expand your overall real estate management skills, this course 

can help you build a foundation for your CRE career. 

Pricing: 

Members – $720 

Non-Members – $920 

Includes all course materials and breakfast each day. Class will have a one-hour lunch 

break (on your own). n 

Register online here. 

Education 

Program Curriculum: 

Module 1: 

Real Estate Administration – Roles 

and responsibilities of a property 

manager, tenant satisfaction, contracting 

with vendors and supplier, 

leasing and marketing strategies, 

managing risk and understanding 

insurance coverages 

Module 2: 

The Well-Versed Real Estate 

Manager – Emergency and disaster 

preparedness, tenant improvement, 

budgeting and accounting, 

operating expenses, due diligence, 

OSHA requirements, and a tour 

of the engineering office and 

non-office occupancies 

Module 3: 

Building Operations I – Work 

orders, HVAC, domestic water, 

fire alarms and fire sprinklers, 

and the main electric room 

Module 4: 

Building Operations II – 

Maintenance and service 

contracts, elevators/ 

escalators, roof systems, 

solid waste/recycling, and 

janitorial inspections 

Module 5: 

Putting it All Together – 

Pest management, parking, 

security, landscaping, 

BOMA overview 

Module 6: 

Other Property Types – 

Industrial, retail, mixed-use 

and medical office properties 

and special considerations 

for management 

Houston Building Owners & Managers Association Q1 • 2019 

page 5

Education 

Read Your Boss’ Mind: Workshop Seminar 

Wednesday, March 6, 2019 

8:00 – 10:00 am 

Williams Tower – Conference Room 

2800 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, TX 77056 


Do you want to read your boss’ mind? 

Want to know what your employees 

are thinking? 

Come join us for an educational 

seminar on developing new strategic 

ways to communicate, change your 

perspective, and be enlightened on how 

you are being perceived by employees, 

coworkers and your managers! 

Communications and HR expert 

Pat Dolen will lead a workshop that will 

help you better understand and implement 

communication and management 

strategies in your workplace. Pat Dolen 

has been known to aid companies experiencing 

people challenges such as retention of their top 

talent, building leaders and developing a leadership 

pipeline, coaching and mentoring staff 

to peak performance and resolving all conflict 

and communication misunderstandings. Don’t 

miss your chance to gain skills that will 

help you become a better boss, employee, 

and colleague in our industry! 

Pricing: 

Members – $75 

Non-Members – $105 

Includes breakfast. n 

page 6 


members 

Houston BOMA returned to Sam Houston Race Park on 

October 6, 2018 to host the 5th Annual Engineer All Stars: 

Maintenance Olympics! The sold-out event pitched Houston’s 

top 24 best building maintenance teams head-to-head in the 

battle for the Golden Wrench. Families and fans came out to 

cheer on their teams and enjoy fun activities including face 

painting, a gaming truck, bounce house, snow cone machine, 

and more. We’re proud to present our Engineer All Stars: 

Maintenance Olympics award winners! 

1st Place: 919 Milam Energy Hogs, CBRE 

Rey Ayala, David Duarte, Jorge Ramos, 

Jose Lopez 

2nd Place:The King Penn, Transwestern 

Kenny Woods, Pat Bugaj, 

Alex Medrano, Cory Reneau 

Thank you to our generous sponsors and volunteers for 

their support of this fun event for our hard-working building 

engineers! See all the photos from this event on our website. 

Sponsors 

Underwriter 

Silver Sponsor 

3rd Place: Parkway Dominators, Parkway 

Rogelio Rodriguez, Jose Martinez, Lidio Alcantar, Omar Vasquez 

Bronze Sponsors 


members 

Houston BOMA Golf Classic participants, volunteers, 

and sponsors braved the rain on Monday, October 15, 2018 

and came out to BlackHorse Golf Club in Cypress, Texas, 

to make the most of our event, showing their dedication to 

our cause and beneficiaries! The rain didn’t stop us from 

having fun! During the rain delay, we gave away awesome 

door prizes and a held a fabulous silent auction. When the 

weather cleared, golfers enjoyed nine holes of golf in Fall 

temperatures and delicious food provided by our sponsors. 

And now presenting…our winners! 

Third Place Teams – North Course: United Protective 

Services; South Course: GC Services (not pictured) 

Second Place Teams – North Course: Gulf Coast Flooring Services; South Course: PJS 

Closest to the Pin – Women’s – North Course: Carrie Bell; 

South Course: Lisa Bovermann 

First Place Teams – North Course: Service Masters Restoration by Century; 

South Course KONE, Inc. 

All proceeds from the tournament benefitted the Houston Fire Department, 

Houston Police Department, and the Houston BOMA Foundation. Thank you to 

all participants, sponsors and volunteers for their support and patience. See all the 

photos from this event on our website. n 

Closest to the Pin – Men’s – North Course: Scott Miller; 

South Course: Lester Engelke 

Sponsors 

Underwriter 

iScore Golf Sponsorship 

Shirt Sponsor Eagle Sponsor Photo Sponsor Dinner Sponsor 

Longest Drive – Women’s – North Course: Colleen Shehr; 

South Course: Kathy Carter 

Longest Drive – Men’s – North Course: Corey Killburn; 

South Course: JC Gongora 

Birdie Sponsors 

Transportation Sponsor 

ISS Facility Services 

Drink Cart Sponsors 

American Technologies, Inc. 

JR Jones Roofing 

Pritchard Industries 

Putting Contest Sponsor 

Always In Season 

Food Sponsors 

APS Building Services 

Ben and Jerry Ice Cream Tenant Social 

Blackmon Mooring/BMS CAT 

E3 Electric 

Event Catering Houston and Ice Cream Party 

Fire & Life Safety America 

page 8 


Building Engineering 

Management 101 

Houston BOMA presented our first ever original course, 

Building Management Engineering 101, in Fall 2018! 

With 18 students registered for the course, which was 

partially funded by the Houston BOMA Foundation, it 

was highly successful, and all students graduated with 

better overall property management knowledge, new 

communication skills, and an understanding of professional 

development. The exclusive Houston BOMA course 

is designed to help building engineers launch their careers 

and become the best in the industry, and we’re looking forward 

to expanding the course and material when we host it 

again October 9 – 23, 2019. Thank you to our instructors, 

students, and our sponsor, ICBS, for their support! n 

members 

2019 BAC PAC 

Bus iness 

E change 

Thank you to everyone who 

attended our 2019 Business 

Exchange! For the first time, this 

event sold out in just seconds, 

breaking our record to become our 

fastest-selling event ever. Attendees 

made connections and raised $9,000 

for our BAC PAC, so we can support 

political candidates that advocate for 

CRE interests. We appreciate all of 

our property managers for their time, 

and our allied members for their 

support for BAC PAC! n 


members 

Our sold-out Annual Awards Extravaganza on 

Friday, December 7, 2018 at Hotel ZaZa Houston 

was an exciting celebration of our members and 

accomplishments! Our attendees enjoyed taking fun 

selfies in our photobooth, making connections with 

fellow CRE professionals in our beautiful networking 

cafe, and helping the Houston Fire Department fill their 

sleigh with toys for underprivileged girls and boys. 

Thank you to everyone who came out and participated! 

page 10 


members 

During the Extravaganza, we thanked our Board of Directors, honored our committee 

members and chairs, and celebrated outstanding Members of the Year. With five new award categories 

added this year, we recognized more hard-working individuals than ever for all their contributions 

to Houston BOMA. Please give a big congratulations and a huge thank you to these Members of the Year! 

Allied Professional Member of the Year: 

Kevin Wheeler, APS Building Services 

Assistant Property Manager of 

the Year: Nicole Bell, Transwestern 

Young Professional Member of 

the Year: Kathryn Barnett, Parkway 

Engineer of the Year: 

Johnny Ferro, Granite Properties 

Committee Chair of the Year: 

Erik Hedegaard, PMRG 

Property Manager of the Year: 

Chris Ball, Parkway 

Executive Manager of the Year: 

Janet Shipley, CBRE 

President’s Award: David Stauber, 

Transwestern; Erik Hedegaard, PMRG; 

and Terry Hanna, JLL (not pictured) 

Thank you to our guests, sponsors and donors 

for their support of this amazing event. Houston 

BOMA will begin seeking nominations for 

2019 Members of the Year in late spring. Stay 

tuned for an announcement when our awards 

season begins! n 

Ambassador Team of the Year: Stephanie Sides, Transwestern; Lacey 

Withers, ABM Janitorial Services; and Heather McMillon, Brookfield 

Ambassador of the Year: 

Heather McMillon, Brookfield 

Sponsors 

Rudolph (Photo Booth) Frosty (Beverage) Elf (Toy Drive) Sleigh Bell (Networking) 

ABM Janitorial Services 


2018 Leadership Lyceum Class Completes Capstone Project; 

2019 Class Selected 

members 

We’re proud to announce that all of our 2018 

Leadership Lyceum participants officially graduated 

from the program following the completion of a 

highly successful capstone project! In November, 

students organized a community clean-up day at 

Buffalo Bayou to demonstrate everything they have 

learned, including advocacy, media relations, and 

community outreach. Volunteers and Lyceum participants 

spent the day picking up trash and cleaning 

lighting structures along the trail, which helped give 

back to our community, build our relationships, 

and show BOMA’s commitment to making Houston 

a safe and beautiful place to live and work. We 

congratulate this wonderful class of leaders on their 

successful final project and completion of the program, 

and wish them best of luck in their careers. 

And just like that, it’s time for a new class! 

Houston BOMA has selected ten talented candidates 

to participate in the 2019. We’re proud to introduce 

these outstanding individuals! 

Rey Ayala, Jr., SMT, CBRE Renee Boutelle, CBRE Tara Cameron, Midway Heinrich Cronje, Hines Fallon Blake Macek, 

Parkway Properties 

Heather B. McGullam, 

Tanglewood Property 

Group 

Rachel M. Mondshine, 

Brookfield Properties 

We can’t wait to see what they accomplish this 

year! Stay tuned for updates on their progress. If 

you want to take part in the program, mark you 

calendar to apply for our next Leadership Lyceum 

class in December 2019. 

Derek Montz, Parkway 

Properties 

Ellen Pellegrin, 

Transwestern 

Katie Wolfe, JLL 

Want to support the development of Houston BOMA’s next generation of 

leadership? Become a sponsor! You will send a clear message to our entire industry 

that you and your company support industry talent development and Houston 

BOMA’s future. Plus, sponsorship is tax-deductible, and your company will be 

recognized in all 2019 program promotion on our website and in the Highlights 

and Buzz newsletters. Purchase your sponsorship today on our website. n 

page 12 


New Houston BOMA Members 

Allied Professional Members 

Rochelle Joseph 

Accesso Services LLC 

Nicole Johnson 


Audrey Russell 

CBRE 

Robert Jacobs 

PJS 

Frank Wallace 


Danielle Lewis 

Lincoln Property Company 

William Rieche 


Brooke Caravela 

LPC Commercial Services 

Shane Cawood 

Hartman Income REIT 

Kyle Russell 

Transwestern 

members 

Melissa Watkins 

Veritiv 

Luke Billiot 

Bardet Commercial 

Fredy Montes 

JLL 

Travis Smith 

DTK Facility Services, Inc. 

Brad Flack 

Double Oak Companies 

Jason Laney 

Otis Elevator Company 

Gabriel Garcia 


Joey Salter 

Mooring USA 

Steve Sandwick 

Patrinely Group 

Mark Devlin 

Infinity Lighting Solutions 

Burt Hillman 

iidon Security Associates 

Anthony Lackey 

ISS 

Danielle Radtke 

CenterPoint Properties 

Megan Weise 

CBRE 

Dwain Johnson 


Catherine Schindler 

KONE Inc. 

Kelly Turner 

BSR Properties Holdings, LLC 

Jacey Turpin 

Interstate Restoration LLC 

Sierra Bishop 

Structure Roof and Wall 

Solutions 

Jacey Turpin 

Interstate Restoration LLC 

To find member contact information, please log into your houstonboma.org account and visit our Member 

Search page here. To find a Houston BOMA service provider, visit our Service Provider Search page here. 

Cesar Ramirez 

Precision Power Solutions 

If you would like to join Houston BOMA or know of someone who should join, please contact Natalia Lara, 

Membership and Professional Development Coordinator, at nlara@houstonboma.org. 

Kudos Corner 

W 

Thank you to these companies for donating space 

for our educational seminars and our Foundations 

of Real Estate Management Course! 

PRESSURE 

WASHING 

SURFACE 

RESTORATION 

COMMERCIAL 

JANITORIAL 

CONSTRUCTION 

CLEAN UP 

CONTACT US TOA F 

WWWMETROCLEANONLINECOM 



3rd Annual Houston 

BOMA Foundation Benefit: 

Viva Las Vegas! 

Thursday, February 28, 2019 

6:00 – 9:00 pm 

Amegy Bank Tower 

1717 W Loop S, Houston, TX 77027 

The Houston BOMA Foundation is excited to present our third annual Foundation benefit, 

Viva Las Vegas! We’re bringing the world-famous Vegas strip to Houston where we go “all 

in” for our Foundation. We’ll take in the bright lights of the city from the beautiful views of 

Amegy Tower, play table and card games, enjoy light bites and libations and offer mystery 

bottles of wine for sale in our exciting surprise wine pull and silent auction! All proceeds 

benefit the Foundation, so help contribute by donating a bottle of wine and joining us for 

an evening of gambling and good times. Get your ticket today on our website here. 

Pricing: 

Individual Ticket: $100 Patron Supporter: $250 

Receive one drink ticket Receive one drink ticket 

and $200 in Casino Bucks and $500 in Casino Bucks 

Become a sponsor for great benefits, including tickets, extra Casino Bucks, recognition, 

and more! See all the options below, and our website to purchase yours today. 

Sponsorships: 

Bar Sponsor: $2,500 

Receive recognition on website, marketing 

materials, and event signage, two individual 

tickets, and $1,000 casino bucks 

Thank You to Our 

Generous Sponsors! 

811 Louisiana / Fantome Tower, L.P. 

ATI 

Western Horticultural Services 

1225 North Loop Investments 

Royal Flush Sponsor: $5,000 

Receive event underwriter logo recognition on 

marketing materials and event signage, four 

individual tickets, and $2,500 casino bucks 

4th Annual BOMA Crawf ish Boil 

Thursday, April 18, 2019 

5:30 – 7:30 pm 

Location TBD 

Get ready to crack open cold brews and mudbugs at 

our Crawfish Boil! Kick back and connect with other 

members at our fastest-growing event that includes 

prizes, giveaways, and of course, plenty of delicious 

crawfish. This annual spring social has quickly become 

a member-favorite, so save the date to join us for a 

Cajun-style cookout! Get your tickets online here. n 


Generous Sponsor! 

page 14 


Tuesday, April 23, 2019 

11:30 – 4:30 PM 

Greater Houston Gun Club 

6700 McHard Rd, Houston, TX 77053 

Our biggest fundraiser for our PAC is back! Join us for a 

smashing day at the Greater Houston Gun Club where we’ll 

shoot sporting clays to support our advocacy efforts. All money 

raised goes to our PAC, which allows Houston BOMA to support 

local politicians and CRE interests. Purchase a ticket or team 

of four today on our website here! 

Sponsorships are available now! Our sponsorship opportunities 

give you access to meet and greet our 200 participants, along with 

other great benefits, such as a team of four; signage in our game, 

food, and beverage areas; a station on the course where you can pass 

out promotional items; and recognition in our communications. 

View all of our options and purchase yours online here. n 


Generous Underwriter 


Thursday, May 16, 2019 

2:00 – 7:00 pm 

NRG Center – Hall A, 

1 NRG Park, Houston, TX 77054 

The highly anticipated Houston BOMA Expo is back! Our Expo is our biggest event 

of the year and gives you the opportunity to demonstrate products, showcase services, 

introduce new technologies and connect with key industry contacts. 

Vendors are may only attend if exhibiting, so get your booth to be sure you don’t miss 

out on the biggest CRE event of the year! Exhibitor Booth pricing starts at $1,250 for 

Members and $2,250 for Non-members. Make more connections and get exposure 

for your company with sponsorship! Our sponsorships can give you premium booth 

space, your logo on signage, and more booth traffic, with options starting at just $850. 

Get your booth or sponsorship on our website here. 

The Expo is free for commercial real estate property management professionals to 

attend. Mark your calendar for attendee registration to open in April 2019. n 


Thank You to Our Generous Underwriter 



Dare to Dream About 


In the opening days of the 

86th Legislative session, the state’s 

top three most powerful men 

sat side by side, promoting unity 

and promising this year they 

would succeed where others have 

failed for decades. Incredibly, the 

Texas Governor, Lt. Governor and 

Speaker of the House are all on 

the same page to get something 

done about Texans’ property tax burden and broken 

school finance system. And they said it out loud. To 

everyone. Perhaps more importantly, they are sending 

the message to their colleagues that the spirit of cooperation 

will rule the day. And on January 31st, identical bills 

were filed in both the House and Senate calling for a 

2.5% threshold for property tax increases! 

So, over the next six months, we’ll not be hearing 

much about social issues or bathroom bills. We’re told 

that elected officials will instead be laser focused on 

the enormous challenge of fixing the two issues very 

important to Texans. The “feel” of this session is the 

polar-opposite of last session where infighting between 

the three branches was prolific, divisive and downright 

nasty. While it may be somewhat naïve to hope the line 

holds, some cautious optimism is warranted. 

By Tammy K. Betancourt, CAE 

Chief Executive Officer 

recommendation from Governor Abbott that school tax increases may not 

exceed 2.5% each year with state funds filling in any funding gaps created by 

the cap. The plan would force the school districts to lower rates as property 

values rise. 

…the state’s top three most powerful men 

sat side by side, promoting unity and promising 

this year they would succeed 

where others have failed for 

decades 


Similar to the school finance cap, Governor Abbott’s property tax proposal 

mirrors last session’s SB 2 (Bettencourt) in that it caps the percentage taxes 

can be raised by a political subdivision (city, county, etc). Abbott’s plan goes 

further than the 4% cap proposed last session and lowers the cap to a 2.5% 

increase. While this will not immediately translate into a huge windfall for 

property owners, it will go a long way towards slowing the staggering growth 

of property taxes which are taxing Texans out of their homes and businesses. 

State 

School Finance 

The House and the Senate have released preliminary state 

budgets calling for billions of dollars more in state revenue 

to go toward public-school funding. The House called for 

a $9 billion increase while the Senate version called for $6 

billion increase. Both suggest that significant salary increases 

are in the mix for Texas teachers. Additionally, there is a 

Elimination of Unfunded Mandates 

Governor Abbott has also declared war on the State issuing unfunded 

mandates to local governments. In other words, he is committed to forcing 

the state to step up and pay for the programs it creates. Items such as jails and 

indigent defense are a few big-ticket items for which local governments are 

footing the bills. 

page 16 


federal 

On Capitol Hill, 2018 concluded much as it started, with political posturing 

from both sides of the aisle. Despite the post-midterm election legislative 

stalemates that are typical in campaign years in the U.S., BOMA was able to 

achieve progress on several legislative issues on behalf of its members. Last 

year’s successes included preserving the ENERGY STAR® program in the 

appropriations process; testifying before Congress on the importance of 

extending the Energy-Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction, known 

as 179D; and getting legislation passed on Americans with Disabilities Act 

(ADA) lawsuit reform in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Despite this progress, several key items will need to be taken back up in 

2019. This includes the long-term extension of 179D and correcting a key 

drafting 

error in the recent major tax reform legislation, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 

of 2017. Although previously given a permanent 15-year life in 2015, depreciation 

on qualified leasehold improvements—now referred to as “qualified 

improvement property” (or QIP)—reverted to a 39-year timeline due to an 

unintentional error in the language of the bill. Although both items had broad 

bipartisan support and were not considered controversial, they became casualties 

of year-end politics as members of Congress fought on unrelated matters. 

At the start of 2019, election politics have already begun 

again with many lawmakers looking to 2020. Democrats 

picked up 41 seats in the House of Representatives during the 

2018 midterm elections, giving them control of the chamber. 

In a divided Congress, both parties will need to work across 

party lines to get legislation passed—a daunting task in the 

current fractured political climate. Capitol Hill currently 

remains deadlocked over a disagreement on funding a wall at 

the border with Mexico, as the federal shutdown—the longest 

in U.S. history—heads into its fifth week. 

This year, BOMA will continue to work towards encouraging 

Congress to increase investment in U.S. infrastructure 

and pass legislation that will curb “drive-by” lawsuits related 

to the ADA (visit the Advocacy section of the website for 

more information). BOMA’s advocacy team will also work 

towards the renewal of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act 

(TRIA), which creates a federal backstop for insurance 

claims related to acts of terrorism. The act is currently 

scheduled to expire in 2020 and needs to be extended to 

avoid lapses in coverage. n 




The New “Big Three” 

By Shannon Roberts 

Adapted from Texas BOMA Legislative Update, January 25, 2019, by Robert Miller, Nef Partida, Crystal Brown, and Sarah Lacy, Locke Lorde LLP 

The Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker of the House 

are known as the “Big Three,” named for their influential 

roles leading the House, Senate, and Texas government. 

Collectively, they have power to make big changes, but it 

can be difficult for the trio of leaders to remain unified. 

After a lengthy 85th legislative session filled with tension, 

Speaker of the House Joe Straus, retired. Governor Greg 

Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, presiding officer 

of the Senate, were re-elected to their second terms, and 

Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, was elected to lead the House. 

The New Leader of the House 

Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen made quite an 

entrance to the legislature when he was first elected at age 

24, making him the youngest member of the House at the 

time. Over the next several years, he quietly gained experience 

by serving on various committees, eventually moving 

on to chair several of them, including the Sunset Advisory 

Committee. In 2009, he became speaker pro tem, second 

to newly elected Speaker Joe Status. It was during the next 

eight years that Bonnen gained a reputation for being unafraid 

to critique and challenge opponents, speak out 

on issues, and push tough legislation. 

When Joe Straus retired in 2017, House Republicans 

found a consensus in electing Bonnen, who wasn’t even 

a candidate at the time, as his replacement. With their 

approval, Bonnen immediately joined the race, and just 

a few weeks later, he was unanimously elected to serve as 

the Speaker of the House for the 86th Legislative Session. 

The “Big Three’s” Priorities 

Governor Abbott, Lt. Governor Patrick, and Speaker Bonnen have set 

a conciliatory tone and prioritized the importance of school finance and 

property tax relief. During their inaugural addresses, Governor Abbott and 

Lt. Governor Patrick focused on their commitment to fixing the school 

finance system, passing property tax reform, and increasing teacher pay. 

Additionally, Governor Abbott touched on issues such as ending unfunded 

mandates to cities and counties and Hurricane Harvey disaster recovery. 

Speaker Bonnen has repeatedly stated that his priority this year will be 

school finance reform, and in the last session, he strongly supported property 

tax legislation. After naming committee chairs and assignments widespread 

approval, Speaker Bonnen has helped make the “Big Three”poised to bring 

much-needed reform to the state’s school finance and property tax issues. n 

Governor Abbott, Lt. Governor Patrick, 

and Speaker Bonnen have set a conciliatory 

tone and prioritized the 

importance of school finance 

and property tax relief. 

page 18 


Legislative Advocacy Day 

February 19-20, 2019 

Austin Doubletree Suites by Hilton, 303 W. 15th Street, and Texas State Capitol, 1100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701 

One of the most important activities of Texas BOMA is our involvement in the legislative and regulatory process. Statewide 

Legislative Advocacy Day is one of our best opportunities to communicate real estate legislative concerns in a unified fashion to 

our State Representatives and Senators. Please join Texas BOMA members in Austin to help ensure your important issues receive 

attention and to maintain ongoing relationships with legislators and their key staff. 

Schedule 

Tuesday, February 19 Wednesday, February 20 

2:45 – 4:30 pm: Legislative Briefing at Austin Doubletree Suites by Hilton 7:00 – 8:00 am: Breakfast at the Doubletree 

5:00 – 7:00 pm: BOMA Reception at the Doubletree 8:00 am – 3:00 pm: Legislative Visits at State Capitol 

7:00 – 9:30 pm: Houston BOMA Dinner 


Pricing 

Attendee 

$100 for Reception, Breakfast, Briefing, and Materials 

Sponsors 

$1,500 for 2 tickets to Reception, Breakfast, Logo on Signage, and Ability to Provide Materials 

Your time in representing BOMA to our elected officials will pay great dividends for our legislative efforts. Help make 

BOMA a more recognized force by participating in Advocacy Day 2019! Visit www.bomatexas.org to register today. n 


specializing in: 

• 

commercial 

construction 

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)t janitorial 

cleanup 

JI. Index 

In Other News 

Thank you to these pressure advertisers for 

T 

their support! 

window 

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Page 6 Page 13 

Page 17, 20 

Promote your business with advertising in Houston BOMA’s publications starting at just $250. For more 

information, visit our website here or contact Shannon Roberts at sroberts@houstonboma.org. n 

Presenting Houston BOMA’s 

2018 Annual Report 

Houston BOMA is proud to present 

our 2018 Annual Report! In its 

third edition, our latest Annual 

Report is a look back at the past 

year’s events, accomplishments, 

community involvement and 

legislative wins, with transparent 

figures and details to help you 

understand exactly where 

your membership dollars 

go to work. Click here 

to download your copy 

of the report today. n 

page 20 


Foodie Find 

Avesta Persian Grill 

2691 Wilcrest Dr Suite A, Houston, TX 77042 

avestahouston.com 

By Shannon Roberts 

At the busy intersection of Westheimer and 

Wilcrest, there are nearly a dozen fast food and 

chain restaurants. These delis and burger joints are 

a safe option for a quick lunch, but the same salads, 

sandwiches and burgers can get old. It’s time to try 

something new – and we’ve done the searching for 

you! Editorial Committee Chair Seth Eslami introduced 

Houston BOMA staff to Avesta Persian Grill, 

tucked into an unassuming strip center, for Middle 

Eastern soul food that’s sure to leave your appetite 

and sense of adventure satisfied. Read on for our 

recommendations and check it out next time you 

want to switch up your lunch routine. 

Atmosphere: O O O O 

The small, plainly decorated space feels a bit 

utilitarian, but plenty of light and wooden furnishings 

help it feel cozy. Although it was empty 

when we showed up at 11 am, it quickly packed for 

lunch, so get there early to avoid a wait. Luckily, it 

was surprisingly quiet and never felt crowded, even 

after the tables filled up. 

Food and Drink: O O O O O 

What the restaurant lacks in décor, it easily makes 

up for with food! Carb-lovers will enjoy that each 

table is served bread to start, with soft pita and 

crispy tadig, a rice crust, available to pile high with 

toppings from an herb plate, including feta cheese, 

fresh mint, basil, and veggies. Persian hummus is 

also a must, with a richer garlic flavor than hummus 

you’d traditionally find elsewhere. A variety 

of kabobs with tender, juicy meat make up the majority of protein options, 

and for side dishes, you can’t go wrong with Persian rice – the Albaloo Polo 

(Sour Cherry Rice) was our favorite. 

Service: O O O O O 

The staff here is wonderful, with helpful attitudes and tons of menu knowledge 

to help first-timers sample the cuisine. Our table included both newbies and 

frequent patrons, and Avesta’s waiter staff made tailored recommendations for 

each of us, and left us with extra food enjoy at home. n 

In Other News 

Editorial Committee 

Chair: Seth Eslami, 1225 North Loop Investments 

Vanessa Brunson, Unilev 

Kathy Carter, Stream 

Andrew DeBarbieris, Spark Lighting 

Megan Gladstein, Hines 

Lara Jones, Parkway 

Jason Mock, CBRE 

Dan Porter, Environmental Coalition 

Drew Riley, Winpark 

Courtney Wilkinson, Hines 


Thank You to BOMA’s 2019 Generous Sponsors 

Solaris Sponsor Partner: 

9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 100 

Houston, Texas 77046-0929 

(713) 266-5691 

Fax (713) 266-4632 

houstonboma.org 

Atlantis Sponsor Partners: 

Board of Directors 

President 

Ed Bovermann – Transwestern 

CEO 

Tammy K. Betancourt, CAE – Houston BOMA 

Vice President 

Phil Davis, RPA – JLL 

Vice President of Finance 

Roger Ritter – M-M Properties 

Immediate Past President 

Jack Gregoire, CPM – Parkway Properties, Inc. 

Directors 

Scott Becker, RPA – CBRE, Inc. 

Meredith Cress – Hines 

Hunter Drackett – Transwestern 

Matthew Kent – Unilev Management Corp. 

Mark Janssen – Hines 

Chad Nusbaum – Piedmont Office Realty Trust 

Brett Williams, CPM – Madison Marquette 

Lacey Withers – ABM Janitorial Services 

Challenger 

Sponsor 

Partners: 

Committee Chairs 

BAC PAC Sporting Clays 

Tournament Committee 

David Piro – Hines 

Building Expo Committee 

Kim Peck – Woodbranch Management 

Golf Classic Committee 

Stephanie Sides – Transwestern 

Meeters & Greeters Committee 

Kathy Giddings –Whelan Security 

Special Events Committee 

Bunmi Fashola – Transwesternn 

Engineer All-Stars: Maintenance 

Olympics Committee 

Jose Hernandez – Transwestern 

TOBY Awards Committee 

Rebecca Burns – Transwestern 

Legislative Advisory Committee 

Bill Carey – Senterra 

Professional Development & 

Education Committee 

Sandra Hernandez – Lincoln Property Company 

Nominating & Awards Committee 

Mark Janssen – Hines 

Research Advisor 

Chad Nusbaum – Piedmont Office Realty Trust 

Editorial Committee 

Seth Eslami – 1225 North Loop Investments 

Newsletter Editor 

Shannon Roberts – Marketing and 

Communications Manager 

Discovery 

Sponsor 

Partners: 

Endeavor 

Sponsor 

Partners: 

Calendar of Events 

February 

6 Houston BOMA Foundation 

Board Meeting 

11-14 BOMI Course: Budgeting and 

Accounting 

18 President’s Day – Houston 

BOMA Office Closed 

19-20 Texas BOMA Advocacy Day 

28 Annual Houston BOMA Foundation 

Benefit: Viva Las Vegas! 

March 

6 Read Your Boss’ Mind: 

Workshop Seminar 

20 Foundations of Real 

Estate Management 

Begins 

21 March Membership 

Meeting 

28 Board of Directors 

Meeting 

April 

18 Crawfish Boil 

19 Good Friday – 

Houston BOMA 

Office Closed 

23 BAC PAC 

Sporting Clays 

Tournament 

page 22

Houston BOMA Highlights, Q1 2019

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