BOMA Conference - Nothing Short of Amazing - Chrystal Montes

Article written by Chrystal Montes (Washington Holdings)

This was my first time attending a BOMA International Conference and the experience was nothing short of amazing! For starters, I was thrilled to learn the conference would be held in person this year. While some may be a little reluctant to attend such a large indoor gathering, BOMA did a fantastic job at taking necessary precautions and gauging participants’ comfort levels.  I felt a huge sense of relief knowing that BOMA prioritized our safety and this allowed me to comfortably engage in sessions and interact with others.  

The days were long but filled with amazing content. The committee discussions, education sessions, guest speakers, and networking opportunities were all invaluable. As a recipient of the DEI scholarship, I found it extremely important to join the committee discussions and learn all about the ideas and practices that are being implemented throughout the nation. This is a matter that I am very passionate about and look forward to continuing the conversation and efforts within my company, local BOMA chapter, and greater community.

As you can imagine, several of the education sessions revolved around COVID and the effects in the office environment. And even though this has been an ongoing topic of discussion, I still came back with pages and pages full of notes! Some of my favorite sessions were The Future of Work: Navigating the Lasting Effects of the Pandemic on the US Office Market, Getting Tenants Back: Real World Indoor Environmental Strategies to Build Tenant Confidence and Improve Worker Productivity, and New Occupant Engagement Tools to Drive Successful Leasing Renewals.  The session titles may speak for themselves but the presenters and data were superb.  There is so much valuable information to be learned and brought back to the property level. Not only do these sessions help educate you in your field, but they equip you to become a knowledgeable and valuable member of your team. I learned about several different strategies that could ultimately help drive results for the company and building. Everything from efficient return-to-work approaches, safety protocols, health and wellness initiatives, and shifts to flexible office space. These are all important topics that play such an integral role in managing a property effectively and efficiently and I feel privileged to have learned from and collaborated with industry experts throughout the nation.

I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to attend as a DEI scholarship recipient and appreciate BOMA King County for making great strides in the DEI initiative. I would recommend this experience to anyone in the commercial real estate industry and look forward to attending next year!


Chrystal Montes, Assistant Property Manager
Washington Holdings