IREM Boston president's message: Upcoming events

Members of the Institute throughout the United States recently gathered in Chicago for the annual IREM Leadership Conference. Executive faculty from the IREM national office presented the 2011 strategic plan, and current and upcoming presidents of local chapters collaboratively reviewed their plans for the next year to further enhance IREM's educational courses and seminars, as well as other benefits of being a member of IREM. In addition, we were honored to have guest and keynote speakers Teri Goudie and Cam Marston join us. Goudie gave us great insight on how to use communication as a leadership tool, and Marston was very informative on understanding generational preferences to enhance motivation in the workplace. Our annual IREM Golf Tournament being held at Granite Links Golf Club is right around the corner on September 13th. If you have yet to sign up please do so as space is running out. In addition, we have added a new event this year offering golf lessons for those of you who do not golf but would like to learn. Regrettably, Randy Woodbury, our 2011 IREM national president, cannot attend as previously scheduled. In his place, Elizabeth (Beth) Machen, CPM, a senior vice president of the Institute of Real Estate Management will be joining us. Beth is also currently the president of the Charlotte, N.C. based Machen Advisory Group, Inc., with responsibility for overseeing the firm's portfolio of office, retail, mixed-used, showroom and industrial properties in the Carolinas. Machen's expertise is far-ranging and includes property takeovers, rehabs, stabilizing properties, analyzing property performance for prospective buyers, and serving on due diligence teams. She also specializes in disaster and emergency training. Machen earned her Certified Property Manager (CPM) from IREM in 1996 and has been active in the organization locally and nationally. A member of IREM's Western North Carolina Chapter No. 40, she served as president in 1999, was honored as the chapter's "CPM of the Year" in 2000, and has been a member of its executive board since 2000. At the national level, she has served as a regional vice president and a member of the executive, education, membership, minority outreach and several other committees. Please feel free to say hello to Beth at the tournament. September is a very busy month with the Golf Tournament, along with several lead paint training seminars for anyone looking to be certified, maintenance training seminar being jointly held with NEAHMA at Gillette Stadium, and a two-day Marketing and Leasing course (MLK 405). For more information and details, please feel free to contact Kelley Hannon at our Boston Office at (617) 436-7565. In addition, further information on the above events or to view our complete 2010 scedule can be found at www.iremboston.org. Rob Crowley, ARM, CPM, is the 2010 president of IREM Boston Chapter # 4.