If there’s one thing the pandemic has reinforced to Tena Cameron, it's that there’s always more to learn, and those willing to be open and adaptable will succeed. Cameron is president of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Nevada, which provides training courses and stages networking events for businesses in the commercial real estate industry.
Tell us your background and how your career path lead you to the role you’re in today.
I started my property management career by accident in 1999 as a temp worker for the Howard Hughes Corporation. I loved tenant relations and learning operations, and decided it would become a permanent career path. I was lucky enough to be hired by EQ Office in 2015 and manage the same properties that started my journey.
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect your organization? Have you seen an uptick or slowdown in membership?
The most immediate change was converting our in-person monthly luncheons to an online webinar format. Like everyone else, we have become avid Zoom users and conduct all of our committee and board meetings online. We have seen an uptick in membership. I would attribute this to our year starting out strong with The Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY) Awards in January and the great speakers for our monthly luncheons. We send frequent communications to members regarding COVID-19 resources and moratorium updates. The BOMA Nevada board has recently partnered with Authentic Public Relations to bolster social media messaging to keep it timely and relevant.
Did Gov. Steve Sisolak’s moratorium on evictions affect some of your members? What was the ripple effect of the governor’s actions?
Yes, the moratorium on evictions had a great impact for the commercial real estate industry. Property managers have worked tirelessly over these past few months with both tenants and owners to negotiate rent deferrals and/or modifications. Managers were unable to assess late fees, serve five-day notices or proceed with evictions unless there was an imminent danger imposed by a tenant. Now, some restrictions have been lifted and we can assess late fees and serve 5-day notices.
Has “normal” forever changed, or will your members aim to get back to what normalcy was pre-COVID?
I will be optimistic and say that normal has not changed forever; this will be an opportunity to do business in a different manner for a period time. I do believe at some time in the future, our members will be able to meet in person and enjoy the camaraderie of our industry events, and operate buildings in the same manner as we have in the past.
What is the most sound business advice you’ve heard in the past few months?
My new motto is a phrase from one of our first Zoom webinars, “Physically distant, but socially connected.” This is the time for us to lean into our connections and industry partners, and share knowledge. These are unprecedented times that call on us to think differently and not do things just because that is how it has been done in the past.
Do you have any advice to offer your members, or the tenants of your members who are struggling financially?
Please do not be afraid to reach out. This has been a difficult time for everyone, and we have resources to connect individuals. Our city and industry has weathered the storm before and we will weather this one, too.
Did you develop any new habits during the quarantine?
Initially I did try to take up knitting, but it was definitely a Pinterest fail. So now, I ride my bike with my family in the morning. It has helped us enjoy more time together. Even the dog gets to join in the fun by riding in her attached basket.
Other than the obvious, what is the most challenging thing Nevadans face today?
Being a long-time resident, I think our most challenging obstacle is to examine how we continue to reinvent ourselves. I love the opportunities that tourism and conventions have brought to our city and state, but I feel like our longevity is dependent on our ability to diversify our economy even more by attracting additional talent and industries.
How do you wind down after a long day or busy week?
My family has started cooking Hello Fresh meals together a couple of times a week. I think the kinesthetic activity helps my mind relax and transition my day better.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I just read that Barbados is looking for people to visit for a year and work while gazing at the ocean until the pandemic is over. That sounds fascinating to me.