With membership comprehensively representing all aspects of commercial real estate management, operations and maintenance, BTO members learn from one another and grow through educational programs and networking experiences offered by the association, ultimately building value for the organizations and people they serve. This value is further enhanced through building relationships with members in other aspects of real estate including property management, asset management, facility management, property safety and security, and product and service providers.
BTO members gain access to extensive educational opportunities, as well as customized seminars and industry-recognized certificate programs. BTO members also enjoy free admission to several BTO luncheons and gain access to dozens of free and discounted BTO educational and networking programs every year. Additionally, members receive regular updates on industry news and trends through the bi-monthly BOMA Georgia eNewsletter and other special publications and stay informed on state legislative issues on a weekly basis during Georgia’s legislative session. Through a unique partnership with Commercial Real Estate Insight Journal, members also gain access to hundreds of video and article resources and educational webinars.
BTO members are not full members of BOMA Georgia and do not receive membership in BOMA International. While access to BTO quarterly luncheons and the BOMA Show breakfast are included in BTO membership, access to BOMA Georgia Luncheons is not included. To explore adding these benefits, consider adding Property Manager or Facility Manager membership to your BTO membership or transitioning to one of these membership types.
CRE Credentials
Professional Designations
BOMA Georgia partners with BOMI to offer a variety of professional designations related to property and asset management. Throughout the commercial real estate industry, a BOMI designation is recognized as a mark of distinction, an emblem of achievement backed by BOMI’s more than 50 years of excellence in developing and offering educational programs.
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The Systems Maintenance Technician (SMTﾮ) designation program provides today's building technicians with the skills that will help them stand out as top performers, the kind who can raise a building's efficiency while reducing operating costs. The SMT program covers every major building operating system, from HVAC to plumbing to electrical to overall control systems. The SMT designation includes five required courses specific to operating systems.
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The Systems Maintenance Administrator (SMAﾮ) program further distinguishes professionals with the advanced knowledge required to run a sound, efficient, cost-effective maintenance department. Building on the SMT designation with additional courses on administration, energy management, and environmental health and safety issues, the SMA program helps prepare maintenance professionals for a career in facilities management. To earn the SMA designation, you must complete all five SMT courses and three additional courses, which address the broad issues of concern to systems administrators. Students do not have to take the courses in any specific order.
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The BOMI-HPﾮ High Performance Sustainable Buildings Designation program provides real estate professionals with an in-depth understanding of how to define, initiate, pay for, complete, and obtain a return on investment for sustainable initiatives within all segments of a building or portfolio.
Certificates
BOMA Georgia offers a variety of industry-recognized certificate programs. Certificates earned through BOMA Georgia and its partners are designed to meet the needs of the dynamic commercial real estate industry. These certificates accelerate career growth, signify achievement, and help individuals build value for the properties and people they serve.
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The Building Engineering 101 certificate program is a six-day course taught over six weeks and combines classroom-style learning, interaction with industry professionals and behind-the-scenes tours of metro-Atlanta buildings.
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Building Engineering 201 takes a deeper dive into building operations and maintenance education and is ideal for graduates of BOMA Georgia's Building Engineering 101® course. This course is also suited for building engineers with a more advanced knowledge of the building engineering field. The six-day course is taught over six weeks.
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The Commercial HVAC Certificate Program is a unique partnership between BOMA Georgia and Chattahoochee Technical College. The program offers building engineers a five-semester HVAC program. Semester courses are topic-specific and advance their knowledge of commercial heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. The classes may be taken in conjunction with SMA classes or any other seminars. The Commercial HVAC Certificate Program does not provide credit toward a BOMI designation.
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The ELEVATE Leadership Certificate program is designed to help CRE professionals build: Executive Presence, Leadership & Influence, Effective Collaboration, Vision for the Evolving CRE Industry, Advancing Professional Relationships, Talent & Career Development, and Empowered Career Direction. Leadership certificates issued by BOMA Georgia are CRE industry recognized credentials that signify leadership competency and an individual’s ability to create value for the people and properties they serve through effective leadership strategies.
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The Fundamentals of Property Management and Operations Certificate course provides an overview of the real estate industry along with a targeted review of topics including finance, accounting, building systems, and property infrastructure. The certificate is offered by The Center for Real Estate Excellence, a partner of BOMA Georgia.
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Students can earn a Workplace Excellence Certificate from CRE Careers Institute and CRE professionals can earn a Workplace Excellence Certificate from The Center for Real Estate Excellence. Both are partners of BOMA Georgia. The online, self-paced program provides insight, implementable tools, and resources designed for you to thrive in the workplace. The four-part series of courses explore effective communications, collaborating across generations, navigating workplace expectations, and holistic wellbeing.
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The Generational Fluency Certificate provides individuals with insight into how to effectively lead and manage across generations. The six-course online, on-demand series is interactive and features implementable resources and insight. The certificate is offered by The Center for Real Estate Excellence, a partner of BOMA Georgia.
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The Fundamentals of Industrial Property Management Certificate program is a comprehensive, two-day course designed to increase the effectiveness of real estate professionals responsible for the day-to-day operation, financial performance, and risk management of industrial real estate assets. Participants will explore how industrial properties function within supply chains; common lease structures; how operating and capital expenses affect financial performance; and how building systems, safety, and compliance directly affect tenant operations and asset value. Led by a senior real estate professional, the course features technical instruction, interactive discussion, and examination of real-world scenarios.
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The Human Resources Management Certificate program is a practical, two-day course designed to strengthen HR knowledge and improve decision-making across the full employee lifecycle, from recruitment and retention to engagement and performance. Course topics include workforce planning; recruitment and selection; compliance and risk awareness; effective onboarding; performance management; addressing underperformance; employee well-being and mental health; and coaching and mentoring for professional growth.
Building Recognition Programs
BOMA Georgia provides resources and educational opportunities to help buildings achieve industry-leading recognition. Below is a list of building recognition programs BOMA Georgia offers or promotes.
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The Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY®) Award is the commercial real estate industry’s highest recognition honoring excellence in commercial building management and operations in specific categories of building type or size. For an opportunity to win a BOMA International TOBY Award, a property first must earn a BOMA 360 designation and win both local and regional competitions. Whether winning at the local, regional and/or international level of the competition, you gain the opportunity to showcase your buildings strengths and gain recognition for best-in-class operations and management with the most prestigious and comprehensive award of its kind in the commercial real estate industry. Judging is based on criteria that includes community impact, tenant and employee relations programs, energy management, accessibility, emergency evacuation procedures, building personnel training programs and overall excellence. Building inspections are conducted by a team of industry experts.
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The CRE Insight Journal Awards celebrate excellence in commercial real estate companies and buildings. Insight from award winning entrants will be shared with the CRE Insight Journal community to inspire positive change within the real estate industry.
Real estate companies may apply to be recognized for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Buildings may apply to be recognized for Excellence in Tenant Care; Excellence in Environmental Sustainability; and/or Excellence in Collaborative Service.
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The BOMA 360 Performance Program sets the standard worldwide for operational best practices in the commercial real estate industry. For building owners and managers who want to help their properties stand out from the crowd, there is no clearer mark of excellence than achieving the BOMA 360 designation.
Earning the prestigious BOMA 360 label demonstrates that a building is outperforming the competition across all areas of operations and management. Designees report the program helped them achieve operational efficiencies as well as higher levels of tenant satisfaction.
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BOMA BEST is a series of programs that are both certifications and building management tools. The program encourages smart and sustainable solutions for existing buildings, promoting health, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and low-carbon performance. The certification represents a globally recognized symbol of achievement.