Alex Akman

Chief Operating Officer, Shindico

BOMA Member Since 2015

BOMA is a great place to meet people in the industry, allowing business to be more personal and less transactional.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN THE INDUSTRY?

I joined Shindico in January of 2015. The industry has been a part of my life from a young age, from stopping at buildings on the way to school to having summer jobs pushing a broom at different construction sites.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES?

The variation that the industry provides is one of its best qualities. I am fortunate to be involved in all aspects of the business, from recruiting & training to acquisitions & development, to marketing & brokerage. Shindico’s recent push to be more vertically integrated with the formation of SNR Construction has been exciting—it’s like having a startup within an established business!

WHAT ARE SOME BENEFITS YOU SEE IN BECOMING A MEMBER?

BOMA is a great place to meet people in the industry, allowing business to be more personal and less transactional. It allowed me to meet other young people in the industry that I am now friends with outside of work. As well, many luncheons offer excellent insights into current market conditions, and current best practices in both our market and in other markets.

WHAT ROLES HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN WITH BOMA?

Currently, I am the treasurer of the board in addition to being a BYP member. I hope to remain on the board for another number of years.

WHY DID YOU BECOME A MEMBER?

Our firm has been a member since 2015, and I think it is important for young people to get involved in our industry and promote it. The board continues to work with post secondary colleges to try and provide a few tailored courses and specific recruiting stream given the demand for labour within the industry.

DO YOU THINK BECOMING A MEMBER HAS HELPED YOU IN YOUR CAREER?

Yes, BOMA has allowed me to meet several industry professionals that I otherwise would not have. We have been able to find new vendors at BOMA, learn new best practices, and build stronger relationships with some of our tenants.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW BOMA MEMBERS WHO AREN’T AS ACTIVE?

Folks will generally get out of BOMA what they put into it. See if you can bring a colleague from work or join a few other industry professionals that you are comfortable with at a few events. They may introduce you to one or two people, who will then do the same, and before you know it, you will know most of the “regulars”!

WHAT’S A VALUABLE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’D GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?

In our industry, attention to detail can separate the good from the great. Sometimes its easy to lose track of the minutia when focusing on a larger problem. Its always a good idea to slow down and ensure all details are reviewed up front to avoid larger problems and delays in the future.