June 2026 BOMA BRIEFS
News and Views for CRE
In This Issue: WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Al Shulin , Liberty Property & Asset Management
John Brien , CBRE
SAVE THE DATES
July 8 - Lunch & Learn July 29 - Summer Island Party September 14- Autumn Open
October 16- Pull for BOMA Clay Shoot December 2- TOBY AWARDS SHOW
BOMA News
Welcome New Members
BOMA Briefs Sponsors
June 18, 2026 - BOMA METRO DETROIT welcomes two new members to the Board of Directors
Al Shulin , President and Principal of Liberty Property and Asset Management has been appointed to the BOMA Board of Directors. Shulin is a founding member of Liberty Property & Asset Management. He oversees the day-to-day operations of Liberty Property & Asset Management which includes directing a full staff of property managers, bookkeepers, construction
managers, maintenance technicians and support personnel. He is intimately involved in the day-to-day operation of each and every property that the firm manages. With over thirty-five years of experience, Mr. Shulin is extremely knowledgeable in all facets of the operation, management and disposition of commercial properties. His extensive knowledge and experience in the financing, valuation, operation and maintenance of commercial real estate has allowed him to provide a unique skill set to his clients. His past experience includes 10 years in property management for Kojaian Companies. He currently oversees the management and operation of a portfolio of commercial properties valued in excess of $300 million.
John Brien , CBRE, RPA, FMA, CCIM Director Property Management joins the BOMA Board of Directors and bringing with him a wealth of industry knowledge and BOMA experience. Prior to relocating to Detroit in 2017, John served as Associate Director in Atlanta, where his portfolio consisted
of approximately 8 million square feet of commercial real estate product in Atlanta and Birmingham. Responsibilities include financial and operational management, client interaction, tenant relations, portfolio value enhancement strategies, staff supervision and sustainability implementation, project and construction management. Prior to joining CBRE, Mr. Brien successfully managed several Class “A” multi-tenant trophy assets in the Midtown and in the northern corridor submarket of Atlanta. In addition, he also managed several large facilities over one million square feet which included data center, research & development and emergency response centers. During that time, he guided the properties and property teams during interim transitions through asset dispositions to new ownerships. Mr. Brien has distinguished himself in the area of leadership by being the first recipient of the Building Owners and Managers Association’s (BOMA Georgia) Young Professional Award. Mr. Brien chaired BOMA’s professional development committee and editorial board. He also served on the BOMA Board of Directors for two years. Finally, he has been an author, reviewer and instructor for the Building Owners and Managers Institute (BOMI) and Building Owners and Managers Association for several years.
Latest Updates in BOMA
June 2026
From the BAE
BOMA Members,
Another SOLD OUT BOMA Business Building event was held at the wonderful WestWynd Golf Club on June 16. Check out some of the photos on page 19. Next up is our almost sold out Lunch and Learn on July 8 with a very special two-for-one luncheon featuring member Metro Signs and Lighting on the topic of "LED Technology, Controls, Efficiencies and most importantly... Rebates!" and..., BOMA member Environmental Testing & Consulting will lead a session on, "Compliance for Building Owners: Asbestos, Lead, Radon and Other Hazardous Materials". Hosted by member Castell Office Spaces and catered by Casey's of Walled Lake, this event has just a few spots available. We follow that event up with the most unique business building event ever known to any BOMA, anywhere. Since we sold out the last two Boat Outings, we are taking it to private island on Lake St. Clair. Great BBQ, music, old and new friends, cornhole competition, volleyball, swimming, and the chance to take a helicopter above the 6 Great Lake for some awesome sightseeing. Truly a one of a kind opportunity to represent your company and network with over a hundred industry insiders. Register today at www.BOMADet.org. th
After the Island Party we will host the Autumn Open at Rolling Meadows Golf Club in Whitmore Lake on September 14 and then the PULL for BOMA Clay Shoot Tournament on October 16 at the Detroit Gun Club. Save the dates and, seriously, register early before they sell out! While you are adding events to your calendar, reserve Wednesday, December 2 for The Outstanding Building of the Year Awards Show. Last year was Roaring at the Colony Club and in 2024 we Elevated the event with an interactive Shark Tank skit. 2026 is Seven times better. Save the Date and keep an eye out for the unveiling of TOBY’s 2026! As you have read here and elsewhere, BOMA is not just about Business Building events and Continuing Education, we are also fighting the good fight for our member businesses. We are very close to a legislative fix for abusive lawsuits. Discussion at the recent golf outing included how one individual is on his third slip and fall lawsuit wherein he has settled for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Without Open & Obvious legal protections, property owners and businesses owners are paying the price in legal and insurance fees. Help us help you and contact Samantha Clark at SClark@ThomasDuke.com with your stories of increased insurance premiums and frivolous lawsuits.
I am glad that you are a part of BOMA Metro Detroit. Together we are the most powerful and connected commercial real estate association in Michigan.
TOBY 2026 Applications open on July 1. What are the TOBYS?
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. Whether winning at the local, regional and/or international level of the competition, you gain the opportunity to showcase your buildings strengths and gain recognitionfor best-in-classoperations and management with the most prestigiousand comprehensive award of its kind in the commercial real estate industry. Judging is based on criteria that include 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.
Be a TOBY SPONSOR - contact Rick at RTroy@BOMADet.org and discover unique opportunities for your company
TOBY AWARDS SHOW Wednesday, December 2, 2026 all new venue, all new experience
AWARD CATEGORIES
Corporate Facility Category
Earth Category Historical Building Category
Industrial Office Building Category
Medical Office Building Category
Mixed-Use Category
Life Sciences Building Category
Renovated Building Category
Retail Category Suburban Office Park Low- Rise Category
Suburban Office Park Mid- Rise Category
Under 100,000 Square Feet
500,000 to 1 Million Square Feet
OFFICE
100,000 to 249,999 Square Feet 250,000 to 499,999 Square Feet
Over 1 Million Square Feet
How Does It All Work?
The TOBY competition consists of three levels, beginning at the BOMA local association level. Winning entries advance to the regional level and then to the international level, where TOBY Awards are presented at the BOMA International Conference each year. The Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY) Awards program is BOMA Metro Detroit’s premier recognition event, celebrating excellence in commercial real estate and the professionals who make outstanding buildings possible. Hosted each year in distinctive venues throughout the region, the awards show honors the achievements of exceptional properties while recognizing the dedication, innovation, and leadership of the people who manage and operate them. The evening brings together industry leaders, property professionals, and service partners for a memorable celebration of best practices in building management, operations, sustainability, and tenant relations. Through the TOBY Awards, BOMA Metro Detroit highlights the buildings that set the standard for excellence and the teams whose commitment elevates the entire commercial real estate industry.
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AWARD CATEGORIES
Annual Awards Property Manager of the Year Facility Manager of the Year Building Engineer of the Year Allied Member of the Year Principal Member of the Year Corporate Member of the Year Rising Star
Wanting to enter to win a BOMA TOBY Award but have no idea where to begin?
We have resources to help you! The TOBY Buddy Program was initiated in 2025 to help first time entrants with entering their building and getting the hang of things. We are keeping this program going as we had great success last year!
If you have any questions, need any help. or need advice; Please Contact Laura Marble at lauramarble68@gmail.com
New Members
Kalyn Banachowski- Metro Elevator
Mickey Mortimer - Altech Doors and Loading Docks
David Abraham - Abraham Landscape Group
Chad Messel- Proscape L.L.C.
Brought to you by:
Open and Obvious: The Case to Restore Property Owner Protections
The Problem
In 2023, theMichigan Supreme Court overturned the longstanding "open and obvious" defense in premises liability cases. Michigan is now one of just nine states without this safeguard — a national outlier. The result: more litigation exposure, greater uncertainty and higher costs for property owners of every size.
Definition
The " open and obvious" doctrine was a longstanding premises liability protection for hazards on properties deemed “open and obvious” to the average person, like a slippery patch of ice on a sidewalk or a pothole in the parking lot. This standard protected Michigan from courtroom backlogs, and discouraged frivolous lawsuits against property owners.
The Solution
Restorereasonable protections that curb lawsuit abuse while preserving fair recourse for people truly harmed by negligence. The Michigan Alliance for Legal Reform supports efforts to reinstate key elements of open and obvious and return balance and predictability to Michigan’s legal system.
House Bill 4582 is a needed step — delivering protections for property owners while keeping legitimate claims intact.
How does open and obvious impact me if I don't own property? Without an open and obvious safeguard, Michigan employers face higher liability and insurance costs — forcing tough trade-offs like fewer jobs, delayed investments or higher prices. Property owners face the same squeeze, with costs often passed on to renters and commercial tenants. Do other states have open and obvious property protections? 41 states retain some form of open and obvious safeguards in premises liability. Michigan is among just nine without it — making our state a national outlier and magnet for frivolous lawsuits.
Business Community Supports HB 4582, Urges Additional Changes to Premises Liability
On behalf of a broad coalition of Michigan job providers, we write to express our deep concern with the current state of Michigan’s premises liability law and urge legislative action to restore fairness and predictability for residential, commercial and industrial property owners. In 2023, the Michigan Supreme Court overturned Michigan’s longstanding open and obvious doctrine, marking a major shift in Michigan’s premises liability law. For more than two decades, Michigan’s open and obvious standard protected property owners from liability when a hazard was “open and obvious.” This standard deterred frivolous lawsuits and provided stability for property owners. With the Court’s elimination of this doctrine, property owners can now be held liable—and sued—no matter how obvious a hazard might be to a reasonable person. Judges must instead conduct a full fault analysis in every case, creating new and costly legal hazards for Michigan property owners. Other impacts: More lawsuits – The Court’s 2023 ruling paves the way for nearly every “slip-and-fall” claim to proceed, fueling more filings and driving up litigation.
Higher costs – More claims and lawsuits are driving up expenses for property owners, pushing premiums higher at a time when families and business are already stretched thin by workforce issues and economic pressures. More uncertainty – This new standard creates uncertainty for property owners and exposes them to risk even when a hazard is obvious to a reasonable person. This risk is heightened for high traic businesses like hospitals and restaurants, and for small businesses who do not have access to sophisticated compliance and legal teams.
For Michigan’s property owners, this is not just an abstract legal debate. Left unaddressed, Michigan will quickly become a national outlier for costly premise liability litigation. Other states who have abandoned consistent liability standards have seen sharp increases in insurance costs firsthand, leading many of them to backtrack. We hope Michigan’s lawmakers address this issue now before it spirals out of control, as it has elsewhere. We thank Representative Neyer for introducing House Bill 4582 and Chair Lightner for holding discussion on this vital issue. We look forward to engaging further in this conversation to ensure that Michigan law properly addresses the shortcomings of current law.
BOMA NEWS
BOMA Releases Data Center Primer for Commercial Real Estate BOMA International Understanding Data Centers: An Overview for Commercial Real Estate is a new resource examining the rapid growth of data centers and the policy, infrastructure, and market implications for commercial real estate. As demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing accelerates, the brief outlines the key trends shaping data center development and the resulting challenges for power grids, local communities, and building owners. Read the Brief Here.
What a day on the course! Check out the golf outing photos here. More photos coming soon!
Trade Fair 2026 was a SUPER success! Check out the Trade Fair Video below and relive this historic moment:
Thank you for being a member of BOMA Metro Detroit and for taking the time to read BOMA Briefs. Your support, involvement, and engagement help make our organization stronger every day. We are grateful for each and every one of you. Your BOMA Team, Rick and Rachel
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