2015 Affiliate Member of the Year Helee Lev

What services does your company provide and what benefits do they offer to the commercial real estate industry? In recent years, building owners and managers have embraced the movement to “go green” and reduce energy and water usage. In response to this new need and desire for a tool to help property owners achieve their sustainability efficiency goals, Goby created SeaSuite, a cloud-based subscription platform to service the commercial real estate industry and help users take a sophisticated yet simple approach to a complex feat.

Over the past four years, SeaSuite has blossomed into a leading CRE online community, providing intelligent data visualization for utility management and sustainable operations, as well as idea sharing through socialization. It has broken down silos and empowered building owners to make a difference!

Goby also provides traditional consulting services for sustainable buildings such as LEED Certification consulting, energy auditing, commissioning, ENERGY STAR and GRESB compliance, BOMA 360 and TOBY assistance.

What are some industry trends that impact commercial real estate the most? Driving down building operating costs is always a top priority for any building owner or operator in an ever-changing high pressure environment. Goby helps our clients do this through the lens of sustainability through smarter usage and procurement strategy around utilities.  Furthermore, going green is not only important in commercial real estate, but also in people’s day-to-day lives.  They want to know they are working in a clean and sustainable environment that is healthy for them and environmentally and fiscally responsible.  Goby helps increase asset value through sustainability and certifications such as LEED, GRESB, ENERGY STAR, TOBY and BOMA 360.

How are BOMA/Chicago events important to your company? BOMA/Chicago membership and events allow Goby to connect with our clients on a more personal level and just through providing services.  We get to know our clients and their needs better in a more social and relaxed environment, and continue to build a trusting rapport.  Furthermore, BOMA events are fun!  Participating on committees enables us to work alongside our clients and peers to accomplish meaningful tasks together as a team which further strengthens the vendor-provider relationship and our reputation in the local market.

What is your favorite BOMA/Chicago event and why? BOMA Golf Classic for obvious reasons – golf on a summer weekday anyone?!

Diversity Celebration – it is so important to continue to promote women and other minorities in the commercial real estate industry! I’m proud when I see these young people being promoted in front of their industry peers and given the scholarships to help them achieve a designation that will propel them forward in the real estate industry.

What advice would you share with other affiliate members to maximize their BOMA/Chicago membership? Like anything else in life, you’ll get out of it what you put into it!  Show up to events in person and encourage your colleagues to do the same!  When you’re at an event, try to talk to at least three people with whom you have never met or spoken with at length before; grow your personal network.  Also – join a committee!  It helps you focus on something that interests you and develop stronger relationships with a smaller subset of BOMA members and professionals in the industry.

What is the strangest job you’ve ever had? In high school I had a handful of odd jobs from lifeguarding and serving frozen yogurt!  However, by far the strangest was my work at Modern Tuxedo where I helped with sales, fittings, and styling of men’s tuxes and suits for weddings, prom, and other formal events.  To this day I can still eyeball a gentlemen and estimate with reasonable accuracy a jacket size and length!