Gabriel Eckert

Gabriel P. Eckert, FASAE, CAE, has served as BOMA Georgia’s Chief Executive Officer since 2006. He initially joined the BOMA Atlanta staff as Director of Communications and Marketing in 2005. Gabriel also served as the first Executive Director of the BOMA Georgia Foundation and as Editor-in-Chief of BOMA Georgia’s magazine.

Gabriel led the association through the Great Recession and the COVID-19 global pandemic. He also led the organization to expand from BOMA Atlanta to BOMA Georgia in 2012 and to create the BOMA Georgia Foundation in 2014. During Gabriel’s tenure, the association grew membership 39%, committee and task force participation 144%, education enrollment 328%, and consolidated net equity 1,403%.

In 2008, Gabriel led BOMA Atlanta to license its Property Management 101 course to BOMA International, making the association the member of the BOMA federation to license intellectual property to BOMA International. The course was subsequently further developed into the Foundations of Real Estate Management course and taught throughout North America and Asia.

In 2009, the association created a new print magazine, which, for the first time, it fully owned and produced. The magazine, Insight: The Commercial Real Estate Journal, evolved over time to become Commercial Real Estate Insight Journal and finally CRE Insight Journal, an internationally recognized multimedia platform.

In 2013, in conjunction with the association’s 100th anniversary, the BOMA Legacy project was launched to preserve the association’s history and celebrate the people and properties that advanced the commercial real estate industry through BOMA Georgia.

In 2014, BOMA Georgia became the first organization to co-develop and co-own a designation program with the Building Owners and Managers Institute (BOMI). The BOMI-HP High Performance and Sustainable Buildings designation program was developed to provide 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.

In 2022, the BOMA Safety and Security Organization (BSSO) was created to provide security and life safety professionals at commercial office buildings, corporate facilities, and other commercial properties the opportunity to enhance their professionalism; increase knowledge of important aspects of safety and security; enhance their knowledge of property operations and management; and return value to the owners, managers, building tenants and visitors, and assets they serve through BSSO membership in BOMA Georgia.

In 2024, BOMA Georgia expanded its community service efforts with the creation of CRE CARES. CRE CARES was created to spark Community Advancement through Resources, Education, and Support™.

During Gabriel’s service, BOMA Georgia and the BOMA Georgia Foundation also increased in national and international stature, winning two American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Power of Associations Awards; two ASAE Gold Circle Awards; 10 Association TRENDS Trendy Awards; and two U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR Marketing Excellence Awards. The association was also recognized with 15 awards by BOMA International. In 2010, the association was named Volunteer of the Year by HomeAid Atlanta. In 2022, BOMA Georgia won ASAE’s highest association honor, the Summit Award. And in 2023, BOMA Georgia became the first nonprofit association in the world to earn ENERGY STAR Tenant Space certification. A year later in 2024, BOMA Georgia was named ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Gabriel was recognized with the 2006 BOMA Atlanta Pen & Quill Award, 2008 BOMA Atlanta President’s Award, and 2019 BOMA Georgia Huey Award.

Gabriel was an active member of the Georgia Society of Association Executives (GSAE), serving as a member of the GSAE Board of Directors from 2008 to 2009, and as a member of the GSAE Foundation Board of Trustees from 2010 to 2013, including a term as GSAE Foundation Board of Trustees Chair in 2012. Gabriel was also recognized by GSAE with the 2007 Stephen Styron Committee Chair of the Year Award, the 2012 Alan R. Johnson Leadership Award, and the 2014 Clifford M. Clarke Award, GSAE’s highest honor.

Gabriel was also an active member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). He was named an ASAE Fellow in 2016. He also co-authored two books published by ASAE: “From Insight to Action: 6 New Ways to Think, Lead and Achieve” in 2012 and “Strategic Integration: Tips, Tools, and Techniques to Move Beyond Strategic Planning and Transform Your Organization” in 2019. He was also selected as a member of the ASAE Diversity Executive Leadership Program class of 2014-2016.

Gabriel earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the ASAE in 2008. He subsequently served as a member of the CAE Commission, the CAE’s governing body, from 2013 to 2018, including a term as 2016-2017 CAE Commission Chair. He also served as a member of the CAE Professional Conduct Committee from 2017 to 2023, including a term as 2021-2022 CAE Professional Conduct Committee Chair.

Gabriel was also an active member of FarmHouse Fraternity, having joined the Kansas State University (K-State) chapter in 1995, where he served as 1998 chapter secretary and 1999 chapter vice president and was recognized as outstanding graduating senior, with the Doane Award in 2000. He was elected to serve as a member of the FarmHouse Fraternity International Executive Board from 2014 to 2022 and served three terms as International President from 2016 to 2022, making him the second longest serving president in the fraternity’s history.

Prior to joining the BOMA Atlanta staff, Gabriel served as Director of Communications for the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association and Georgia Beef Board from May 2ooo to February 2005. There, he led the association through a comprehensive restructuring of its communications programs, resulting in an increase in net income of 104%. He also planned and implemented a Beef Month media campaign, including radio and television interviews, radio station listener luncheons, on-air promotions, statewide advertising, and specially created website, resulting in an increase in net impressions of 124%. He also produced a monthly magazine, for which he was responsible for all aspects of production including advertising sales, layout, design, editing, photography, contract negotiation, and financial management. Gabriel also created the association’s first internship program.

Gabriel graduated from K-State in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture, having majored in agricultural journalism. At K-State, Gabriel was recognized as Dean of Student Life Outstanding Graduating Senior, and served as Student Body Vice President, Student Body Treasurer, and Student Senate Chair. During his freshman year at K-State, he served as State Reporter for the Kansas FFA Association. He was also inducted into Mortar Board, a national college senior honor society, and Alpha Zeta, an honorary, professional society for students and industry professionals in the agriculture and natural resources fields.

He also earned a Master of Business Administration degree with University Honors from Kennesaw State University (KSU) in 2011, where he was recognized as the University Scholar, an honor bestowed upon the top student in the Executive MBA program, and as the Gus Maroun Nonprofit Leadership Scholar. At KSU, he was also inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma international business honor society in 2011 and Phi Kappa Phi academic excellence honor society in 2o11. Gabriel also completed the KSU Coles College of Business Certified Managerial Coach program in 2013 and served as an individual coach for the KSU Executive MBA program from 2012 to 2024.