Jim Moody
Jim Moody, CAE, served as BOMA Atlanta Executive Director from 2004 to 2006.
During his tenure, the organization expanded by creating a new classification of membership to include building engineers, known as BOMA Technical Organization members. Leadership was also a focus for the association during these years. BOMA-Atlanta created a new leadership academy; the organization’s committee structure was revised; and the board of directors began an evolution toward strategic governance. The change to strategic governance concentrated the board on addressing issues of major importance in the real estate industry and increased volunteer opportunities for members.
Jim was also an active member of the Georgia Society of Association Executives (GSAE), where he was recognized with the 2005-2006 GSAE Alan R. Johnson Award, “for demonstrating outstanding leadership qualities including teamwork, vision, and servant leadership within the nonprofit community.” In 2017, he was recognized with GSAE’s highest honor, the Clifford M. Clarke Award, recognizing, “an association executive in Georgia, to honor outstanding service and accomplishments in association management.” Additionally, he served as 2012 President of GSAE.
Prior to leading BOMA Atlanta, Jim served as Executive Director of the GSAE from 2000 to 2004, and prior to that served as Vice President of Socioeconomic Affairs for the American College of Rheumatology from 1992 to 2000.
Jim earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication from Berry College in 1990 and a Master of Business Administration Degree from Mercer University in 2005. He also earned an Executive Coaching Certificate from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School in 2000. Additionally, he earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives.
Jim Moody Life and Career in Review
After leaving BOMA Atlanta in 2006, Jim served as President of the Construction Suppliers Association from 2006 to 2023. He then started a consulting practice focusing on family businesses through Open Aperture Advisors, where he helped clients with issues related to succession planning, strategy, coaching, and conflict resolution. On LinkedIn in 2023, Jim wrote that the name Open Aperture Advisors, “is a nod to my love of landscape photography. An open aperture on the camera lets full light into a photo. It also creates focus on only the main subject while blurring things in the background. Both of these conditions are appropriate to the work I am doing.”
On his Open Aperture Advisors website, in 2023 Jim wrote, “I didn’t start out with a passion to help family business. I was just a guy running a trade association. But in that role, I worked in an environment dominated by family businesses for 16 years. During that time I saw what a wonderful thing it can be for a family and the business – when it works well, it is powerful, profitable and a blessing for the family. But it is rare for it to work that well. Mostly I saw a lot of businesses that did not meet their full potential, and I saw a lot of family pain. Sometimes the business itself caused the pain; sometimes the family issues created pain for the business and those who work in it. So frequently, the problems are driven by generational succession (or lack of it).
“Over time, I came to understand the dynamics, and we created programs designed to help. Some of our work was crafted to help family businesses make choices more from a business perspective than a family perspective (think strategic plan, accountability, real job descriptions). Sometimes our work was focused on family dynamics (conflict, jealousy, unwillingness to make tough decisions).
“We all have to-do lists, whether we write them out or just keep them in our heads. I often find that the things I don’t like to do sink to the bottom of the list while the things I enjoy most float to the top, even if they aren’t urgent.
“One day I realized that requests for help on family business issues always floated to the top of my list though they weren’t exactly core to my job description. I came to recognize that a passion had been created in my soul, and I had to figure out a way to make it the center of my work. That’s how Open Aperture Advisors was born.
“I now focus on my passion of ensuring survival of family businesses by helping leaders make wise decisions that serve the business and the family well for today and the next generation. Every family business is unique. Understanding the issues specific to each family business is critical to being able to help. There is not a formula that can be applied. I help family businesses by asking good questions, gaining insight to the perspectives of all the people involved, and then creating solutions that build on experience, expertise, research and best practices. If you are facing challenges in your business or you simply want to take things to a higher level, I’d love to have a conversation with you about how I can help.”