New York Building Managers’ Association, Inc.

During the pleasant spring days of 1917, George Bode, William Chapman, Martin Edwards, John McDonald, Smith Wells and John Whitehead, all building superintendents, had been meeting in each others buildings for discussions of their maintenance and operations problems. Obviously above-average men, they hoped that through mutual help and the exchange of ideas they could become the best building Superintendents in New York. Their meetings began to attract others, and in June of 1917 they had organized and started on its way the New York Building Superintendents’ Association. Within five years the membership had grown considerably and the Association was definitely established as a vital force in the real estate industry. The membership decided to incorporate. Early in 1923, all legal requirements having been met, the State of New York granted incorporation papers to the Association. The seal of the Association was registered and copyrighted together with the charter title. “NEW YORK BUILDING SUPERINTENDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, INC.” and the motto “COOPERATION AND EFFICIENCY.“ Members of the association operate some of the city largest office buildings, apartment houses, loft buildings, hotels and mercantile establishments as well as city owned buildings, colleges, hospitals and other institutional facilities. As the demands of building operations have become more complex, the position of building superintendent has shifted towards emphasis on management of the personnel, technicians and contractors under his or her supervision and development of his or her role as the operational representative of management to tenants, owners and CO-operators