This National Apprenticeship Week, a New Partnership Between BOMA/Chicago and City Colleges Is Showcasing Its Success

This week, November 17 to 23, 2024, marks the 10thannual National Apprenticeship Week, an opportunity to showcase the success and value of registered apprenticeships. For Natalie Guzman, a business management student at Harold Washington College and apprentice at Hines through the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Chicago, that value is clear.

Natalie's interest in business is more than a career move-it's a continuation of her family's legacy. As a first-generation Mexican American, she grew up watching her parents run businesses in Mexico and in Chicago's Irving Park neighborhood. This upbringing, along with a high school entrepreneurship class and an introductory business course at Harold Washington, sparked a passion for business that Natalie knew she wanted to pursue.

Natalie Guzman

When Natalie saw an email about an apprenticeship in commercial property management, she recognized a unique opportunity to expand her entrepreneurial goals. After applying and going through the interview process, she was accepted as an apprentice with Hines, a real estate investment company, through BOMA/Chicago.

Now several months into her role at Hines, Natalie is thriving with a supportive team of eight, all dedicated to each other's success. She's also actively participating in company events, taking advantage of every networking opportunity to gain insight from industry professionals.

"I can ask questions, and everyone just wants each other to succeed and grow," Natalie said. "I'm very happy and blessed to be in this space."

By the end of her two-year apprenticeship, Natalie will have earned her associate degree and a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Industry Credential in commercial property management, positioning her for a successful future in the industry.

"In just a few months, this apprenticeship has already changed my life," said Natalie. "I've dipped my toes into so much already. In two years, I'll be a pro when it comes to everything in the commercial property world."

This apprenticeship doesn't just benefit Natalie, but her employer Hines, a member of BOMA/Chicago, and the entire industry as well. As part of BOMA/Chicago's inaugural cohort, Natalie and her peers are helping address a critical need for talent committed to long-term careers in commercial real estate.

Commercial property management requires excellent customer service skills, a positive, problem-solving attitude, and the ability to develop relationships based on trust, according to BOMA/Chicago Executive Director Farzin Parang. He says apprentices from City Colleges of Chicago possess these traits, and feedback from the three BOMA firms that are currently working with City Colleges students-Hines, Sterling Bay, and Transwestern-has been overwhelmingly positive. Parang also commends City Colleges for their role in streamlining the apprenticeship process.

"We partnered with City Colleges because of their expertise with apprenticeships and their amazing team," Parang explained. "They've supported us from the start-marketing the program, collecting applications, screening candidates, and following up with employers to ensure everything runs smoothly."

City Colleges also provides customized classroom curricula to prepare apprentices before they begin their roles, making them an invaluable partner for employers. For BOMA/Chicago, apprenticeships are not only enhancing the hiring processes and reducing turnover, but they're also diversifying the commercial property management industry.

When it was announced in April, the apprenticeship program with BOMA/Chicago and its three members marked the first-ever U.S. Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship in property management. Still, Parang insists the process is simpler than employers may think.

"In most cases, an employer can simply copy or customize existing programs already registered with the Department of Labor, making the process much simpler," Parang said. "Resources like City Colleges and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity are there to guide you every step of the way."

To learn how your organization can partner with City Colleges to fulfill your workforce needs, visit www.ccc.edu/workforcesolutions.

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