Newsletter for Winter 2023-2024
The seasons change, but OMG’s commitment to helping its organizations thrive does not. Check out some highlights of what we and our clients have been accomplishing!
Blake Hegeman has joined OMG as Director of Risk Management. With 17 years of experience practicing real estate, corporate, regulatory and nonprofit association law, including as General Counsel for the Long & Foster Companies Inc. and as Deputy General Counsel for Virginia REALTORS®, he has always thrived working with nonprofit associations. His areas of expertise includes regulatory risk management and general nonprofit association matters. While an attorney with KaneJeffries, LLP, he served as General Counsel to multiple associations and made association law an important part of his practice. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Virginia Tech, Blake received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Richmond School of Law.
Barbra Barbour has joined OMG’s Graphics team as a Creative Services Specialist. Barbra managed the first-ever centralized quality-assurance inspection point for Bath Ironworks Electric Boat Division and Huntington Ingalls Newport News. Seeking a change, she turned her attention to website design and graphics, running a successful web development company for 15 years. Born in California and educated at Platt College in San Diego, she relocated to Virginia in 1999 and has been busy ever since. Barbra enjoys time in the country with her dog and pursuing fine arts, sewing, crafts and carpentry.
Jessica Allen has joined OMG as a Member Support Specialist. She previously worked with the IRS and has 15 years of customer service and management prior to this position. She holds a Certificate in Real Estate Law Paralegal Specialist from Duke University, a Certificate in Paralegal Studies from George Mason University, and an Associate in Office Technologies with a legal concentration from Elmira Business Institute. Originally from upstate New York, Jessica made the move to Virginia in 2015. She enjoys embracing new physical challenges and most recently has completed two 10k races and can often be found baking.
Su Thongpan has joined OMG as an Executive Director. She previously worked with the Virginia Association of Museums as Director of Finance & Administration and has event planning and management experience. She is also skilled in accounting, marketing and sales. Su has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.
OMG‘s Jennifer Thomas, an Executive Director, was reapproved for her Certified Association Executive (CAE). Congrats, Jennifer!OMG Out and About
OMG President Mike Reitelbach, CAE RCE IOM, attended the Association Management Company Institute (AMCI) Annual Meeting held Feb. 21-23 in Las Vegas. The event boasted record attendance, with participants benefitting from educational sessions, impactful speakers, excellent networking, and great AMCI support from vendors and sponsors. Mike gleaned plenty of knowledge to benefit OMG and for our association clients. AMCI is the leading organization for association management company professionals, offering accreditation, trend reports, information, professional development and networking opportunities to an international membership. After the AMCI meeting Mike went hiking in Utah’s Zion National Park. Check him out on top of Angels Landing. Thanks for representing at AMCI, Mike!
Outstanding training for outstanding leaders! OMG Senior Vice President of Association Management, Client Care Gail Summers Phillips, CAE, right, who serves as CEO of the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM®), attended the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Exceptional Boards training in Ponte Vedra, Florida, in January with, from left, NARPM® President-Elect Amy Hanson, MPM® RMP®; President Melissa Sharone, MPM® RMP®; and Treasurer DD Lee, MPM® RMP®. During this two-day intensive workshop, “CEOs and their elected officers explore strategies for strengthening their working relationship and enhancing the board’s performance.” Teamwork!
New Client News
Welcome to the Virginia Society of Tax & Accounting Professionals
The Virginia Society of Tax & Accounting Professionals (VSTAP) has joined OMG as a new client. VSTAP is a state-wide organization of professional accountants practicing throughout Virginia and the neighboring states and was established in 1948. In its 74 years of existence, the Society has grown steadily, and today its members represent a broad cross section of leading accountants throughout the Commonwealth.
Throughout the year, VSTAP offers many excellent continuing professional education seminars, including seminars in taxation, accounting, estate planning, practice management and others. All VSTAP seminars are approved for CPE by the Virginia Board of Accountancy, the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy and the CFP Board. Lisa Noon, CAE, is Executive Director.
Association News
Virginia Cemetery Association Strategizes 2024
The Virginia Cemetery Association Board of Directors met in November to discuss the upcoming year’s goals and align committee responsibilities to meet their objectives to continue membership growth and plan a successful 2024 Conference. The VCA Executive Director is Lisa Noon, CAE.
Eastern Shore REALTORS® Stock Up on Education
at General Membership Meeting
Over 50 Eastern Shore Association of REALTORS® (ESAR) members gathered at Eastern Shore Community College (Virginia) in November for their General Membership Meeting. They were joined by 10 ESAR Affiliates. During the day, attendees loaded up on continuing education classes, listened to a panel on septic services, a local market and economic update, and reports from Association leaders and committee chairs. The day ended with a live basket auction to benefit the state REALTORS® association’s political action committee. The event the marked the pinnacle of ESAR’s 2023 “year of engagement.” Pictured below: ESAR Executive Director Sharon Lukens and ESAR President Bill Baals pause for a photo during the event.
Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association Raises Awareness About Human Trafficking
The Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association holds monthly member luncheons at the Norfolk (Virginia) Courthouse Rotunda. January’s event, held during the Human Trafficking Awareness Month observance, featured Patrick J. McKenna, co-founder and director of the Virginia Coalition Against Human Trafficking (VCAHT). McKenna spoke on how people can become involved with VCAHT as well as the nonprofit Human Trafficking Justice & Freedom International, of which he is also a co-founder and director. Also presenting was VCAHT member and Regent University School of Law’s Assistant Director of the Center for Global Justice, Meg Kelsey, who spoke on the need for expansion of vacatur.
Over 1,000 Gather in Atlanta for the National Association of Residential Property Managers’ 2023 Convention
High-energy week! The National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM®) held its 2023 NARPM® Annual Convention & Trade Show from Oct. 16-20 at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center. The event drew over 1,000 people for general sessions with nationally known speakers and property-management industry experts, workshops, education, a charity golf event, a 103-vendor trade show, receptions, and other networking opportunities. The week kicked off with a welcome reception at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame and included an art auction. The annual Convention is the biggest of NARPM®’s National gatherings. Picured below are OMG’s NARPM® staffers, from left, Troy Garrett, Tyler Craddock, Victoria Hecht, Rebecca Woodring, Gail Phillips, Shannon Sharples and Karen Gould.
Tidewater Mortgage Bankers Association Savors Sunset, PAC Fundraising and New Year
The Tidewater Mortgage Bankers Association kicked off 2024 with a spectacular sunset and more than 100 attendees at its New Year Meet and Greet at Chick’s Oyster Bar in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The networking event also raised over $2,100 for the Virginia Mortgage Bankers Association’s political action committee.
Virginia Dental Hygienist Association holds House of Delegates Meeting, Rally Day Training
The Virginia Dental Hygienist Association held its House of Delegates meeting in late October. Executive Director Jennifer Thomas, CAE, staffed the event, and OMG Vice President of Government Affairs Tyler Craddock and Government Affairs Director Troy Garrett presented an advocacy training for the members to prepare them for their 2024 Rally Day in 2024. Ninety-two people attended the event.
Commuter Rail Coalition Connects at Summit
The Commuter Rail Coalition held its 2nd Commuter Rail Summit in the fall at the InterContinental Chicago. The Summit brings together the nation’s policymakers, stakeholders and thought leaders to discuss new ideas and collaborate on today’s most pressing commuter rail issues. Pictured are the OMG meetings team’s Victoria Brooks, VEMM, and Rosie Bugarin, CMP, right.
Hundreds Attend Virginia Maritime Association’s International Trade Symposium
The Virginia Maritime Association (VMA) held its VMA23: International Trade Symposium in Norfolk, Virginia, in October. VMA’s International Trade Symposium is the East Coast’s premier conference addressing the topics most affecting port operations and cargo logistics, drawing in attendees from around the globe. OMG’s meetings division, Meeting Strategies International (MSI), assisted the VMA team with the conference planning for over 400 symposium participants and 700 banquet guests. The first night’s mixer was held at The Market Norfolk Waterside where shipping containers lined the front of the entertainment venue. Pictured at the event are OMG‘s Victoria Brooks, left, and Rebecca Woodring.
All Work and no Play? Nope.
OMGers work hard and play hard, finding time to balance their client and company commitments with family, friends and pastimes. Here’s a selection of some memorable moments over the past few months.
OMG Readies for Its Tiniest New Arrival
OMG celebrated the pending arrival of a new little OMGer in late November with a baby shower for Accountant Kristian Quejado and his beautiful wife, Peachy. (Sweet Kalista was born in December.) Attendees enjoyed baby-related Bingo and guessing the flavor of assorted baby foods with unlabeled jars. Cake and watching Peachy and Kristian’s smiles as they unwrapped both fun and practical gifts rounded out the fun. Welcome to the OMG family, Kalista!
…And Another New OMGer as Lives Unite
OMG’s Public Relations and Digital Media Director, Victoria Hecht, left, and husband Evan, second from right, welcomed a new family member when son Mitchell, middle, married his sweetheart, Holly, during a December ceremony in Northern Virginia. Mitchell and sister Abigail, right, grew up in the OMG family, volunteering their time as part of OMG’s community outreach. Mitchell and Holly are University of Virginia graduates and registered nurses.
A Well-Earned Retreat After Busy Convention Season
OMG Meeting Planner Karen Gould and her boyfriend, Ray, enjoyed a mini vacation with a trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains after NARPM®’s Annual Convention & Trade Show. They hiked almost 12 miles in one day, including topping McAfee Knob at 3,171 feet. It took them five hours to complete the hike. The two also toured sights and towns in the Fancy Gap and Meadows of Dan areas but missed the spectacular fall foliage by a couple of weeks.
OMG is expanding and always on the lookout for more great team members. We would appreciate any referrals from our readers; see “Careers” for current positions.
At OMG, we are all about:
- Innovative ideas
- Membership growth
- Customer service
- Proactive executive leadership
- Net revenue gains
You’re ready to thrive. We’re ready to help. Email us or call Mike Reitelbach at 757-473-8701.
