The 2017 BOMA International Conference & Expo kicked off Sunday at Nashville’s Music City Center.

“Welcome, or as they say in Nashville, ‘Hey, y’all!’” BOMA Chair and Chief Elected Officer Brian Harnetiaux said.

Harnetiaux began the conference by recognizing the seven J. Michael Coleman Scholarship recipients. The scholarship is named for BOMA member Mike Coleman, who recently retired after 30 years with AlliedBarton Security (now Allied Universal).

HPI Real Estate Services' Maggie Calloway of BOMA Austin, Copaken Brooks' Melanie Bellinger of BOMA Kansas City, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston's Anh Truong of BOMA Boston, JLL's Daniel Williams of BOMA Chicago, CBRE's Lucinda Alipio of BOMA Oakland-East Bay, Stream Realty's Mason Bodie of BOMA Dallas, and Cushman & Wakefield's Grace Malinder of BOMA Philadelphia (not pictured) were this year's scholarship recipients.

BOMA Nashville President Donna Wheeler and Nashville host committee co-chairs Marvin Mouser and Dede Scott welcomed the general session to the “Athens of America” and highlighted the Tennessee city’s diverse economy and booming construction.

Scott’s joyful take on Minnie Pearl’s, “Howdyyy!” preceded a call to donate to BOMA PAC. No word yet on its impact on donations.

The 2017 Interior Lighting Campaign Awards were also awarded in Sunday's general session. The U.S. Army's 88th Regional Support Command, Target, DiVi Energy, Baylor Scott & White Health, the City of Spencer, Wisconsin, BioStar Lighting, Cleveland Clinic, Grace Bible Church and the Hartford Insurance Group all took awards for their commitment to energy efficient lighting.