Last year, Cybele Thompson tackled the energy crisis. This year, the 35-year-old is working on such issues as terrorism insurance and legislation related to automated external defibrillators.

As PM Realty Group’s regional property manager, Thompson oversees leasing at the La Jolla Executive Tower. For the past two years, she has served as president of the San Diego Building Owners and Managers Association, which named the La Jolla Tower as San Diego Office of the Year in 2001.

When energy costs soared last year, the BOMA president organized meetings with Gov. Davis and other elected officials. Thompson is pleased that Sen. DeDe Alpert’s Senate Bill 341 helped ease commercial electricity costs. This year, Thompson is looking into the escalating costs of terrorism insurance. “What helps commercial real estate helps the tenants that are small businesses,” she says.

Thompson also lobbied for legislation that would result in “defibrillators becoming as common as fire extinguishers.” She worked with Assemblyman Juan Vargas on Assembly Bill 2041, which is in the state Senate awaiting action. That bill would remove risk for untrained citizens to help with the use of defibrillators. The PMI staff is prepared for emergencies. Thompson and her co-workers received Red Cross Emergency First Responder training.

Thompson is a past member of the Big Sister League board. She continues to give a Christmas party where tower tenants and BOMA members bring presents for the little sisters. The party yields two and sometimes three gifts for each child.

Thompson says her involvements bring the reward of “having a direct impact on the people you’re trying to help.”

— Liz Swain