Your title doesn’t determine whether you’re a leader or not. It’s your actions, your attitude, what you stand for, and what you will not tolerate. It’s a little bit of self-awareness and the courage to do the right thing when nobody is watching. It’s your willingness to be vulnerable, your integrity, how you show gratitude, your commitment to listen and keep learning, and your ability to influence and inspire others. This month we had the pleasure of hearing from several of our female team members and leaders regarding their female leaders and the impact they had on their lives. We also were able to dig into how to maintain work-life balance, career advice, personal passions, and thoughts on the future. Our favorite, insight – a sneak peek at how these ladies spend their Saturday mornings! It doesn’t have to be serious all the time!
CELEBRATING Women’s History Month
Rachel Baron Senior Vice President
How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions? Is there such a thing as balance? It is difficult to find a balance sometimes. We could all work 12-hour days and still feel like we’re not caught up. It’s not productive to rob yourself of family time by working all night. You need to set boundaries for yourself to prioritize your health and personal time. It’s also important to take your vacations and completely unplug, so you can recharge and be 100% present for your team when you come back!
Your title doesn’t determine whether you’re a leader or not. It’s your actions, your attitude, what you stand for, and what you will not tolerate. It’s a little bit of self-awareness and the courage to do the right thing when nobody is watching. It’s your willingness to be vulnerable, your integrity, how you show gratitude, your commitment to listen and keep learning, and your ability to influence and inspire others. This month we had the pleasure of hearing from several of our female teammembers and leaders regarding their female leaders and the impact they had on their lives. We also were able to dig into how to maintain work-life balance, career advice, personal passions, and thoughts on the future. Our favorite, insight – a sneak peek at how these ladies spend their Saturday mornings! It doesn’t have to be serious all the time!
Where will we find you on a Saturday at 10:00 am? Taking care of my horses and various other pets.
How important is it to have amentor to growas a leader?What are some steps to build that type of relationship? It’s great to have a mentor to guide you and help develop you in your career. Find someone in the organization you look up to and ask their advice on how to grow within your role and the company in general. True leaders are going to help you in any way they can. What is your most meaningful accomplishment during your career? Why does it mean so much to you? I feel most proud of the incredible teams I’ve built, many of whom have been with Trinity for many years. I love developing teammembers and watching them succeed in their careers.
Nicole Beaverson National Recruiting Director
What advice would you give women just starting in their career in property management? Take one day at a time, celebrate your everyday wins, and know that you can make a really big impact on your residents and others you encounter. When it comes to your career, take your time. Don’t rush through the different positions to try to get to a certain title. Instead, realize every position and every challenge is preparing you for the next and soak in all you can learn in that position or at that particular property. Also, build your personal brand at work so your colleagues want to partner with you and say yes to opportunities outside of your job description. Especially while new in your career, master your role and take on the additional projects, challenges, or career- development opportunities that are available to you. This will be invaluable in many ways and will also help you in building connections within the organization. Where will we find you on a Saturday at 10:00 am? Saturday mornings are my favorite! I wake up, have coffee and breakfast with my husband, and then grab my dachshunds for a walk by the water while I listen to a podcast. Sometimes I’ll catch a morning yoga class at the beach or go to our local farmers market. No matter what it is, I make sure I’mmoving my body and doing something that’s relaxing to set the tone for the rest of the weekend!
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Roxana Billings Community Manager
What is your most meaningful accomplishment during your career? Why does it mean so much to you? For me, it’s not achieving a certain title or getting a certain promotion. Instead, I look back and think, where did I make the most lasting impact? How will this program or project I (along with my team) implemented continue to enhance the organization for years to come? Or how did I help someone else or influence their career path? I enjoy working with our Interns in particular because they are at a stage in their life where they are still exploring what they want to do with their careers, and this is where meaningful conversations, feedback, or projects can be influential on their future. I love seeing their eyes light up when they realize a talent that they didn’t even know they had or when they successfully complete a challenging assignment or project.
Is there a particular female leader who inspires you or that you look up to? Why? I do not have a particular female leader that inspires me because I look at resilient, strong, and inspiring women all around me. I have been able to see the successes of women in all forms daily. I take pride in knowing that women are capable of anything we all put our minds to no matter how little or small. What advice would you give women just starting in their career in property management? For any woman starting in property management, I advise they do not to lose their positivity and ability to have fun. We are in a field where it can be overwhelming, high-stress, and require lots of multitasking. If you keep positive energy and remind yourself that bad days are short-lived, you will find yourself thriving and loving what you do. How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions? Is there such a thing as balance? I think it is hard to balance career, personal life, and passions but it is not impossible. Scheduling and prioritizing are the most important tools to ensure you can give each of the aspects of your life the time and attention they need.
Jessica Beck Director of Human Resources
How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions? Is there such a thing as balance? I do believe there is such a thing as balance, but I believe it is different for everyone. I am lucky enough to have a career that allows me to create the structure of my schedule to integrate my personal life and target the best times of day and week for me to accomplish everything necessary.
Where will we find you on a Saturday at 10:00 am? On a Saturday at 10:00 am, you will find me listening to old school salsa or hip hop and cleaning.
Where will we find you on a Saturday at 10:00 am? Most Saturdays at 10:00 am you’ll find me out to breakfast with my daughter.
How important is it to have a mentor to grow as a leader?What are some steps to build that type of relationship? It is important to have a mentor and to grow as a leader because you are who you surround yourself with. People who want to succeed will look towards someone successful. I would start by observing someone who you admire in the workplace and ask questions. You can never have too much knowledge, and knowledge will always help you with your successes. What makes you feel the most alive either at work or in your personal life? We only get one life to live and one opportunity to be happy. That is a mantra I live by in both my personal and work life. What makes me most alive are: videos of cute babies, puppies, and a good ol’ cup of joe. What is your most meaningful accomplishment during your career? Why does it mean so much to you? My most meaningful accomplishments have been the success and the development of my team. I can easily say in my 11-year career with property management, 90% of the teammembers who have worked under me are still in property management and are thriving in success in their communities. Developing my team holds such great weight in my accomplishments because I have been able to make an impact on peoples’ lives and they have been able to find joy in working in their respective roles in this wonderful industry. What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women that follow you? Do not be afraid or scared to speak up. I believe a stigma with women is to not voice your concerns and opinions. There have been drastic improvements and numerous accomplishments by women everywhere and many large strides have been made to reach closer equality in the workplace and society. The new generation of women, with no doubt, will still need to overcome hurdles. However, I am confident that they will continue to pave the way for future generations to come.
How important is it to have amentor to grow as a leader?What are some steps to build that type of relationship? I think it is incredibly important to have a mentor to help guide you in the right direction and teach you how to be successful in your role. I think the most important steps in creating those relationships is the listen and ask questions. Your superiors hold so much knowledge through their experiences that they probably don’t realize is something of interest to you and they generally enjoy explaining or sharing those experiences. What makes you feel the most alive either at work or in your personal life? Helping people. The satisfaction of knowing I made someone’s day better or easier truly brings me joy and I don’t think I know any better feeling.
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Brandy Clark Senior Vice President
How important is it to have a mentor to growas a leader?What are some steps to build that type of relationship? It’s important to have a mentor to help grow as a leader because they can help to give you the unbiased guidance you need to achieve your personal career goals. Often, we need someone to help encourage us along, but also give constructive feedback when needed. A mentor will help to stretch your abilities. If you think a mentor would be beneficial to you, seek out someone who you respect and is knowledgeable in property management, you want to make sure it’s someone you find easy to communicate with. Be frank, let the mentor know what your career objectives are and that you are looking for some helpful guidance on how to get there. Most of us have had a mentor that has helped us along the way and look forward to “paying it forward”.
What advice would you give women just starting in their career in property management? My advice for women just starting in property management would be to encourage them to always seek out the solution. Your focus on the solution should far exceed your focus on the problem. Often issues arise that can feel like a roadblock. Remember, roadblocks can’t be the end when it comes to being successful. There is always an alternate route. Take the training, ask questions, participate, and be the solution. What makes you feel the most alive either at work or in your personal life? What makes me feel the most alive in my career is having the opportunity to create communities. My favorite quote is “it’s not what it is, it’s what it can become” by Dr. Seuss. We look past the present conditions of a distressed asset, whether it be due to physical condition, poor operations, market conditions, or bad reputation. With collaboration, a good business plan, and really hard work, we turn apartment buildings into profitable communities. After 20 years of having my hands in some super difficult assets, I still LOVE getting to be a part of the transition! It’s hard work, but the transformation is so rewarding.
Melanie Divincenzo Area Manager
Is there a particular female leader who inspires you or that you look up to? Why? Erica Fedeczko is an inspiration to me as a leader and a friend. Erica has taken the time to teach and guide me through my journey with Trinity Property Consultants. The part that makes Erica an amazing woman is that she tells you as it is. Not to defer you from a decision, but to cast a different light on a better outcome.
Cassidy Clark Vice President of Marketing and Recruiting
Where will we find you on a Saturday at 10:00 am? Sitting in my living room, drinking a cup of coffee, and spending time with my kid.
How important is it to have amentor to grow as a leader?What are some steps to build that type of relationship? It’s very important to me to have a mentor. Erica and I have always maintained an honest open relationship. I would say we are each other’s left and right hands!
What is your most meaningful accomplishment during your career? Why does it mean so much to you? Looking back at my career, I am most proud of the strong relationships that I’ve been built along the way! I invest in people and want people to invest in me. They say “if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life”, but I always say that if you like and respect the people you work with, you’ll never work a day in your life. This type of philosophy has made the most impact on my career. Last winter, I was extended the offer of Vice President of Marketing & Recruiting right before my 30th birthday. I learned that during this process, so many of the great people I had worked with over the years reached out to refer, validate, and recommendme to the committee for the job. It was at that moment, I realized that this company trusts me, respects me, and has invested in me. I had flashbacks to all the great discussions, meetings, trips, conversations, and relationships in my career up to that point. It was an easy decision to take the position after that! Where will we find you on a Saturday at 10:00 am? I want to say working out at SoulCycle or Barry’s Bootcamp, but if I am being honest… your girl is definitely still snoozing! Even my dogs know that Saturdays are for sleeping in. After that, I take full advantage of the weekend. I love shopping local, trying new restaurants, and exploring new parts of my city! I take the weekends to clear my head so that Monday I am back with energy, optimism, and creativity to start the week.
What makes you feel the most alive either at work or in your personal life? Being able to guide my teams within their career and helping individuals find their next home.
Dana Duong Director of Marketing
Is there a particular female leader who inspires you or that you look up to? Why? Nora Lum! She shares the first-generation Asian-American experience, came from a humble background, and is now strutting the red carpet. What advice would you give women just starting in their career in property management? Approach everything from the perspective of the resident. Would you want to fill out a 20-page paper application? Would you want to get your sink fixed a week later?These aren’t just apartments and square footage, these are homes.
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How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions? Is there such a thing as balance? My biggest advice to anyone is to be present. It’s so easy to obsess over the future, and where they will be in a year, or if they will be caught up with work by the end of the week. Let the future inspire you, but don’t obsess over it. Do the best that you can today and appreciate life for what it is now. When I refocus my mentality to being present, that allows me to balance everything.
How important is it to have amentor to grow as a leader?What are some steps to build that type of relationship? Most great leaders would tell you they had a great mentor. For me, to have someone who has invested their time and knowledge into my personal and career aspirations has been instrumental inmy development. Being coachable, being open to asking for and receiving feedback, looking within yourself, and not taking constructive criticism personally. Instead, see it all as an opportunity to grow. What is your most meaningful accomplishment during your career? Why does it mean so much to you? It has been very rewarding to have been coached by the best in the business. Utilizing these skills enabled me to help others grow and develop their careers as well. To know that I may have played a small role in their success is my most meaningful accomplishment. Where will we find you on a Saturday at 10:00 am? One of the highlights of my week are Saturday mornings when I can focus my time on my daughter and enjoy a nice hearty breakfast together!
Where will we find you on a Saturday at 10:00 am? Mariner’s Church Farmers Market, foraging for green onions and eggs with really orange yolks.
How important is it to have amentor to growas a leader?What are some steps to build that type of relationship? My mentors never sacrificed who they are to get where they are now in their careers. As women, sometimes you are put in situations where you have to pretend to be someone you’re not and that’s toxic. I’ve seen people flip switches and act like a completely different person in the conference room. My mentors don’t do that. They have always been amazing at what they do as well as compassionate about friends, family, and their community. At the end of the day, I look up to them because they are always kind and honest, even when faced with adversity.
What makes you feel the most alive either at work or in your personal life? Problem-solving! I just like to help those around me. Their success is my success.
Erica Fedeczko Regional Vice President
What is your most meaningful accomplishment during your career? Why does it mean so much to you? I love to unlock potential. I invest a lot of time in training and coaching those around me who are on the cusp of greatness. All they need is a cheerleader on the sideline! My most meaningful accomplishments are the ones where my teammates get promotions and kudos and shine like the stars they always were. What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women that follow you? Breaking glass ceilings has always been hard. I’m not sure if it will get easier. As women, being “bullish” commonly gets misconstrued. But actions always speak louder than words, so get as much experience as you can, and implement things that you think will have big impacts. Dn’t worry about being louder than someone else in the room. Worry about doing bigger and better things to show how much of a boss you are.
What advice would you give women just starting in their career in property management? I believe that my best recommendation for women starting their career in property management is to not be afraid. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, don’t be afraid to say that you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to raise your hand. You can do it and you will do it. Where will we find you on a Saturday at 10:00 am? On a Saturday at 10:00 am, you would find me hanging out with my husband and son either off-roading in the desert, at the motocross track watching them ride their dirt bikes, or hanging out in the backyard with our dogs with a cup of coffee in my hand and some country music on. I enjoy the simple things in life. I enjoy my hair up on a ponytail and my face make-up-free! How important is it to have a mentor to grow as a leader?What are some steps to build that type of relationship? Having a great mentor is extremely important and has been one of the main reasons I have been successful. My mentor told me from the start that aside from theft and deceit, everything has a solution. I believe that to build a strong relationship with your mentor, you have to keep an open line of communication and if you have to say something, say it. If you have something to ask something, ask. Build a relationship based on trust. Your mentor is there to support and guide you. What is your most meaningful accomplishment during your career? Why does it mean so much to you? The biggest accomplishment in my career is to have been a mentor to many and to know that I will have the opportunity to mentor many more. Mentoring and helping others is what I enjoy the most.
Stephanie Faruzzi Area Manager
What advice would you give women just starting in their career in property management? This industry offers a wealth of opportunity to grow and learn from a wide array of people with varying life experiences and areas of expertise. By organically learning from the ground up, you will have a deeper understanding and appreciation for the hierarchy, processes, communication styles, and approaches to each management level. Don’t be tied down to your job description as the opportunity will present itself to wear many hats. Each hat that you embrace with a positive attitude will provide you with more knowledge to put in your tool belt. The more tools you have, the best equipped you are to grow successfully.
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Alexis Gambetty Leasing Consultant
What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women that follow you? I believe that the biggest challenge for the generation of women that followme will include much of what we already face. Every day our rights as humans are threatened. We are often not respected as leaders in our fields or as authority figures (especially if you are rather young), and we often have internalized misogyny that we’ve learned over time from trying to gain respect of the men in our lives that we respect. Internalized misogyny is possibly the most damaging thing that women participate in and I don’t see this issue going away until we learn to do better. I hope future women help water each other’s gardens and celebrate each bloom. It’s so much better than trying to prove you’re “better” than another girl just because you like things that “other girls” don’t tend to enjoy.
Is there a particular female leader who inspires you or that you look up to? Why? I was raised in a family that has a great appreciation for music, so I am inspired by many female musicians. I have a favorite artist who has struggled with her mental health and a recent divorce. I appreciate her ability to be candid about these topics in interviews and her music. I think it shows incredible strength to publicly discuss topics that many people shy away from. What advice would you give women just starting in their career in property management? I’m kind of in this boat myself, but I have learned how important it will always be to stay organized and keep documentation. Speak up. Don’t be afraid to bring your ideas to the table. Keep your cool and meditate. Take good care of your physical and mental health. Take ownership of your mistakes. There’s a quote I like, “no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” I think this is a wonderful statement. How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions? Is there such a thing as balance? Even when it feels impossible, and sometimes it does, make time for yourself. There may not be “balance” to your work and personal life, but there can always be adjustments. Time management is a skill that you learn often through trial and error.
Brittany Grey Recruiter
Is there a particular female leader who inspires you or that you look up to? Why? I would have to say, my mother. Most people might think of famous or well-known female leaders, but for me, I would have to say my mother is my female inspiration that motivates me every single day. My mother is the hardest working and most authentic person that I know. I have witnessed her overcome so many battles in life, both personally and professionally, and she always found a way to work through them and come out stronger! What advice would you give women just starting in their career in property management? Do not compare yourself and your journey to anyone else. Your path to success may look different from your friends and co-workers and that’s OK! How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions? Is there such a thing as balance? Yes, there is absolutely such a thing as balance. I make sure that when I am at work, I give 100%. That way, when I am off work, I am off work and can enjoy my personal time.
Where will we find you on a Saturday at 10:00 am? In the office. On my day off, though, you’ll find me catching up on housework while listening to a podcast or music.
How important is it to have amentor to grow as a leader?What are some steps to build that type of relationship? I think that having a mentor is very important. Having someone to learn from can be essential to succeeding in personal and professional endeavors. I think to build that relationship, you just have to find someone who isn’t afraid to mention that they’ve made mistakes or own up to their mess-ups. Oftentimes, you’ll find that the people who take ownership of their actions can help you learn to be humble. They tend to have a better idea of how to solve problems. As with building and cultivating any relationship, I would say that communication is key. Set realistic expectations for yourself and allow your mentor to help you achieve them. What makes you feel the most alive either at work or in your personal life? Spending time in nature. I love to camp and hike. Yosemite National Park in California is my all-time favorite place to be. There’s nowhere I feel more comfortable. What is your most meaningful accomplishment during your career? Why does it mean so much to you? Making it through my first few months of a major take-over while being new to the property management business. I had been an Assistant Manager at a movie theater for about 4 years and was confident in my skills as an AM there. When I arrived at my new location for a whole new job, many residents had been very upset with their previous office and maintenance teams. It was a very stressful time, and I had many anxiety attacks that had me think I may not be able to handle this job. As time went by, I gained new skills and learned how to implement the skills I already had. I also was able to focus on my mental health and learn new ways to manage my anxiety. Making it through this season of my life taught me to persevere and that it’s okay to ask for help. I have a great team now that I know believes in and supports me, even when I’m unsure of myself.
Where will we find you on a Saturday at 10:00 am? Either at the gym or if it’s a nice day, maybe on a hike. Anything that gets me moving!
What makes you feel the most alive either at work or in your personal life? Just helping people in general. At work or in my personal life, I love putting a smile on people’s faces.
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Brittany Head Assistant Community Manager
Sarah Hodge Employee Experience Specialist
Is there a particular female leader who inspires you or that you look up to? My 2 daughters, Makaylah (19 years old) and Payton (17 years old) Why? They have been through so much in their short lives and to see how they have grown up, matured, and handled everything that life has thrown at them has been incredibly inspiring. What advice would you give women just starting in their career in property management? Ask questions, keep documentation, take notes, be hands-on, and work hard because eventually, everything you work hard for and learn will come back to you. How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions? Is there such a thing as balance? I am a single mother of 3 teenagers, working full time, and juggling everything life throws at me daily, but I try to do it all with a smile.
What advice would you give women just starting in their career in property management? Set goals for yourself and discuss where you want to be in 3-5 years within the company. Be ingenious, intuitive, and think outside of the box. Learn and cross-train with your team members as much as possible. Being able to multitask is very important as you will get pulled in many different directions. Most importantly, be able to balance empathy with assertiveness. You’re going to interact with many different personalities so being able to read people will take you far. Lastly, seek balance. How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions? Is there such a thing as balance? With a calendar full of reminders! It’s taken me time to learn and I’m still learning how to give myself grace. That it’s alright to not be in control all the time. Prioritizing the most important to-do’s, time managing, and smiling while doing it all! Also, to make sure I have “me time” daily even if it’s only 30 minutes I can do or not do whatever I want. (Read, wash my hair, work out, take a walk/run, sit in my car alone and listen to music) You can lose your balance easily and get caught off-guard, but as long as you’re consistent, focused, and willing to accept the unexpected you can get back on track! What is your most meaningful accomplishment during your career? Why does it mean so much to you? I would say my most meaningful accomplishment during my career would be becoming a Property Manager. I set a 5-year goal for myself to become a Manager and worked very hard to achieve that. For me, as a Property Manager, I was responsible not only for my property’s daily performance but also the needs and wants of my residents which was rewarding for me. My passion is serving and helping others, so I felt it was my duty to ensure the residents had the best experience while living at my property.
Where will we find you on a Saturday at 10:00 am? Sometimes at work, laundry, cleaning or doing something the kids have planned for me, shopping, hair, sports, etc.
How important is it to have amentor to grow as a leader?What are some steps to build that type of relationship? I believe that it is extremely important. I wish I had one when growing up or even now. That is why I have such a good relationship with my kids as I want them to feel that they can come to me with any and everything, and to never be afraid. It builds an honest, trustworthy, open relationship and that is more valuable than most kids realize today.
What makes you feel the most alive either at work or in your personal life? Hmm… I feel alive when I am productive and feel that I ammaking an impact, especially with my kids.
Christine Kim Property Manager
What is your most meaningful accomplishment during your career? Why does it mean so much to you? Being named Assistant Manager of the year with a previous property. It meant a lot because I was thrown into the position with no prior training and trained myself while being a one-person office all the while maintaining 100% Leased and 100% Occupied.
Is there a particular female leader who inspires you or that you look up to? Why? My current and former managers with Trinity have all been women. Courtney Petty was my RM & Clarissa Douglass was my Area Manager in St. Louis. They taught me numerous lessons on how to succeed in this industry but also helped me learn what is to be a smart, sophisticated woman. I transferred to Virginia and now my RM is Danielle Simmons who is also a strong and wise leader. I look up to all the lady leaders as they have impacted my life tremendously. What makes you feel the most alive either at work or in your personal life? Connecting with my team and my residents makes me feel most alive. The day-to-day can get boring but when I can have meaningful connections with my fellow peers, it keeps the fire burning inside me. I never want to lose the love and passion for what I do.
What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women that follow you? Trying to prove that they can do anything a man can do.
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Jamie Kirn Director of Training Resolution
Katarina Koonce Director of Employee Experience
Is there a particular female leader who inspires you or that you look up to? Why? My Mema, Bernice Guettler, inspired me growing up. She had a successful hair salon and has always been so strong and independent. From the time I could hold a broom, I was in her shop sweeping, watching, and learning everything I could from her. As I got older, she continued to give me tasks in the shop and I appreciated the lessons I was being taught. She was a master multitasker, and I admired her grace and passion in everything she did. Most importantly, I was able to see her be successful and still be a loving wife, taking care of my Pepa and my Great Grandmother until their passing. She is 93 now and would still be working if she could. What advice would you give women just starting in their career in property management? Educate yourself and master your skills. Try to learn something new every day because this industry is never stale and is ever-changing with new technology and methods. Continue to push yourself, set realistic goals and review those goals often, and remember moving UP is not your only potential path. How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions? Is there such a thing as balance? Truthfully, it depends on the day or week. I would rather work an hour or two longer in a day so that I can then focus on my family instead of my mind wandering thinking about work and what I needed to get done.
Is there a particular female leader who inspires you or that you look up to? Why? Shonda Rhimes. I just think she’s incredible and has such a positive/radiant light to her. She’s professional, intelligent, creative, and comes across as strong and confident in her demeanor. I also appreciate that she is clear on her values and what she will and won’t tolerate. However, what I love about her the most is that she shares some of my strong introverted qualities and has been so open about her journey to saying no more often to self-consciousness and anxiety and saying yes to self-love and growth through living outside of her comfort zone. Her work on screen is incredible, but for anyone who has not read her book “The Year of Yes”, I highly recommend it! She commits to saying “yes” to everything for a year and talks through how transformational that was for her. Lots of gems and teachable moments there! What advice would you give women just starting in their career in property management? My advice to anyone really would be to ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF. That is so important. Learn as much as you can and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask for what you need and ask what you need to do to grow and develop yourself and then make time to do those things. Find your people and don’t be afraid to lean on them. Find what you are good at and perfect that skill. Use it to start your brand. Lastly, say yes to new challenges and responsibilities. When I was an assistant earlier in my career, our department experienced some turnover and I was asked to step up and do things I had no idea how to do at the time. I wanted to learn as much as I could about every aspect of my function and about people, so I said yes and stepping into the unknown in that way was probably the most pivotal moment of my career. I wouldn’t be where I am today without that experience. How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions? Is there such a thing as balance? There is such a thing as balance. You just have to figure out what that means to you and what works and doesn’t. If I am being honest, sometimes I am great at it and sometimes I fail terribly. For me to maintain it, it’s important to have a routine that I stick to that incorporates working out and time to myself. I keep lists/reminders to keep me focused and organized, and most importantly, I have limits/boundaries. When I am unbalanced, it’s important for me to check-in, listen to my body and show myself some grace. I always know when one area of my life is out of whack or if I am getting close to burnout because I’ve been on the other side of that. What matters is that you listen to your body/the signs and adjust as needed. If you are not making time for stillness and joy, it trickles into everything else you do and everyone else you interact with so my motto is to fill up your cup so that you can continue to pour into others. People count on you and look up to you and you can’t be there for them if you are running on E. If this is something you struggle with, I recommend getting an accountability buddy that you trust enough to tell you when to slow down and take a break.
Where will we find you on a Saturday at 10:00 am? Unsuccessfully, trying to get my 8-month-old to take a nap so I can too!
How important is it to have a mentor to grow as a leader? What are some steps to build that type of relationship?
I never had anyone mentor me to grow as a leader. I have always been an observer, taking from coworkers or supervisors’ different aspects of what I want to be like or not like. You have no idea how you would manage until you experience it as an employee. It is important that as you are putting those experiences, good and bad, in the ol’ memory bank. This is your opportunity to grow and shape who you want to be as a leader. What makes you feel the most alive either at work or in your personal life? Watching someone grow and succeed. Frommy son hitting a developmental milestone to an employee reaching a goal of getting a promotion. What is your most meaningful accomplishment during your career? Why does it mean so much to you? I have held many different positions in my 20+ years in multifamily and leading and training others has always been the two items in most of those positions. When I joined our Resolution Training Department, I was able to reach people on a much larger scale. Creating the 8-month Operation Performance Ambassador (OPA) curriculum is part of that reach. Watching everyone learn and apply these lessons to their day-to-day operations has been amazing. When we reached our final class last year, I actually cried! I was so proud of everyone that not only stuck it through the 8 months and graduated but for those that were guest speakers in the courses and added their touch to each class we created. What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women that follow you? I am not going to answer this as if there is an expectant challenge ahead. My only suggestion would be to stay the course, stay positive, work hard, and appreciate the people you work with and those that help you get to where you want to be along the way.
Where will we find you on a Saturday at 10:00 am? Every Saturday looks different for me, but in general, wherever there is coffee, I’ll be there!
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How important is it to have a mentor to grow as a leader?What are some steps to build that type of relationship? I think having a mentor is so critical to take your development to the next level. Find someone who shares your values, is in a position that you are hoping to be in, or has been where you are, and most importantly, that has the time. I think the mentor/mentee relationship should go both ways where both are learning from each other and I think it’s important to know that some mentors will only last a season and that as you evolve, so will your needs. If you don’t have a mentor, it’s also important just to find “your people”. Like-minded individuals that you can stay connected to, share experiences and perspectives with, and lean on/learn from outside of work. What makes you feel the most alive either at work or in your personal life? I am someone who thrives from giving, problem-solving, making an impact, and being able to bring joy to others. This shows up in so many ways personally and professionally for me that it is hard to focus on just one. But I believe that if what I am doing (or saying) changes just one person’s life or makes it just a little better or easier, then that’s something to be proud of and it inspires me to give and do even more. What is your most meaningful accomplishment during your career? Why does it mean so much to you? Developing people and teams, hands down. It inspires me to be better and to work harder but the best part. The most rewarding part is being able to see the transformation. There are a few people I managed that started with me as interns and are now Sr. HR Managers and it brings so much joy and emotion to me to know that I was a part of that journey for them. What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women that follow you? Finding their voice and not being afraid to use it and speak up for themselves. Also, being able to find and stay true to themselves in a world where everything and everyone is being compared and judged against certain expectations. I would like to see more women building each other up instead of trying to one-up each other. There’s a lot of power we could tap into if we leaned into that just a little bit more and I don’t think we have to wait for the next generation to start.
How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions? Is there such a thing as balance? I always promise myself that I will not carry any energy frommy workday over into my personal life and vice versa. It is very important to be authentic and present in the moment, allowing myself to have those days in each part of my life where I either “don’t feel it” or to feel like I am knocking it out of the park and not allowing it to affect each other. I work every day to preserve this balance and sometimes I falter, but it is important to keep everything separate.
Heather Martinez Community Manager
What advice would you give women just starting in their career in property management? Be genuine. Remember that you are there to help people and the best thing to do is be yourself.
How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions? Is there such a thing as balance? In our industry, balance is the most important thing! Making lists is the best thing I can recommend whether it be daily, monthly, or yearly to track daily and yearlong targets and goals.
Where will we find you on a Saturday at 10:00 am? Ready to lease and start the weekend here at my office!
How important is it to have amentor to grow as a leader? What are some steps to build that type of relationship? Super important! My first manager is the reason I was promoted from a Leasing Agent to an Assistant Manager. I have had many mentors both in my career and personal life. It’s important to know that you cannot do things alone! Building a rapport, gathering the interest of your ideals and goals in the workplace, but also having a friend to listen to is the first step and growing together in the good days and hard days! It’s having the trust to say, I don’t know how to do this and what advice can you give me?
MiKaylee Lewis Community Manager
Tanya Papazian Community Manager
Where will we find you on a Saturday at 10:00 am? You can find me on the couch with my cat, my husband, and our 9-year-old watching Netflix. We also like to get out and try new restaurants or check out new places. Now and then, we like to take family weekend trips to themountains or the beach. No matter where we go or what we do, the perfect Saturday for me is spending time with my family. What advice would you give women just starting in their career in property management? I would tell any woman starting in property management that there is no limit to what you can accomplish in this industry. Constantly seek growth opportunities even if you think you are not ready or if it makes you uncomfortable. Comfortability and growth rarely go hand-in-hand, so if you are hesitating to accept that new position or new opportunity because you feel as though you are not completely ready for the challenge, go for it! You never know where that might lead you.
Is there a particular female leader who inspires you or that you look up to? Why? The female leader I look up to would be my daughter, Saphire, who will be turning 14 on the 23rd of March. She inspires me as a single parent to get up and embrace what each day has to offer. She has shown me what the true definition of grit means. What advice would you give women just starting in their career in property management? The advice I would give to someone starting their career in property management would be to stay positive and be patient. It takes a special person to manage where others call home.
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Jenna Rush Sr. Project Accountant
How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions? Is there such a thing as balance? There is such thing as balance if you believe in yourself and most importantly take care of yourself.
Where will we find you on a Saturday at 10:00 am? On a Saturday afternoon, you can’t findme! I amanywhere but in the house. My daughter & I are always on themove!
What advice would you give women just starting in their career in property management? For a woman starting out in her career, I would say to be open to doing different tasks. This may take some extra involvement or additional training, but it can help discover where one finds joy and passion, where improvement is needed, or even what one does not want to do in the future. It also shows others what drives you to do well, which can lead to promotions or opportunities in other departments. How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions? Is there such a thing as balance? I once worked in a job for nearly nine years where I worked long hours Monday through Friday and some Saturdays or Sundays. It was all-consuming and taking extended time off was hard. When I decided that was not the kind of life that I wanted, it made such a difference in my happiness and well-being. There is such thing as balance, but you have to be intentional about it. You need to make time to decompress. The balance will look different to everyone, and hopefully, others can respect what balance means for you. This may be turning off the TV and not looking at your phone an hour before bedtime or not jam-packing evenings and weekends with outings. Be honest with yourself and give yourself and others some grace. Take time to find out what brings you joy, and make sure to prioritize that. Where will we find you on a Saturday at 10:00 am? At 10:00 am on a Saturday, I can be found at my local farmers market. I love supporting small businesses and the products and food are always so delicious compared to a lot of items sold in the grocery stores. It is also fun to speak to the vendors about the product. The vendors are always enthusiastic to talk about the merchandise and show so much pride in what is being sold. Sometimes, the vendors have some great recipe ideas on how to use the food being purchased too, so it is always a smart idea to spend that little extra time to chat. What makes you feel the most alive either at work or in your personal life? I feel most alive at work when I can fix a spreadsheet that doesn’t balance. I love being able to review, run reports, and solve a problem, even if it does take some time. I can’t help but find joy when a spreadsheet is balanced. I feel most alive in my personal life after finishing a good Zumba session. I grew up dancing and Zumba gets me motivated to start the day! What is your most meaningful accomplishment during your career? Why does it mean so much to you? In my first job out of school, I was given a raise that I did not feel was adequate. Instead of accepting the increase, I went back to my manager and explained the rate that I felt that I deserved and provided several reasons why I felt that I should be earning that wage. I didn’t get the higher rate that I requested, but there was a discussion and we met somewhere in the middle. It felt good to not only personally know my worth but also to express it. Sometimes managers may not be aware of or remember everything that we do! We may have to speak up and remind them of our value.
What is your most meaningful accomplishment during your career? Why does it mean so much to you? My most meaningful accomplishment is more like an everyday occurrence. I feel accomplished simply by putting a smile on someone’s face or listening to how they spent their weekend. Being able to interact with different people and create relationships daily brings me a sense of fulfillment and that is most important to me. What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women that follow you? I believe the biggest challenge for the next generation of women will be for them to love themselves as they are. I think we all struggle with today’s society of trying to keep up with the latest trends, but it’s all about taking care of yourself internally and having that belief within that you can accomplish anything just the way you are.
Michelle Robinson Regional Manager
What advice would you give women just starting in their career in property management? My advice is to always follow Fair Housing guidelines as these are in place to protect you and your team. Also, get familiar with the lease. This will help you answer questions that residents normally want you to interrupt your manager to answer. No matter what position you are in at your community, you should be able to answer any questions that come your way. How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions? Is there such a thing as balance? I do believe there is such a thing as living a balanced life. You have to set ground rules as far as not allowing work to trickle into your personal time. We all know emergencies cannot be prevented in property management, but you have to walk away from your work area when it is time. If your hours are set, try to follow those. I found myself doing nothing but work at one point in my career, but now I am doing the same amount of work, but in the time I have allotted myself. I feel good when I walk away knowing I can accomplish my day-to-day work and still have family time. It is important to not get burnt out and by setting boundaries, I have grown to love my career evenmore. What is your most meaningful accomplishment during your career? Why does it mean so much to you? Earning my CAM designation has to be one of the most meaningful accomplishments during my career. I went out on a limb and applied for a scholarship. At that time, I had just started a lease-up in Burleson, TX, being the one and only person on the team when I was awarded the scholarship. I am a nervous test taker, so when I passed both parts of CAM, I was in tears. My daughters were so proud of me knowing the amount of time and dedication I put into not only property management but finding time to study for my CAM test. This accomplishment meant so much to me because it was proof to my daughters that you can do anything you put your mind to! I preach to my daughters all the time that they can do anything they want as long as they put the time and effort in!
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Victoria Trautman Property Manager
What makes you feel the most alive either at work or in your personal life? I feel most alive when I amwithmy team and they lease an apartment, and we all celebrate with high fives, shouting, etc. Then, we get another lease and it’s an even bigger celebration! Or when we get a 5-star review, that makes me happy! In my personal life, I feel most alive when I am with my hubby of 35 years, my kids, and my grandson. What is your most meaningful accomplishment during your career? Why does it mean so much to you? I built a team at an older property in 2012 that was being rehabbed and convinced everyone that we could win Rehab Property of the Year for San Antonio and every month we accomplished more and more and I documented it along the way. We were nominated by one of our vendors and we won! It was a huge accomplishment and it all started with a positive idea that came to life! What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women that follow you? I think that in our society, little girls are being raised to think that they are princesses which is cute, but I feel that we also need to teach them to believe in themselves, be positive but realistic, and self-reliant and take care of themselves. You do not need to find a rich husband to take care of you like on the reality TV shows. It is so easy to blame everyone else for mistakes or not making a goal, but the reality is that you have to be self-motivated, goal orientated, and never give up and never surrender! You have to find a way to get the job done. Don’t just try one solution and give up. You have to use your imagination and try until you succeed. I see young people today that try one time, then give up. You cannot give up! You have to ask for help sometimes too! Google is great, but sometimes you just need to ask for help! Sometimes you have to go outside of your comfort zone and push yourself. I think that this is something that needs to be promoted and taught to everyone as well.
Is there a particular female leader who inspires you or that you look up to? Why? I admire Dolly Pardon because she rose from absolutely nothing to a superstar who is a businesswoman in today’s world. She does amazing work for charity and her Imagination Library program has delivered age-appropriate books for over 2 million kids around the world. She was inspired by her father who was illiterate and began this program in 1988 to encourage students to stay in school and offered scholarships and financial incentives upon graduation. Her work efforts helped Sevier County Tennessee lower dropout rates from 40% a year to 6%. I truly believe that teaching children to read and to stay in school strengthens our country, our society, and our future. What advice would you give women just starting in their career in property management? I would tell women to learn as much as they possibly can through online courses, Gracehill training, their local apartment association, and to find a mentor. The more knowledge that you have on your given career path shows that you have the passion and desire to learn all that there is. I learn new things every day and I have been in this industry for almost 30 years. I would also tell them to always update their resume and research companies to see if their values match yours. Check with your vendors and get the scoop on companies before you begin working with them. Ask if they pay their bills, how they treat their employees, and take care of their properties before you agree to work with them. How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions? Is there such a thing as balance? I have always had large properties with a lot of employees and issues, so my family knows that work will always be a part of my life and plays a huge role in my life. I try to delegate more and train my team to know as much as I do so that anyone can help in any situation. Balance is a funny thing. Some days it goes one way and some days, it goes the other. Keeping it in the middle is a true juggling act! Where will we find you on a Saturday at 10:00 am? If I am at home, in front of my computer working on renewals or new leases or approvals. If not, out with my mom or my husband antiquing! How important is it to have amentor to grow as a leader?What are some steps to build that type of relationship? It is so important just to have someone that you can bounce questions off of, or ideas off of, or just to learn the little things from. Being a mentor is a huge responsibility, but it gives you a chance to learn from situations that you are not actually in. Every situation is a chance to use as a learning experience for you or someone on your team. Most companies have programs where they support this and offer to match specific roles. I try to mentor everyone on my team and at different properties to share the knowledge that I have is important to allow them to see how to handle situations so that they may not make the same mistakes that I made. I learn from them too. I listen to them when they interact with prospects and residents and when I hear them use the phrases that I have said, it makes me feel giddy inside and so proud!
Carrie Williams Regional Manager
Is there a particular female leader who inspires you or that you look up to? Why? There are so many wonderful leaders in the world, but my favorites are the women of Trinity. They are all remarkable and inspiring. To watch future leaders growing, learning, and then teaching those who work for them is incredible. Shoutout to Brandy Clark who was my VP when I came to Trinity and is a woman who has it all. She is strong, smart, beautiful, thoughtful, and a great leader and coach. She was the first leader I had that helped me see I don’t have to give up being me to go places. What advice would you give women just starting in their career in property management? Don’t give up on who you are. Figure out what you do best and surround yourself with other strong associates who are strong where you are not. You won’t be happy all day every day, but there is a reason to be happy every day doing what we do.
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