INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician of the Year
Dennis Jones, CAMT
Dennis Jones, CAMT, brings passion and professionalism to his role as Maintenance Supervisor at Carriage Hill Apartments and shares his expertise through training others.
Jones serves as Vice President of the Apartment Association of Greater Knoxville’s (AAGK) Maintenance Council. He also volunteered to serve on AAGK’s Education Committee and recruited several other maintenance professionals to serve.
Not only has Jones served as a CAMT instructor, but he is also overseeing the development of a new education program, “The ABCs of Maintenance,” which will educate new maintenance personnel on industry basics. He has been working with local high schools to start a co-op program in which
students can work onsite a few hours a day to learn the apartment maintenance trade.
Jones is active in Habitat for Humanity and has written a Homeowners Maintenance manual for the service organization.
Certified Apartment Manager of the Year
Jane Ashwood-Benitez, CAM
When managing a 772-unit apartment community, it often is challenging to deliver one-on-one service to each resident. However, Jane Ashwood-Benitez, CAM, Property Manager for Kingswood Apartments, does just that.
For the past two-and-a-half years, Ashwood-Benitez has led her 25-member team to financial success. Through maintenance staff development and capital improvements, Ashwood-Benitez took Kingswood from 88 percent occupancy in 2005 to 95 percent today. By improving the community’s Web site and marketing materials, Ashwood-Benitez was able to increase traffic by 22 percent. Under her leadership, Kingswood netted $5 million in profits and realized a delinquency rate below 3 percent.
Ashwood-Benitez has become a training resource for Morgan Properties by serving on its E-University Team and by training new property managers. She is committed to personal and professional growth, leads by example and instills loyalty and respect in her staff.
National Apartment Leasing Professional of the Year
Stacie Rikard, NALP
Stacie Rikard’s ability to convert phone calls and community visits into future residents has earned her three “Leasing Consultant of the Year” awards through her local apartment associations. Her product knowledge—coupled with her marketing, customer service and people skills—has contributed to Rikard’s high closing ratios. Her interest in her residents does not stop once she gets them in the door: Rikard provides excellent customer service to all of Fountain Park Apartments’ residents, which increases resident retention.
Rikard’s supervisors often task her with training new leasing staff company-wide and to provide refresher training and brainstorming sessions with seasoned staff. She takes on new challenges and completes assignments with a high degree of accuracy. She motivates her team members to achieve the best results for the company.
She is an active member of the Detroit Metropolitan Apartment Association (DMAA) and serves as a member of the Special Events Committee.
Professional Designate of the Year
Nancy Lovell, CAM, CAPS, CPM
Nancy Lovell, CAM, CAPS, CPM, devotes herself to ongoing education, both for herself and for her team, inspiring those around her to advance themselves through NAAEI designations, internal training and outside resources. Lovell has held the CAM designation since 1989 and requires her managers to attain it as well, ensuring that they receive the time off for classes and that UDR pays full tuition. Lovell is a mentor to her team members, identifying talent and providing paths of education and experience to help them achieve their professional goals. Lovell’s character, integrity, ethics, professionalism and commitment to her company and her industry have earned her the respect of her colleagues.
Lovell manages a portfolio of seven UDR apartment communities with proven results and high standards. Last year, she led all 35 UDR districts in gross potential and revenue growth.
Lovell is a past Chairman of the Apartment Association of Greater Orlando (AAGO) Education Committee and serves on the Executive Committee as Secretary.
Chris Christenson Association Executive of the Year
Tammy Frosch Esponge, CAM
After witnessing the chaos and challenges for the apartment industry in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Apartment Association of Greater New Orleans (AAGNO) Association Executive Tammy Esponge, CAM, was motivated to publish her book, “Real Estate Disasters,” to better prepare apartment owners for the effects of natural disasters. To give back to the industry, for every book sold, Esponge will donate 50 cents to a housing disaster fund for the apartment industry.
The hurricanes changed AAGNO’s direction dramatically, and Esponge has helped to shepherd the association toward legislative victory against onerous anti-eviction laws and unfair rental increases, and has worked to pass an Enterprise Zone Initiative to provide tax incentives to help small owners to rebuild. In spite of the storms, under Esponge’s direction, AAGNO has been able to maintain most of its membership and to recruit additional members.
Since assuming leadership in 1998, Esponge has taken AAGNO from financial struggles to $200,000 in reserve funds and established the association as a leading voice on apartment issues in Louisiana.
Natonal Supplier’s Council Achievement Award
Mike Hendel
Mike Hendel is Senior Manager of Strategic Marketing for HD Supply, a leading national supplier of maintenance and renovation products to the apartment industry.
Hendel, a 30-year veteran of the maintenance distribution industry, has been actively involved in NAA and the National Supplier’s Council (NSC) since 1999, serving as 2006 NSC Chairman and Co-Chairman of the record-setting 2006 NAA Education Conference & Exposition in Denver.
Hendel served as the HD Supply leader in developing and implementing the NAA Maintenance Mania program as an extension of HD Supply’s national sponsorship of the CAMT certification program. He also implemented the NSC Chairman’s Award and served as the NSC liaison to the Builders, Owners, Developers Forum, Legislative Committee, Communications Advisory Board and Finance Committee.
Hendel has served on the last four NAA Education Conference & Exposition committees.
Independent Rental Owners of the Year, 100 Units or Under
Brent Sobol and Robert Holtackers
When Brent Sobol and Robert Holtackers acquired Towers Garden, they set a goal of completing a full transformation of the community within two months. Using only private funds, the owners of TORO Properties Group took a severely neglected, fire-damaged, crime-ridden property with poor financial performance to a fully occupied, well-kept affordable housing community with a return on investment of 300 percent. Sobol and Holtackers have created a community atmosphere through TORO-sponsored cookouts, parties and credit counseling and have partnered with their local police, fire department and churches.
Sobol and Holtackers use a proprietary turnaround process, Turnaround Template, which places emphasis on aligning stakeholders’ interests. Through their involvement with the Atlanta Apartment Association, they have provided training for their staff and have teamed up with supplier partners with industry expertise.
Independent Rental Owner of the Year, 101-500 Units
Del Walmsley
During 17 years of teaching and involvement with his local apartment association, Del Walmsley has shared his expertise with thousands of real estate students on their way to owning apartment communities and entire portfolios. Walmsley served as Chair of Houston Apartment Association’s (HAA) newly revived Independent Rental Owners Committee, drawing more than 200 new members and advising HAA on IROC membership structure and program curriculum. As an advocate for the apartment industry, Walmsley uses his real estate radio show to highlight the importance of joining and supporting apartment associations.
Walmsley’s Lifestyles Unlimited purchased two communities three years ago, which he recently sold for $1.1 million over the purchase price. Through extensive rehab work, staff changes and a neighborhood watch program, Walmsley was able to bring occupancy from 80 percent to 97 percent and realized a 157 percent return along with another 35 percent return on cash flow.
Host Committee Award
Southern Nevada Multi-Housing Association
The Southern Nevada Multi-Housing Association (SNMA) served as host in Las Vegas for the 2007 NAA Education Conference & Exposition.
With the help of SNMA’s dedicated members and volunteers, NAA was able to offer a record number of education sessions, a successful trade show and valuable networking opportunities.
SNMA is made up of 149 apartment owners, management firms and suppliers who represent and service 34,335 apartment homes. Together with NAA, SNMA offers a strong network of information, education and representation.
SNMA sponsors annual golf tournaments, fund raisers, a Membership Olympics and a trade show.
COMMUNITY AWARDS
Garden/Townhouse, Pre 1979, Over 150 Units
Stockbridge Court, Springfield, Mass.—The Dolben Company
Stockbridge Court is distinctive apartment living, uniquely located in the heart of downtown Springfield. Its 233 studios and one- and two-bedroom apartment homes have been crafted in what was once the huge warehouse and factory of the original Milton Bradley Co. and Smith & Wesson. Now, it prominently features an apartment complex carefully situated on beautifully landscaped grounds which bring a measure of privacy to an urban setting.
Blending the old and the new, Stockbridge Court was completely renovated during the 1980s. Each of the apartments is different. Many are characterized by 10- to 15-foot high exposed wood plank and beam ceilings, brick walls, six- to eight-foot high windows and support beams of chestnut and longleaf pine. The apartments are bright, warm and airy. Some units feature a raised bedroom area with a half wall. Wherever possible, the integrity of the original hardwood floor has been maintained by sanding and refinishing.
Garden/Townhouse, Pre 1979, 150 Units or Under
Crown Ridge Apartments, Franklin, Ohio—Berkshire Realty Group LLC
Built in 1970 and purchased by Berkshire Realty Group LLC in 2001, Crown Ridge is a beautifully maintained 144-unit community nestled in a wooded park-like setting. The neatly kept grounds, carefully trimmed trees and bushes and precisely edged sidewalks and flowerbeds are a testimony to management’s attention to detail and pride in their neighborhood.
In 2006, Crown Ridge executed substantial community upgrades and exceeded its aggressive financial goals by 1.3 percent. It also is exceeding last year’s performance by more than 40 percent. The community averaged 95.8 percent occupancy in 2006 and is on target to realize 97.2 percent occupancy in 2007.
Crown Ridge supports eco-friendly operations, with energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs in common areas and low-consumption shower heads, toilets and faucet aerators. It partners with the local police department to provide a block watch program, contributes to local high school scholarships and participated in “Adopt-a-Highway” in 2006.
Garden/Townhouse, 1980-1999, Under 150 Units
Kent Village, Scituate, Mass.—Corcoran Management Company Inc.
Kent Village is a family and elderly Section 8 community managed by Corcoran Management since its opening in 1983. With the look of high-end condominiums, Kent Village’s 64 apartments and townhouses have a home-like atmosphere and offer rare affordable housing in the elegant coastal town of Scituate, Mass. Several Kent Village residents have lived in the community since its opening. In 2006, the community had 100 percent occupancy and a long waiting list for all apartment types.
Kent Village offers many activities and services for its residents, including weekly arts and crafts events, field trips to a nearby lake with picnic lunches, walking trips to the beach, blueberry-picking excursions, summer cookouts and autumn hay rides. Each year, the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency hosts a drug-free child poster contest at Kent Village, and the winning youngster’s artwork is featured in the agency’s annual calendar.
For 10 years, Kent Village has used an organic landscaping program to keep the child-friendly community free of pesticides and chemicals.
Garden/Townhouse, 1980-1999, Over 150 Units
Cabot Crossing, Lowell, Mass.—Corcoran Management Company Inc.
Located in the historic town of Lowell, Mass., Cabot Crossing has benefited from the area’s recent revival. Although several development companies are building luxury apartments in the city’s Industrial Revolution-era mill buildings and are offering abundant concessions, Cabot Crossing has been able to maintain occupancy without significant concessions.
The Cabot Crossing clubhouse, recently renovated and redecorated in dramatic wheat, moss and Cabernet colors, offers comprehensive workout facilities, a locker room and saunas. Cabot Crossing has replaced an average of two roofs per year over the past three years and plans to install more than 400 feet of attractive and low-maintenance fencing and sidewalks.
The community partners with local businesses to offer discounts to employees of local companies. Cabot Crossings makes annual donations to the local fire and police departments to support youth programs.
Garden/Townhouse, Post 2000, 150 Units or Under
The Alexis at Perry Pointe, Davenport, Iowa—Perry Reid Properties
The Alexis at Perry Pointe, a 192-unit apartment community located on 12 acres in Davenport, Iowa, boasts all the amenities of a new apartment home development in a larger market. The pet-friendly community offers a clubhouse with a 24-hour fitness center, a swimming pool with sunning area, a hot tub and a tanning bed. The clubhouse provides a resident business office and a professionally designed and decorated common area.
To aide onsite staff, the community developed an onsite training manual, which includes information on weekly traffic reports, accounts receivable, accounts payable, turnovers, lease renewals, ACH transactions, utility billing, month-end procedures and property management software. The Alexis at Perry Pointe established a thorough maintenance schedule to facilitate preventative, corrective, routine, emergency, cosmetic and deferred maintenance. This schedule includes monthly checklists, a maintenance calendar, supplier partner contact numbers and site information, such as inventory lists, building maps and safety checks.
Garden/Townhouse, Post 2000, Over 150 Units
Trillium Deer Valley, Phoenix, Ariz.—Trillium Residential
Situated in a rapidly developing area north of downtown Phoe?nix, Trillium Deer Valley is a novel, lifestyle-oriented apartment community. At the heart of the community is the Great Room, designed to provide residents an extension of their apartment homes with an inviting lounge, 32-seat cinema, sports bar and wellness center. Trillium Deer Valley’s “water playground,” with water cannons and sprinkling umbrellas, the “My Trillium Concierge” and complimentary shuttle service provide resort-style touches.
With a proposed annualized rent growth of 4.5 percent for 2007, the community’s market rent per square foot has achieved results beyond budgeted guidelines. Far exceeding the $1.03 price per square foot estimated by proforma rents, Trillium Deer Valley was able to challenge the market, increasing average market rent by 16.5 percent to $1.20 per square foot within weeks of opening. Such an aggressive occupancy growth, which includes achieving 29 percent net leased occupancy in the first quarter of operation, suggests stabilization at approximately nine months.
Mid/High Rise, Pre 1979, Under 150 Units
Cupples Station Loft Apartments, St. Louis, Mo.—HRI Management
Located in the vibrant downtown neighborhood of St. Louis, Cupples Station Loft Apartments opened spring 2006, providing much-needed workforce housing while saving a landmark building. The Cupples Station Complex, once a bustling railroad hub, flourished until trucking and air transportation replaced rail services. Several of the abandoned buildings were lost to fire or demolished in the 1960s to make way for an interstate and a sports stadium. The remaining structures were designated historic landmarks.
In 2004, HRI Properties purchased a historic Cupples Station building and converted the warehouse into 131 luxury homes, 97 percent of which are available to individuals who earn 60 percent or less of the area’s median income. Residents enjoy luxury amenities, including a popular sports bar and restaurant, without the higher rent. Cupples Station Loft Apartments received the 2006 Cityscape Award form the Downtown St. Louis Partnership for significantly enhancing the street-level environment of the downtown neighborhood with its restoration.
Mid/High Rise, Pre 1979, Over 150 Units
Shrewsbury Commons, Shrewsbury, Mass.—Corcoran Management Company Inc.
Prospective renters in the Shewsberry area can choose from several similarly aged apartment communities, as well as newly constructed communities, each offering up to two months of free rent. Shewsberry Commons has maintained its occupancy levels while offering rent discounts at as little as two weeks of free rent.
The 384-unit community stands out for its landscaping, distinctive architecture and outstanding reputation. The grounds consist of more than 40 acres of hills, rich flowerbeds, walkways and 30-year-old trees. Shrewsberry Common’s flex-core construction sound proofs the apartment homes and adds to the age-defying condition of the buildings. In 2006, the community relocated its leasing office, transforming a function room and garage into a fashion-forward, sun-filled space.
Complementing the look and feel of the community is the management team’s respectful and caring service. From August 2005 to July 2006, residents and former residents have referred 26 percent of the community’s rental traffic and leases.
Mid/High Rise, 1980-1999, Under 150 Units
Lincoln School Apartments, Hingham, Mass.—Corcoran Management Company Inc.
Lincoln School Apartments is an elderly housing community built in an old elementary school in Hingham, Mass. Developed in 1980, Lincoln School is a 60-unit Section 8 community owned by the Benedictine Monks of the Glastonbury Abbey. The monks serve on the community’s Board of Directors and have worked with Corcoran Management for more than 25 years to provide outstanding facilities and services to Lincoln School’s residents.
The character of the school’s brick building and the original playground area remain. Together with the monks, Lincoln School’s staff coordinates fun resident functions and provides services to assist the elderly residents with shopping, cleaning and entertaining. Residents, staff members and monks attend weekly coffee hours, celebrate birthdays, enjoy Sunday movie nights and play Monday-night card games. During the holidays, the Abbey chef caters a sumptuous dinner for residents with wait service provided by the monks and Corcoran staff.
Mid/High Rise, 1980-1999, Over 150 Units
100 West Chestnut Apartments, Chicago, Ill.—Marquette Management Inc.
Located in downtown Chicago’s Gold Coast area, 100 West Chestnut Apartments is a 30-story high-rise residential community. The community maintains near 100 percent occupancy through its outstanding customer service. The Marquette Management team uses a “We C.A.T.E.R.” customer service program as a template for catering to its residents. 100 West Chestnut enhances its residents’ satisfaction by ensuring that its maintenance team completes all work orders within 24 hours. More often, the team will complete the request the same day.
Residents enjoy spacious designer apartments with upscale features, including gourmet kitchens, plush carpet and “drive-in” closets. The community has been recognized for its innovative management, onsite signage and excellent landscaping. Marquette Management and Kensington Realty Advisors awarded 100 West Chestnut Apartments with Property of the Year in 2004. The community met Marquette Man?age??ment’s challenge to exceed its budgeted net operating income by 5 percent at the end of July 2005.
AFFILIATED ASSOCIATIONS AWARDS
Communications Award
Indiana Apartment Association
The Indiana Apartment Association (IAA) highlighted the often-overlooked efforts of its members’ maintenance professionals by dedicating its education calendar to these “unsung heroes” of apartment management. The calendar not only serves as an education tool, listing IAA’s more than 50 annual classes and events, but showcases what maintenance professionals do every day and recognizes them for their hard work and dedication.
Tony O’Dell, a maintenance professional with JC Hart who was featured in the calendar, said, “The calendar shows people who I am and what I’m all about. I feel this calendar brings the entire maintenance team together.”
Now in its second year of production, the calendar is displayed proudly in management offices and in maintenance shops in the Central Indiana area. IAA offsets the cost of printing the calendar by inviting associate members who offer maintenance products and services to sponsor the calendar. IAA mails approximately 900 calendars and distributes others at education seminars and board meetings.
Community Service Award
Austin Apartment Association
For more than 20 years, the Austin Apartment Association (AAA) has conducted the Doc & Gayle Young Food Drive to provide less fortunate families in the Austin area with a full Thanksgiving meal and enough food to feed a family of five for three to four days.
In 2006, AAA exceeded its goal of $35,000 by $2,000, feeding 6,750 people and making it the most successful campaign in the history of the event.
AAA collects only monetary donations to ensure that it has the necessary ingredients for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. All of the money goes toward purchasing food packs; time, delivery trucks and labor are donated by grocery store partners and AAA volunteers.
AAA delivers the food packs directly to the families’ homes so that they can celebrate Thanksgiving in the comfort and dignity of their own homes.
Through its partnership with the Austin Housing Authority, AAA secured coverage of the event on two local TV networks.
Education Award
Apartment Association of Tarrant County
With the goal of encouraging professional apartment managers to improve on successful business practices, the Apartment Association of Tarrant County (AATC) launched its first ThinkLink Conference in 2006, blending a proven networking forum with visionary educational brainstorming. The one-day event, held in conjunction with AATC’s regional trade show, drew a sold-out crowd of 100 professionals looking to swap best practices and augment personal learning. Members walked away from the high-energy conference with new ideas, new energy and a new sense or purpose.
AATC developed a Web site to brand and promote the conference. Think?Link’s official spokesperson, Sparky the Light Bulb, penned articles in the association’s magazine, sent e-mails to members and embodied the conference’s “Be Brilliant” theme. With ThinkLink’s success, AATC realized its goal of creating a recurring event for members to expand professional value. AATC has scheduled the 2007 ThinkLink: Making Magic Happen, for November 2007.
Government Affairs Award
Indiana Apartment Association
When the town of Speedway, Ind., introduced an onerous inspections ordinance that was both discriminatory and financially devastating to apartment owners, the Indiana Apartment Association (IAA) reacted quickly to stop the measure. During a meeting of the Town Council and concerned IAA members, the council referred to apartment residents as “transients” and the “wrong type of people” and refused to address the apartment owners’ concerns.
IAA developed voter registration campaigns at member and non-member Speedway apartment communities, using fliers in Spanish and English to raise residents’ awareness and encourage their participation in preventing the ordinance’s passage. The campaign drew media attention and rallied many residents. Although the Town Council passed the ordinance, because of the positive reaction to the campaign from IAA members and residents, IAA is developing an ongoing statewide program to influence residents to become involved in government affairs.
Membership Award
Atlanta Apartment Association
The Atlanta Apartment Association (AAA) revitalized its already successful membership drive format in 2006 to sign up new members, increase sponsorships and membership renewal rates and personally welcome all new members. The AAA membership committee revamped its volunteer training efforts by conducting two training classes before the campaign’s kick off. It enhanced communication through a weekly e-newsletter and by creating a Web site dedicated to keeping volunteers informed. To reduce workload during the membership drive, AAA created a welcoming committee separate from the membership committee to focus on new-member relations.
AAA exceeded its 2006 goals by signing up 240 new members, which was 60 more than its goal. It sold all available patron sponsorships for 2006 and increased its member renewal rate to 92.2 percent. The AAA welcoming committee personally called new members to welcome them and invite them to a new-member reception. AAA collected $921,648 through dues and sponsorships, which was 19 times more than it spent on the campaign.