Name: Lee Chanona
Title: Operations Manager, Fox Meadow Apartments
Company: Kamson Corp.
1. I’m fair and objective. I hope this is apparent in my decision-making. There is a big picture and I can see most of it, but I have to make decisions and inform supervisors and staff members who see less of it than I do.
2. I don’t always love my job. There are decisions, policies and procedures that I wish I did not have to make or implement, but those challenges are part of being a manager. Making them is a sign of strength, not weakness.
3. What I wanted to be when I grew up. An astronaut, a veterinarian or just outright rich and famous! But here I am, Operations Manager for a multifamily development that houses approximately 5,000 residents in a community with 1,492 homes. My aspirations clearly have changed, and I stay focused on steering this ship away from icebergs with the help of my knowledgeable and valuable staff.
4. I have not forgotten where I came from. I’ve worked for 15 years in this community, starting as a leasing consultant and working up to Operations Manager. Who knew I would be given the chance to steer this “ship” right at the beginning of the longest recession in U.S. history?
5. I strive to make a difference. If I have not made a positive difference in someone’s life, then I have not had a productive day.
6. I want to understand you. Understanding the personalities, idiosyncrasies, strengths and weaknesses of people I work with plays a large role in keeping my business on track.
7. I do not take myself too seriously. I can—and often do—laugh at myself during every workday.
8. I’m sometimes too busy to think. I don’t even have time to think about what I would do for a career if I were not an Operations Manager.
9. I have not seen it all. Never will there be a time when I can turn around and say, “I’ve seen everything there is to see and all my work is done.”
10. I’m only human. After a long day at the office I get home to my family, sit down, pour myself a glass of my favorite red wine and review my day. As long as I’ve made a positive difference in someone’s life, I’m ready to do it all over again the next morning.
If you would like to be considered for a future End Points column, please contact Jeff Lee at 703/797-0647 or jeffreylee@naahq.org.