Each month, units profiles one of the industry's rising stars to give you a preview of multifamily's bright future.
Name: Warren D. Harris II
Title: Business Analyst
Company: The Franklin Johnston Group, Virginia Beach, Va.
Years in the Industry: Entering third
Volunteer Positions: United Way Campaign team lead. I also serve as an alumni sponsor for my high school, recruiting talent for our company's internship program.
units: You started interning with various real estate groups in college. How did you get involved in the industry so early on?
Harris: My dad is one of my role models, and his career influenced my chosen path. He works in economic development, which requires a great deal of knowledge of the real estate industry. Interested in following in his footsteps, I pursued an industry that allows me to do something different and challenging every day and that also has a very tangible impact on my community. I've found that here at The Franklin Johnston Group.
We're a young companyonly two years old. I was very fortunate to get in on the ground level and have been able to help drive the significant growth we've enjoyed in our short existence.
units: What did you learn from those internships that have benefitted your first few years of full-time industry work?
Harris: My best advice for college students is to intern, intern and intern some more to build contacts and relationships across multiple industries. Every summer I had a different internship, which helped me build my experience significantly before graduation.
The summer after my first year at the University of Virginia, I landed my first internship in the real estate industry with the Katsias Company, a commercial real estate brokerage firm. I rotated through leasing, property management and marketing. My biggest accomplishments were creating a prospect database from scratch to target new leasing prospects and participating in negotiations with more than 30 companies to earn new real estate management.
From there, I interned with TowneBank where I provided financial transactions services and advice for our members. Next, I worked with S.L. Nusbaum Realty at an apartment community learning the ropes of daily operations.
The Franklin Johnston Group hired me as the first trainee for their management program the summer after I graduated from UVA. I worked onsite, learning the responsibilities of a property manager. I shadowed maintenance, and after that, I spent the next several months digging into financial statements, yearly budgets and market surveys. I helped build the 2015 budgets for all 57 properties we manage and provided strategic analytical information across multiple business platforms used for decision making for the executive leadership team. No two properties or investors are alike, and I quickly understood the importance of individually managing each asset to meet the owners' financial goals.
units: At UVA, you majored in foreign affairs with a concentration in international markets in the Middle East and Western Europe. That's very specific! How has that influenced your career?
Harris: While a foreign affairs degree may seem like an unconventional major for a career in the apartment industry, it's not. The skills I learned while pursing that major-research, thinking outside of the box and being receptive to different points of view-are all skills that translate to real estate. I learned a lot about evaluating markets and international investments, which have made me stronger in the business analyst role as I evaluate new investment opportunities.
units: With a few years under your belt, what's been the most surprising thing about the industry?
Harris: I am impressed by the level of commitment my company places on creating residential communities that truly enhance our residents' quality of life. We build and manage people's homes, and at The Franklin Johnston Group, we don't lose sight of that. Our properties are more than just roofs and wallswe create lifestyle experiences and communities that our residents are proud to call home.