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Letter from the President
By STARLA TURNBO, 2019 HAA President
PRESIDENT STARLA TURNBO THANKS ALL FOR THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE 2019 HAA INSTALLATION & GALA. I want to thank everyone who supported and came out to the beautiful Post Oak Hotel for the 2019 Houston Apartment Association Installation and Gala last month. A special thank you goes to those who traveled from out of state to our city of Houston and the home of the Houston Dynamos, the Houston Rockets, the Houston Astros, the Houston Texans and the Houston Apartment Association! Everyone looked beautiful and I thank you all for spending your Saturday night with me. I am humbled and honored to be serving as the 2019 HAA President, and I am excited about this one-year journey. I’m thankful for all of the HAA Past Presidents for their contribution to the association and to the industry. A special thank you to immediate HAA Past President Michelle Pawelek for leading and supporting me, and for always having HAA’s best interest at heart. I would like to thank the HAA staff for always doing an outstanding job in all that they do, for always being professional and for going above and beyond to serve the apartment industry and all of the HAA members. Thank you to HAA supplier partners who have helped make HAA a success. Without our suppliers supporting and encouraging apartment owners and operators, we could not be the association we are today. Our supplier partners are the heartbeat of the association and their involvement continues to increase. On a personal note, I’d like to thank my business mentor and role model, Mike Izak. He has always led by example ethically, morally, spiritually and in business. His integrity is never compromised. I am beyond thankful for my entire SMI Realty family and all that they do. Last I am humbled and honored to be serving but certainly not least, I am thankful for as the 2019 HAA President, and I am and so very proud of my daughter, Simexcited about this one-year journey. berleigh Turnbo. She is certainly my greatest accomplishment. Each of us, as HAA members, has an opportunity to make a positive impact on so many people. I would like to encourage each of you to be proud of what you do, serve with high standards, demonstrate strong morals and practice professionalism in all that you do. To our HAA NEXT members – our young professionals – let your voice be heard. Give feedback, offer suggestions, lend a helping hand and most of all listen, so that you may learn and escalate this industry to even higher standards. The future lies in our ability to understand. When I began my career in the apartment industry in 1985, HAA was already a very established association and by all standards a leader amongst local apartment associations. Fortunately, because of HAA, I was given the opportunity to advance my career through classes, training, all other education opportunities and networking. For all members interested or aspiring to grow their business or career, remember it is never too early or too late to get involved. Use your efforts to benefit yourself, your company and our industry. IT ALL STARTS WITH YOU. The Houston Apartment Association affords all of us the opportunity to grow. HAA leads the country, not only in local membership, but also in participation and in performance. Take advantage of the robust diversity that the association has to offer. If people are willing to put in the hard work and dedication this business requires, a career in the apartment business can offer quick growth and advancement in comparison to other industries. As a collective, we need to take advantage of social media to expand our industry. In 2019, I encourage you all to share your passion and love for your career in the apartment business with the world. Thank you for the opportunity to serve HAA and all of you. As one of our late great United States presidents said, “Two things can never be compromised – our freedom and our future.” God bless all of you and God bless the United States of America.
www.haaonline.org
February 2019
ABODE
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