ABODE January 2021

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Return Service Requested

THE HOUSTON APARTMENT ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

www.haaonline.org

2021 HAA LEADERSHIP • VIRTUAL HONORS AWARDS

Houston Apartment Association 4810 Westway Park Blvd.

Houston, Texas 77041

January 2021

2021 HAA President John Boriack, Veritas Equity Management

ABODE • JANUARY 2021 • VOLUME 44, ISSUE 1

The

Renegade

www.haaonline.org

Changes Ahead New legislative issues, new faces for 2021

We See You

for the Virtual Honor Awards, Food Drive and more!

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HAA Online Sponsorship Auction Hosted by

Wednesday, January 20 This is your opportunity to get in the spotlight as a sponsor for an upcoming HAA event or meeting!

Events up for sale include TopGolf Fundraiser, Business Exchange, NEW! Beginners Golf Workshop, ACES Programs, State of the Submarket sessions, PAC Meetings, Go-Getter Happy Hours, NEXT Events, Board of Directors Meetings and numerous educational courses and classes.

For the full auction program and if you're curious what events have sold for in the past, visit our website at

www.haaonline.org/sponsor/

9 a.m. to 10 am.

New to our Sponsorship Auction?

Join us the day before on Tuesday, January 19 via Zoom from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. to get more information on what's for sale, a better idea of what's included with various sponsorships, tips on how to identify what events work best for you, and more. This session will help you make the best decision about purchasing a sponsorship for 2021. Even if you don't plan to purchase an event at this time, it's a great way to learn more about our upcoming events and meetings!

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CONTENTS January 2021

ON THE COVER

FEATURES & PHOTOS

28

28 The Renegade – Introducing HAA’s 2021 President John Boriack, Veritas Equity Management.

The Renegade –

COLUMNS & MONTHLY UPDATES 7 Letter from the President – A welcome from 2021 HAA President John Boriack.

HAA’s 2021 President John Boriack, Veritas Equity Management, talks with ABODE about how a lifetime of going against the grain has shaped him into the business owner he is today and how leadership and serving others go hand in hand.

38 2021 HAA Leadership – Learn more about your incoming leadership.

42 On the Scene – Photos of the Virtual Honors Awards Winners and lists of nominees and finalists.

9 Letter from the CEO – A Happy New Year from HAA Casey Watts Morgan.

Photos by Mark Hiebert/Hiebert Photography

52 The Best of the Best in Onsite Management – Here are some of the best individuals in apartment management, the recipients of the 2020 Houston Apartment Association Honors Awards.

14 Resident Relations – Learn from a recent case mediated by the HAA Resident Relations Committee.

40 Product Service Council – Meet the HAA supplier member board.

62 On Site with ABODE – Take a closer look at two of HAA’s Honors Awards communities.

64 On the Scene – Photos from the annual HAA Food Drive.

8 Patron of the Month – Meet and support Houston Planned Energy Systems Inc.

11 It’s The Law – Adopting an infectious disease policy.

15 Legislative Update – It’s a new year and there are new issues and new faces for the multifamily industry in 2021.

16 New Members – Meet the newest members joining HAA. 20 Calendar – HAA’s schedule of events for the next coming months.

24 NAA Update – Apartment companies think outside the box to protect staff from COVID-19.

66 Go-Getters – Meet HAA”s recruiting leaders for 2021.

67 Welcome Mat – Find out about the newest HAA members.

68 The Ambassador ONE Society – Be a part of HAA’s supplier network.

70 Portfolio Changes and In the News – Property updates and industry news clips from our members.

74 Index of Advertisers – See the supplier members who support this publication.

75 MarketLine – The latest area market numbers.

We welcome your comments. Email us at comm@haaonline.org.

www.haaonline.org

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OFFICERS AND ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP PRODUCT SERVICE COUNCIL OFFICERS CHRISTY RODRIGUEZ President-Elect JOHN BORIACK President

SCOTT DOUGLAS Vice President at Large

DAVID LINDLEY, CAS President FSI Construction

GINA ERWIN Vice President at Large

DEREK DEVRIES, CAS Vice President, Camp Construction Services

SHELLEY WATSON Vice President at Large

CANDIS MOHR, CAS Secretary, AAA Plumbers

TRACIE YODER Vice President at Large

jOSEPH RODRIGUEZ, CAS Treasurer, The Urban Foresters

CLAY HICKS Immediate Past President

LAURA LESTUS, CAS Immediate Past President, The Liberty Group

STEPHANIE GRAVES Secretary/Treasurer

HOWARD BOOKSTAFF General Counsel

CASEY WATTS MORGAN CEO

BOARD OF DIRECTORS John Boriack President Clay Hicks Immediate Past President Mack Armstrong Julie Batche Jeff Blevins, CAS Jill Bounds, CAM Michelle Bridges, CAS Kyle Brown Joseph Bryson, CAM, IROP Tina Cavaco Terri Clifton Michelle Croasmun Derek DeVries, CAS Ian Douglas Scott Douglas, CAM, CAPS Gina Erwin Tamara Foster Israel Garza, CAS Diane Gilbert Monica Gracia Stephanie Graves, CAM, CAPS Manu Gupta Bryan Head, CAM Melissa Herrera Deborah Holcombe Crystal Jackson, CAM, CAPS Tyler Johnson Debbie Kelm Jacob Kunath, CAS Barby Lake Laura Lestus, CAS David Lindley, CAS Sonia Lopez, CAM, CAPS Betsy Marshall, CAM, CAPS Kristin McLaughlin, CASE Candis Mohr, CAS Carlos Neto Dean O’Kelley, CAS Jenifer Paneral Mark Park, CAS Velissa Parmer Michelle Pawelek Loyal Proffitt Jackie Rhone Christy Rodriguez Kelly Scott Kurt Seidel Corri Smith Kelley Suess Debbie Sulzer Ryan Terrell

Dana Tucker Starla Turnbo Richard Wall, CAM, CAPS Shelley Watson Quintina Willis, CAM Tracie Yoder, CAPS DIRECTORS EMERITUS Josh Allen Ken Bohan Gary Blumberg Kathy Clem Jack Dinerstein Jenard Gross Darlene Guidry Alison Hall David Hargrove Larry Hill Stacy Hunt Hap Hunnicutt David Jones Mike Koch Dick LaMarche Tim Myers P David Onanian John Ridgway Kim Small Eileen Subinsky Steve Sweet Kirk Tate Suan Tinsley H J Tollett, Jr. Pat Tollett Vic Vacek, Jr. Beth Van Winkle Jerry Winograd ADVISORY DIRECTORS Billy Griffin, CAS Cesar Lima Mary Lawler Bruce McClenny Angelee Kumar Parikh Penny Sprang Theri Tinelli Tony Whitaker GENERAL COUNSEL EMERITUS Joe Bax

HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS Claude Arnold Kenn Brown Tina Cavaco Terri Clifton Kevin Fenn Diane Gilbert Anita Harrison Dwayne Henson Mike Koch Merry Mount Monette Reynolds Sherry Stevenson Kirk Tate Suan Tinsley Sonny Unverzagt Del Walmsley Nancé Wells H.P. Paul Young Jeanne Marie Zublin Dicks PATRON MEMBERS 1961 CSC ServiceWorks 1968 Century A/C Supply 1978 Houston Planned Energy Systems 1982 Cotton Commercial USA Inc. 1984 AAA Plumbers 1985 Gemstar Construction Development 1986 Craven Carpet 1987 Dixie Carpet Installations 1994 Camp Construction Services 1997 Apartments.com 1999 FSI Construction Inc. 2006 Lowe’s Pro - MSH

PRODUCT SERVICE COUNCIL MEMBERS Amanda Kelly, CAS, Angie Aversa, CAM, Brandt Electrical A/C CAPS, CAS, & Heating Services The Liberty Group Debra Knight, CAS, Chris Bell, CAS, Fidus Construction Cotton Commercial Services Marivel Bownds, Stephanie Krop, CAS, Valet Living CASE, Poolsure Dixie Caldwell, Liz Levins, CAS, CAS, ControlByNet Cloud Rasa Floors & Management Video Tracey Moore, CAS, Surveillance Solutions Flooring Warehouse Shaun Callaway, CAS, Karen Nelsen, CAS Earthworks ALN Apartment Neal Conant, CAS, Data Gemstar Matthew Nunn, CAS, Construction Capital Construction Development Doug Oehl, CAS. Sean Cunningham, Flooring Warehouse CAS, Flooring Nikki Sekunda, CAS, Warehouse The Liberty Group Deborah DeRouen, Blaise Spitaleri, CAS, CAS, OneApp Gemstar Guarantee Construction Juana Estrada, CAS, Development Interstate Restoration Blake Subinsky, CAS, Clark Gregg, CASE, HD Supply Fidus Construction Mat Tilley, CAS, Jimmie Hotz, CASE, WeDoTrash Chadwell Supply Amber Whitaker, CAS Dan James, CAS, FSI Construction Redevelopment Services

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JANUARY 2021 I VOLUME 44, ISSUE 1 CEO and Publisher CASEY WATTS MORGAN cmorgan@haaonline.org EDITORIAL AND DESIGN STAFF Director of Publications and Design DEBORAH NIX dnix@haaonline.org Managing Editor MORGAN TAYLOR mtaylor@haaonline.org ADVERTISING Vice President of Membership and Marketing AMANDA SHERBONDY, CAE asherbondy@haaonline.org CONTRIBUTING STAFF Vice President and General Manager SUSAN HINKLEY, CAE shinkley@haaonline.org Vice President of Professional Development EMILY HILTON, CPP, CAE. ehilton@haaonline.org Vice President of Public Affairs ANDY TEAS, CAE. ateas@haaonline.org Vice President of Finance NANCY LI LO, CPA. nlo@haaonline.org Director of Information Technology ART EIDMAN aeidman@haaonline.org Director of Resident Relations MATILDE LUNA mluna@haaonline.org Director of Events and Meetings LAUREN RAGIN, CMP lragin@haaonline.org Director of Rental Credit Reporting TINA DEFIORE tdefiore@haaonline.org Assistant Vice President – Outreach LAUREN TURNER, CAE, CMP lturner@haaonline.org Public Affairs Manager ALPA PATEL MANDHANA apatel@haaonline.org Membership and Marketing Manager KAYLON NEWCOMB knewcomb@haaonline.org Webmaster and IT Specialist WILL ALFARO walfaro@haaonline.org PRINTER TGI PRINTED www.tgiprinted.com

HOUSTON APARTMENT ASSOCIATION COMMITTEES COMMITTEE CHAIR STAFF ADVISOR Executive John Boriack Casey Morgan Program & Budget Christy Rodriguez Casey Morgan Nominating Clay Hicks Casey Morgan Fair Housing Mack Armstrong Casey Morgan Ethics Michelle Pawelek Casey Morgan Investment Stephanie Graves Casey Morgan ByLaws Kyle Brown Casey Morgan Past Presidents Council Kathy Clem Casey Morgan Multifamily Fire Safety Alliance Elizabeth Castro-Gray Andy Teas Developers Todd Triggs Andy Teas Legislative Christy Rodriguez Andy Teas Political Action Stacy Hunt Andy Teas PAC Fundraising Gary Blumberg Alpa Patel Century Club Joseph Rodriguez Alpa Patel Golf Mark Park Alpa Patel Strategic Outreach Stephanie Graves Lauren Turner Leadership Development Alison Hall Susan Hinkley Community Outreach Jackie Aguirre Susan Hinkley Product Service Council David Lindley Susan Hinkley Expo Exhibitor Derek DeVries Amanda Sherbondy Membership Melissa Friend Amanda Sherbondy Doug Oehl Ambassador ONE Society Ryan Weis Amanda Sherbondy Marivel Bownds Independent Owners Connection Ramon Nunez Amanda Sherbondy Education Advisory Council Betsy Marshall Emily Hilton Monica Gracia Emily Hilton Career & Community Development Penny Sprang Emily Hilton Resident Relations A Beverly Norris Matti Luna Resident Relations B Kevin Hartman Matti Luna Resident Relations Appeals Darlene Guidry Matti Luna HAF Fundraiser Mark Park Lauren Ragin Debbie Andreozzi NEXT Ruha Vohra Lauren Ragin Amanda Kelley Property Awards Susan Dear Tina DeFiore Crystal Jackson HOUSTON APARTMENT ASSOCIATION MISSION AND VISION: HAA is the leading advocate, resource and community partner for quality rental housing providers in the Houston and surrounding area. HAA develops leadership in the multifamily industry by engaging broadly diverse membership, embracing effective technology and advocating for a geographically inclusive association. ABODE IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE HOUSTON APARTMENT ASSOCIATION serving the multihousing industry in Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Waller and Wharton counties.

ABODE, JANUARY 2021, VOLUME 44, ISSUE 1 ABODE (USPS 024-962) is published monthly by the Houston Multi Housing Corporation. Publishing, editorial and advertising offices are located at 4810 Westway Park Blvd., Houston, Texas 77041. Telephone 713-595-0300. The $50 annual ABODE subscription rate is included in all member dues and additional subscriptions are available. The annual subscription rate is $50 for members, $65 for non-members.

Advertising rates are available upon request. Contributed material does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Houston Apartment Association. Copyright © 2021 by HAA. Periodicals Postage Paid at Houston, Texas.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ABODE, 4810 Westway Park Blvd., Houston, Texas 77041.

www.haaonline.org

January 2021

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SPONSOR MEMBERS These companies have generously supported the Houston Apartment Association with their sponsor membership.

Please give them careful consideration, whenever possible, in your business.

A + Infinity Blue Outdoors LLC A Homestead Specialist LLC A-Affordable Roofing Co AAA Staffing Ltd AAdvantage Laundry Systems Absolute Construction LLC ACM Contractors of Texas ACT Security Group Action Towing Inc Action Window Coverings Inc ACTIV Answer by Audio Images ACUTRAQ Background Screening Adobe Floors Inc Advance LED Solution Adventure Playground Systems Aftermath Services Ages Consulting LLC dba Alternative Green Energy Solutions Alcaraz Lawn Care Alexander-Rose Associates Inc All About Doody Pet Solutions All American Mailboxes of Houston Inc Allegion Allied Powder Coating The Allshouse Group LLC ALN Apartment Data Inc AlphaGraphics of Central Houston AM Conservation Group AmCap Insurance America Outdoor Furniture American Fire Systems Inc AmRent Anchor Roofing Inc Andrews Myers PC Apartment Lines ApartmentData.com AppFolio Arbor Contract Carpet Inc Archcon ASAP Personnel Inc ASAP Steamers Carpet Cleaning Asphalt Maintenance Inc Atom4 Security Camera B&G Construction Bath Fitter Belfor Property Restoration Bell's Laundries Benefits 4 Rent BenefitU Bettencourt Tax Advisors LLC BGE Inc/aka Brown & Gay Engineers Inc Big Star Development LLC Bio-One Houston South BioTechs Crime & Trauma Scene Cleaning Blue Eye Defense Blue Heron Technologies LLC BMI Brady Chapman Holland & Assoc Brannan Designs LLC Architecture & Interior Design BSI Building Professionals of Texas CAD Restoration Services LLC Cameras Onsite Cano Electric Inc Cantrell McCulloch Inc Carradine Valet CashFlow Pros LLC Centex Construction

CFI Group Chadwell Supply Cinch – Cabinet Refacing Kits Citi Fence & Concrete Classic Same Day Blinds Classic Touch Painting Classic Towing Comcast Contractors Inc ControlByNet Cloud CoreLogic Rental Property Solutions CORT Furniture CRE Business Solutions LLC Crowned Eagle Construction CSI LED & Hardware Cypress Landscaping & Irrigation DeNyse Companies Designs by Holmes Diamond Services LLC DNM Contracting Inc DoodyCalls Dooley Tackaberry Inc Door Clearance Center DreamCoat Cloud Services Ecolo Environmental Inc Electric Eel Mfg Embark Services Emersyn Electrical Services LLC EnviroSmart Multifamily Pest Solutions Epic Air Conditioning Everest Siding and Windows Expertz Construction & Renovation LLC Fantastic Floors FAST Security, LLC Featherston Sign Partners Fiat Construction LLC Fidus Construction Services Finish Factory Inc First Responders Cleaning & Decon Flavor Finish Resurfacing Floodproofing.com Frontier Waste Solutions Frost Insurance Agency Gambit Construction Gasof United Remodeling Gateman Inc General Recon LLC Giordano Construction Inc Go-Staff Inc Great American Business Products Green City Security LLC Green Garbology GT Security Solutions LLC Guardian Gutters H.S. Services Halo Doors Inc HARCO Insurance Services Hillco Building Service Hive Technology Hoover Slovacek LLP IGD Plumbing LLC Imperial Hospitality and Security Services Inc In Service Security LLC Infinity Power Partners J and B Carpet Services J Guzman General Remodeling J National JAK Environmental LLC DBA

Legacy Power Washing & Graffiti Removal Johnstone Supply Jonah Digital Agency Kastle Systems Kathy Andrews Interiors Keylo Painting & Construction King's Granite and Marble Knight Restoration Services LP KONE Leah McVeigh Design and Consulting The Liberty Group Lights Out Production Company Lincoln Jacob Construction Liquid Waste Solutions Lithotech Printed Products/ Forms Center Lopez Carpet Care & Painting Love's Plumbing Company Inc LP Building Solutions: LouisianaPacific Corporation LSR Multifamily Maldonado Nursery & Landscaping Inc Marvin F Poer & Company Masonry Solutions Inc Matrix Construction Services McKenzie Drake Corporate Housing McMahan's Flooring Inc Moen Inc Moveforfree.com Inc MPS Direct Mueller Water Conditioning Inc MV Electric Inc MX2 Commercial Paving Nations Roof Houston LLC Nationwide Eviction Nettles & Co Property Tax Consulting Norman Construction Notifii LLC O’Connor & AssociatesCommercial Property Tax Division O’Conor Mason & Bone PC On Duty Tree and Landscape On Site Towing LLC On-Site Property Services Onesource Moving Outdoor Elements Pace Mechanical Services LLC Parking Management Company/PMC Towing Pathfinder Insurance Group Paul Davis Restoration North Houston PCS Creative Surface LLC PERQ LLC The Playwell Group Inc Pool Knights Professional Resurface LLC Pura Flo Corporation RAM Construction Ram Jack Foundation Solutions RCPS of Texas Redevelopment Services Reliable Roofing of Texas Inc Reliant RENCON Rent Debt Automated Collections RentPath

RentSense LLC Resto Medic Restoration 1 of Central Houston RezClean Houston RG Miller Engineers Roosevelt General Contracting Roto-Rooter Services Co Rotolo Consultants Inc Royal Painting & Remodeling LLC Saifee Signs & Graphics Saint Clair & Sons Inc SEAL Security Solutions LLC Secure Insurance Security Reconnaissance Team Sherwin Williams Company Sign-Ups & Banners Signal 88 Security SOS-ASAP Softwashing South Central Electric LLC Sparkle Wash Pressure Washing State Patrol Services LLC Storm Maintenance & Monitoring Strata Roofing and Construction Structural Concrete Systems LLC Surface Designers Remodeling Swain & Baldwin Insurance & Risk Management Texas Apartment Pool Services Texas Concrete Professional Company Texas Crime Prevention Agency Texas Engineered Roofing & General Contracting Texas Landscape Group LLC Texas Management Group LLC Texas Southwest Floors Inc Texas Waste Management Solutions LLC The Lane Law Firm Tidal Renovations LLC Total Safety Security Services LLC Tropical Roofing Products Two Brothers Foundation Repair United Protective Services Urban Design Constructors LLC USA Patrol Division Valet Living Veteran Supply Services LLC Vima Decor WASH Multifamily Laundry Systems Wayfinder Tax Relief LLC WCA Waste Corporation Webb Pest Control Whitmans Contracting and Roofing Wickley Interactive Wildlife Removal Experts LLC Willbanks & Associates Inc Zillow Rentals

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Letter from the President

By JOHN BORIACK, 2021 HAA President

WHEW, WHAT A YEAR LAST YEAR WAS! As 2020 began, I thought the biggest issue that we as an association would deal with was the replacement of the Houston Apartment Association’s executive director. Little did I know that we, as a nation, were about to get hit with the worst global pandemic of our lifetimes.

In the face of the chaos, it would have been reasonable to expect the staff and members of HAA to wait out the storm. Nevertheless, under the leadership of Past President Clay Hicks, we all did just the opposite.

Rather than cowering in fear, I was proud to watch our organization face the disaster through education programming, emergency task forces, political advocacy and community service projects. I learned so much last year working side by side with Clay Hicks, Christy Rodriguez and the incredible staff at HAA, as we pushed hard to #MakeItBetter despite the tumultuous situation we all found ourselves in. Thanks to that experience, I feel prepared to hit the ground running in 2021 as president.

The preparation for this leadership role with HAA started long before 2020. I have been blessed with many incredible mentors who have each left their fingerprints on my leadership style. I’m known as someone who is comfortable with outside the box thinking, which is a trait that was instilled in me early on by my parents.

Rather than automatically assuming that going off to a brick-and-mortar college was the best track for me, my insightful parents offered me the option of using my college fund as the seed money to start a business with instead. We soon found Lifestyles Unlimited, an education and mentor group for real estate investing. Using the tools and resources provided by Lifestyles and its members, I founded Veritas Equity Management in 2008. The culture at Veritas and our unique award-winning leadership style is a wonderful blend of the strengths of the many mentors God has placed in my life along the way. While my mother passed away from breast cancer in 2017, her legacy lives on in the passionate and envelope-pushing energy that fuels Veritas’ innovation and growth. That energy is balanced by the steadfast wisdom and care for others instilled by my father and all the unique strengths of the many amazing mentors I met through Lifestyles Unlimited, who took me under their wings and openly shared all their business secrets.

With that foundation for Veritas, God then brought in the most incredible teammates I could have dreamed of.

Jackie Aguirre was my first community manager, who has grown into an incredible vice president of operations.

Veritas is just as much her baby as it is mine, and I couldn’t be more thankful for her influence, friendship and the hard work she has put into its growth. Francisco Hernandez has led our maintenance team from day one, and he is just as comfortable installing door handles as he is making strategic leadership decisions. Finally, the greatest blessing of all has been my incredible wife, Katelin, who consistently pushes me out of complacency and drives me to achieve new heights I never thought possible.

Now, what does this all mean for HAA going forward in 2021? After getting sucker-punched in 2020, I believe HAA has grown into a stronger, more agile, and more creative organization that is in a better place than ever before to innovatively serve our members. With HAA’s new CEO Casey Morgan, we are ready to come back swinging. Almost overnight, we learned how to shift our services into the digital space with virtual meetings and events. Now we will learn how to serve all of our members despite their diverse learning style preferences as we proficiently deliver our content in both virtual and in-person settings. Powered by new strategies advancing our IT systems and infrastructure, we will be able to quickly and nimbly mobilize our membership to proactively influence our government leaders toward good policies.

Across the board, we will re-think the best ways to fulfill our mission. We can no longer rely on what we have done in the past as the rule book for the future.

We don’t yet know what lies ahead in 2021, however I am confident we will meet those challenges head on. We will engage offensively, rather than hide defensively. With Morgan leading the staff, a talented executive committee setting the path, a potential COVID-19 vaccine rolling out and the amazingly resilient HAA members fueling it all, I feel the wind is in our sails as we charge forward. We will get to the end of this year proudly, smiling on the accomplishments we achieved. It’s #ComebackSeason.

www.haaonline.org

January 2021

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Houston Planned Energy Systems

supported the Houston Apartment

Apartments.com

HAA Member since 1978

HAA Member since 1997

Cotton Commercial USA Inc.

Gemstar Construction Development Inc.

These companies have generously

HAA Member since 1982

Association with their patron

Lowe’s Pro - MSH

HAA Member since 2006

membership. Please give them

CSC ServiceWorks

careful consideration, whenever

HAA Member since 1961

Craven Carpet

possible, in your business.

HAA Member since 1986

Camp Construction Services

HAA Member since 1994

January Patron of the Month

HAA Member since 1985

AAA Plumbers

HAA Member since 1984

FSI Construction Inc.

HAA Member since 1999

Dixie Carpet Installations

HAA Member since 1987

Century A/C Supply

HAA Member since 1968

RUBS Billing Special – $1.25 per unit when you mention this ad – call for details.

206 S. College Ave., Suite C, Cleveland, Texas 77327 8

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Letter from the CEO

By CASEY WATTS MORGAN, HAA CEO

HAPPY NEW YEAR, HAA MEMBERS! I hope everyone enjoyed a safe and healthy holiday season and are ready to ring in 2021 – I know I am!

You may recall, just last month I joined the HAA team as your new CEO. I could not be more excited about the transition! December was a great time to get my feet wet, to get to know the staff and to become more familiar with the dayto-day functions at HAA. Now, as we embark on a new year together, I look forward to 2021 bringing more stability and hope to everyday life and to HAA as an organization that is committed to serving you.

The HAA staff has planned a great year ahead – one filled with as many events as we can safely hold; ongoing classes offered both virtually and in person; and continued advocacy efforts that represent industry needs before local, state and federal governments.

On that note, this year is a legislative year, and I know the HAA government affairs team will work hard to keep members apprised on updates from the Texas Capitol, especially as the legislature grapples with how to conduct their business in our new COVID-19 working environment. Should be interesting…

Additionally, I am excited to work with HAA’s incoming President, John Boriack, who I know has a bold vision for HAA and who will provide robust leadership for the association as we continue to navigate uncharted COVID-19 territory. But, hopefully, as we move forward into the New Year, we can begin to put COVID-19 behind us.

Regardless of what 2021 brings, please know that I am committed to demonstrating the many benefits of your HAA membership, identifying ways to remain relevant in what will likely be a fluid year and most important, learning more about this incredible organization.

In fact, while I have enjoyed a great introduction to the association over the last few weeks, there is still much to learn. I sincerely appreciate your patience and grace in advance as I continue this very educational journey!

Happy New Year again and cheers to a fresh start!!

www.haaonline.org

January 2021

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It’s the Law

By HOWARD BOOKSTAFF, Hoover Slovacek LLP , HAA General Counsel

MAYBE IT’S TIME? Adopting an infectious disease policy.

2020 WAS QUITE A YEAR. We, (meaning everybody in the whole world), have been through so much, but vaccinations are on the way. Here’s to 2021!

No matter what the new year brings, we know things will not be the same. Will face masks, elbow touches and social distancing measures be a thing of the past or the new normal?

If nothing else, apartment industry professionals are survivors. Necessity is the mother of all inventions. In 2020, we got by with grit, perseverance, creativity and common sense to come up with a patchwork of policies that met the needs of each day. And we’re still here, ready to attack a new year with hope, a positive attitude and a desire for an organized approach, which seems to have been lacking for the past several months.

If you haven’t already done so, it would be beneficial to develop a game plan to deal with employment issues during the remainder of this pandemic and any future infectious disease situations that might arise.

In a pamphlet entitled “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19,” the US Department of Labor published some recommendations as well as descriptions of mandatory safety and health standards. The guidance is not a standard or regulation, and it does not create new legal obligations.

The recommendations are advisory in nature, informational in content and intended to assist employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace. The text of the guidance can be found at https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf. The guidance provides steps employers can take to reduce workers’ risk of exposure to COVID-19, which include developing an infectious disease preparedness and response plan.

In addition to the guidance, the CDC has updated its general business frequently asked questions (updated Dec. 2). It contains helpful information that may be included in an effective infectious disease plan. The full text of the FAQs can be found at www.haaonline.org

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/community/general-businessfaq.html. Here are some of the questions identified on the FAQ list that may assist in developing an infectious disease policy: What should I do if an employee comes to work with COVID-19 symptoms?

Employees who have symptoms when they arrive at work or become sick during the day should immediately be separated from other employees, customers, and visitors and sent home. Employees who develop symptoms outside of work should notify their supervisor and stay home.

Sick employees should follow CDC-recommended steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Employees should not return to work until they have met the criteria to discontinue home isolation and have consulted with a healthcare provider.

Employers should not require sick employees to provide a COVID-19 test result or healthcare provider’s note to validate their illness, qualify for sick leave or return to work. Healthcare provider offices and medical facilities may be extremely busy and not able to provide such documentation in a timely manner.

What should I do if an employee is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19?

In most cases, you do not need to shut down your facility. But do close off any areas used for prolonged periods of time by the sick person: • Wait 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting to minimize the potential for other employees to become exposed to respiratory droplets.

If waiting 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible.

Follow the CDC cleaning and disinfection recommendations: • Clean dirty surfaces with soap and water before disinfecting them.

• To disinfect surfaces, use products that meet EPA criteria for use against SARS-Cov-2external icon, the virus that causes COVID-19, and that are appropriate for the surface.

• Be sure to follow the instructions on the product labels to ensure safe and effective use of the product.

• You may need to wear additional personal protective equipment (PPE) depending on the setting and disinfectant product you are using.

In addition to cleaning and disinfecting, employers should determine which employees may have been exposed to the virus and need to take additional precautions: • If an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19, employers should inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. • Employees who test positive for COVID-19 (using a viral test, not an antibody test) should be excluded from work and remain in home isolation if they do not need to be hospitalized.

Employers should provide education to employees on what to do if they are sick.

• Employers may need to work with local health department officials to determine which employees may have had close contact with the employee with COVID-19 and who may need to take additional precautions, including exclusion from work and remaining at home.

• Most workplaces should follow the CDC “Public Health Recommendations for Community-related Exposure” and instruct potentially exposed employees to stay home for 14 days, telework if possible and self-monitor for symptoms.

• Critical infrastructure workplaces should follow the CDC guidance “Implementing Safety Practice for Critical Infrastructure Employees Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19.”

Sick employees should follow CDC-recommended steps. Employees should not return to work until they have met the criteria to discontinue home isolation and have consulted with a healthcare provider. Antibody test results should not be used to make decisions about returning persons to the workplace.

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What should I do if I find out several days later, after an employee worked, that they are diagnosed with COVID-19?

• If it has been less than seven days since the sick employee used the facility, clean and disinfect all areas used by the sick employee following the CDC cleaning and disinfection recommendations.

• If it has been seven days or more since the sick employee used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary. Continue routinely cleaning and disinfecting all hightouch surfaces in the facility.

• Other employees may have been exposed to the virus if they were in “close contact” (within approximately 6 feet) of the sick employee for a prolonged period of time.

- If an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19, employers should inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. - Those who have symptoms should self-isolate and follow CDC recommended steps.

- In most workplaces, those potentially exposed but with no symptoms should remain at home or in a comparable setting

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and practice social distancing for 14 days.

- Critical infrastructure employees should follow “Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Employees Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19.” A critical infrastructure employee who is symptom-free and returns to work should wear a cloth face covering at all times while in the workplace for 14 days after last exposure. Employers can issue cloth face coverings or can approve employees’ supplied cloth face coverings in the event of shortages.

• Employees not considered exposed should self-monitor for symptoms. If they develop symptoms, they should notify their supervisor and stay home.

When should an employee who is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 return to work?

Sick employees should follow steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Employees should not return to work until they meet the criteria to discontinue home isolation and have consulted with a healthcare provider.

Employers should not require a sick employee to provide a negative COVID-19 test re-

sult or healthcare provider’s note to return to work. Employees with COVID-19 who have stayed home can stop home isolation and return to work when they have met one of the sets of criteria identified on the CDC publication “Discontinuation of Isolation for Persons with COVID-19 Not in Healthcare Settings,” which can be found on the CDC website.

What can I tell my employees about reducing the spread of COVID-19 at work?

Employees should take the following steps to protect themselves at work: • Follow the policies and procedures of the employer related to illness, cleaning and disinfecting, and work meetings and travel.

• Stay home if sick, except to get medical care.

• Practice social distancing by keeping at least 6 feet away from fellow co-employees, customers and visitors when possible.

• Wear cloth face coverings, especially when social distancing is not possible.

• Employees should inform their supervisor if they or their colleagues develop symptoms at work. No one with COVID-19 symptoms should be present at the workplace.

• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing noses, / See Law, Page 61

www.haaonline.org

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Resident Relations from the RESIDENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE

IMAGINARY ADDENDUM

Management charges resident wrongfully, claiming it was in accordance with a nonexistent addendum.

A RESIDENT FILED a complaint with

the Houston Apartment Association to dispute cleaning charges and to receive a refund on his security deposit.

In the complaint, the resident claims upon move-out, he left the unit clean.

Management responded to HAA and that response was forwarded to the applicant.

Enclosed in management’s response were copies of the lease, revised final account statement, the resident ledger, the notice to vacate, move-in and move-out condition form, application and photos.

Management claimed that based on the inventory and condition form, lease and master addendum to the lease, breaking down the

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charges to represent a 20% The HAA Resident Relations Committees provide charge for “normal wear-full an impartial review of resident complaints using paint” and a carpet cleaning the documentation provided by both the resident of $140.73. The resident’s and management. $250 security deposit, as shown in the lease, was applied to these charges, leaving the resident with a refund of $54.27.

Management is to refund the resident with The committee decided in favor of the an additional $195.73. resident. According to the lease, the resident resided at the apartment community for three The HAA Resident Relations Committee and a half years. The master addendum menprovides an impartial review of resident comtioned in management’s response was not plaints using the documentation provided by attached to the lease nor was it provided by both the resident and management. management at all. Therefore, the committee When the committee finds in favor of the ruled both charges as normal wear and tear property owner, the decision is final.

January 2021

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

www.haaonline.org

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Legislative Update

By CHRISTY RODRIGUEZ, HAA Legislative Chair, with ANDY TEAS, CAE, Vice President of Public Affairs

CHANGES AHEAD New issues, new faces for 2021.

2020 WAS A challenging year for the apartment industry, as it was for nearly everybody. Even with a global pandemic, a slump in oil prices and the resulting damage to Houston’s economy, the housing sector has proven more resilient than many parts of the Houston economy.

Here are some of the changes and challenges we see ahead in 2021.

New Judges Justice courts are the busiest courts in Texas, handling both criminal and civil disputes, mostly involving parties without legal representation.

The apartment industry in our area has been blessed with a steady stream of competent people serving in our justice of the peace courts, many of whom are returned by voters for years or even decades. This month, Harris County will swear in three new justices of the peace.

Wanda Adams is a longtime friend of the apartment industry, serving for six years on the Houston City Council and another six on the Houston Independent School District Board of Trustees. With no Republican opponent, she essentially won the election for her seat in March, and has been a tireless student ever since, sitting in justice courtrooms all over the county and taking copious notes. She replaces another great judge, Jeremy Brown, in Precinct 7, which covers a lot of the area around the South Loop, Brays Oaks and other parts of Southwest Houston.

Victor Treviño III replaces Judge Richard Vara, who retired having served as justice of the peace in Precinct 6 since 1974. One frequent challenge for justices of the peace is working with the separately elected county constables who represent that same precinct. Since Precinct 6 Constable Sylvia Treviño is the new judge’s mom, he would seem to have a natural advantage. Judge Treviño has managed a variety of small businesses and served the community as a public school teacher.

Israel Garcia replaces Justice of the Peace Russ Ridgway in one of the busiest courts in Texas – the Precinct 5 court at Gulfton and Chimney Rock, which is one of two courts that serve much of West and Northwest Houston. A successful attorney who has worked in every justice court in www.haaonline.org

Harris County, Garcia wants to improve efficiency, and shares Judge Ridgway’s commitment to following the law and respecting lease agreements in eviction cases.

New Legislative Session The apartment industry has pressed hard the past two legislative sessions to pass two difficult bills – a bill to prohibit cities from imposing mandatory Section 8 housing in 2017 and late fee reform in 2019. During the session that starts this month, we will largely be playing defense.

Legislators this year face a difficult state budget, with an uncertain state revenue picture resulting from pandemic-depressed economic activity and a slump in energy prices that began even before COVID-19. Additionally, legislators will be required to draw new districts for themselves and Texas’ expanding congressional delegation – a difficult and highly partisan process.

On top of that, we expect a significant number of anti-apartment bills stemming from wellmeaning concern by legislators over residents being evicted for not paying rent during the pandemic. Our industry will need to spend an inordinate amount of time over the next four months reminding legislators that it costs money to provide housing, and that the primary impact of new laws to make evictions more difficult, expensive and time-consuming is to drive up housing costs for the 99% of residents who find a way to pay their rent.

New Sewer Restrictions Last month, the Houston City Council adopted an ordinance to impose more stringent requirements on the discharge of fats, oils and grease into the city’s sanitary sewer system.

Why? Grease, combined with other substances such as “flushable” wipes (They’re not flushable, by the way.) doesn’t just clog your property’s pipes. When it finds its way into the city’s sewer system, it can clog entire sewer mains, causing overflows that are a threat to public health. Houston’s sewer system has such a history of overflows that Houston was required to reach an agreed settlement last year with both the U.S. Environ-

mental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which levies mandatory fines (paid with your tax money) for lack of compliance with strict new standards.

Under the revised ordinance, the maximum amount of grease that can be discharged into the city’s sewer system will be reduced from 400 to 200 milligrams per liter, with the reduction phased in over three years. This mostly affects restaurants and industrial customers but could impact a handful of apartment properties that have a history of residents pouring cooking grease down their kitchen sinks.

The City of Houston is on your side. The goal is not to levy fines, but to reduce sewer overflows that drive up water and sewer rates for all of us.

They will provide brochures and tips for how you can educate your property’s residents to help reduce your own plumbing costs as well as the risk of prosecution in municipal court. They will even come to your property and put on a workshop for your residents. Learn more here: https://www.publicworks.houstontx.gov/protect-our-pipes HAAPAC Our industry’s success in elections, and with issues like these over the years, is a direct result of your participation in the Houston Apartment Association Political Action Committee. HAAPAC support the campaigns of candidates and elected officials who support the apartment industry.

Help us help you by making 2021 our biggest, best year ever. Just go to https://www.haaonline.org/haapac/ to sign up. You can donate any amount, but $100 makes you a member of the HAAPAC Century Club, with an invitation to all of our general HAAPAC meetings – which we hope will be face-to-face again soon. Trustee dues are still $500, and $1500 makes you a member of the HAAPAC Steering Committee, which meets separately to set the agenda for the HAAPAC. Money is important, but your participation is key. The more industry professionals like you are involved, the more elected and appointed officials realize how much we care about the choices they make. Make 2021 your year to get involved!

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Welcome New HAA Members

NEW YEAR, NEW MEMBERS Say hello to some of our newest Houston Apartment Association members.

Nano Vapor Biotech (left) Maintenance Warriors (below right) Blue Heron Technologies (below left) HALO Branded Solutions (bottom left) FH Management (bottom right)

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www.haaonline.org

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State Industry Virtual of the

Join HAA and industry leaders from the convenience of your home or office as we assess the current and future state of Houston’s multifamily market. Topics will include the latest pandemic-related issues, eviction moratoriums, recent economic trends, job growth, forecasts, rental rate and occupancy trends, new construction developments, technology, marketing trends and much more.

Special welcome message and national outlook from NAA Chairman Rick Graf, Pinnacle Moderator Kate Good, Hunnington Residential Panelists: Patrick Jankowski, Greater Houston Partnership Stacy Hunt, Greystar Bruce McClenny, ApartmentData.com Jeff Lowry, Madera Residential

State of the Industry Virtual Tuesday, January 26 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Via Zoom Program cost: $45/person See www.haaonline.org for more information.

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Calendar HAA Education, Events and Meetings SCHEDULE

As of press time, dates and locations are tentative.

Please see www.haaonline.org for the most up-todate information.

Social distancing and masks will be required for in-person meetings.

HAA has modified procedures to reduce opportunities for the COVID-19 virus to spread as we realize there is a risk associated with interacting with the public.

• We are minimizing the number of people allowed in our building.

• All guests are instructed to remain 6 feet apart.

• We are providing social distance markers to guide access.

• We have hand sanitizers in common areas throughout our building.

• We have enhanced cleaning of our building.

• Guests will be required to wear masks at all times. If you are able to provide your own mask, please do so. We will have disposable masks in case you do not bring your own.

• If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or have been in contact with someone who has the virus or has been exposed to anyone who is sick, we ask that you remain at home.

JANUARY S M T W T 3 4 5 6 7 10 11 12 13 14 17 18 19 20 21 24 25 26 27 28 31

JANUARY

F 1 8 15 22 29

S 2 9 16 23 30

FEBRUARY S M T W 1 2 3 7 8 9 10 14 15 16 17 21 22 23 24 28

T 4 11 18 25

F 5 12 19 26

S 6 13 20 27

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4

New Supplier Member Orientation Wednesday, January 6 10 a.m.

Via Zoom All new supplier members welcome. Visit www.haaonline.org for registration link.

HAAPAC Meeting - Virtual Thursday, January 21 11:30 a.m.

Via Zoom Contact Alpa at apatel@haaonline for more information.

Legal Lowdown - Virtual Thursday, February 4 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Via Zoom See Page 22 for details.

26

Ambassador ONE Society Meeting Wednesday, January 6 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Kirby Ice House, 1015 Gessner Road Contact Amanda at asherbondy@haaonline.org for details.

State of the Industry - Virtual Tuesday, January 26 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Via Zoom See Page 18 for details.

CALP III: Why Your Competition Matters Tuesday, February 9 8:30 a.m. to Noon See Page 23 for details.

7 Legal Lowdown - Virtual Thursday, January 7 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Via Zoom See Page 22 for details.

13 Expert Exchange LIVE Series – Creating a Resilient Culture with Stacy Holden, AppFolio Wednesday, January 13 Noon Zoom, Facebook Live and YouTube (Subscribe to HAATV) Resident Relations Committee A Wednesday, January 13 2 p.m.

Via Zoom

19-20 Leasing 101 (day and a half) Tuesday and Wednesday, January 19-20 Program fee: $75 if payment is received before Tuesday, January 19; $85 at the door An in-depth introduction to the apartment industry for new leasing professionals, as well as those individuals looking to learn more about the industry as a career. Students who complete the course will receive a certificate, as well as a listing of placement agencies and management companies that are HAA members.

27 Expert Exchange LIVE Series Wednesday, January 27 Noon Zoom, Facebook Live and YouTube (subscribe to HAATV)

28 Board of Directors Meeting Thursday, January 28 4 p.m.

Via Zoom Sponsored by Texas Southwest Floors

FEBRUARY 2 CALP (formerly NALP) I: Bringing in New Residents: Be Prepared Tuesday, February 2 8:30 a.m. to Noon See Page 23 for details.

CALP II: Marketing and Maintaining your Community Tuesday, February 2 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

See Page 23 for details.

3 New Supplier Member Orientation Wednesday, February 3 10 a.m.

Via Zoom All new supplier members welcome. Visit www.haaonline.org for registration link.

9

CALP IV: Relevant Laws and How to Apply Them Tuesday, February 9 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

See Page 23 for details.

10 Expert Exchange LIVE Series Wednesday, February 10 Noon Zoom, Facebook Live and YouTube (Subscribe to HAATV) Resident Relations Committee B Wednesday, January 10 2 p.m.

Via Zoom

16 CALP V: The Sales Process and Building Relationships Tuesday, February 16 8:30 a.m. to Noon See Page 23 for details.

CALP VI: Effectively Meeting the Needs of Current Residents Tuesday, February 16 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

See Page 23 for details.

23 CALP VII: Market Analysis for Leasing Professionals Tuesday, February 23 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

See Page 23 for details.

Ambassador ONE Society Meeting Wednesday, February 3 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Kirby Ice House, 1015 Gessner Road Contact Amanda at asherbondy@ haaonline.org for details.

UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, all events meet at our Dinerstein Reed Prokop Education Center, 4810 Westway Park Blvd., second floor, in either the Direct Energy and Liberty Personnel & Executive Search or the Camden and Michael Stevens Interests Room. Meetings located at the HAA Offices, 4810 Westway Park Blvd., first floor, will be held in the Redi Carpet and Winograd Families/Judwin Properties Conference Room. See www.haaonline.org for an interactive calendar.

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Do you need help navigating recent operational challenges?

HAA’s micro-webinar series features industry experts who answer the top questions concerning current and pressing topics.

These carefully-curated 30 minute sessions offer guidance that you can apply right now and are free to all HAA members.

www.youtube.com/user/HAATV

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Mark your calendars now!

January 7 February 4 March 4 April 1 May 6 June 3 July 1 August 5 September 2 October 7 November 4 December 2

Get the lowdown, virtually!

2021 is sure to be another bumpy ride, with many legal implications for the multifamily industry. Stay up to date and in the know via this new monthly series. Join Howard Bookstaff virtually for an update on all things legal, from eviction procedures to local, state and federal law changes.

First Thursday of every month at 3 p.m.

Program fee: $45 per person Annual Property Subscription available: $500 per property

Register online today at www.haaonline.org or call 713-595-0300 for details.

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reat G e Sam , e am N w Ne

n! o i t a Educ

Education is your key to a great future

Distinguish yourself amongst a field of “tour guides” – learn to be a real salesperson and attain your CALP credential this year.

The Certified Apartment Leasing Professional Program enhances the skills of the apartment leasing professional, resulting in better informed, highly professional individuals with increased lease activity and improved resident relations.

Course Location and Schedule: Courses are held at the HAF Dinerstein Reed Prokop Education Center, 4810 Westway Park Blvd., off the beltway at Clay Road.

Morning Sessions: 8:30 a.m. – Check-in and registration 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Program Afternoon Sessions: 12:30 p.m. – Check-in and registration 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Program

Sponsored by Best Plumbing

Total Program Cost: $385 CALP I: Morning Session – February 2 Bringing in New Residents: Be Prepared – This course focuses on the skills needed to deliver exceptional leasing support. From personal organization and time management to teamwork and technology, the Leasing Professional applies these talents to a successful outcome for the prospective residents.

CALP II: Afternoon Session – February 2 Marketing and Maintaining your Community – These chapters underscore the importance of image, reputation and brand in well-maintained communities. A detailed list of what keeps an entire community in peak showable condition is taught, along with the importance of a robust and varied marketing approach for maximum exposure.

CALP III: Morning Session – February 9 Why Your Competition Matters – A loyal and satisfied resident is at the basis of this course on competition. The Leasing Professional is a critical component in inspiring and maintaining loyalty but also understanding the role of competitors and their offerings. This knowledge must be complete, accurate and timely.

CALP IV: Afternoon Session – February 9 Relevant Laws and How to Apply Them – This course teaches a full spectrum of fair housing and ADA compliance for both prospective and current residents. In addition, laws applying to prospect screening, application verification, the lease and lease addenda make up the curriculum for this key component to the Leasing professional’s role.

CALP V: Morning Session – February 16 The Sales Process and Building Relationships – The CALP candidate learns the foundations of relationship selling and the importance of problem-solving for both the prospective and current resident. Learning to listen and respond specifically to the customer, handling objections and meaningful ways to close the sale are the essential duties learned. The course closes with a personal assessment of sales readiness.

CALP VI: Afternoon Session – February 16 Effectively Meeting the Needs of Current Residents – Once the prospective resident moves in, the relationship and responsibilities continue. The Leasing Professional learns the importance of handling maintenance and resident issues and continuing to be the positive brand for the community. Lease renewals and a focus on the all-important resident’s sense of community are pivotal skills for the successful Leasing Professional.

CALP VII: Morning Session from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – February 23 Market Analysis for Leasing Professionals

Visit www.haaonline.org for more information and to register.

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Industry Update from the NATIONAL APARTMENT ASSOCIATION and the NATIONAL MULTIHOUSING COUNCIL

STAFF SAFETY

Apartment companies think outside the box to protect staff from COVID-19.

APARTMENT COMPANIES across the U.S. have worked hard to keep residents safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But they have been just as focused on protecting employees—even as growing business activity brings their leasing professionals and maintenance teams into contact with residents or prospective residents.

“As the colder seasons approach and the pandemic continues, it will be critical that team members remain vigilant about safety practices,” says Mike Brewer, Chief Operating Officer of the RADCO Companies.

Many apartment companies are now sending staff members back to leasing offices that operated with skeleton crews during the height of the pandemic. Others are beginning to engage with residents in person and sending maintenance crews into apartments to address the backlog of problems that have piled up since the pandemic began.

“Most amenities and leasing offices were closed over the summer,” says Demi SterlingKinney, Vice President of Operations at Aspen Heights Partners. “We have since reopened many of these with policies in place that support social distancing.”

Leasing Offices Gradually Reopen Numerous apartment communities closed their leasing offices to residents and potential residents in the first few months of the pandemic.

“Our existing technology gave us confidence that closing our leasing offices would not unduly interrupt business continuity,” says Brewer. A skeleton crew of property managers still showed up to work behind the closed doors of the leasing offices at RADCO’s communities, he says. They did the basic business of keeping the apartments safe and habitable, communicating with residents through phone, email and the internet.

“We remain closed to the public,” Brewer adds. “We have since returned to fully

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staffing our leasing offices with apApartment companies typically decide what propriate social distancing and personal protective equipment their staff members can and cannot do by protocols in place.” following the regulations set by local health Apartment companies typically officials to the letter. But some companies have decide what their staff members gone beyond what local regulations demand can and cannot do by following the to help keep their staff and residents safe. regulations set by local health officials to the letter. But some companies have gone beyond what local include virtual tours and online applications. regulations demand to help keep their staff Many companies are also experimenting and residents safe. with self-guided tours.

“We began taking steps to ensure safe opSome companies had already planned to eration nationwide two weeks before the naallow potential renters to lease an apartment tional emergency,” says Patrick Appleby, largely online. The pandemic simply sped up President of WinnResidential. their plans. “RADCO moved to 100 percent Experts now largely agree that COVID-19 virtual or video conference-style leasing often spreads through the air, especially inwithin days of pandemic-related closures,” doors in spaces with weak ventilation where says Brewer. The company hired its first digiviral particles can hang in the air for as long tal leasing consultant two years ago, when as three hours. For safety in the pandemic, the company first included virtual leasing health experts recommend a tough standard tools in its technology innovation road map. of six to nine air changes per hour in rooms A virtual tour can be as simple as a video where people gather—at least twice the stanposted to an apartment community’s webdard required by many building codes. site. More complex virtual tours allow webApartment managers also have followed site visitors to explore a three-dimensional the level of infection increases in their areas. apartment model, similar to the three-di“Our local managers and their teams have mensional environment of a computer game. followed infection rates closely as well to deApartment companies are also using cide on a property-by-property basis if there “smart apartment” technologies like elecwere adjustments that needed to be made… tronic door locks and online ID verification in advance of and addition to local regulato let potential renters arrange a tour of an tions,” says Elie Rieder, Founder and CEO of apartment through the community website Castle Lanterra Properties. and enter the apartment without ever seeing Leasing Continues Despite COVID These apartment companies have had to continue to lease new apartments—while keeping their employees safe—during the pandemic. They quickly learned how to conduct as much business as possible through the internet.

“Virtual or contactless leasing techniques will be an important option for everyone for the foreseeable future,” says Appleby. They

a leasing agent.

These technologies are likely to be important for apartment companies long after the pandemic is over. “Self-guided tours of apartments will become a more significant part of the sales process,” says Castle Lanterra’s Rieder.

Potential renters seem to have already gotten used to the new process. “Once our teams were past the initial learning curve, / See NAA, Page 60

www.haaonline.org

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s n o i t a l u t a r Cong NAA 2020 Best Places to Work PAS Purchasing Solutions and Veritas Equity Management CertiďŹ ed Apartment Supplier of the Year Blaise Spitaleri, CAS, Gemstar Construction National Suppliers Council Achievement Kenneth J. Bohan, The Liberty Group

Mary Williams Maintenance Professional of the Year Roberto Guzman, CAMT, Veritas Equity Management Rita Kirby Regional Property Manager of the Year Scott Douglas, CAM, CAPS, NALP, Creative Property Management Mike Clark Supplier Partner Company of the Year Century AC Supply

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to the Houston winners of the 2020 NAA, TAA and HAA Awards

Photos from left to right, top to bottom: Leasing Consultant Bianca Gold Villas at the Palms The Conerly Group

On-Site Manager, 151-349 units Chavonne Laeur, NALP, CAM Memorial Greystar

Assistant Manager Michelle Wade, NALP The Woodlands Lodge Francis Property Management

On-Site Manager, 350 units or more Ruha Vohra, NALP, CAM Westchase Creek Veritas Equity Management

On-Site Manager, 1-150 units Monica Morales, CAM Las Villas de Magnolia Whitney Management

Go-Getter of the Year Donna Farthing Greystar

Maintenance Technician Oscar Quiroz Houston House Greystar Maintenance Supervisor Single Property Oscar Fiallos, CAMT Marquis at Sugar Land CWS Apartment Homes Maintenance Supervisor Multiple Properties Alejandro Mercado Judwin Properties

Administrative Support Lenore Clay Greystar

Owner/Management Executive Shelley Watson Morgan Group

Portfolio Supervisor Darlene Hunter, CAM Greystar

Supplier Ryan Weis Crestmark Construction

Independent Rental Owner Ramon Nunez, CAM, IROP Bravo Capital Management Corporate Marketing/ Training Director Mollie Witt Venterra Realty

Rising Star Shaun Callaway, CAS Earthworks Volunteer of the Year Norma Alvear SMI Realty

PAS Purchasing Solutions has been the multifamily industry’s #1 Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) for the past 30 years. With a membership base of over 800,000 units, PAS members attain the buying power over a national network of recognized suppliers and service providers with discounted pricing and benefits exclusive to PAS. In addition, members receive a customized cost savings program built to their specific needs so operating costs are reduced and NOI is increased. Contact us for your free and personalized savings analysis, and to find out more about how we have been creating value for the owners asset since 1990.

congratulates all of the nominees in these prestigious awards

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By Morgan Taylor, HAA Staff Portraits by Mark Hiebert, Hiebert Photography

W

hether you are the leader of a trade association or an apartment management company, the meaning of leadership is evolving with each phase of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. For many, the pandemic has proven to be the toughest leadership test. Luckily for the Houston Apartment Association, its president for 2021 is the president of Veritas Equity Management, John Boriack.

At press time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reviewing potential COVID-19 vaccines. Still, the future feels uncertain, and HAA must continue to tailor its services to best serve its members. Boriack is confident in his abilities to lead HAA in 2021 and hopes this year will be a resurgence period. It may seem like a daunting task to be the president of a trade association during the COVID-19 crisis, but where there is disruption, there is opportunity.

“I’m excited about the clarity COVID-19 has brought. It has presented a pruning to all organizations and companies, including HAA, to evaluate what drives success, what brings value and what can be eliminated. It has brought an extra level of accountability to all organizations, mine included,” Boriack said.

Guiding HAA through the initial phases of the pandemic as presidentelect last year, Boriack understands the potential long-term impacts of the pandemic on HAA and its members. He also understands what HAA needs to do to serve its members and generate revenue in 2021. That means being respectful to everyone’s needs and comfort levels by creating an inclusive, supportive membership experience to a diverse group of people.

“Going forward, we have to recognize as an association, we can’t offer our services in one dimension anymore. We have to be able to serve everyone’s needs. Some members still won’t feel comfortable about in-person

HAA’s 2021 President John Boriack, Veritas Equity Management, talks with ABODE about how a lifetime of going against the grain has shaped him into the business owner he is today and how leadership and serving others go hand in hand.

Photos, from top left: John’s 30th birthday, fishing on Galveston Island with his lifelong best friends Tommy McMinn and Patrick Maddox.

John enjoying one of his many outdoor activities, hunting.

Renegade The

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Photos clockwise from top left: Team Veritas, John, wife Katelin and children Danielle, Bradley and Ellie Kay. John and Katelin’s first picture together.

John and Katelin today.

A camping/hiking trip at Pedernales State Park with high school students they mentor.

The Boriacks’ wedding photo.

training, while others have Zoom burnout and will need to come to HAA for an in-person training experience. The product, so to speak, now has to be delivered in multiple different avenues in order to serve the whole group, which will require outside the box thinking.

How can we protect our members and still provide the member benefits they signed up for?

We have some members who are suffocating, and we need to be able to give them the lifeline they need through different events, support and education,” Boriack said.

Boriack was crowned the “renegade” among the HAA COVID-19 Task Force, a group of HAA leaders who were tasked with guiding HAA’s response to the pandemic in order to best serve its members, for his bold decision making and the way in which he leaned into taking risks amid the pandemic.

“Exceptional results are never achieved by avoiding risks. In order to really achieve success, there's always going to be risks in anything you do, but you have to get comfortable with that.

Naturally, I’m an optimistic, glass half full person, almost to a fault. I’ve had to surround myself with a team of people who do see risks better than I do, but when the driver is optimism, you can achieve something exceptional.

Successful people make decisions from a paradigm of opportunity and abundance, not fear,” Boriack said.

Taking on the Pandemic at Veritas During the initial, first phase of the pandemic, leadership responsibilities changed to address employees’ basic needs of safety, stability and security. Boriack was courageous enough to admit to his team of 41 employees that he didn’t

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know what that would look like but that he would dive right in and figure it out.

“In the beginning, we were all trying to find answers. Nobody knew what the right solutions were to every problem, including myself. What I did know was that if our team members didn’t feel secure, supported or encouraged, their cups weren’t going to be full and there was no way they would have the capacity to adequately serve our residents or each other. I didn’t know exactly what that all practically meant, but I knew they needed a lot of communication, I knew they needed to know they and their families were going to be safe and taken care of,” Boriack said.

Every week, Boriack would meet with Veritas’ Vice President of Operations Jaqueline Aguirre, to curate daily COVID-19 specific content for the employee-facing Veritas Facebook group.

Whether it was an educational video on a new eviction moratorium or an encouraging message, Veritas created an open line of communication to support its onsite teams. Before COVID-19, John, Aguirre and Katelin would eat, pray, face challenges and celebrate wins alongside their team. As the pandemic raged on last year, Veritas developed new ways to connect with each other.

“I basically told them I didn’t know what the world would look like in the coming months, but that instead of cowering in fear, this is a time to step up, shine and thrive in the way we serve our residents and the way we serve each other,” Boriack said. “To reinforce that, I handed each employee a $100 dollar bill for groceries, toilet paper or whatever they needed for their family that day. I wanted my work family to know that at the very least, this huge piece of their lives was stable and secure during a really tumultuous time. We had virtual lunches together, played vir-

tual games that could win you gift cards and so much more. Connecting with one another really reinforced how important communication and a sense of security were in their careers. Their job performance swelled when they felt that support and encouragement from their leader, especially during a time when so many other people were losing their jobs,” Boriack said.

Brene Brown, a researcher, professor, New York Times bestseller of “Dare to Lead” and a fellow Houstonian has spent the last two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame and empathy. She defines leadership as “Anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes and has the courage to develop that potential.” When Boriack said, “The reason I do what I do – my get up in the morning, my ongoing motivation, is seeing our team members achieve their highest potential,” it became clear that Boriack is a courageous leader.

Business Starts with Family Boriack and his wife Katelin have built Veritas Equity Management with family at the core of the company culture. The husband-and-wife duo own and manage five properties and have three children together. John and Katelin were both members of Lifestyles Unlimited when they met, Katelin on the real estate agent side and John on the multifamily syndicator side. The two were introduced at John’s cousin’s wedding, who was Katelin’s childhood neighbor. The two danced together that night and bonded over their interest in real estate. The two have been partners in life and in business ever since. In fact, they closed on their first property within the Veritas portfolio, Windfern Pointe, the same week they got married in 2012, giving them two reasons to celebrate www.haaonline.org

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Photos, left to right, from top left: John with the Veritas team receiving one of their NAA awards.

John winning one of his first association awards at TAA in 2015, with his parents.

John wins the HAA Honors Award, here with John’s parents and Del Walmsley, Lifestyes Unlimited.

John and the Veritas team on the HAA Expo show floor.

Veritas’ many awards.

John works on one of his first rental homes.

The Veritas team celebrates John being named a 2019 HAA 40 Under 40.

John with the Veritas winners for the HAA Honors Awards.

John and Jaquiline Aguirre with the NAA Independent Rental Owner of the Year award.

Veritas celebrates eight years as a team together this past spring during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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on their honeymoon. Katelin is an owner operator and design specialist for Veritas, meaning she has many roles within the company.

“It's incredible having Katelin. Her strengths compensate for my weaknesses. She’ll push me to make hard decisions, be bold and take on the challenge. For her to be so engaged in the business, in the lives of all of our employees, in planning the Christmas parties and taking on design projects – her support is an irreplaceable asset to me. And more than just an asset, it makes it fun.

I’m grateful to have a wife who is so aligned with my interests and passions. I know it's cliche to say behind every great man is a better woman, but that statement has never been more fitting than it is for me,” Boriack said.

In addition to building a successful company, John and Katelin have a beautiful and incredible family with their three children. Danielle is their oldest child, at six years old. She’s smart, full of energy and keeps mom and dad on their toes.

Bradley, who is three and a half, is a sweet, inherently happy, typical boy. He loves to play in the dirt, play with his cousins and spend time with dad wrestling, shooting guns and hunting. Ellie Kay is the youngest of the bunch, who is one years old. The Boriacks spend a lot of time together. Whether it’s at work, at home or on a hunting ranch, family time is sacred.

Success Starts at Home When you talk to successful people, risk taking is always part of their story. And taking a risk to achieve a goal requires the courage to face fear

and uncertainty. Approaching business and life outside of the cookie cutter format is a risk to most people. At a very early age, Boriack learned how to embrace uncertainty and the power of taking risks.

The oldest of five, Boriack was homeschooled with his siblings, long before the COVID-19 pandemic forced many parents to homeschool their children. This unconventional approach to education taught him how to lean into risks as a young teenager, providing him with a solid foundation of courage.

“I had awesome parents, from beginning to the end, who proactively chose to homeschool us because they believed they could deliver a better product by customizing our learning experience.

Homeschooling allowed them to create their own curriculum to include accounting, financial training, business courses and public speaking, instead of Latin 3 or something we would never use in our adult lives. I got very comfortable with being unconventional and going against the grain leaving high school. That was the norm for me – doing things different. It made me consider unconventional avenues and the ability to weigh the pros and cons. Being okay with not being like everybody else has been a huge benefit to me throughout my whole career,” Boriack said.

His parents valued developing his unique potential, which is how he was able to pursue a personalized education and career path. It’s a lesson that Boriack pours into his business and children.

“You can't get in a cookie cutter, formulaic

approach to managing people. You have to view every person as a lump of marble that you have the opportunity to chisel into a statue. If I try to chisel the same statute with every single lump, it’s not going to work. We have to see each person as an individual with their own unique skills and potential, and then figure out how to provide them with a customized work environment so that they can be the best they can be in their role,” Boriack said.

Embracing the Unconventional Boriack has a bachelor’s degree in business, but skipped the traditional route of going to college following high school. Instead, he joined the Lifestyles Unlimited program and earned his degree online while starting Veritas Equity Management.

“When I graduated high school, my parents proposed I could take the traditional college route. Or, if I wanted to do something different, they would let me use the money they saved for my college education to start a business, which I was ecstatic about it. I didn't especially love studying or school, but I did love business. I had no idea what industry I wanted to go into. My family had no background in real estate, but we stumbled on Lifestyles Unlimited, which gave us the opportunity to accelerate the learning curve in a strong industry,” Boriack said.

Within the first year after graduating high school, Boriack joined Lifestyles and started with single-family, rental homes.

“We bought eight single-family homes during

Photos clockwise from left: John does media interviews during the pandemic, speaking for HAA and representing the multifamily industry.

Accepting the NAA award with the Lifestyles group.

John with 2019 HAA Officers Ian Douglas, Tina Cavaco, Michelle Pawelek, Starla Turnbo, Christy Rodriguez and Clay Hicks.

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Photos from clockwise from top left: John fishing with the late Ira Gross.

John on vacation at NAA in San Diego with the Veritas team.

John and Katelin on a hiking trip with their closest friends Patrick and Brityn Maddox and Baylee and Tommy McMinn.

John with the Houston delegation visiting Rep. Dan Crenshaw during the NAA Capitol Conference.

John teaching at Lifestyles Unlimited.

the financial crisis. That's where I really got my start in the industry, managing single-family rental homes. After doing that for about a year, it was obvious to me that this was something I wanted to continue to pursue. We transitioned from single-family homes into a small, lowincome, 50-unit apartment complex. I was onsite every day as the manager and sometimes as the maintenance tech keeping that property running. I would go to work all day, then go home at night to study and pursue a business degree in management,” he said.

Through Lifestyles, Boriack had access to formal education and invaluable teaching moments from the people he was surrounded by within the program. He met many mentors who helped him navigate Veritas.

“Having a business to run while taking college classes taught me a lot. With the Lifestyles program, the formal education was helpful, but more than anything, I gained incredible mentors in people who were in much more sophisticated operations than myself. I was pretty naive about the risks, but I tried to be teachable. I had some amazing mentors. My parents – my dad especially, being a business owner. He was able to give me invaluable business advice. In Lifestyles, I had mentors in successful people like Scott Tenney, Robert Martinez, Emery Jakab, Curtis Haines and the late Ira Gross, who was an HAA board member until he passed away a few months ago. Those guys poured their advice into me. I would take every word and go apply it to my little 50-unit property. When they saw that, it just made them more open and more supportive

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to share advice with me as a 20year old. Each mentor had their specific strengths, and I was able to pull all of the best advice together as best I could and poured it all into my company as I formed Veritas,” Boriack said.

When asked if his unconventional approach to education shaped him into the renegade, risktaking leader he is today, his answer points back to high school.

“I was given a lot of leash and leeway early as a high schooler, which was hard to earn and could have easily been lost. That has definitely translated into our work family now. We have high expectations, but we provide the resources they need and an environment that encourages you to achieve your highest potential, which in the end benefits everybody. I’ve never been conventional. Right out of high school, I joined Lifestyles Unlimited. My mentors became other independent apartment owners who were outside-the-box thinkers. Generally speaking, independent owners are a renegade group of men and women.

When those are your primary influencers, it's really easy to take an unconventional approach,” Boriack said.

From the mentors he met at Lifestyles, Boriack learned how budgets can create a fear-based mentality. Taking a couple tips from his mentors, Boriack decided to ditch traditional budgets when he birthed Veritas.

“It’s an idea I got from a couple of my mentors at Lifestyles – we don’t use traditional budgets at Veritas. Jerry Winograd (an HAA past president who owns Judwin Properties) doesn’t use budgets at Judwin. It was inspiring for me to learn that

the options are limitless in how you can run your own company. I understand why companies use budgets, but what a lot of people don't understand is how people can easily get into “budget jail” where they get in this fear-of-the-budget mindset and start operating the business out of fear of variance reports instead of making common-sense business decisions,” Boriack said. “It limits successes. A maintenance manager may hit their budget, thinking they’ve earned the praise of their boss because they’re under budget, and then mentally check out. If there's no budget number to hit, the potential is limitless.

We train managers to look at trailing expense numbers and trailing income numbers rather than hitting a certain threshold that was negotiated a year ago, based on what people thought was going to happen. There's no subconscious ceiling when you don’t have a budget to abide by.

You figure out ways to go higher and drive further, because there's no budget telling you that you’ve arrived and that your job is done.”

This unconventional approach to budgets empowers people to make their own decisions.

It’s just one of the many ways Veritas develops the potential in people. An individualized approach to each person is how Veritas focuses on development.

“It is best done through individualized one-onone attention and focus. We give our property managers the authority to make their own independent decisions. Each property is different, and each property requires a different level of support. What serves one property may not serve another property. Our property managers are www.haaonline.org

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onsite every day. From the top, I’m not going to pretend I know what is best for each property.

They know how to do their jobs and make the best decisions for their properties. We have an open line of communication with our onsite teams who are on the frontlines. We provide guidance, support and encouragement to our onsite teams, but they have the power to make the day-to-day decisions as if they are the CEOs of their own little companies,” Boriack said.

God First, Family Second, Work Third Veritas Equity Management’s core values is framed by Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as unto the Lord.” Priorities, integrity, humility, constant development, loyalty and servant leadership are the six core values of Veritas Equity Management. Those core values are defined as shown below.

1. Priorities: We believe in keeping God as our first priority, family as our second, and work as our third.

2. Integrity: Always choosing to do the right thing to the best of our ability, even when it’s not the most profitable and even when no one else is looking.

3. Humility: We exhibit an attitude of humility by being grateful for every opportunity, blessing and achievement.

4. Constant Development: Continuously educating and training our team members, simplifying business systems, and never being afraid to ask for help.

5. Loyalty: We value commitment from our team members and a devoted work ethic is rewarded.

6. Servant Leadership: Our supervisors lead by serving their team members, enabling and empowering them to excel at their responsibilities.

Aguirre and Boriack dedicated a lot of time in

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establishing Veritas’ company values. Aguirre, who had more property management experience than Boriack did when she interviewed to join the Veritas team eight years ago as the first Veritas employee, has helped Boriack shape Veritas into the company it is today.

Aguirre said that when they sat down to create this list of values, their goal was to create a flexible and compassionate work environment.

Compassion is really at the root of courage, leadership and risk taking. Quite literally, the root of courage is “cor,” which is Latin for heart.

Therefore, the opposite of fear is not courage, it is compassion. People can be fearful when being courageous, but when you bring compassion in, fear subsides. When fear subsides, you can accomplish greatness.

“I cannot take the credit for our company culture without Jackie Aguirre. She understood the culture I wanted to create at Veritas, and she executed it. Veritas is just as much her baby as it is mine, because she runs the day-to-day operations. She impacts the lives of our team members way more than I do,” Boriack said. “Jackie is phenomenal at seeing the potential in people, inspiring them, putting them in the right seat to be able to achieve that potential, and then providing them with the resources to grow and blossom.

We’ve seen her do this with person after person that she's recruited. A lot of our team members are recruited from other industries, where they were stuck in a dead-end job or a dead-end industry. We’ll bring them in as a leasing agent or a porter or a maintenance tech, provide them with the support they need to blossom and then they turn into a super successful community director or maintenance supervisor. We help them find their true calling or purpose in life that they weren't getting from their occupation before. And that means so much more to us than any kind of financial return.”

Inspiring personal development within his employees is far more valuable to Boriack than any type of financial return, he said.

“That's what keeps us going – seeing people really blossom and grow into the best they can be, which then impacts their families and their home life. To me, it's a very holistic kind of responsibility. If someone ever has an emergency they need to take care of, we let them handle it, no matter what and no questions asked. We’ll help pick up the pieces at work. God first, family second, work third,” Boriack said.

To ensure each Veritas team member is upholding these values, leadership performs individual performance reviews every six months to evaluate each team member based on all six Veritas values, including faith first, family second, work third as part of that check-in. Having clear company values that are reinforced every six months helps shape a company’s culture.

It’s the same culture that has won them NAA’s Best Places to Work, Best Places to Work Multifamily and a ranking on the National Association for Business Resources’ Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, for five years in a row.

Boriack’s team describes him as a servant leader, serving employees through his commitment to finding their potential and cultivating that potential to its highest level, and he serves the people of Houston by providing quality, affordable housing. For Boriack, serving others and leadership go hand in hand.

“I always remind our team members of our first company value, priorities, which says we believe in keeping God as our first priority, family as our second and work as our third. The sixth value is servant leadership. Our leaders, or supervisors, lead by serving their team members by enabling and empowering them to excel at their / See Boriack, Page 72

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2021 HAA Leadership John Boriack, CAM, IROP President John Boriack is the president of Veritas Equity Management, a Houston-based owner-operator group.

Following high school, John enrolled in Lifestyles Unlimited, a real estate investment group. He got his start in real estate by investing in and managing eight single-family rental homes. Then, in 2008, he founded Veritas Equity Management with one property. Today, Veritas has five properties in its portfolio and 41 employees.

While building his company, John earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Thomas Edison State College in 2011 with honors and a 4.0 GPA. John has led his team in the purchase and operation of over $100 million of commercial real estate. Veritas has won 19 industry awards from local, state and national apartment associations, in addition to a spot on the list of “Houston’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For” the last five years.

John became an active volunteer with HAA in 2014, the same year he won HAA’s Independent Owner of the Year award. He has served on the HAA Strategic Outreach Committee since 2014, and has served on the HAA Board of Directors since 2015. In 2018, he was honored as an HAA Forty Under 40. He served as a vice president at large from 2017 to 2018, overseeing the north outreach region, before he moved up the HAA leadership ladder to secretary/treasurer. In addition to serving as president-elect last year, John served on the Harris County Housing Stability Task Force and responded to a number of media requests on the behalf of HAA. A devout Christian, John is committed to being a steadfast follower of the Lord and volunteers much of his time at ministries through his church, his community and yearly mission trips to developing nations.

Christy Rodriguez, CAPS President-Elect Director of Multifamily Properties for Judwin Properties Christy Rodriguez is responsible for all aspects of property operations and management. Prior to joining Judwin Properties in

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August 2019, Christy was a director of real estate for Greystar in Houston, where she worked for six years in various roles. At Greystar, she was responsible for the owned asset portfolio for the central south division.

With over 20 years of multifamily experience, Christy has extensive experience with acquisitions, dispositions, due diligence, senior housing, affordable housing, value add renovations, third party management and new construction lease-ups.

Christy served as an HAA vice president at large in 2018 and 2019, overseeing the south outreach region. Last year, she moved up to HAA secretary/treasurer. In that role, she worked alongside the 2020 HAA president and president-elect to guide HAA through the COVID-19 pandemic and the executive director transition, serving on the HAA COVID-19 Task Force and on the HAA Executive Director Search Committee. As secretary/treasurer, she was responsible for reviewing the budget and ensuring the financial health of HAA. She also served on the HAA Investment Committee as part of her responsibilities. As president-elect, Christy chairs the HAA Legislative Committee and the HAA Program and Budget Committee.

She is a Certified Apartment Property Supervisor through the National Apartment Association, as well as a graduate of the HAA, Texas Apartment Association and National Apartment Association Leadership Lyceum programs. Christy currently serves as the 2021 Education Conference and Expo chair for TAA and as vice chair for the NAA Next Gen Committee.

dent of operations for a portfolio of over 30,000 units in eight states throughout the country.

In 2015, she founded Q10 Property Advisors, a group of industry professionals that advise and educate multifamily professionals throughout the country.

Serving as a vice president at large for HAA in 2019 and 2020, Stephanie oversaw the north outreach region. She has served on the HAA Board of Directors for eight years, and she has graduated from the HAA and Texas Apartment Association Leadership Lyceum programs.

Stephanie has also served as a delegate for the Houston market at the national level with the National Apartment Association. As secretary/treasurer, Stephanie chairs the HAA Investment Committee and the HAA Strategic Outreach Committee.

Stephanie is a sought-after speaker for the apartment industry nationwide, speaking for the TAA and NAA conferences on multiple occasions. She has a bachelor’s degree in communication from St. Edwards University in Austin, and she holds the Certified Apartment Manager, Certified Apartment Supervisor and Independent Rental Owner Professional credentials through NAA. Stephanie is recognized as a NAA Education Faculty member, and she is a frequent contributor to industry magazines and blogs. In her free time, Stephanie travels with her family.

Stephanie’s eclectic, entrepreneurial spirit is evident in her many accomplishments and projects including founding a non-profit organization and successfully building, running and selling a Montessori preschool in Spring.

Stephanie Graves, CAM, CAPS, IROP Secretary/Treasure Stephanie Graves is the vice president of residential property management for The Signorelli Company. Stephanie spearheads all management activities for their multifamily and singlefamily rentals throughout the Houston market.

With over 25 years of real estate experience, Stephanie’s experience on and off property is extensive, with roles ranging from director of business development, vice president of training and marketing as well as senior vice presi-

Clay Hicks, CPM Immediate Past President As President of Management Division for The Dinerstein Companies, Clay Hicks is responsible for the operational oversight of all multifamily properties for TDC. As HAA president last year, Clay led HAA through a national health crisis and the executive director transition. Under his leadership, the HAA COVID-19 Task Force was created to address HAA’s response to the pandemic. As the chair for the HAA Executive Search Committee, he played an integral role in

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hiring HAA’s new CEO Casey Morgan.

Prior to joining TDC, Clay was a managing director for Greystar, where he helped direct the operations of over 40,000 units of real estate operations in the central south region. Clay is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where he played football and was part of the team that won the 1998 Big 12 Championship Game.

The first job Hicks had in the industry was working for Greystone as a corporate analyst and operations associate. Working for Greystone, Clay became involved with HAA. His early HAA involvement started with the young professional group HAA NEXT. He was part of the inaugural TAA Leadership Lyceum class in 2010, graduating in 2011. Hicks has served on the HAA Board of Directors since 2014, and served as an HAA vice president at large in 2016 and 2017, overseeing the west outreach region. In 2017, Clay also chaired the HAA Membership Committee. When he moved up to secretary/treasurer in 2018, he chaired the HAA Strategic Outreach Committee and the HAA Investment Committee. That same year, Clay was named to the inaugural HAA Forty Under 40 class.

As the immediate past president, Clay will provide assistance to the HAA Executive Committee as needed and he serves as the chair of the HAA Nominating Committee. He is also the presidentelect for the Texas Apartment Association.

2021 VICE PRESIDENTS AT LARGE Scott Douglas, CAM, CAPS Scott Douglas is the vice president of operations for Creative Property Management. He is the second generation of the company, which was started by his father Greg Douglas in 1978.

With 15 years of multifamily industry experience, Scott grew up in the multifamily industry.

Through the Texas Real Estate Commission, Scott has both the real estate agent and broker licenses. He has a business management degree from the Houston Community College, as well as the Certified Apartment Manager and the Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor credentials through the National Apartment Association.

Scott got involved with HAA the year after he

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went to work for Creative, in 2007. He won the HAA Honors Awards in 2019 for Property Supervisor of the Year, and he is an HAA Leadership Lyceum graduate. Scott has served on a handful of HAA committees, such as the Property Honors Committee, Resident Relations Committee, the Strategic Outreach Committee and the HAA Political Action Steering Committee. In addition to that, Scott is a Texas Apartment Association delegate.

Last year, Scott was awarded with the 2020 TAA Rita Kirby Regional Manager of the Year award. This year, as an HAA vice president at large, Scott oversees the south outreach region and serves as the liaison for the HAA Career and Community Development.

Gina Erwin Gina Erwin is the president of GWR Management. Her focus, as part of the executive team, is promoting superior performance at each community through GWR’s comprehensive management approach.

Gina designs the operational guidelines for each community and directs the training and oversight of all management personnel. Her collective experience includes 30 years in the multifamily industry, working with garden-style, midrise and high-rise apartment communities. Gina devises revenue growth opportunities and identifies new manpower efficiencies, elevating overall property performance.

Prior to GWR, Gina has worked with private companies, local companies and a public REIT. She oversaw the operations at Arcadian Real Estate Services, ran the Houston market for Equity Residential and worked in various roles for The Dinerstein Companies, including marketing and management positions. A native Houstonian, Gina attended the University of Texas.

Gina has served on the HAA Board of Directors since 2018, and she graduated from the HAA Leadership Lyceum program in 2020. She served on HAA’s COVID-19 Task Force last year and served as the host for HAA’s Expert Exchange when the program initially launched in the midst of COVID-19. As an HAA vice president at large, Gina oversees the east outreach region and

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Shelley Watson, CAM Shelley Watson serves as the executive vice president of operations for The Morgan Group. Shelley oversees the property management platform, accounting and human resources for the company.

Prior to joining The Morgan Group, Shelley was a managing director for six years with Greystar in Austin, where she was responsible for 12,000 units. Experienced in conventional, valueadd renovations, senior housing, repositions and new construction lease-ups with direct supervision of more than 30 lease-ups in Texas.

Shelley has more than 25 years of multifamily experience, including supervision of third-party assistance with Riverstone and Alliance. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Louisiana – Monroe. She also has the Certified Apartment Manager credential through the National Apartment Association.

Prior to her involvement with HAA, Shelley was an active member of the Austin Apartment Association Supervisor’s Council. She is currently a member of CREW Houston, as well as a Texas Apartment Association delegate and a student of the TAA Leadership Lyceum Program. Shelley has served on the HAA Board of Directors since 2016 and graduated from the HAA Leadership Lyceum program the following year.

Last year, during her first year serving as an HAA Vice President at Large, Shelley served on the HAA COVID-19 Task Force and oversaw the west outreach region. This year, Shelley continues to oversee the west outreach region and serves as the liaison for the HAA Education Advisory Council.

Tracie Yoder, CAPS Tracie Yoder is a senior vice president of operations for Barvin. She began her multifamily career in 1989, and she has extensive experience in overseeing performance for diverse assets nationwide.

Tracie holds expertise in developing strategies to exceed income and occupancy goals, / See Leadership, Page 76

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2021 Product Service Council The HAA SUPPLIER BOARD

President David Lindley, CAS FSI Construction 832-477-1158 david@fsi construction.com

Angie Aversa, CAS The Liberty Group 713-443-2813 angiea@theliberty group.com

Vice President Derek DeVries, CAS Camp Construction Services 713-859-8799 ddevries@camp construction.com

Chris Bell, CAS Cotton Commercial USA 832-795-6033 chris.bell@cotton team.com

Sean Cunningham, CAS Flooring Warehouse 512-739-4748

Deborah DeRouen, CAS OneApp Guarantee 903-277-5451

sean@myflooring warehouse.com

deborah@oneapp guarantee.com

Amanda Kelly, CAS Brandt Electrical A/C and Heating Services 832-921-6690

Debra Knight, CAS Fidus Construction Services 281-250-9517

akelly@brandt electrical.com

dknight@fidus capex.com

Matthew Nunn, CAS Capital Construction 832-712-1618

Doug Oehl, CAS Flooring Warehouse 832-721-3200 doug@myflooring

mnunn@capital constructiontx.com

warehouse.com

Secretary Candis Mohr, CAS AAA Plumbers 832-330-3998

Treasurer Joseph Rodriguez, CAS The Urban Foresters 713-582-7999

Immediate Past President Laura Lestus, CAS The Liberty Group 713-819-3566

candismohr@ aaaplumbers.com

joseph@theurban foresters.com

laural@theliberty group.com

Marivel Bownds, CAS Valet Living 713-806-9830

Dixie Caldwell, CAS ControlByNet Cloud & Management Video Surveillance Solutions 713-518-5390 dixiec@controlby net.com

Shaun Callaway, CAS Earthworks 844-425-8168

Clark Gregg, CASE Fidus Construction Services 832-260-3226

Jimmie Hotz, CASE Chadwell Supply 713-822-0426

Dan James, CAS Redevelopment Services 713-501-7555

jimmie.hotz@chadwell supply .com

djames@redevelopment inc.com

Karen Nelsen, CAM, CAS ALN Apartment Data 832-647-8637

marivel.bownds@valet living.com

Juana Estrada,CAS Interstate Restoration 713-561-1303 jestrada@interstate restoration.com

cgregg@fiduscap ex.com

shaun@earth.works

nealc@gemstar construction.com

Stephanie Krop, CASE Poolsure 281-914-0274

Liz Levins, CAS Rasa Floors 832-361-2624

Tracey Moore, CAS Flooring Warehouse 281-546-2283

skrop@poolsure.com

llevins@rasa floors.com

tracey@myflooring warehouse.com

Nikki Sekunda, CAS The Liberty Group 713-255-2475 nikkis@theliberty group.com

Blaise Spitaleri, CAS Gemstar Construction Development 713-355-9230 blaise@gemstar construction.com

Neal Conant, CAS Gemstar Construction Development 281-636-2214

knelsen@alndata.com

SUPPLIER PARTNERS SERVING TO FACILITATE GROWTH AND STRENGTHEN THE INDUSTRY. The Product Service Council is a group of active supplier members whose objectives are to promote the active involvement and participation of supplier members. For more information on the council and its members, see online at www.haaonline.org/psc or contact Susan Hinkley

Blake Subinsky, CAS HD Supply 979-864-0740 blake.subinsky@ hdsupply.com

Mat Tilley, CAS WeDoTrash 713-836-2578 mat@wedotrash.com

Amber Whitaker, CAS FSI Constuction 713-690-5330 amber@fsiconstruction.com

at shinkley@haaonline.org.

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On the Scene Photos by HIEBERT PHOTOGRAPHY 2020 Virtual Honors Awards Presented by FSI Construction Friday, November 13 via Zoom Due to the pandemic, more than 1,000 HAA members “Zoomed” in to watch HAA’s first ever Virtual Honors Awards and 60th Anniversary Celebration, hosted by Mack Armstrong, Greystar, and Christy Rodriguez, Judwin Properties. Thanks to our “online hosts with the most” for a fun event and to our sponsors for their unwavering support. Congratulations to the winners, who were able to receive their awards while social distancing at a special photoshoot in their honor. Here’s to seeing everyone in person next year!

Presenting Sponsor

Photos from top, left to right: Presenting Sponsors David Lindley and Amber Whitaker, FSI Construction.

Maintenance Technician of the Year Oscar Quiroz, Houston House, Greystar.

Rising Star Supplier Shaun Callaway, CAS, Earthworks.

Volunteer of the Year Norma Alvear, SMI Realty.

Maintenance Supervisor of the Year - Single Property Oscar Fiallos, CAMT, Marquis at Sugar Land, CWS. Go-Getter of the Year Donna Farthing, Greystar.

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60th Anniversary Sponsor

Photos from top, left to right: 60th Anniversary Celebration Sponsors Cesar Lima, Candis Mohr and Mark Park, AAA Plumbers.

Maintenance Supervisor of the Year - Multiple Properties Alejandro Mercado, Judwin Properties.

Property of the Year, Built 2010 2018, Garden, West Lake Park, Judwin Properties.

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On the Scene Photos by HIEBERT PHOTOGRAPHY 2020 Virtual Honors Awards

Photos from top, left to right: Sponsor ALN Apartment Data Inc. On Site Manager of the Year, 151-349 Units, Chavonne Lafleur, NALP, CAM, Memorial, Greystar.

Property of the Year, Less than 100 Units, Mirabella, Verve Assets.

Photos from top, left to right: Sponsor American Fire Systems.

Supplier of the Year Ryan Weis, Crestmark Construction Property of the Year, Senior Tax Credit, Mason Senior Apartment Homes, Allied Orion.

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2020 Virtual Honors Awards

Photos from left to right: Administrative Support Professional of the Year Lenore Clay, Greystar.

Tax Credit Property of the Year Oasis on Ella, Allied Orion.

Photos from left to right: Assistant Manager of the Year Michelle Wade, NALP, The Woodlands Lodge, Francis Property Management.

Property of the Year, Built before 2001, High Rise, The Cabochon at River Oaks, Greystar.

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On the Scene Photos by HIEBERT PHOTOGRAPHY 2020 Virtual Honors Awards

Photos from top, left to right: Property of the Year, Built 1990 1999, The Grand On Memorial, Greystar.

Sponsor Crestmark Construction Services.

Independent Owner of the Year Ramon Nunez, CAM, IROP, Bravo Capital Management.

Photos from top, left to right: Sponsor Dixie Carpet Installations.

On Site Manager of the Year, 350 units or more, Ruha Vohra, NALP, CAM, Westchase Creek, Veritas Equity Management.

Property of the Year, Built before 1980, Westwood Village Apartments, Rockstar Capital Management.

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2020 Virtual Honors Awards

Photos from top, left to right: Sponsor Fidus Construction.

On Site Manager of the Year, 1-150 Units, Monica Morales, CAM, Las Villas de Magnolia, Whitney Management.

Property of the Year, Built 2010 – 2018 High Rise, Aris Market Square, Greystar.

Photos from left to right: Sponsor Guardian Construction.

Property of the Year, Built 2010 – 2018, Mid Rise, Camden McGowen Station, Camden.

Not pictured: Leasing Consultant of the Year Bianca Gold.

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On the Scene Photos by HIEBERT PHOTOGRAPHY 2020 Virtual Honors Awards

Photos from top left, left to right: Sponsor Lowe’s Pro - MSH. Owner/Management Executive of the Year Shelley Watson, Morgan Group.

Property of the Year, Built 2000 - 2009 Garden, Camden Spring Creek, Camden.

Photos from left to right: Sponsor Texas Southwest Floors.

Portfolio Supervisor of the Year Darlene Hunter, CAM, Greystar.

Property of the Year, Senior Living, Westmount at Braesridge, Parawest Management.

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2020 Virtual Honors Awards

Photos from top left, left to right: Property of the Year, Built 1980 - 1989, Parc at South Green, Asset Living.

Sponsor Texscape Services.

Property of the Year, New Development, Pearl Marketplace at Midtown, Morgan Group.

Photos from top left, left to right: Sponsor Valet Living.

Marketing/Training Director of the Year Mollie Witt, CAM, CAPS, Venterra Realty.

Property of the Year, Built 2000 2009 Mid Rise, La Maison River Oaks, Greystar

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2020 Honors Award Individual Nominees and Winners Leasing Consultant Bianca Gold Villas at the Palms The Conerly Group Miriam Arteaga Legends of Memorial Veritas Equity Management Bea Carlson Gables Metropolitan Uptown Gables Residential Nicole Coutee Millennium Six Pines The Dinerstein Companies Jessica Gaddis Creekside Park the Residences The Dinerstein Companies Stephen Garza Millennium High Street The Dinerstein Companies Rosa Gomez Village Park Envolve Noemi Granillo 7 Seventy Francis Property Management Nathaly Hernandez Village Park Envolve Shereka Jackson The Life at Spring Estates The Life Properties Maria Jaramillo Pointe at Steeplechase Veritas Equity Management Alexis Martinez Millennium High Street The Dinerstein Companies Casey Munashe One Lakes Edge The Dinerstein Companies Carolina Paneque The Circle at Hermann Park Greystar Finley Pedersen Gables Upper Kirby Gables Residential Lakon Pryor The Club at Stablechase Mosaic Residential Omar Rahman Reverie at River Hollow Martin Fein Interests Terry Reed Reverie at River Hollow Martin Fein Interests Marquis D Richardson Circle at Point Park American Landmark Ulrica Smith Rosemont Clear Creek EOS Real Estate Management Laura Smith San Brisas Francis Property Management

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Wendy Rae Walker Verandas at Bear Creek Topaz Asset Management Victoria Speed Vantage Med Center The Dinerstein Companies Karla Angelica Uscanga Foundations at River Crest/Lions Head Highmark Residential Leila Vega Westchase Creek Veritas Equity Management Assistant Manager Michelle Wade, NALP The Woodlands Lodge Francis Property Management Amanda Archie Westchase Creek Veritas Equity Management Kyoko Campbell Foundations at Lions Head/Rivercrest Highmark Residential Deysi Castaneda Redwood Gardens Asset Living Lauren Chambers Millennium Six Pines The Dinerstein Companies Jayna Danos Olympus Sierra Pines Olympus Property Alyssa Dingas, NALP San Brisas Francis Property Management Diamond CummingsDuncan The James/The Ivy Greystar Heather Fatany Olympus Auburn Lakes Olympus Property DeeDee Gallardo The Palms on Westheimer Parawest Management Vanessa Gallardo Fountains of Rosenberg Mosaic Residential Jessica Gomez Cranbrook Forest Topaz Asset Management Amanda Goode Wyndham Park Dayrise Residential Nena Greenwood Buffalo Heights Greystar Victoria Heriford Stratford House Greystar Krystal Luksha Park at Spring Creek Madera Residential Aubbrenda Mandrell Delta Residence Bo Management Stacy McIntyre Parc at South Green Asset Living Krystal Martinez Kirby Place Pinnacle

January 2021

Desiree Mercado Circuit Greystar Bibiana Moreno Pointe at Steeplechase Veritas Equity Management April Rinker, NALP ParkLane Cypress Judwin Properties Dora Rubio Aspen Park Envolve Miriam Salazar Redwood Gardens Asset Living Vanessa Torecilla Sunrise by the Park Mosaic Residential Robin Tramel Regalia Bella Terra Pace Realty Joseph Turner The Circle at Hermann Park Greystar Mario Urbano Sommerall Station Portico Property Management Jael Veliz Village Park Envolve James Whitaker Houston House Greystar On-Site Manager, 1-150 units Monica Morales, CAM Las Villas de Magnolia Whitney Management Elvia Bustos Crossings at Cherry Veritas Equity Management Regina Flores Tara Oaks Bo Management Michael Mould Woodgate Townhomes Bo Management Carla Perez Brentwood Oak Leaf Management Sandy Perez Vanderbilt Lodge Q10 Property Advisors Kristina Stubbs Woodstone Manor Mosaic Residential On-Site Manager, 151-349 units Chavonne Lafleur, NALP, CAM Memorial Greystar Norma Alvear Stone Forest SMI Realty Management Patricia Alvarado Bristol Dayrise Residential Regina Carr Cobble Creek Mosaic Residential Silvia Cervantes Waterstone Greystar Janine Ferrone, CAM The Pines at Woodcreek Greystar

Ashley Flores, NALP Fountains of Rosenberg Mosaic Residential Gloria Fuentes Camden Station Oak Leaf Management Nicole Gibson Pearl Greenway Morgan Group Monica Garza, CAM Park on Burke Oak Leaf Management David Murphy-Hummel The Grayson Greystar Torrie Holmes Millennium High Street The Dinerstein Companies Chantelle Hammond Morgan Oaks Oak Leaf Management Vivian Huang Plaza at Westchase Greystar Jenny Juarez Broadstone Sierra Pines Greystar Tanya Larzabal Legends of Memorial Veritas Equity Management Christi Lindauer, CAM Pearl Washington Morgan Group Norma Martinez The Ellis Asset Living Sherrie Michalak, CAM Tall Timbers Atlantic Housing Foundation Veronica Mier, CAM, CAPS, CAMT Marquis at Sugar Land CWS Apartment Homes Anita Mixon Broadstone Skyline Greystar Graciela Ortiz, NALP Windfern Pointe Veritas Equity Management Ginger O'Connor Wyndham Park Dayrise Residential Karah Oldham, CAM Eclipse Greystar Yasmin Ortiz Harper's Mill Oak Leaf Management Kayla Pete Gables Cityscape Gables Residential Terry Plata, CAM Olympus Sierra Pines Olympus Property Ashlee Payne 15th Street Flats Greystar Wallace Reed, CAM Holden Heights Francis Property Management Martha Rivera, CAM Reserve at Creekbend Judwin Properties Nancy Rivera Ranch at Rollingbrook Oak Leaf Management

Brenda Reyes, NALP Pointe at Steeplechase Veritas Equity Management Tracey Russell Hillcrest Village Oak Leaf Management Lindsey Richardson, CAM Crescentwood The Conerly Group Javier Solis Nottingham Village Asset Living Aaron Twyman, CAM, NALP Westwood Village Rockstar Capital Beverly Wallace Queenston Manor Mosaic Residential Susana Yerena Coral Hills Envolve On-Site Manager, 350 units or more Ruha Vohra, CAM, NALP Westchase Creek Veritas Equity Management Julie Arredondo The Alora Asset Living Shanna Bernard Stratford House Greystar Jamie Blevins Domain at City Centre Greystar Lupita Castillo Sedona Stone Legacy Linda Dominguez The Ellis/Redwood Garden Asset Living Lisa Gotte Broadstone Barker Cypress Greystar Theresa Hayes Promenade Jersey Village Madera Residential Nidia Jandres The Life at Spring Estates The Life Properties Fernando Javier Leyva 1879 JLB Partners Jennifer Mendoza Millennium Six Pines The Dinerstein Companies Ashlee Payne 15th Street Flats Greystar Jaime Reynoso Westmount at Braesridge Parawest Management Lisa Roman Sommerall Station Portico Property Management Tracy Sosa Foundations at River Crest/Lions Head Highmark Residential Isela Tejera Village Park Envolve

Maintenance Technician Oscar Quiroz Houston House Greystar Pablo Duran The Club at Stablechase Mosaic Residential Francisco Javier Leon Crossings at Cherry Veritas Equity Management Paul Loredo Vantage Med Center The Dinerstein Companies Eleazar Arvizu Martinez Pointe at Steeplechase Veritas Equity Management Rafael Moises Melgar Windfern Pointe Veritas Equity Management Guadalupe Moreno Tara Oaks Bo Management Kelson Moreno Westmount at Braesridge Parawest Management Salvador Rivas The Abbey at Enclase Abbey Residential Jose Eric Torres Johanna Court Bravo Capital Management Maintenance Supervisor Single Property Oscar Fiallos, CAMT Marquis at Sugar Land CWS Apartment Homes Fernando Aguilar Brookbend SMI Realty Management Florencio Arcea Steeplechase Veritas Equity Management Jaime Barrientos Telfair Lofts Francis Property Management Yeferson Cabrera Windfern Pointe Veritas Equity Management Juan Camacho Vanderbilt Lodge Q10 Property Advisors Ignacio Canales Parc at South Green Asset Living Esteban Ecgegoyen Redwood Gardens Asset Living Jose Flores Olympus Sierra Pines Olympus Property Hugo Garcia Alief Square Jaw Equity Leonidas Garcia Crossings at Cherry Veritas Equity Management Roberto Guzman Westchase Creek Veritas Equity Management Mario Guerra Edgebrook Judwin Properties www.haaonline.org

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Shon Henton Plantation at Quail Valley Parawest Management Humberto Hernandez Applewood Village GWR Management Jose Lopez Savannah Place Oak Leaf Management Robert Marquez The Abbey at Briar Forest Abbey Residential David Martinez The Cabochon at River Oaks Greystar Hector Martinez Stratford House Greystar Jeff McGee Brentwood Oak Leaf Management Carlos Mejia The Woodlands Lodge Francis Property Management Santos Navarro Sawyer Heights Greystar Juan Olmedo Meadow Park Rockstar Capital Management Wayne Pendleton Martin Fein Interests Juan Reyes Baybrook Village Mosaic Residential Rubin Reynoso The Palms on Westheimer Parawest Management Santana Rodriguez Palms of Lake Jackson Oak Leaf Management Felix Trevino Del Lago GWR Management Arthur Walker Stella at Riverstone Greystar Rudy Xum Oak Park Trails Francis Property Management Maintenance Supervisor Multiple Properties Alejandro Mercado Judwin Properties Max Montenegro Dayrise Residential Jessie Palacios Centra Partners Arnold Pedregon Parawest Management Jose Sada Q10 Property Advisors Corporate Marketing/ Training Director Mollie Witt Venterra Realty Megan Bugg The Dinerstein Companies Karen Martin Morgan Group Miguel Segura Parawest Management www.haaonline.org

Administrative Support Lenore Clay Greystar Jessica Bravo Greystar Rosi Chapa, CAM Centra Partners Pam Dyer Oak Leaf Management Brian Jones Mosaic Residential Sherry McCarthy Mosaic Residential Sandra Morfin Steadfast Management Lilith Rodriguez Greystar Crystel Zambrano SYNC Residential

Owner/Management Executive Shelley Watson Morgan Group Swapnil Agarwal Karya Property Management Melissa Herrera Pinnacle Audrey Ingram, ARM, CPM Dayrise Residential Beth Kirschner Madison Marquette Lori Lindley MLDC Kylie Schischka, IROP Star Pacifica Capital Management

Portfolio Supervisor Darlene Hunter, CAM Greystar Michelle Baxter, CAPS AMLI Residential Connie Castello Centra Partners Michelle Croasmun Dayrise Residential Tina Fuller Blazer Real Estate Melissa Friend Greystar Nicki Guadalupe Dominium Management Angela Hawkins Progress Residential Karen Hefner Asset Living Crystal Jackson, CAM, CAPS Centra Partners Valerie Lacy, CAM, CAPS Pinnacle Tom Loughridge Hines Kathy Motis Greystar Aaron Pitre Topaz Asset Management Rebecca Slater Gables Residential Natalie Spratt, CAM, IROP, NALP The Life Properties Michelle Woodard, CAPS Francis Property Management Tory Williamson The Conerly Group

Supplier Ryan Weis Crestmark Construction Anita Alberger, CAS The Liberty Group Angie Aversa, CAM, CAS, CAPS The Liberty Group Brian Cweren Cweren Law Giovanna Gone Century A/C Supply David Lindley, CAS FSI Construction Karen Nelsen, CAM, CAS ALN Apartment Data Doug Oehl, CAS Flooring Warehouse Nikki Sekunda, CAS The Liberty Group Mat Tilley, CAS WeDoTrash Amber Whitaker, CAS FSI Construction Brent Williams MultiFamily Insider

Independent Rental Owner Ramon Nunez, CAM, IROP Bravo Capital Management Shawn & Heather Conerly The Conerly Group Kirby Haines Kastle Assets

Rising Star Supplier Shaun Callaway, CAS Earthworks Volunteer of the Year Norma Alvear SMI Realty Go-Getter of the Year Donna Farthing Greystar

Property Finalists LESS THAN 100 UNITS Mirabella, Verve Assets The Amelia Apartments, Bravo Capital Management The Villas At The Palms, The Conerly Group Gemini Gardens, Better World Properties BUILT BEFORE 1980 Westwood Village Apartments, Rockstar Capital Management Santa Clara, Indus Management Group Ashford Briar Point, Ashford Communities Springfield, Parawest Management Villa Barcelona, Indus Management Group BUILT 1980-1989 Parc at South Green, Asset Living El Dorado View, LumaCorp The Haven, Knightvest Management BUILT 1990-1999 The Grand On Memorial, Greystar The Belmont, Martin Fein Interests Gables Metropolitan Uptown, Gables Residential BUILT 2000-2009 GARDEN Camden Spring Creek, Camden Estates at Memorial Heights, Greystar Marquis at Sugar Land, CWS Apartment Homes BUILT 2000-2009 MID RISE La Maison River Oaks, Greystar 2222 Smith Street, The Morgan Group Three Thousand Sage, The Morgan Group The Westheimer, Greystar BUILT 2010-2018 GARDEN West Lake Park, Judwin Properties Queenston Manor, Mosaic Residential BUILT 2010-2018 MID RISE Camden McGowen Station, Camden 33Thirtythree Weslayan, The Morgan Group Millennium High Street, The Dinerstein Companies Pearl Woodlake, The Morgan Group Gables Post Oak, Gables Residential NEW DEVELOPMENT Pearl Marketplace at Midtown, The Morgan Group Alta Baytown, Wood Residential Services Asher Oaks, Caldwell Companies HIGH RISES The Cabochon at River Oaks, Greystar Aris Market Square, Hines/Greystar

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The Best of the Best

in

Onsite

Management Here are some of the best individuals in apartment management, the recipients of the 2020 Houston Apartment Association Honors Awards.

Compiled by

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MORGAN TAYLOR

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Portfolio Supervisor of the Year

Darlene Hunter, Greystar How did you get your start in the industry?

I started my career in leasing with Harry Reed in 1988.

In 2019, your portfolio consisted of eight properties. You received high praises from one of your clients for your impressive performance on the lease-up of one of those communities, Residences at Hardy Yards.

Because of your leadership and guidance, Hardy Yards was able to complete a timely, successful lease-up, achieve its pre-COVID-19 targeted 6% rental increases on its renewals, while continuing to lease new apartments, and close the permanent loan. You were able to accomplish this without sacrificing the needs of your other properties. In fact, around the same time, you even managed to position 2,038 units for a successful and smooth sale. How were you able to accomplish all of this, while balancing all of your other communities?

I always make my managers a priority. I make myself available to them at all times. Whenever they call me, I make sure I answer their call.

When they send me emails, I consider it a priority, as I do not want to hold them up in completing their task. During its lease-up, I spent more time with Hardy Yards than other communities as I knew it was the site that needed me most. The main reason I was able to accomplish all of this is due to the great, talented managers I have working with me.

Greystar’s core values are integrity, accountability, professionalism, service, teamwork and respect. You were awarded the Greystar Core Value Award for integrity. Integrity is defined

by Greystar as “We stay true to the highest ethical standards and principles, and are honest, trustworthy, humble, and respectful

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in all of our words and actions.” Tell us about integrity and what it means to you.

Integrity to me means to live by what I say and to always be honest. I give respect to all, and in return, I get their respect. I will tell anyone that I hire, “I will not ask you to do anything I will not do, so be prepared to do it all.” I still live by this, as I have assisted my teams in completing any task needed onsite. I will help clean, complete a makeready, pick up trash, show an apartment, post rent and complete financials. This shows my team members that I stand by what I say. I have a great respect for all of my team members, and I would never want any of them to just think of me as their boss. I’m a co-worker to all of them.

You donate a lot of your time and energy volunteering for Camp Hope and St. Jude, winning you Greystar’s community service award. Why is working with and for those organizations important to you?

Camp Hope is near and dear to me as I have family members who have served our country, and while they are all lucky not to suffer from PTSD, it is still a possibility. I am forever grateful for their service, which has allowed me to do what I do and continue to feel safe. St. Jude is one that I support as I could not image having a child needing treatment, and as a parent all I would think about is what is it would cost me. That is one of the reasons why volunteering to St. Jude is important to me.

Fill in the blank: Leadership is __________ … continued guidance and growth within myself and my team. Being able to work alongside someone and learning from them, as well as teaching them.

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Onsite Manager of the Year (350 units or more)

RuHa Vohra, Veritas Equity Management How did you get your start in the industry?

My best friend was working as a leasing agent, and when a position became available, she recommended me. I was excited to have an office job at 19 years old! I quickly fell in love with the industry and grew into leadership roles over the years.

When you started working at Westchase Creek, it was a property with high delinquency and low occupancy. Because of your leadership, the property now has a delinquency rate of 1%. How were you able to achieve that?

It took a lot of urgency, determination and not accepting any excuses. I have an amazing assistant community director, Amanda Archie, who was the driving force of achieving the delinquency rate of 1%. We used new management to our advantage and made it respectfully clear that a new set of standards was now in place.

At the start of 2019, Westchase Creek had an occupancy rate of 89% and ended the year at 98.03%. In addition to that, you have been able to keep occupancy high (96.7%) amid the COVID-19 pandemic. What is your secret to achieving high occupancy, especially during such a challenging year?

The secret is having an amazing and resilient team that understands and shares your vision and goals. We held a March Madness event where the entire team worked every Saturday. We had 40 move ins that month! This set a solid foundation and helped jumpstart the rest of the year. We also strive to provide an exceptional living experience to all our residents. We made it our mission to retain our loyal residents and offer upgrades to make them feel valued and appreciated.

What is the best leadership advice you’ve ever received that you need to share it with HAA members or so terrible that you need to warn us?

Never burn bridges. That was my first leadership advice as a new leasing agent that I never forgot. Our industry is a small world.

Fill in the blank: Leadership is ______________ … a lifestyle. I firmly believe a leader is a leader anytime, anywhere. It's a lifestyle choice and you have to continue learning and growing each day. I constantly remind myself that I have to educate and nourish my ability to inspire and lead others. It's a wonderful and challenging journey.

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“When cancer hit, it was a shock, but not in a bad way.

I was curious to see what the next step to my journey would be. My supervisor and team rallied behind me. When doctor appointments rose, being part of Greystar has been like having and extended family. I was able to lean on other teammates at different properties. I always wanted to ensure that Memorial had coverage. I truly believe when you are hired as a community manager, that asset has been entrusted to you.”

– Chavonne Lafleur

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Onsite Manager of the Year (151 to 349 units)

Chavonne Lafleur, Greystar While battling cancer, enduring chemotherapy and radiation, you managed to maintain Memorial Apartments at 94% occupancy in 2019, with the highest rent growth and the highest reviews and ratings among your competition. You are a fighter, a survivor and a stellar example of leadership! How were you able to balance your health and achieve such success at work?

Last year was an interesting year. My favorite assistant and good friend, Matilda, gave her notice to go back to school. I didn’t realize how hard it would be without a strong team dynamic for a two-person office. Finding the right leasing agent was a challenge, so it became a one-woman show, with my amazing maintenance team to support me. I worked around the clock to ensure that all items were completed and that any pending tasks were handled.

I have a strong love for the industry and the company that I work for. We have so many tools, resources and teammates that we can call on. I don’t believe in work-life balance because success at my job balances me at home, and that brings me happiness. At the end of the day, I would double check if the goals I created that day were met. Then, I would create new goals for the next day. It’s a way to set a challenge for myself, whether or not I could succeed. When I fall short, which happens at times, I create a new strategy, evaluate my performance and the property’s performance the next day.

When cancer hit, it was a shock, but not in a bad way. I was curious to see what the next step to my journey would be. My supervisor and team rallied behind me. When doctor appointments rose, being part of Greystar has been like having and extended family. I was able to lean on other teammates at different properties. I always wanted to ensure that Memorial had coverage. I truly believe when you are hired as a community manager, that asset has been entrusted to you.

No matter what is going on in your life, if you clock in, you are still expected to do your best and maintain the asset. I would take and make calls from the hospital bed. The chemo infusions are quite boring. Reading emails and creating new ideas for the success of the property was the best way I could’ve spent my time.

www.haaonline.org

You are the type of leader who will do whatever it takes. You promoted two maintenance technicians and trained them yourself. You once painted your property’s pool, planted the flowers and striped the parking lot yourself to save money.

And, you even sorted all of your property’s mail by hand for three months after the cluster mailbox caught fire. Tell me about those experiences and why you took those responsibilities on.

Where does this drive come from?

This community and any community that I’ve had the pleasure of working at will always get 150% from me. My responsibility is not only to the client but also to the residents. They trust me to manage where they live. If the budget doesn’t account for flowers, I know I can go to Home Depot to purchase mulch and flower and plant them myself at a fraction of the cost of a landscaper.

The pool is one of my pride and joys because this it become a team effort at maintaining. We even had some colleagues from the corporate office help us paint it one year. I love seeing the big picture in my efforts. I can take a large task and break it down in sections to accomplish it. I’ve always had a supportive team, too.

I would have to say the mailbox fire was the most tedious part of my job in 2019. I have a newfound respect for mailmen and women. I look at like I’m preventing my residents from having mail returned and my elderly residents from waiting in a post office line. I take pride in that. The maintenance team has been my backbone. I work side by side with them. If I’m needed to hold a fan motor and stand on the counter, I will.

If you want to learn how to be a supervisor and a leader (these are two different things) I can teach you. I will push you, encourage you and hold you accountable. Having pride in my work and my team drive me. When I fail, which happens, it’s the get-back-up-and-try-again that drives me. The ability to work as I work unto God, drives me!

You really care for your residents. When they’ve struggled financially, you’ve helped them set financial goals and taught them how to create a budget. You’ve even set aside time to strengthen your residents’ computer skills. Can you elaborate on that? None of these things are part of your job description, yet you clearly value assisting your struggling residents. Why is doing this a priority to you?

This is a difficult question, because I’ve never asked myself why do it! I feel it’s a human priority.

If you look at our reviews, the residents are not just happy but appreciative, for the time, respect and effort that’s put into them. When the company went paperless it seemed like half of my residents were upset. The majority of my residents don’t speak English or have never used online banking. I wanted to empower them.

I placed a computer in the office to show residents how to set up an email account and use the computer. When a resident struggled with their finances, I would offer to sit down with them like a friend and look over their bills and income. I would create a plan that showed them they could afford rent and start a savings. We would do this for 90 days to create a habit of financial stability.

Before I was in property management, I was a bill collector. I understood debt and how it makes you feel defeated.

What is the hardest leadership lesson that keeps being presented to you that you either have to learn, relearn or unlearn?

I’ve learned how to be confident in myself and how to pat myself on the back. I used to try so hard to be recognized for my accomplishments, but you’re humbled when they’re overlooked. I’ve had to let go of needing affirmation or approval that my supervisor was satisfied with my work. You start to learn that it’s not all about you and what you do. You have to ask yourself, why did you do it?

If it was just for recognition, then you’re not a true leader. I started investing in others who look to me for guidance, by pulling the great out of them and showing them they can. I’ve found joy in the success stories, in the careers that I’ve helped build and just the love I’ve been able to show someone when they gave up. Now, I don’t need affirmation, but it’s appreciated and savored when given.

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Onsite Manager of the Year (1 to 150 units)

Monica Morales, Whitney Management

How did you get your start in the apartment industry?

My mother has been in our industry for almost 30 years. As a kid, she would let me sit in the office after school. I was always intrigued by the variety of work she did. When I was old enough, she would let me type up leases on the typewriter, file paperwork and answer phones. Once I turned 18, her employer, Sumar Realty, hired me as a part time leasing agent at one of their sister properties. Coincidentally, the vice president of my current employer was my mother's supervisor at Sumar Realty 15 years ago. It's a small world.

According to your nomination form, you value education. As an example, you are a Certified Apartment Manager through the National Apartment Association and you have a handful of credentials from the National Affordable Housing Management Association. Why is industry education important to you?

The industry is steadily evolving, so what is relevant today may change a year from now. I feel I owe it to myself, my team, my residents and to the asset owners to stay abreast of the current laws and trends. I also love meeting other industry professionals and learning more about what they are doing in their companies. I don't think you should ever stop learning.

In 2019, you led employee training for two new acquisitions. Even though you were the teacher, was there anything you learned from that experience?

Patience. I learned that I can’t expect to go in on day one, open our operations manual and start training during the initial chaos. I learned I needed to be patient and provide support to get through the first few days before focusing on the training that was needed.

List one professional goal you have for yourself in 2021.

To obtain my CAPS (Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor) certification.

Fill in the blank: Leadership is ______________ … not a position or a title. It is action and example.

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“The industry is steadily evolving, so what is relevant today may change a year from now. I feel I owe it to myself, my team, my residents and to the asset owners to stay abreast of the current laws and trends.”

– Monica Morales

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Assistant Onsite Manager of the Year

Michelle Wade, Francis Property Management How did you get your start in the industry?

Before I started with Francis Property Management, I was in childcare part time for nine years. I was ready for a change, but I wasn’t exactly sure what kind of change I was looking for. During my time working at an elementary school, I watched after a couple of children whose parents worked for Francis. I learned a lot about the company and the industry itself from them. Eventually, I decided to go out of my comfort zone and look for something more permanent. It just so happened that at that time Francis was hiring. I was so lucky to be given an opportunity by this company with no prior experience in this industry.

Tell me about Silver Leasing Elite status and how you achieved that. You pursued the Silver Leasing Elite status and earned the National Leasing Professional (NALP) credential last year. Why is it important to you to pursue industry education?

Even though I have been in this industry for almost five years, I do feel like there is still so much more to learn. With amazing support from my teammates, I was able to chase and achieve these credentials. This industry is constantly growing and evolving, and I feel that in order to be at the best of your abilities, continuing education is essential.

www.haaonline.org

Lauren Scruggs describes you as the ultimate team player who will step up when the team is struggling. Tell me about being a team player how it comes so naturally to you.

Growing up, being in sports and musical fine arts taught me the importance of working with others as a team. Even though each person plays a vital role in their job, often times, they are not able to efficiently achieve a goal without the support of their peers. With this industry, each and every team member working together is key to being able to be successful.

Tell me about your work for the Grateful Americans Charity and why you volunteer your time and energy with this incredible organization.

My role with Grateful Americans is that I make myself available whenever I’m needed, as I am thankful for having the opportunity to be a part of this amazing charity. Coming from a multi-generation military family, I enjoy doing what I can to show my support for those who have served. This incredible organization does so much to give back to those who have risked giving it all.

“Growing up, being in sports and musical fine arts taught me the importance of working with others as a team.

Even though each person plays a vital role in their job, often times, they are not able to efficiently achieve a goal without the support of their peers.”

– Michelle Wade

Fill in the blank: Leadership is ______________ … support, motivation and guidance.

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Leasing Professional of the Year

Bianca Gold, The Conerly Group How did you get your start in the industry and where did you work before entering the apartment industry?

Funny story. I’ve known Tory (property supervisor Tory Williamson) for years as she was my property manager when I was a resident of Villas over seven years ago. Tory told me for years that this was my calling and to come work for her. I was always so hesitant and nervous because it was all new to me. I was previously at H-E-B as an admin there. The apartment industry was completely new to me. But one magical day I decided to take a leap of faith, and it was the best leap ever.

You spearhead the back-to-school event each year and National Night Out. Do you enjoy hosting events that support the community? Why? Oh my gosh, yes! I love hosting events. The look on the children’s faces when they see the fire trucks, ambulances and even the back-to-school items we give them is so priceless. Some people can’t afford school supplies for their children. To be able to give them some, the parents really appreciate it.

They’ve told us that they look forward to it because they are having a hard time making ends meet, or whatever the issue is, it just makes me so happy to know we were able to make the whole household smile.

Tell me about your property supervisor and the impact she has had on you.

Oh man, Tory is the absolute best. A real gift from God. She has my back all the time, supports me always and never made me feel like I was new to this industry. She is the best teacher. She is so knowledgeable in what she does, and it inspires me. Every time I hear her responses to feedback, I always think, “Man, one day I want to be just as good as her.”

Where did this seemingly innate skill of developing people’s potential come from?

I’ve always had a desire to guide people and help them better themselves.

So when I applied to be a scanner back when I was 16 for H-E-B, I knew that was just the beginning. After being there only a month, I received an award for the best scanner. Six months later, my manager) told me that I had the potential to be a lead. I became a lead, then quickly got promoted to bookkeeper, then I got promoted to admin. I loved it. It was so easy for me to seek out good people and help them grow to their full potential. I also loved the feedback from my employees to change processes and learn what works better for us as a whole. I am a huge team player. I love seeing people grow and become the best version of themselves.

You are credited for fostering a vibrant and supportive environment for your coworkers and the residents without sacrificing day-to-day operations. How have you been able to achieve that and why is fostering that type of environment a priority for you?

It’s important to me to be vibrant, so that residents can see that I’m human, too. Just because I’m behind a desk, answering phones, collecting rent and applying the rules doesn’t mean I’m a robot. A lot of residents are amazed at the way I try to bond with them, that I actually care, and that I’m not reading from a script. It’s really important for me to also make sure that we have a supportive environment because I want everyone to know I have their back.

My biggest quote to my residents is “If you help you, I will help you.” I don’t want them to feel like they can’t come to me to tell me “Hey Bianca, I’m going through XYZ and I’m going to be late on my rent. I want them to know that if they come talk to Bianca, she’s going to be supportive, transparent and fair.

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Unmute Yourself

Join ABODE and turn on your message!

Zoom straight to your customers with ABODE magazine, the multifamily industry’s resource for what’s happening in the Houston-area apartment market. Reach your potential customers even when you can’t meet them in person. We are there, online and in their mailbox.

Every month, our members-only publication highlights industry news and trends.

ABODE is your resource for industry-specific legal and legislative news as well. Share your promotions and new hires in our “In The News” column, or the latest development in your area of expertise by writing an article. And get your name out there by advertising.

Contact Amanda at asherbondy@haaonline.org to advertise and contact the Communications Department at comm@haaonline.org for details on editorial.

ABODE is there even when you can’t be!

Look for ABODE in the mail the first week of each month, or read online at issuu.com/haa_abode.

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NAA, continued from Page 24

Some of the same technologies that our same-store leasing and occupancy statishave made contactless leasing possible— tics began outpacing prior-year results,” says including simple video calls—were also helpRADCO’s Brewer. “Consumer acceptance of ful for some inspections during the height of virtual leasing signals that this is a trend that the pandemic. will continue.”

“The reliance on and performance of Virtual leasing tools will also give property virtual tools has been incredible for inspecmanagers more time to provide residents tions,” says Rieder of Castle Lanterra. with new kinds of services. “In the near future, as technology takes more of the adminThe Future of Work in istrative burden away from frontline staff, we Apartment Communities expect resident service menu to expand,” Many apartment companies also shut says RADCO’s Brewer. down their corporate offices, sending workVirtual leasing is also an important option ers home to work with their colleagues for cautious potential renters. “There is a linthrough email and video calls. gering reluctance for in-person leasing in the hard-hit markets, with a great deal of enthusiasm for virtual leasing Spending a significant amount of time in techniques,” says Appleby. “Our prisomeone’s home—long enough to fix a sink, ority through year-end is wooing refor example—could be one of the riskiest luctant consumers back into the leasing market.” things a person could do during a

pandemic, if the resident happened to be

Maintenance Workers Take infected with the coronavirus and the worker Extra Care didn’t have access to the right protective gear.

In the first months of the pandemic, many apartment companies sharply limited how often they would These companies have adopted new tools send maintenance teams into apartments to help employees stay productive. “Our to make repairs. monthly virtual town halls have been Spending a significant amount of time in exceptionally well-attended,” says Rieder. someone’s home—long enough to fix a sink, The company-wide intranet Castle Lanterra for example—could be one of the riskiest created in March, she adds, also continues things a person could do during a pandemic, to serve as an effective clearinghouse for if the resident happened to be infected with the sharing of knowledge and techniques the coronavirus and the worker didn’t have among employees. access to the right protective gear.

Most of these companies expect to have “We limited in-unit work orders to emerstaff eventually return to the office. “I am surgencies only,” says Winn’s Appleby. More reprised by the growing expectation that comcently, Winn’s maintenance teams have been panies will completely capitulate to a more productive—with the proper protective work-from-home model,” says RADCO’s gear. “Our maintenance teams are at full Brewer.

“I expect to see a new hybrid operastrength, working hard to catch up on tions model, but not a full-blown forfeiture of work orders and capital projects,” he says. the traditional in-office experience.”

“We have asked them to maintain the same In particular, Brewer looks forward to joining vigilance about safety even as conditions meetings in person.

“The biggest lesson is that have improved.”

‘Zoom fatigue’ is a real thing,” he says.

“InThese same issues have made it difficult to person meetings are 10 times more valuable in complete inspections. “RADCO had several terms of moving the business forward.” properties in due diligence during the pandemic,” says Brewer. “That typically includes – Bendix Anderson is a freelance writer. access to occupied units for inspection,” says Brewer. “Navigating the competing demands of buyers, sellers and residents requires open-minded collaboration.”

Want to see current and previous issues of ABODE online? Go to http://issuu.com/haa_abode.

Or view this issue on your computer, tablet or smartphone at http://issuu.com/haa_abode/docs/abode_dec2020.

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Law, continued from Page 12 coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place.

- Use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.

• To the extent possible, avoid touching hightouch surfaces in public places – elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, etc.

• Where possible, avoid direct physical contact such as shaking hands with people.

• Minimize handling cash, credit cards and mobile or electronic devices when possible.

• Avoid all non-essential travel.

Should I cancel my meetings and conferences?

Carefully consider whether travel is necessary and use videoconferencing or teleconferencing when possible for work-related meetings and gatherings. Employers should consider canceling, adjusting or postponing large work-related meetings or gatherings that can only occur in person. Follow CDC guidance for events and mass gatherings and consider resuming nonessential travel in accordance with state and local regulations and guidance.

When videoconferencing or teleconferencing is not possible, hold meetings in open, well-ventilated spaces, and space chairs at least 6 feet apart. Encourage staff and attendees to stay home if sick.

Although not covered in the CDC FAQs, since we are in the process of distributing a vaccine, you may want to determine whether and to what extent, you want employees to be required to be vaccinated before coming to work. Of course, we are still in the early stages of vaccine distribution and, consequently, any policy requiring a vaccine may be premature. However, you may want to start thinking about whether you would require employees to be vaccinated and, if so, how will the policy work. You should have a business-related reason for requiring the vaccine and be able to deal with requests for accommodation that may be based upon religious or medical reasons. Before adopting any policy, you should consider these and other factors such as the availability of the vaccine and the payment of any costs related to the vaccine.

Based on what we learned last year, 2021 should be a cakewalk. Review your existing employment policies to determine how you will incorporate these concepts to formulate an infectious disease policy that will allow you to prepare employees and the workplace for what can be expected in the new year.

Welcome to 2021! www.haaonline.org

Did you know you have access to more member benefits than just the lease contracts and forms?

If you’re receiving this magazine, your company has joined and made your company and YOU part of the largest local apartment association in the nation! Every employee of your team is a member of HAA and also a member of the TAA and NAA. Check us out online at www.haaonline.org. This is YOUR HAA!

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On Site with ABODE

Photos provided by Steve Tennison

MIRABELLA

Honors Awards Property of the Year for an apartment community with less than 100 units.

Property: Mirabella Apartments Owner/Management: Steve Tennison/Verve Assets Location: 816 Oak Street Units: 98 Built: 1958 Web: www.vervemirabella.com Interesting features: Mirabella Apartments won the HAA Honors Awards Property of the Year award for an apartment community with less than 100 units. This apartment community was built over 60 years ago but it stands as a well-maintained and pristine property with an onsite team that goes above and beyond for its residents.

Mirabella’s age and location have presented its challenges year after year. It then became the scene a couple traumatic crimes. Despite all of that, the owner of this property was committed to fearlessly and compassionately leading Mirabella through each crisis. With a new team and the right mindset, Mirabella surpassed market average occupancy rates, it exceeded its typical income to a record high and significantly reduced its turnover rate.

Of course, a team cannot reach these numbers without its members. The onsite staff is committed to its residents, which is evident in little acts such as purchasing ice cream for the children, hand delivering packages to their residents and their community service involvement. Congratulations, Mirabella Apartments!

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I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

www.haaonline.org

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a

I wasn’t expecting it surprised that they n said, laughing. “ I’ve business for 15 years. anything. For me, if I or get it right, I’m sat don’t need recognitio resident and my man owner are happy, I’m

On Site with ABODE

Photos provided by Rockstar Capital Management

WESTWOOD VILLAGE Honors Awards Property of the Year for an apartment community built before 1980.

Property: Westwood Village Apartments Owner/Management: Rockstar Capital Management Location: 1217 Westwood Drive, Rosenburg Units: 272 Built: 1978 Web: www.rockstar.apartments/rosenberg-tx/westwood-village/.com Interesting features: Westwood Village Apartments won the HAA Honors Awards Property of the Year for an apartment community built before 1980.

Westwood Village Apartments has been updated to offer its residents modern amenities and in-unit features, such as a dog park with a dog agility course, an outdoor entertainment area and in-unit washers and dryers. The property’s basketball court, soccer field, playground and its two pools have been refurbished and well maintained for optimal use.

The onsite team at Westwood Village Apartments is committed to providing the best customer service. The ORA Power Rankings, powered by J Turner, ranked Westwood Village Apartments number 14 in Houston. The property also has an A rating on ApartmentRatings.com, which adds renter ratings, review count, manager’s review engagement and manager’s review reply time.

Within five months, the apartment community experienced a jump in occupancy, from 83% to 99%, contributing to an evaluation increase by over $3,000.

Congratulations, Westwood Village Apartments! www.haaonline.org

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a

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On the Scene with HAA COMMUNITY OUTREACH HAA Food Drive HAA members, properties and volunteers made the holidays a bit brighter for a few people and pets in 2020, collecting and delivering food and $1,500 cash to the Channel 13 “Share Your Christmas” Food Drive. Thanks to Camp Construction Services and Cotton Commercial for being our drop-off locations, as well as packing, picking up and delivering the food. The Houston Apartment Association is proud to support area food banks with food and financial donations on behalf of apartment industry professionals. HAA held its first food drive in 1983, and the Houston Food Bank lists HAA as one of the top 25 donors to the organization.

A big thanks to the properties of Francis Property Management for their support. Every year, their teams hold a donation decorating contest with the food collected donated to HAA’s Food Drive. Some of their entries are pictured at right.

Thanks to our Food Drive Volunteers: Susan Alvarado, Century A/C Supply David Lindley, FSI Construction Nathalie Lima, All About Doody Debra Knight, Fidus Construction Gracie Flaherty, Phillip Sides and Jason Sullivan, Houston Waste Solutions Jennifer Devine, Valet Living Catherine Schindler, Kone Elevator Roberto Guzman and Thomas Rodriguez, Veritas Equity Management Chris Bell, Mirna Garcia, Elive Urquia, Jose Ortega, Humberto Soria, Kevin Delao, Omar Segura, Victor Alvarado, Steve Picklar, Ray Johnson, David Reynoso and Jesus Mosqueda, Cotton Commercial USA Jim Martensen and Diane Suits, Camp Construction Services Amanda Kelly, Brandt Electrical A/C & Heating

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The Go-Getters HAA’s MEMBERSHIP RECRUITERS

BRINGING IT BACK! It’s #ComebackSeason for the Go-Getters.

HAA would like to send out a HUGE thank you to our 2020 recruiters who stepped up during a tough year: Donna Farthing, HAA’s 2020 Go-Getter of the Year, pictured at left, recruited 10 companies.

Randa Dick recruited 7 companies.

Ryan Weis recruited 4 companies.

Terri Clifton recruited 4 companies.

Del Walmsley recruited 4 companies.

Amanda Kelly recruited 3 companies.

Israel Garza, III, CAS, recruited 2 companies.

Ruha Vohra, NALP, CAM, recruited 2 companies.

Claudia P. Rubio recruited 2 companies.

Alan Yu recruited 2 companies

2021 Chairs:

Melissa Friend Greystar

Doug Oehl Flooring Warehouse

The following Go-Getters recruited one new member each for 2020: Mike Koch Betsy Valdes, CAPS Evelina Romland Jeffrey Randolph Tina Cavaco Melissa Friend Deona James, CAS Carlos Neto Todd Russo Erick Portillo Shaun Callaway, CAS Shera Lehman Grace Prather Jeffrey S. Jackson Liz Macias recruited Doug Oehl, CAS Tim Girgenti Tiffany Scarlett Leticia Rodriguez Derek DeVries, CAS John Bouren Keely Park Chris Rankin

Bernice Cedillo, CAM Josh Burns Clayton Bownds Mark Park, CAS Nancy Halliburton Jessica Cantu Dixie Caldwell, CAS Zack Gyler Teresa Harrell Suan Tinsley Shannon Kerley Tomas Tito Shannon Fletcher, CAM Sophie Houser Robert Martinez, IROP Ruby Terrell Courtney Vitek, CAM Stephanie Graves, CAM, CAPS, IROP Kristin Griffin Richard Wall, CAM, CAPS Katie Schieffer Nina Kirtley, CAPS

Check the Go-Getters Corner for upcoming quarterly meeting dates to come in April, July, September and December!

Visit www.haaonline.org/gogetters for more information.

THE GO-GETTERS ARE THE BACKBONE of the Houston Apartment Association. By recruiting new members, the Go-Getter Club helps both new management and supplier companies and the association grow for the future.

To join the club and get going on recruitment, see online at www.haaonline.org or contact Amanda and Kaylon in the Membership Department at members@haaonline.org.

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Welcome Mat

Introducing HAA’s NEW MEMBERS

OWNERS

Alberto Nunez Alberto Nunez 5127 Spring Terrace Lane Rosharon, TX 77583 801-719-8974

Appian Way Opportunity Fund Kevin Wood 2450 Louisiana St. #400-427 Houston, TX 77006 832-444-9284 Appian Way Apartments

Megan Properties Management Inc Linda Bell 5020 SW 28th St. #201 Topeka, KS 66614 785-286-7544 Danbury Manor The Oaks of West Columbia Tomball Square Willis Rental Willis South Brandywine Apartments Northside Plaza MLZA1 LP Heather Davis 1230 Hahlo St Houston, Texas 77020 832-991-5037 Wheatley Manor Apartments Wheatley Plaza Apartments

Bohannon Development Corporation Kristin Sizemore 5525 N. Stanton #28C El Paso, TX 79912 915-833-3322 Fox Bridge North

Bold Virtue Equity Jacob Voncannon 9215 Theysen Drive Houston, TX 77080 713-417-6410 Referred by Randa Dick

Chiniot Opportunity Zone Imran Aggasi 7525 Hillcroft St. #7 Houston, TX 77081 832-757-2297 Santa Lucia Apartments

Dale Luedtke Dale Luedtke 9011 Stone Brook Lane Houston, TX 77040 281-794-9750

Frances Gonzalez Frances Gonzalez P.O. Box 926023 Houston, TX 77292 832-526-9436

Oak Shadows Apartments Charles Pinter 4801 Allendale Road Houston, TX 77017 713-941-7700 Oak Shadows Pamela Shirley Kirk Vining 112 Queen Road Clear Lake Shores, TX 77565 713-623-3580 Pamela Shirley - Properties Seldin Company Jen Spielman 16910 Frances St. Omaha, NE 68130 402-333-7373 Gala at Texas Parkway Jubilee at Texas Parkway SRE Real Estate Capital Steven Edwards 8818 Bonhomme Road Houston, TX 77074-6720 713-253-0361

Hin Lo Hin Lo 2314 Haverhill Drive Houston, TX 77008 832-373-1001

YHWH Properties Andrew James 4103 Haven Pines Drive Humble, TX 77345 281-796-9359 I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

ALL SUPPLIER MEMBERS are listed online at haabuyersguide.com, searchable by product/service category or company name.

www.haaonline.org

SUPPLIERS

BenefitU Michael Andrade 25282 Northwest Fwy #170 Cypress, TX 77429 832-236-8966 Employee Benefits

Blue Heron Technologies Patrick Schieffer 101 E Park Blvd. #600 Plano, TX 75074 832-734-6215 Information Technology, IT Services Referred by Katie Schieffer

BlueLine Construction & Remodel Hayden A. Garrison 29513 Meadow Creek Lane Brookshire, TX 77423 832-977-3273 Remodeling & Repair-Building Contractors, General Contractors

Diamond Services Joel Mbanya 2539 S Gessner Road #4 Houston, TX 77063 832-955-5376 Auto - Detailing, Trash Service - Valet, Valet Parking Service, Window Cleaning, Janitorial Services Ecoteam Pest Control Jon Polenz 3900 Valley View Lane Irving, TX 75062 713-489-5253 Pest Control Services, Termite Treatment Gulf Coast Construction Services Casey Liddell 28610 Hwy 290 #F09 #133 Cypress, TX 77433 713-401-3753 Roofing Consultants, Roofing Materials Level 7 Construction LLC Blake Stuart 1014 Legend Spring Drive Katy, TX 77494 281-935-0329 Roofing Contractors, Sheet Metal Work Referred by Ryan Weis

Maintenance Warriors Randall Clauson 10480 Grant Road #113 Houston, TX 77070 832-263-3434 Landscape Contractors, Cleaners Messner Reeves Patrick Drake 6465 Greenwood Plaza Blvd #650 Englewood, CO 80111 303-623-1800 Attorneys Nettles & Co Property Tax Consulting David A. Nettles 19 Briar Hollow Lane #246 Houston, TX 77027 713-588-1167 Taxes - Consultants & Representatives, Tax ConsultantsAd Valorem O’Connor & AssociatesCommercial Property Tax Division William Daly 2200 N Loop West #200 Houston, TX 77018 713-375-4063 Taxes - Consultants & Representatives, Tax ConsultantsAd Valorem Referred by Betsy Valdes, CAPS Thames Services Obert O. Kebitseope 6102 Winsome Lane #156B Houston, TX 77057 713-876-4531 Concierge Services, Valet Parking Service The SYM Group Tami Curry 14090 SW Fwy #300 Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-208-7532 Employment Agencies, Marketing Consultants & Services Two Brothers Foundation Repair Aaron Lipman 2929 Allen Pkwy #200 Houston, TX 77019 832-710-6957 Foundation Contractors, Foundation Repair I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

January 2021

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised that they nominated me!” he said, laughing. “ I’ve been with this business for 15 years. I never expect anything. For me, if I get my job done or get it right, I’m satisfied with that. I don’t need recognition. As long as my resident and my management and the owner are happy, I’m happy. It was a good experience, though, feeling that way. I didn’t know that someone was watching!”

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The Ambassador ONE Society HAA’s WELCOMING COMMITTEE

YOU’RE THE ONE! Congratulations to the top Ambassadors for 2020.

1

Ambassador ONE Society members and points:

2020 Team of the Year!

E 2020 ONar! of the Ye

2

1. Congrats to the top team for 2020 The Bomb Squad with 1,704 points 2. The Ambassador “ONE of the Year” is Ashley Wiggin, Infinity Power Partners, with 422 points.

Ashley Wiggin Infinity Power Partners Giovanna Gone Century A/C Supply Susan Alvarado Century A/C Supply Amanda Kelly Brandt Electrical A/C & Heating Janell Richter JMI Contractors Shawnte Thomas Hoffer Furniture Tracey Leach-Moore Flooring Warehouse Samantha Hernandez Houston Waste Services Tiffany Torres Johnstone Supply Darlene Addison McElvy Media Group Alex Marquez Fanning Johnstone Supply Candis Mohr AAA Plumbers Deborah DeRouen OneApp Guarantee Austin Lawley Brandt Electrical A/C & Heating Tammy Broadway American Fire Systems, Inc. Felicia Norman Multifamily Insiders Blaise Spitaleri Gemstar Construction Liz Levins Rasa Floors 6 Diamela Bravo Green City Security Grace Prather Prism Electric Jim Martensen Camp Construction Services Lacy Contreras Texscape Services David Cohen The Flying Locksmiths Kyle Turney Impact Floors Marcy Holmes Designs by Holmes Interior5Design Juana Estrada Interstate Restoration LLC Karen Nelsen ALN Apartment Data, Inc Kristin McLaughlin Dixie Carpet Matthew Nunn Capital Construction Blake Subinsky HD Supply Danyell Wilkerson ApartmentData.com Arely Pena The Liberty Group Aanitrius Broussard Massey Services Paul Garcia SentriForce Phillip Price HD Supply Steve Bergman T & L Distributing Ryan Carson Gemstar Construction Sean Cunningham Flooring Warehouse Shaun Callaway Earthworks, Inc Stacy Proctor Massey Services Joey Rodriguez The Urban Foresters Bo Hang Redi Carpet Derek DeVries Camp Construction Services Doug Oehl Flooring Warehouse FTK Construction Services Jammy Malone Kristi Gillespie TransUnion Raymond Dagar Grace Hill Stephen Webster RentPath Xochitl Flores BG Multifamily Brent Williams Multifamily Insiders Chris Bell Cotton Commercial Heaven Hensley Earthworks, Inc Jacey Turpin Interstate Restoration Mike O'Brien AM Conservation Group Angel Lopez Metropolitan Staffing Solutions Brandon Coleman Cinema Anywhere Clint Beck HD Supply Laura Lestus The Liberty Group

422 326 253 177 143 75 70 60 56 54 51 50 49 42 39 37 33 33 32 30 30 27 26 26 26 25 25 25 24 23 21 20 17 17 17 17 16 16 16 16 15 14 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 12 12 12 12 12 11 11 11

Ambassadors earn points by sharing leads, making introductions and visiting communities to promote HAA events and news.

THE AMBASSADOR ONE SOCIETY is an organized network exchange that helps supplier partners build their business contacts within HAA. It’s the perfect way for new suppliers to get started with the association. Group members share leads, make introductions and support HAA and its members. For details, attend an orientation and one of the meetings listed here, or contact Amanda in the Membership Department at 713-595-0316, or email members@haaonline.org.

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The Ambassador ONE Society 2021 Leadership 2021 Chairs Ambassador Ace

Marivel Bownds, CAS Valet Living

Ryan Weis Crestmark Construction Services

Shaun Callaway, CAS Earthworks

Tito Estrada One Source Realty Advisors

Team Stay Classy

Team The Bomb Squad

Liz Levins, CAS Rasa Floors Team The Bomb Squad

Giovanna Gone, CAM Century A/C Supply

Marcy Holmes, CAPS Design by Holmes Interior Design

Team Green Machine

Team The Bomb Squad

Amanda Kelly, CAS Brandt Electrical A/C & Heating Services LLC Team Green Machine

Tracey LeachMoore, CAS Flooring Warehouse

Karen Nelsen, CAS ALN Apartment Data Inc.

Matthew Nunn, CAS Capital Construction

Team The Bomb Squad

Team The Bomb Squad

Phillip Price HD Supply Team Stay Classy

Joey Rodriguez, CAS The Urban Foresters Team Green Machine

Mark your calendars and join us!

Ambassador ONE Society meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month: January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7, May 5, June 2, July 7, August 4, September 1, October 6, November 3 Blaise Spitaleri, CAS Gemstar Construction

Blake Subinsky, CAS HD Supply

Team Stay Classy

Team Green Machine

www.haaonline.org

The first quarter meeting spot is Kirby Ice House, 1015 Gessner Road, Houston, Texas 77055.

January 2021

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Portfolio Changes The following owner/management companies have added the listed properties to their portfolios:The following owner/management companies have added the listed properties to their portfolios: • 8800 Broadway: 8700 Broadway, 220 units at 8700 Broadway St. • Adara Communities: Ariana Estates, 336 units at 10802 Legacy Park Drive.

• Allied Orion Group: Kennedy Place, 108 units at 3100 Gillespie St.; Ewing Apartments, 40 units at 1815 Ewing St.; and Cuney Homes, 553 units at 3260 Truxillo St. • Bell Partners: Balcara at Balmoral, 163 units at 15863 Kinlough Drive.

• CAF Management: Palazzo at Cypresswood Apartments, 363 units at 13801 Napoli Drive.

• Centra Partners: Park at Willowbrook, 229 units at 7100 Smiling Wood Lane.

• Chiniot Opportunity Zone: Santa Lucia Apartments, 60 units at 7525 Hillcroft St. • Davis Development: Alleia Long Meadow, 400 units at 5600 Berkley Knoll Circle, Richmond.

• Greystar: Asher Oaks, 330 units at 2100 Gosling Road, Spring.

• Indus Management Group: Sharpstown Garden Apartments, 396 at 7575 Bissonnet St.

• Janell Cedarstrom: Janell Cedarstrom - Properties, seven units at various locations.

• Marquette Management Inc.: MLZA1 LP, Wheatley Manor Apartments, 108 units at 5201 Market St. and Wheatley Plaza Apartments, 108 units at 5600 Market St. • NSP Management Group: Inverness Gardens, 32 units at 1300 E. James St., Baytown; Inverness Apartments, 66 units at 907 N. Pruett St., Baytown; and Sherwood Glen, 56 units at 3805 Sherwood Lane.

• Roark Equity: Cedar Heights Apartments, 12 units at 4747 South St., Brookshire.

• Roscoe Properties: The Standard in the Heights, 301 units at 609 Waverly St. • Seldin Company: Jubilee at Texas Parkway, 82 units at 3302 Texas Parkway, Missouri City and Gala at Texas Parkway, 86 units at 3102 Texas Parkway, Missouri City.

• Creative Property Management: Las Varandas Del Sur Apartments, 240 units at 10003 Forum West Drive.

• Topaz Asset Management: Humble Memorial Gardens, 75 units at 9850 J M Hester St., Humble and North Forest Trails, 168 units at 9550 N. Wayside Drive.

• Valiant Residential: Stone Canyon, 216 units at 10919 West Road.

Want to see current and previous issues of ABODE online? Go to http://issuu.com/haa_abode

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In the News

Hauck

McLaughlin

MORGAN announces changes in its central region with the hiring of Jason Hauck as regional development partner.

Kristin McLaughlin, CAP, CAS, joins Dixie Carpet Installations as the director of national accounts.

Congratulations to the following HAA members for winning NAA awards: PAC Purchasing Solutions and Veritas Equity Management is named as NAA’s 2020 Best Places to Work; Blaise Spitaleri, CAS, with Gemstar Construction wins NAA’s Certified Apartment Supplier of the Year and Kenneth J. Bohan with The Liberty Group is honored with NAA’s National Suppliers Council Achievement award.

More congratulations are due to the following HAA members for winning TAA awards: Roberto Guzman, CAMT, Veritas Equity Management, wins the TAA Mary Williams Maintenance Professional of the Year award; Scott Douglas, CAM, CAPS, NALP, Creative Property Management, wins the Rita Kirby Regional Property Manager of the Year award; and Centruy AC Supply wins the Mike Clark Supplier Partner Company of the Year award.

Have something to report from your company or for yourself?

Email us your news at comm@haaonline.org.

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Boriack, continued from Page 36 Photos from left: John as a speaker for the 2018 HAA State of the Industry Breakfast with Ric Campo, Camden; Cyrus Bahrami, Alliance Residential; Patrick Jankowski, Greater Houston Partnership; Bruce McClenney, ApartmentData.com; and Stacy Hunt, Greystar.

The Boriacks take their daughter Danielle to the Colorado ranch where they were engaged.

responsibilities,” Boriack said. “When you think about it, Christ was the ultimate servant leader. When each team member can understand that we, myself, Jackie and Katelin, want to serve them by creating an environment that allows them to reach their highest potential, they in turn want to be the best that they can be. If you can help people figure out their purpose and passion, they transform into a whole new person.”

Boriack continues, “And so, I also always remind them that there are three groups of people we serve every day – our residents, our fellow team members and our investors. Our residents are first because we are providing their homes, and the home, foundationally, is a place where people have their highs and their lows in life. It’s where they create their family memories, it’s where they experience marriages, divorces, births, deaths, holidays,

Christmas – it’s where they spend a pandemic. The home is a consistent place where families find security and shelter. In our line of work, we have the ability to magnificently impact people's lives far greater than almost any other business. We spend years with our residents, and we have the ability to make that vital component of a family’s life a consistent source of nurturing encouragement. If a resident chooses to live in our community, we can provide a clean, safe, functional and hospitable place for them to call home, which is one of the biggest decisions they’re ever going to make. We can have a massively positive impact on their family trajectory and the stability in their children’s lives, knowing that should fuel our Veritas family with passion for their jobs,” Boriack said.

Industry Leadership Starts Early At 32 years old, Boriack is the youngest HAA president in its history.

Before Boriack, the youngest HAA president was Trey Stone in 2014. It was Stone who inspired and encouraged Boriack to get involved with HAA six years ago.

“I was minimally involved with HAA for quite a few years before really diving in 2014 at the prompting of my friend and mentor Trey Stone. He was president at the time, and he told me, ‘We need more people like you to get involved.’ And that encouragement really prompted me to start exploring more opportunities to get plugged in at HAA. I recognized that I was young and didn't know a lot. The influences I had in my life at the time were great, coming from Lifestyles, but I didn’t have exposure to corporate real estate. What really drew me to HAA was the opportunity to rub shoulders with people who were much smarter and more successful than I was.

I'm so lucky at HAA to have the best minds in the country actively serving and volunteering here. For someone as young as me to have the opportunity to volunteer for an organization alongside leaders like Jackie Rhone (who was HAA president in 2015 and Greystar’s executive director), Mac Armstrong (who was HAA president in 2013 and Greystar’s senior managing director) and Jerry Winograd (who was HAA president in 2006 and the owner of Judwin Properties) is incredible. I knew I would never meet that caliber of an individual without getting involved with HAA. I was grateful to have the opportunity to be around those leaders. And this year, having the face time with Clay Hicks (immediate past president of HAA and the president of The Dinerstein Companies), and being on the search committee for HAA’s new CEO with people like Jackie Rhone and Beth Van Winkle (vice president of property operations for Highmark and current regional vice president National Apartment Association) – learning how they operate and how they think has been hugely beneficial for me and my professional development. And it's been a massive return on investment for somebody

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with my inexperience in the industry. I've seen myself rapidly grow in my leadership skills from my experience with HAA,” Boriack said.

As president-elect last year, Boriack served alongside 2020 HAA President Clay Hicks in a way that no other president-elect has done before.

Hicks, Boriack and Christy Rodriguez, the thensecretary/treasurer and current president-elect, worked together to guide HAA through a pandemic and through HAA’s CEO transition.

Working as one unit, the three were able to maintain an open line of communication and lean on each other’s strengths to improve overall performance. The three found that engaging the president-elect and secretary/treasurer is a powerful way to foster long-term success for HAA. “First, hats off to Clay for allowing us to be that involved, for communicating with us as much as he did and for asking for our input. By having this continuity among the three of us, it really sets everyone up for success, especially HAA because it keeps the momentum going. It keeps the power of affecting positive change alive rather than having a reset with each new president,” Boriack said.

“He really taught me that we, as the volunteer leaders, have the power and ability to change things, ask questions, question why things are done a certain way and make a difference.”

Boriack will continue the tradition Hicks started by leaning on President-elect Christy Rodriguez of Judwin Properties and Secretary/Treasurer Stephanie Graves of The Signorelli Company during his presidency.

“We got hit with a curve ball last year, but I'm excited to have Casey Morgan driving HAA and to have myself, Christy and Stephanie and Hicks (as immediate past president) as the HAA Executive Committee to lead HAA through 2021,” Boriack said. “I thrive when I can work and collaborate with others, so I will definitely be leaning on this group of incredible leaders.”

When everyone was desperately trying to survive the pandemic, Boriack searched for ways to help his team thrive. As he leads HAA this year, Boriack will lean on the executive committee to search for ways for HAA to thrive in 2021.

“It’s about to be comeback season. I think we're very well positioned to come back swinging, and not just survive, but thrive this year and develop into a way better organization than it was two years ago,” Boriack said.

This year very well may be another year filled with uncertainty and change. But with Boriack as president of HAA, we cannot fail. Not because he’ll be able to predict or control the outcome, but because he courageously leads from compassion and a commitment to find the potential in people and processes.

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Index of Advertisers By CATEGORY

A/C Supplies

Group Purchasing Organization

Century A/C Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 281-530-2859 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.centuryac.com

PAS Purchasing Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26-27 800-875-0250 . .www.paspurchasingsolutions.com

Answering Service

Insurance

On Hold USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 800-755-4142 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.onholdusa.com

Harco Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 713-681-2500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.harco-ins.com

Carpet Installation

Landscape Contractors

Dixie Carpet Installations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 281-261-6334 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.dixiecarpet.com

Outdoor Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 713-955-0990 . . . . . .www.outdoorelementstx.com

Texas Southwest Floors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 800-719-4321 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.texasswfloors.com

Texscape Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 281-846-3779 . . . . . . . . . .www.texscapeservices.com

Collection Agencies

Locks & Locksmiths

Alexander-Rose Associates Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 713-644-4441 . . . . . . . . . . .www.alexanderrose-inc.com

CKI Wholesale Lock Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 713-462-0704 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.ckilock.com

Electric Contractors

Personnel Agency

Affordable Quality Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 713-695-5992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.acuityelectric.com

ASAP Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 972-432-6667 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.asapdo.com

Brandt Electrical A/C & Heating Services . . . .37 281-693-3383 . . . . . . . . . . .www.brandtelectrical.com

Plumbing Contractors AAA Plumbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 713-462-4753 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.aaaplumbers.com

Foundation Repair Church Foundation Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 713-468-8400 . . .www.churchfoundationrepair.com

TARGET QUALIFIED LEADS With HAA’s job board, you’ll discover a professional community that’s committed to helping you find the right candidate or your next job opportunity in the greater Houston and surrounding areas.

www.haaonline.org jobs@haaonline.org 713-595-0300

Resident Screening Service General Contractors Camp Construction Services . . . . . . . .Back Cover 713-413-2267 . . . . . . . .www.campconstruction.com

CoreLogic Rental Property Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Inside Front Cover 888-297-8821 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.corelogic.com

Cotton Commercial USA Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 877-511-2962 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.cottongds.com

Screens

Crestmark Construction Services . . . . . . . . . . . .17 713-426-6161 . . . . . . . . . . .www.crestmarkservices.com

Ameristar Screen and Glass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 713-683-6767 . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.ameristarglass.com

FSI Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 832-767-1115 . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.fsiconstruction.com

Security Control Equipment/Systems

Gemstar Construction & Development . . . . . .35 281-821-1195 . . . . . .www.gemstarconstruction.com

SentriForce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 888-671-2202 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.sentriforce.com

www.haaonline.org/rcr

Guardian Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 832-672-4196 . . . . . . . . . . . .www.guardianconst.com MultiFamily Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 713-266-9100 RENCON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Inside Back Cover 713-666-3636 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.rencon.com TPI Construction & Painting Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 713-668-7986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.tpiinc.com

Swimming Pool Service Poolsure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 800-858-POOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.poolsure.com

Trash Hauling Waste Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 713-354-5230 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.thinkgreen.com

Glass – Plate, Window, Etc. Ameristar Screen and Glass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 713-683-6767 . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.ameristarglass.com

HAA reserves the right to reject any advertising if its content is inappropriate or inconsistent with HAA’s standards for publication or HAA’s business interests, in HAA’s sole opinion.

Want to see current and previous issues of ABODE online? Go to http://issuu.com/haa_abode.

Or view this issue on your computer, tablet or smartphone at http://issuu.com/haa_abode/docs/abode_jan2021.

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MarketLine By BRUCE MCCLENNY, President, ApartmentData.com

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1050 – • • • • • •

HOUSTON Snapshot 88.8% $1,040/mo. $1.18/sq.ft./mo.

885 sq.ft.

Recently Opened (12 months): 81 communities 23,171 units

1000 – – 90.0 975 –

– 89.0

– 88.0

Under Construction: 60 communities 16,888 units

Occupancy (%)

Operating Supply: 2,899 communities 684,012 units

Rental Rate (¢/sq.ft./mo.)

Past 12 Months: -1.4% rental rate growth 11,288 units absorbed

1025 –

•

Occupancy: Price: Rental Rate: Size:

History of Effective Rental Rate & Occupancy for All Units

Hottest Submarkets Over the Past Three Months

Nov 20

Oct 20

Sep 20

Concessions

Annualized % of Market Rank Submarket Absorbed 1 Sugar Land/Stafford/Sienna 8.4% 2 Richmond/Rosenberg 21.3% 3 Conroe North/Montgomery 3.2% 4 Northeast Houston/Crosby 2.2% 5 Bear Creek/Copperfield/Fairfield 3.5%

Aug 20

Jul 20

Jun 20

May 20

Apr 20

Mar 20

Feb 20

Jan 20

Nov 19

Dec 19

Oct 19

Sep 19

Aug 19

Jul 19

Jun 19

May 19

Apr 19

Feb 19

Mar 19

Proposed Construction: 97 communities 28,331 units

Jan 19

Dec 18

– 87.0

Rental Rate Growth % 1.3% 0.5% 0.9% 1.5% 0.5%

Total Units Class w/Concessions All 359,735 A 113,588 B 146,681 C 89,691 D 9,775

% of Total Units 53% 70% 51% 46% 25%

Average Special -4.1% -6.8% -2.8% -2.6% -1.5%

Citywide Effect -7.2% -9.6% -5.4% -5.6% -6.0%

One Month Free = -8.33%

THE FIRST TABLE ABOVE GIVES A SNAPSHOT of the current market conditions. The graph displays the overall occupancy and effective rental rates over the past 24 months. These statistics are derived from a continuous survey of all apartment communities in the Houston region. The effective rental rates are the calculated net of concessions and utility adjustments. The second table lists the five hottest submarkets in the Greater Houston area. There are a total of 42 submarkets, and the ranking is based on the best combination of rental rate growth and absorption over the past three months. The third table distributes and analyzes concessions (specials) by classification.

Concessions generally are represented by three types of specials: move-in, months free or floor plans. The effect of these specials is captured and prorated over a lease term to arrive at a percentage reduction in market or street rents.

TEXAS

Dallas/Ft. Worth

San Antonio

Austin

Occupancy: Price: Rental Rate: Size:

Occupancy: Price: Rental Rate: Size:

Occupancy: Price: Rental Rate: Size:

91.1% $1,164/mo. $1.33/sq.ft./mo.

877 sq.ft.

90.7% $984/mo. $1.15/sq.ft./mo.

855 sq.ft.

88.5% $1,248/mo. $1.43¢/sq.ft./mo.

875 sq.ft.

Past 12 Months: 0.1% rental rate growth 19,848 units absorbed

Past 12 Months: 0.6% rental rate growth 5,711 units absorbed

Past 12 Months: -4.9% rental rate growth 5,434 units absorbed

Operating Supply: 3,226 communities 766,834 units

Operating Supply: 945 communities 202,049 units

Operating Supply: 1,063 communities 250,793 units

www.haaonline.org

ApartmentData.com has been providing apartment data and marketing products since 1986.

ApartmentData.com provides real-time access for property specific information, market surveys and historic submarket data for more than 3.5 million apartment units in Texas, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, North Carolina and Tennessee.

For more information, contact Bruce McClenny at 800-595-8730. © 2021 ApartmentData.com January 2021

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Leadership, continued from Page 49 generating detailed market analyses, conducting due diligence, overseeing complex property renovations and capital projects, creating product positioning strategies, overseeing marketing and branding campaigns, preparing and analyzing budgets, managing budget reforecasts, generating expense-reduction and revenue-generation measures, creating detailed reports for property owners, negotiating with suppliers and building high-performance teams.

Prior to joining Barvin, Tracie held operations leadership roles for Avenue5, US Residential and Greystar, just to name a few, where she specialized in pre-development and lease-ups.

Since 2012, Tracie has served on the HAA Board of Directors. In 2019 and 2020, she served as the chair for the HAA Community Outreach Committee. Serving as an HAA vice president at large for the first year, Tracie oversees the north outreach region. She also is the HAA Membership Committee liaison.

2021 PRODUCT SERVICE COUNCIL OFFICERS David Lindley, CAS President David Lindley is a vice president for FSI Construction. He started working for FSI Construction in 2015, working in busines development. He began his multifamily career working for Asset Plus in 2012.

As an active HAA volunteer, David graduated from the HAA Leadership Lyceum program in 2016. David has served HAA by volunteering for various HAA committees, groups and projects including the HAA Food Drive, the HAA Political Action Committee, the Ambassador ONE Society, Go-Getters, HAA Community Outreach, HAA NEXT and Chili Cook-off. David has held leadership positions for the HAA NEXT Committee, as chair in 2017 and 2018, and as the chair for the 2020 Expo Exhibitor Committee. In 2017, David won the HAA Honors Awards Go-Getter of the Year award.

He has served on the HAA Board of Directors since 2018. As president of the Product Service Council, David chairs the council.

Derek DeVries, CAS Vice President Derek DeVries is the regional director of sales for the central region for Camp Construction Services. He was promoted in 2018 after being one of Camp’s most productive salesmen in Houston for eight years. He joined Camp after a 14-year career in education, teaching high school history and coaching athletics.

Derek has been very active in HAA since

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joining the industry in 2010. He has served HAA through his involvement and through leadership roles on various committees, including leadership positions as the co-chair for the Ambassador One Society and heading up the chili judging for the HAA Chili Cook-off. Derek achieved his CAS designation in 2012 and graduated from the HAA Leadership Lyceum program in 2016. He has served on the HAA Board of Directors since 2018. As the vice president of the Product Service Council, Derek is the chair of the HAA Expo Exhibitor Committee.

Candis Mohr, CAS Secretary Candis Mohr is the second generation of AAA Plumbers, started by her father, Cesar Lima, and his business partner, Steve Park, in 1984. Candis is the marketing and operations assistant for AAA Plumbers, where she has worked for seven years in marketing. Her HAA involvement began just a year after she joined AAA Plumbers, in 2013.

Candis has a bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University and earned her Certified Apartment Supplier from the National Apartment Association in 2014. In 2015, Candis graduated from the HAA Leadership Lyceum program. Candis was an Ambassador ACE, a leadership role within the Ambassador ONE Society, from 2016 to 2020. And, she was named to HAA’s inaugural HAA Forty Under 40 class.

Candis serves on various HAA committees such as the Chili Cook-Off Committee, the Expo Exhibitor Committee, the HAA Political Action Steering Committee and the HAA NEXT Committee. Last year, Candis started serving on the HAA Board of Directors.

Candis serves the Grateful Americans Charity in her role as a member of the Grateful Americans Charity Advisory Board. She also serves the Trinity Klein Lutheran Church in a leadership role for the annual STARS Retreat.

Candis, her husband Matt Mohr and their daughter Kodi attend the Community of Faith Church, a multi-denominational church.

Joseph Rodriguez, CAS Treasurer Joey Rodriguez is a sales manager for The Urban Foresters. He has been with the company for six years.

Joey joined the multifamily industry after attending The University of Houston and beginning a career in retail sales and management. Six years ago, Joey joined The Urban Foresters and HAA, a journey that has helped him grow and develop professionally and personally. As a sales manager for The Urban Foresters, Joey manages a small team of multifamily and commercial

arborists across Texas, prioritizing training and one-on-one coaching weekly.

Joey obtained his Certified Apartment Supplier credential through the National Apartment Association. In 2019, Joey began serving on the HAA Product Service Council, the same year he graduated from the HAA Leadership Lyceum program. He has served on number of committees such as the Ambassador ONE Society and the Chili Cook-Off Committee.

Joey and his wife, Adrianna Rodriguez, are parishioners at St. Ann's Catholic Church. They share the dream of owning a hub house, where their friends and family can come together and be loved.

Laura Lestus, CAS Immediate Past President Laura Lestus is the regional sales manager over Texas and Colorado for The Liberty Group.

She opened both the San Antonio and the Austin office for The Liberty Group. She also assisted in the development of the “Mastering Excellence” training curriculum.

When Laura first joined The Liberty Group in 2008, she was an account executive with the temporary personnel division. Laura started her career in the multifamily industry as a part-time leasing agent in 1998.

Active in HAA since 2004, Laura has the Certified Apartment Supplier credential through the National Apartment Association and graduated from the HAA Leadership Lyceum program in 2016. She has served HAA in numerous leadership positions, earning her the honor of the HAA Honors Awards Supplier of the Year in 2014. Laura served as chair of various committees, including the HAA Political Action Committee Century Club in 2019 and the 2019 Expo Exhibitor Committee.

Last year, Laura was the PSC president and serves this year as the immediate past president. She also serves on committees for the Texas Apartment Association and NAA. In addition to her industry service, Laura is a volunteer and advocate for parents with teens suffering from drug and alcohol addiction and is active with many animal rescue groups.

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