Bay State Apartment Owner 2Q 2015

SECOND QUARTER 2015

LOVE FROM THE RUINS

BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING SURVIVOR ROSEANN SDOIA FINDS GRATITUDE AT THE FINISH LINE

One Seaport Square Offers Residents the

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

SECOND QUARTER 2015

LOVE FROM THE RUINS

BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING SURVIVOR ROSEANN SDOIA FINDS GRATITUDE AT THE FINISH LINE

One Seaport Square Offers Residents the

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Bay State Apartment Owner is the official publication of the Rental Housing Association. ©2015 The Warren Group Inc. and the Rental Housing Association. All rights reserved. The Warren Group is a trademark of The Warren Group Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher.

A division of the

Greater Boston Real Estate Board

One Center Plaza, Mezzanine Level Boston, MA 02108 Phone: 617-423-8700 Fax: 617-338-2600

RHA Officers President: President Elect: Vice-President: Secretary: Executive Director:

Gilbert Winn Sarah Mathewson Mark R. Epker Kathleen Franco John E. Lafferty

Published By

THE WARREN GROUP Creative / Production / Advertising www.thewarrengroup.com 280 Summer Street Boston, MA 02210 Phone: 617-428-5100 Fax: 617-428-5118 custompubs@thewarrengroup.com

CONTENTS

President’s Message

04

Executive Director’s Message

06

RHA Calendar

06

Photo Gallery

07

Board and Member Priorities Include Interaction, Information Exchange and Networking RHA Conference Continues to Grow

FEATURES

Change the Game of Work

08

Love from the Ruins

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3

President’s Message

BY GILBERT WINN

Board and Member Priorities Include Interaction, Information Exchange and Networking

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f it’s not working, try networking.

It is neither a cutting-edge business building technique nor the latest in “outside the box” thinking, but networking and peer interaction remains at the top of the list when we asked our directors what they want from RHA. In a recent survey, in response to the question, “What could we do to enhance your experience as a director of RHA?” the vast majority of responses were iterations of networking and information exchange themes.

Directors wanted to get to know their fellow directors and what

they and their companies do on a daily basis. It is interesting to note that industry professionals, from local, regional and national firms really do not have the opportunity to interact, on a regular basis, with their peers. Certainly corporate demands on executive’s time play a large role in this situation. As a result, our knowledge of other firms stems mainly from the press, and often from insights gained from employees who switch companies.

RHA’s board of directors meetings provide a platform for a more personal exchange. We have added to our board meeting agenda time for a director to talk about what they do on a day-to-day basis and the challenges they face. These exchanges open the dialogue between the directors, providing an entre for

future discussion, but of equal importance, they break down barriers that can impede open discussion regarding the issues facing RHA and its members. While unfamiliarity with a fellow real estate professional can result in hesitancy to openly address issues, familiarity can foster open, frank and productive discussion. True interaction and networking with industry peers can produce successful solutions for day to day challenges, help create and spread best practices, and improve the industry as a whole.

RHA also fosters networking opportunities that extend beyond the board of directors. Recently, for instance, I attended a networking event put on by the RHA NextGen committee. The purpose of the event was to gather leas-

Partners in quality housing The hundreds of rental housing professionals who attended MassHousing’s 2015 Community Services Conference helped to develop strategies and solutions to address the complex issues surrounding human trafficking in affordable housing. Thanks to our rental partners for your participation in the conference, and for your ongoing commitment to providing safe, quality affordable residents for all Massachusetts residents.

To view resources and information from the conference, visit www.masshousing.com/resources

www.masshousing.com/TAP 4

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ing and management staff who are new to the industry, and give them an opportunity to “mix” with more seasoned professionals. Thanks to the generosity of UDR, we were able to gather after work for tours of 100 Pier Four. The tour broke down barriers by giving the attendees a common topic of discussion. That discussion continued at a nearby venue with a cocktail reception, sponsored with WinnCompanies and First Resource Companies.

A very different sort of networking event was our recently held Maintenance Mania®. Over 120 maintenance team members registered for this timed competition which tested their skills. And while it was all business during the competition itself, the lunch preceding the event and the reception during the awards ceremony gave the competitors a chance to catch up with peers, both within and outside of their respective companies. In addition to the competitors, over forty spectators were on hand to cheer on their maintenance team members, adding to the interaction and networking opportunities.

There is a networking component to our other events as well. The golf, Red Sox outings and education events all present the opportunity for participants to make new contacts and gain industry insights.

The fall conference and tradeshow bring together 600 industry members and over 100 top vendors for a day long program of education, exhibits, awards and socialization.

But perhaps the greatest testimony to our commitment to the facilitation of interaction and networking is the totally re-engineered RHA President’s Awards Reception. The sit-down dinner has been replaced with an extended reception featuring food stations, and the awards program has been streamlined in order to allow for increased peer-to-peer interaction in lieu of sitting down with people you already know for yet another chicken dinner.

Interaction, information exchange and networking: These are clearly priorities of our board, and represent clear missions of RHA. n Gilbert Winn is chief executive office of the WinnCompanies and 2015 president of the Rental Housing Association.

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5

Executive Director’s Message

BY JOHN E. LAFFERTY

RHA Conference Continues to Grow

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s the reader may have already surmised, this issue of Bay State Apartment Owner is focused on the Rental Housing Association’s 2015 EXPO Fall Conference and Trade Show, which takes place in September at the Hynes Convention Center. We hope we will whet your appetite for the largest multifamily industry event in New England.

Fourteen years ago, thanks to the vision of 2001 RHA President Tom Beaton, we held our first tradeshow in conjunction with an education conference. That very successful initial event at the Seaport Hotel featured 23 exhibitors and 212 attendees.

This year, we expect well over 600 industry attendees, over 100 exhibition booths and almost 200 individuals staffing those booths.

That kind of success is due to the efforts of the Fall Conference Committee, this year chaired by Bryan Dempsey of Metropolitan Cabinets and the Education Committee, chaired by Nancy Melanson, from Apartments.com.

The conference has grown as a result of consistently hiring high quality speakers, who deliver relevant and often inspiring messages

to our attendees. This year, we are privileged to have as our keynote speaker a multifamily industry veteran and survivor of the Boston Marathon bombing, Rosann Sdoia.

Her address promises to be inspiring, empowering, personal and poignant – what every keynote address should be.

We are also honored to have Chrystal Kornegay, undersecretary for housing and community development for the commonwealth of Massachusetts as our first presenter of the day. Kornegay most recently served as president of Urban Edge. A graduate of Hunter College, she has received a master’s degree in city planning from MIT and graduated from Harvard Kennedy School’s Achieving Excellence Program. We look forward to hearing her insights into the administration’s view on housing and community development issues in the commonwealth.

Following Kornegay, we will hear from Tim Gard. “Developing a Comic Vision®” is the title of Tim’s presentation, as funny as it is inspiring and content rich. A motivational speaker, Gard will teach audience members to develop and apply their own Comic Vision® to be more resourceful and resilient, both at work and in their personal lives. His rejuvenating message helps increase employee morale

while enhancing productivity and everyday enthusiasm in three easyto-adopt steps.

Attendance at the conference is also driven by our awards ceremony. RHA recognizes personal achievement with the Leasing Consultant, Maintenance Mechanic, Maintenance Supervisor, On-Site Property Manager and Regional Manager of the Year Awards. We also celebrate corporate success with the Communities of Excellence Awards. The Community Awards are patterned off of the National Apartment Association’s Paragon Awards competition, with winners selected in the following categories: New, Five to Twenty Years, Twenty Plus Years, Green and Specialties.

We would be remiss if we did not mention the industry leading vendors offering the latest in goods and services, not to mention drawings for booth gifts and a cash prize on our expanded trade show floor. And we conclude the day with the conference reception where exhibitors and attendees get together to create and renew relationships and reflect on what promises to be a very successful day.

I look forward to seeing you on Sept. 29, 2015, for the 2015 EXPO at the Hynes Convention Center. n John Lafferty is the executive director of the Rental Housing Association.

RENTAL HOUSING ASSOCIATION 2015 EDUCTATION AND EVENTS

August 15

September 29

RHA Affiliate’s Summer Cookout Gillette Stadium

RHA Fall Conference and Exposition Hynes Convention Center

2015 6

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October 15

RHA Professional Development Series ARS, Newton

November 17- 20 NAA Assembly of Delegates San Antonio, TX

December 1

RHA President’s Awards Reception

For additional information, visit www.gbreb.com/rha

g r e a t e r

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National Apartment Association RENTAL HOUSING ASSOCIATION 2014 EDUCATION AND EVENTS MAINTENANCE MANIA® C O M P E T I T I O N Y EA R 2014-2015

APRIL 2, 2015 • LANTANA, RANDOLPH MA • NOON - 5:00 PM

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Bruins Outing

13-16 CAMT

23

Breakfast Series

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5 28

NextGEN Kickoff Fair Housing

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Breakfast Series NextGEN Career Panel

Red Sox Outing

Spring Marketing Program

Fall Golf

NextGen Night Out

Maintenance Mania

Spring Golf Business Exchange for NAAPAC 22

5, 12, 19, 26

Certified Apartment Manager (CAM)

2, 9, 16, 23 10

18-21 NAA Education Conference, Denver

CAM

Breakfast Series

15-18 Certificate for Maintenance Technicians (CAMT) 22-24 National Apartment Leasing Professional (NALP)

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Breakfast Series Affiliate Signature Event

RHA Multi-Family Conference Massachusetts Landlord Tenant Law

13-15 NAA Assembly of Delegates, Boston NextGen Holiday Party

RHA President's Awards

C L I C K H E R E F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N

Second Quarter 2015 • BAY STATE APARTMENT OWNER

7

CHANGE THE GAME OF WORK

By Tim Gard, CSP, CPAE

E

verything is truly a game; life is a game, business is a game, literally everything is a game that involves winners, losers and spectators. Each day, we all can – and must – choose which of these three options we want to be.

To pull an example from a long time ago, everyone once believed the Earth was flat and that the sun revolved around the Earth. The courageous leader Christopher Columbus took a stand and deployed the actions to prove “everyone” wrong by sailing across the ocean.

The thought leaders of the time were given no choice but to “change their game” in order to catch up and grasp the “new” reality.

Along the same line, let’s look back into the history of the work-world and recall when everyone believed – and enforced – that if you were having fun or enjoying your work, you weren’t actually working. It took leaders like Norman Cousins and C. W. Metcalf to prove “everyone” wrong, yet again. They too changed the game for all of us, and opened up a ‘new’ reality for a truly productive and fulfilling work experience.

It’s a proven fact that positive humor serves to improve morale, self-esteem and productivity in the workplace.

Today, only a few dinosaur thinkers dispute the beneficial effects of humor in the workplace. Just as our past leaders did, you too can “change the game” by establishing and reinforcing a good humor environment in your organization.

Humor as a Business Skill The best business leaders of our current time openly endorse humor as a necessary skill that should be developed and perfected, just as negotiation or organizational skills are developed and perfected. They understand that to earn the right to lead they must employ and polish every tool available. It is the only way to be the best of their kind, and thrive, rather than merely survive.

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The use of humor as a business skill isn’t about telling jokes or acting like a comedian. Let’s face it, some things will never be funny, and sometimes, the situation calls for ultimate seriousness or focus.

When I talk about having fun in the workplace during my seminars, I am referring to the times when everyone is competent in cooperation, and in their respective roles, as this balance of internal and external influences allows for the accomplishment of truly incredible things. Now that’s fun.

What’s Fun to Me? Even though my job has made me a 2 million-mile traveler, the travel experience has not lost its charm for me.

Given the inherent difficulties and frequent frustrations, it is vital that l use good humor to control my perspective and shape my experiences. For example, when I lost my baggage because another traveler took my suitcase by mistake at the baggage claim carousel, I didn’t grumble – what good would that do?

Instead, I made the conscious choice to shift my perspective and find a way to “change the game” in my workplace. Before my next trip, I plastered a sign across the entire side of my bag that said: “This is not your bag!”

The result was pure perfection; no one ever takes my bag anymore.

Here’s another example: I was constantly dealing with other travelers repositioning my carry-on roller bag in the overhead bin in such a way that it would no longer fit. This routinely forced me allow the flight attendants to check my bag and created unnecessary, and sometimes problematic, logistical delays.

I changed the “carry on game” by placing a full sized rubber chicken in my bag with only the feet sticking out.

Now, when someone tries to move my bag to accommodate their own, they see chicken legs sticking out and guess

what happens … they just put it right back where it was, and step away.

Not only is this funny, but it produces my desired result.

Since I started using this unique “bag tag,” I have never again had to check my carry-on bag after boarding the plane.

I MUST have fun when I work, and quite frankly, no one can – or will – stop me from enjoying that work.

Act, But Don’t Over React It’s important to learn to act – rather than react – to the everyday situational stressors all around us. Humor allows us to do that by simply combining ideas not normally associated with one another. The best part of this approach is that you get to use lots of creativity, which is of course a lot of fun! Conversely, when you stifle humor – the very heart of creativity – you inhibit new ideas and fresh perspectives that can help in any situation … and that’s certainly NOT fun.

There’s one caveat, however. When I use humor, it’s not to make light of serious situations. Using humor helps me to shine a light on previously unseen solutions and reveal hidden possibilities, which is a vital skill everyone can use for themselves and share with others.

3 Ways to Change the Game of Work To start changing the “Restaurant Facility Management Game” in your life, I suggest the following three easy steps: First, encourage employees to be the absolute best they can be. In my experience, being the best I can be is the number-one stress reliever. Being extremely good at one’s job naturally reduces anxiety because it increases confidence.

This means you that when you, personally, make sincere attempts in obtaining the tools, and providing the support needed to assist your employees to be their very best, YOU are being your very best. Your stress will simply melt away and work will feel, and truly be, more fun for you and those around you.

Example: Even though I have a “black belt” in airline travel, I still work to avoid placing myself in stressful situations by planning the best I can to avoid weather delays or other flying challenges. All of the various tools and efforts to create a seamless travel experience don’t entirely insulate me from every flying challenge, like a chatty seatmate who won’t stop talking to me even though I have my laptop open and am clearly working.

So, since there is no app to help avoid this particular annoyance, I had to create a tool to change the game.

When I want to concentrate and avoid chit-chatting on the plane, I simply pull out my own coloring book (complete with crayons) and start coloring pictures of myself.

Guess what happens … people leave me alone – it works every single time!

Second, recognize and celebrate humor when it happens, with attention to enhancing and never diminishing a person’s individual value while doing so. After all, everyone smiles and laughs in the same language, no matter where they are from, what they do, or how they do it.

As a point of reference, while staying at a hotel in Florida, I woke up just before midnight one night because my room suddenly became uncomfortably hot. When I called the front desk and before I could say a word, the clerk

blurted out, “Can’t talk right now we had a transformer blow up outside the hotel!”

Before I could stop myself, I asked, “Oh, no! Is it the Decepticons?!?” (Referring of course to the 2011 blockbuster movie Transformers.) “Which Transformers blew up? Not Bumblebee, I hope … He’s my favorite!”

The clerk paused for a moment then answered, “Um, no sir, not transformers, plural, just one.”

I could tell this young man was totally overwhelmed with anxiety and thusly reacting to his workplace crisis, rather than taking control and acting, so to help him out, I amped it up and said in an urgent tone with a sense of warning: “But you know, it only takes one … Megatron didn’t attack us, did he? Have you called Optimus Prime?”

He paused again in his puzzlement and then replied, “No, I haven’t call Optimus Prime yet, sir.”

Now highly animated, I commanded: “What are you waiting for?! We need help!”

The young man began to chuckle and closed our conversation with a smile in his voice and calmer, more controlled demeanor, thanking me for my patience as they worked to resolve the problem.

Apparently, word about this conversation found its way to the hotel manager who, I learned during checkout, covered the cost of my room. The note he left expressed his desire to thank me for helping his employees make it through the ominous “transformer” crisis with smiles and laughter.

Third, establish your own good humor ritual to close out your day. At the end of every day, it’s important to leave work and not drag the entire day’s stress home with you. Too often people carry negative energy of the day’s problems and frustrations home with them. This pattern must be stopped and replaced with something more productive. Suffice to say, I am a firm believer in the importance of leaving home at home when you go to work, and leaving work at work when you go home.

Example: Imagine that all your day’s problems are sitting on an office chair, piled high. Then picture in your mind dragging that chair home with you like it’s a toy wagon. Ask yourself how often you do this, and if you can’t answer it for yourself, ask the person closest to you in your personal life. If you discover that you regularly relive the work stress of the day in your home life, you can change the game by making leaving work a defining moment in time and take control of your perspective.

To do this, consider yourself a gymnast. When your work day is done and you are ready to leave the jobsite, throw your arms up in the air and do your best impression of a gymnastic dismount. Then as you begin to walk out of the facility, point back at your chair of problems and clearly state: “And YOU STAY!” This exercise will encourage your ability to mentally leave your work where it belongs – at work. This simple method helps not only you and those you encounter professionally every day, but your friends and family will appreciate the opportunity to spend time with you when you are home, rather than hear about your work.

Applying these ideas will change the game for you and your employees forever. You’ll accomplish creating a positive work experience for yourself and others, plus you’ll be able to effortlessly refresh and renew yourself between the stressful situations that inevitably occur. n Second Quarter 2015 • BAY STATE APARTMENT OWNER

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Rental Housing Association September 29th, 2015 | Hynes Convention Center,Boston RHA MULTIFAMILY CONFERENCE & EXPO | 09.27.13 | HYNES CONVENTION CENTER

Exhibitors as of 5/1/15 Second Quarter 2015 • BAY STATE APARTMENT OWNER

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LOVE FROM THE RUINS BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING SURVIVOR ROSEANN SDOIA FINDS GRATITUDE AT THE FINISH LINE

BY SHEILA EPPOLITO

P

atriot’s Day had always been Roseann Sdoia’s favorite day, full of friends, traditions and all things Boston.

On the second Monday of every April, Sdoia and her girlfriends would cheer on the Red Sox, then hoof it over to the Back Bay to watch the runners complete the Boston Marathon.

An inning or two before the Sox beat Tampa Bay with a Mike Napoli walk-off RBI double last year, the friends ordered a round at the Forum Restaurant, their go-to spot for years. But within 10 minutes, a text from their running friend, Jen, popped up on Sdoia’s iPhone, letting her know she was approaching the finish line. They left their drinks, and told the waitress they’d be right back.

That’s when everything changed.

Jockeying for position on the busy Boylston Street sidewalk, Sdoia’s friends squeezed in to the left of a mailbox; Roseann stood on the right.

Then, a boom — the first bomb detonated — and a man started yelling to get in the street.

“I knew it wasn’t normal — it wasn’t celebratory at all,” says Sdoia today. “We couldn’t get into the street, because it was barricaded, so I just ran.”

She ran right into the second bomb, dropped near that mailbox by the bombers. “I saw two flashes of white light, and hit the ground,” she says. “I was screaming for help — at least I think I was — but everyone was running around. It was mayhem. “ Finally, help came, in the form of Shores Salter, a Northeastern University student who used his belt as a tourniquet on her right leg. Then, Shana Cottone, a Boston cop, and several Boston firefighters arrived, and put her on a back board. Since ambulances were full, a police transport vehicle was used for Sdoia and another victim — Boston firefighter Michael Materia jumped in first, and held her hand and tourniquet en route to the hospital.

While most people would have passed out, Sdoia

wouldn’t let herself.

“I kept my eyes closed so I wouldn’t see anything else, but kept doing deep breathing to keep myself calm and alert — I felt like if I lost consciousness, I’d never wake up,” she says.

“I kept telling them I wanted to go to Mass General,” the Dracut native says. Her primary care doctor worked there, along with several nurse friends.

Once inside MGH, Sdoia was met by trauma surgeon Dr. David King, who’d just completed the marathon himself, and, after the bombs detonated, continued running to the hospital to help.

King assessed Sdoia’s injuries, which included damage to her left leg from a tree branch turned projectile from the bomb’s force, embedded shrapnel, a ruptured eardrum, burns on her body and, most concerning, a very badly damaged right leg.

After the first surgery during which her leg was amputated below the knee, Dr. King had to go back in to clean the wound out.

“He told me he’d try not to remove any more of the leg,” Sdoia says.

When she woke up, she learned that despite his best efforts, her right leg ended above where her knee used to be.

Her response? “Okay. It is what it is.”

Continued on page 14 Second Quarter 2015 • BAY STATE APARTMENT OWNER

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“In many ways, I feel blessed,” says Sdoia today, during an interview at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, where she, like many other victims, has spent the last year learning new life skills. “Three strangers saved my life.”

They didn’t stay strangers for long.

She spent a week at MGH, which was plenty of time for firefighter Materia to find her again, based on her first name and her injuries.

Materia visited her the day after the bombings. And every day after that. The relationship grew and, eventually, they became a couple.

“Sometimes, if I’m having a bad hair day, or I’m not sure about an outfit, I’ll ask Mike how I look,” she says. “He’ll just look at me and laugh, saying ‘I’ve seen you look worse’.”

An Army veteran (he served three tours in Iraq), Materia has been a rock, helping Sdoia navigate her altered body, her new world.

Shana Cottone, the Boston police officer, also rallied hard for Sdoia, checking in, visiting, vowing that police would get the bombers.

But the last of Sdoia’s saviors was, for several days, anonymous.

After helping Sdoia, Salter — the Northeastern student — returned to his apartment, bloodstained and shell shocked. He didn’t talk about what happened, but wondered about the woman, and whether she lived.

Then the power of social media worked its magic. Someone posted a photo on Facebook depicting Shores helping Roseann on the sidewalk, and someone else Tweeted it, and 14

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within minutes, Boston.com reached out, and Sdoia finally got in touch with her “mystery angel.”

Like war veterans, the four have become a tight group — texting, going to hockey games, checking out Salters’ tennis matches, having dinner once in a while.

“I don’t like to go too far from my ‘first responders,’” says Sdoia.

Sdoia’s resignation and strength of character should not be misinterpreted: she gets angry, frustrated and irritated daily.

“Everything I did without a thought is now a whole process — driving, going up and down stairs, all of it is new, and all of it is difficult,” she says. “It’s still hard to believe that this is it — this is my life from now on. It’s like a bad movie, and I’m starring in it.”

But Sdoia is not going to waste time wallowing.

After several bouts of “phantom pain” in what used to be her leg, she took a hard look in the mirror, and gave herself a talking to. “I stood tapping at the stump on my right leg, saying ‘It’s gone — there’s nothing there, stop it,’” she says.

After surgery to graft a new eardrum, she had trouble getting to the bathroom on crutches in the middle of the night, so she bought a cheap desk chair to use instead, rolling herself across the floor.

She became determined to ditch the wheelchair almost immediately, getting fitted for a prosthesis as soon as possible.

But getting the right prosthesis is extremely difficult — especially with an amputation above the knee.

Sdoia has already gone through several — and with every model, there are many, many hours spent adjusting the fit, tightening and recalibrating. The legs are expensive, too, ranging in price from $20,000 to $100,000 each.

Part of the difficulty with a good fit has to do with the changing size of the leg — muscles atrophy and shrink, although Sdoia’s leg took longer to do that.

“I guess I had a lot to work with,” she says.

When tragedy strikes, you learn who your friends are. For Sdoia, Christine Rousseau Hart sits squarely in that category.

Rousseau Hart and Sdoia have 30

years of history — they went to Notre Dame Academy together, and then to the University of Lowell, where they both studied business. Following the lead of Sdoia’s older sister, Gia, they joined the Alpha Omega sorority, and dove into life on campus.

“We had a ball,” says Hart. “We were orientation guides together, we studied for finals on Cumnock Beach and worked as cocktail waitresses at Chestnuts in Nashua.”

Then life got more complicated, with jobs and relocations and Hart’s marriage and kids. But when the bombings happened, Hart dove right back into best friend mode.

Within 24 hours, she had created a Go Fund Me page on Facebook to tell help raise money for the high cost of her friend’s recovery. At print time, almost 5,000 family, friends, members, strangers and companies have pledged nearly $400,000 to help.

Contributions range from $270 from a 10-year old named Sarah who asked for donations instead of birthday gifts, to $1,355 from the Barrington Grip ‘n Rip Softball tournament.

Hart is joined by a seemingly endless league of other passionate Sdoia fans. In fact, her sister, Gia, told “20/20” that after the bombings, so many friends were flying in to visit, she needed to make a schedule.

“Close to 50 people have already come to visit her,” Gia told ABC’s Deborah Roberts. “I don’t think the ICU has ever seen so many people come through. She had friends fly in from Florida, Arizona and even Ireland. We’ve had to hold people off and create a schedule because we don’t want it to be overwhelming, but everyone has understood.” doia is vice president of National Development, a Boston-based professional property management company, overseeing the Arborpoint Apartment Communities.

“My colleagues have been tremendous,” she says. She returned to work part-time in October, but is back out on leave as her physical therapy, occupational therapy, pool therapy and other medical appointments don’t leave room for the demanding full-time position.

In addition to juggling medical appointments, Sdoia’s calendar is filled with interviews.

The last year has made her something of a media darling — in addition to “20/20,” she’s been featured in People, Runner’s World, Shape Magazine, on The Katie Couric Show and been interviewed

by Brian Williams and countless local television, print and radio outlets.

In every interview, Sdoia is a combination of poise, strength and gratitude.

“Talking about it has helped me — it’s been its own form of therapy,” she says.

In an interview with Matt Siegel from KISS 108 radio, Sdoia joked that she should get a half-price deal on pedicures.

The list of celebrities who’ve reached out to Roseann includes New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, a slew of Red Sox players, Robert Kraft, Joe Kennedy III, Ted Kennedy Jr., Bruins forward Shawn Thornton, Ken Casey of the Dropkick Murphys, Academy Award Winner Kevin Spacey (who was so moved he named his dog Boston), and even President Barack Obama.

As for the other famous people associated with the tragedy — accused bombers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev — Sdoia doesn’t have a lot to say.

“People ask me if I am angry, if I hate them,” she says. “I don’t think I’m wired to hate — and I don’t have time to waste on hate as I work on my recovery.”

As the trial nears for the surviving Tsarnaev brother, Sdoia says she may go to the courtroom once. “He is not real to me now, he’s just someone on the news — but I want to look in his eyes one time and see if it helps me understand why he did this.”

After that, don’t count on Sdoia to stay stuck on this case.

She’s got better things to do.

UMass Lowell’s Boston Marathon Scholarship Fund benefits anyone in the university community (including friends and family) affected by the 2013 bombing, including first responders. To donate to the fund, visit uml.edu/givenow. n Reprinted with permission from the University of Massachusetts Lowell Magazine for Alumni and Friends.

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Real Estate and Financial Information

Trusted Real Estate & Financial Information The Warren Group 280 Summer Street Boston, MA 02210

617.428.5100 617.428.5118 www.thewarrengroup.com Second Quarter 2015 • BAY STATE APARTMENT OWNER

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Rental Housing Association September 29th, 2015 | Hynes Convention Center,Boston KEYNOTE

ROSEANN SDOIA

OPENING SESSION

CHRYSTAL KORNEGAY

GENERAL SESSION

TIM GARD

PRICING - PREPAYMENT REQUIRED The Strength to be Unstoppable Today, as a Boston Marathon Bombing Survivor and amputee, Roseann is making great strides in changing the lives of others. As one of the top motivational speakers, Roseann combines her powerful, personal story of perseverance with her professional corporate background and offers lessons learned throughout her challenging comeback journey as insightful, motivational tools that everyone can use to discover their own unstoppable strength. Roseann’s mantra that “life is only as positive as you make it,” serves as the foundation for redefining one’s own mindset in achieving every personal and professional goal, and ultimately living a happier, richer and more fulfilling life.

Individual

Tickets Ten & Up (Per Ticket)

On or before July 29

$160

$140

July 30 – August 29

$185

$165

After August 29

$235

$215

Non-exhibiting vendors will not be allowed on the tradeshow floor

REGISTRATION

Pre-Registration & Pre-Payment Required. If registering more than one person, names of all attendees, titles, and contact information is required electronically.

Please request an attendee list template by emailing jcooke@gbreb.com Name:__________________________________________________________________ Company:___________________________Ttle:______________________________ Job Category (please select one): _____Owner/Exec/VP/Regional

_____ Property Manager (site)

_____Maintenance (site)

_____ Leasing Agent (site)

_____ Information Technology

_____ Admin/Other

Address:________________________________________________________________

Chrystal Kornegay is the Undersecretary for Housing and Community Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Ms. Kornegay most recently served as president of Urban Edge. A graduate of Hunter College, she has received a master’s degree in city planning in from MIT and graduated from Harvard Kennedy School’s Achieving Excellence Program.

Developing a Comic Vision Employee motivation at its funnest, Tim Gard’s Comic Vision keynote is as funny as it is inspiring and content rich.

A motivational speaker, Tim will teach audience members to develop and apply their own Comic Vision® to be more resourceful and resilient—both at work and in their personal lives. Tim’s rejuvenating message helps increase employee morale while enhancing productivity and everyday enthusiasm in three easy-to-adopt steps.

For more on our speakers, tradeshow, awards ceremony & networking reception: www.gbreb.com/rha/rhaexpo

City:___________________________________State:_________Zip:_______________ Phone:_________________________ Email (required):____________________________ ______ Check here if you require special accommodations to fully participate.

Please attach a written description of your needs.

PAYMENT

_____ # of tickets at $ ______ each = $ _______ Total _____check enclosed (payable to RHA) ___ Amex

___MC

___Visa

___Dis

Card #: ____________________________________________Exp.Date: ______________

HOW TO REGISTER

Send this form with payment by mail to: RHA 2015 EXPO, One Center Plaza, Mezzanine Suite, Boston, MA 02108.

Send this form with payment information by fax to: 617 812 4793. Send all required information and payment information by email to: jcooke@gbreb.com Questions: jcooke@gbreb.com or 617 399 7860.

Cancellations will not be refunded after 9/15/15 Earn 3 NAAEI credits towards your CAM, NALP, CAPS or CAMT designation.