Colorado Real Estate Journal - September 16, 2015
How does one really get into property management? Most of us just find ourselves “falling” into the industry. For example, I started as a temp through an office personnel agency. Coming from a small town and being naïve to the opportunities before me, I had no idea there was a sizable “building management” world out there. I was amazed how much toilet paper one office building could go through in a month! I quickly found myself working in a downtown high-rise office building. But after getting my feet wet and becoming comfortable with my general duties, what’s the next step? Find a mentor? Take educational classes? Meet and collaborate with peers and other industry professionals? I was extremely fortunate that my manager took me under her wing and was able to show me the whole picture, not limited to just my general duties. I also was fortunate to be able to further my education by taking additional courses and now have my RPA and LEED GA. The Emerging Professionals group within the Denver Metro BOMA is working to bridge the gap of getting to the next step. In May, the Emerging Professionals group met for the first of a series entitled “Stories of Success,” hosted by BOMA’s Immediate Past President Sandrena Robinson. The meeting provided an opportunity for an established industry professional to speak with individuals who are in the early stages of their professional career and to provide insight into what guided them in their career. She also provided helpful tips and advice to upcoming leaders. Let me preface by saying that Sandrena is an amazing woman and I could just listen to her talk for hours. She spoke of her experiences – when she first got to manage her own building, meeting her new team and then finally having to leave that first building. She also spoke to the group about how you should treat your team, including vendors. If you treat them all with respect, they will help you in any way when you need them most. The Emerging Professionals planning group is in the process of scheduling additional Stories of Success sessions for the remainder of the year. There is no quick way to know everything in property management, but developing a relationship with an established professional and gaining a mentor can help you gain access to a wealth of knowledge. Often, your direct manager is a great resource, especially because you work with him/her on a daily basis. Joining a real estate organization like BOMA and contributing to a committee allows you to gain different perspectives from other managers. Learning from different managers helps you discover and develop your own managerial style. Expand your network by attending events to meet other people new to the industry as well as other experienced managers. BOMA’s monthly luncheons are a great place to start networking. These individuals can be valuable sounding boards when you have an issue or a situation that you are unfamiliar with. Don’t forget to network with your local vendors. As you build these connections, you will have a cadre of resources at your fingertips throughout your career. Additionally, make sure to look within your building to gain knowledge in unfamiliar areas. Your general manager is always a great resource, but also seek a connection with your chief engineer or someone from your engineering department. They love to help new people learn about building systems and how they interrelate with the balance of building utilities and tenant comfort. Expand your horizons – start asking questions and see where the conversations lead you. Just remember, you will continually learn throughout your profession. There is a plethora of information out there; you just have to reach for it. There may be ups and downs in your career, but know that these experiences will mold you and help you mature into an astonishing manager. Knowledge, experience and a well-developed network of resources is invaluable in advancing your career to new levels. It’s time to “take the next step!"