HOA Management Experts | Aperion Management Group
  • Home
  • Services
    • Community Management
    • Financial Management
    • Architectural Review Management
    • Technology Management
    • Consulting
  • About
    • Team Philosophy
    • Press and News
    • HOA Learning Hub
    • Events
  • Owner Resources
    • Payment Portal
    • Homeowner Email Sign Up
    • Homeowner Association Terminology
    • How to Make Payments
    • FAQs
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
    • Vendor Forms
    • Information Request
    • Request a Proposal
  • Home
  • Services
    • Community Management
    • Financial Management
    • Architectural Review Management
    • Technology Management
    • Consulting
  • About
    • Team Philosophy
    • Press and News
    • HOA Learning Hub
    • Events
  • Owner Resources
    • Payment Portal
    • Homeowner Email Sign Up
    • Homeowner Association Terminology
    • How to Make Payments
    • FAQs
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
    • Vendor Forms
    • Information Request
    • Request a Proposal
Search

Creating a better working environment

3/1/2019

0 Comments

 
I landed my first job in the community management industry when at the ripe age of 19. Within two years, I was a Community Manager, leading a master plan community of over 1,500 homes with several sub associations, a corporate park, and 1,000 acres of wetland. To say there was any formal training at my first job would be a huge stretch. Education came through trial and error and luckily, a great female mentor. To be honest, I had no clue what I was doing in those early years, but I was tenacious and a problem solver, and figured it out.
​
Unfortunately though, my story is not unique. It’s a sad reality that our industry has a low barrier of entry and not many resources within companies devoted to career or workforce development. Not that these resources don’t exist, we have simply created our own vicious cycle of under cutting on price and lacking financial leverage for talent. However, the community management industry has a unique advantage to offer women, which is the ability to craft a career that allows harmony between the home and work life.

At 25 years old I unexpectantly got pregnant. I loved my work, but I was running a regional office for a large multi-state management company at this time and worked more hours than I care to admit. That had become the norm and I didn’t know any different. All through my pregnancy, I assured my leadership I would be back after my maternity leave.

The birth of my daughter changed everything and after being called relentlessly, even when I was in labor with her, I knew I could not stay. It was a sad reality that my company at that time lacked the resources to handle my time off and frankly, they had no perspective how much work they placed on one individual and the inevitable failures that come with this dynamic. When I resigned my position and chose not to return it was more about the environment that I worked in than the work itself. So, I took my tenacity and resilient nature and started my own company!  

Please don’t misunderstand me, this is not a cry for managers to leave their companies and start your own thing, quite the opposite. I wished at 25 years old there was a company that was willing to standup for the ideals I believe are the future of the industry. I wished there was a company that valued innovation over the way it had always been done. That did not exist for me, so I created it. (I also never went after any of my previous clients, not one, because I knew we could be better than that!)

What I hope by sharing my story is that company owners, CEOs, COOs and Directors of Community Management companies stop wondering why you can’t find people that want to work hard, but rather take a critical look at the environment you are creating for them. I will let you in on a secret, as I have a good perspective, you must be willing to work with clients that see the value and importance of what you provide, be willing to say no and support your staff, and be willing to set a higher standard for you and your company. And lastly, stop selling night meetings as a normal, no one makes good decisions at 8pm at night!

Read the article in CAI's Common Ground Magazine at: https://lsc-pagepro.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=566812&ver=html5&p=8 
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    February 2024
    November 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    November 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    April 2021
    January 2021
    October 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    December 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    April 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    November 2016

    RSS Feed

Homeowners' Association (HOA) management services, now serving all of Oregon

Portland, Bend, Salem, Eugene, Medford and all surrounding areas.
Mailing Address:
855 SW Yates Drive Suite 202

Bend, OR  97702
​VISITORS BY APPT. ONLY
Aperion Service Areas

Contact Us

​Phone: 541-389-3172
Fax: 541-678-5204
Email: customerservice@aperionmgmt.com
Request a Proposal
  • Home
  • Services
    • Community Management
    • Financial Management
    • Architectural Review Management
    • Technology Management
    • Consulting
  • About
    • Team Philosophy
    • Press and News
    • HOA Learning Hub
    • Events
  • Owner Resources
    • Payment Portal
    • Homeowner Email Sign Up
    • Homeowner Association Terminology
    • How to Make Payments
    • FAQs
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
    • Vendor Forms
    • Information Request
    • Request a Proposal