feature
Up Close and Personal
by Emily Landes
On November 13, 2008, SFAA honored the best of the rental housing industry with a lavish dinner and awards ceremony at the Palace Hotel. Trophy Award participants were nominated by SFAA members, employers, friends (or even themselves). Each nominee was then sent a packet containing some specific questions. Nominees were encouraged to answer these questions fully and invited to include documents and other materials that might enhance their chances of winning. The completed packets were then kept locked up at the SFAA’s office until the out-of-town judges were ready to review them.
These judges carefully reviewed the submissions, selected finalists and then had the difficult task of choosing the winner in each category. The names of the winners were then sealed in envelopes that remained unopened until the event.
SFAA is very proud of its second annual Trophy winners (some of whom have now won their categories two years in a row) and wants its membership to know a bit more about these accomplished and well-respected members of our industry.
Residential Amenities of the Year: The Fillmore Center
The Residential Amenities of the Year property is any San Francisco residential income property that goes the extra mile to care for its residents, providing superior programs, support or services to enhance the tenants’ environment.
The Fillmore Center has a host of amenities to be proud of, but Peter Ohm of Laramar Properties, which runs the complex, says he is most excited this year about the complex’s new plaza. “Our plaza will give us the opportunity to offer our residents events such as concerts and outdoor movies,” he contends. “It is also a great gathering point for residents and our neighbors in the community.” Ohm also sites the center’s complimentary shuttle to the financial district as an amenity that helps the apartment complex stand out among the rest.
The trophy is being kept at the front desk of the center’s leasing office. “We want our residents and prospective residents to see this award and to share in our excitement,” he explains. “There are many great communities in San Francisco and to be recognized for having the best amenities in San Francisco is truly an honor.”
Industry Partner of the Year;
Property Management Firm of the Year (1-500 Units):
Property Management Systems
For the second year in a row, Property Management Systems took home the Trophy for Industry Partner of the Year. “We’re undefeated,” jokes owner Michelle Horneff-Cohen. This year, the company also expanded its winnings to bring home the first-ever Property Management Firm of the Year (1-500 units) Trophy. For more on Property Management Systems, turn to page 34.
Property Management Firm of the Year (500-Plus Units):
Meridian Management Group
Many winners said that they would place their 2008 Trophy in a prominent place, but only Meridian Management reported constructing a new inset in the lobby, just to hold the award. “It’s the first thing you see as you enter the office,” crows Meridian President Randy Chapman.
Chapman believes that Meridian took home the Trophy for Property Management Firm of the Year (500-plus units) because of its quality service and its outstanding reputation in the industry. He believes they never could have won if it weren’t for the hard work of each and every employee. “Knowing that our reputation is a representation of our efforts, from the resident manager to the main office, keeps us focused on the fact that we succeed as a group and not as individuals,” he posits.
Administrative Professional of the Year;
Resident Manager of the Year: Parkmerced
Parkmerced took home two awards at the Trophies this year: Jessika Molina won for Administrative Professional of the Year and Floren Lopez won for Resident Manager of the Year (100-plus units). For Lopez, commitment to the residents isn’t just about fulfilling job responsibilities; it all comes down to a love of the job. “I’ve been at Parkmerced for almost nine years and I love working with the residents on a day-to-day basis. They’re our mainstay of the property and what keeps it going,” Lopez says. “The residents count on me to help them with any concern they have, and in turn I count on them. They’ve helped me in so many ways.”
Lopez also mentioned the importance of mentor Pauletta Borroughs. “She took the time to teach me and to pass her knowledge onto me,” Lopez relays. “She had patience with someone who was brand new to the industry. She had the faith that I would succeed and I have.”
General Manager of the Year; Maintenance Technician of the Year; Maintenance Manager of the Year:
West Coast Property Management Systems
Once again, West Coast Property Management walked away with three awards at this year’s ceremony. Maintenance is clearly a strong point for the property management company, as it won awards for both Maintenance Manager and Maintenance Technician of the Year.
Last year the company also won Maintenance Technician of the Year, and 2007 winner Ken Webster said he was happy to win but that he hoped he could pass the torch in 2008. He got his wish, and then some, as Lupe Diaz brought home the trophy for West Coast, and Joseph C. Keng added a new maintenance trophy to the mantle: Maintenance Manager of the Year. Keng calls the award, “an acknowledgment of my dedication and contribution to a vibrant apartment industry, which provides housing opportunities to thousands of individuals and families.”
The company scored another first-time win: the General Manager of the Year award. George Johnson recalls being “dumbfounded” when his name was called as the winner in this category. “I had no idea that I would even be considered,” he says. But ever since the big win, Johnson has been walking on air. He says he still feels the thrill of winning that night and keeps his trophy on display on top of the salt-water aquarium in his office “for everyone to see.”
Green Building of the Year: Bob Mayer
The Green Building of the Year is a San Francisco residential income property that has made exceptional efforts to support environmental and other conservation programs. The property must be a model of energy and environmental efficiency.
Bob Mayer has certainly achieved these green goals in his Edwardian building at 1515 Greenwich St., which is why he has won this award two years in a row. He installed independent meters so that tenants pay for their own actual use of water, gas and heating; he insulated most of the building; he installed fluorescent lighting, with motion sensors to keep the lights off when they are not needed; and he installed a new water delivery system.
Leasing Agent of the Year:
Joanne Fazzino
The Leasing Agent of the Year can be any leasing professional or manager whose
primary responsibility is leasing San Francisco residential income properties. The leasing consultant can be either a dedicated, on-site employee, or someone who is responsible for the leasing of many units in multiple properties.
Joanne Fazzino of J. Wavro Associates not only closes an average of 25 leasing transactions every month, she does so while training other agents at J. Wavro. “I pass on to them everything I know to do to be successful: goal setting, cold calling, screening applicants, accurate paperwork and closing techniques,” she explains. Thirteen of those agents, including Fazzino’s own son, were at the Trophies and got to cheer their mentor on to victory. “I was thrilled, absolutely ecstatic,” Fazzino recalls.
Property Manager of the Year:
Lightner Property Group
Art Swanson has been in the property management business for 20 years and says that the golden rule has always been his guide. “We treat our tenants as we wish to be treated and are proactive in building care,” he contends. “Everyone can appreciate wanting to be treated fairly and having a clean, safe place to live.”
While other winners reported feeling stunned, happy or surprised, Swanson, the operations chief for the Lightner Property Group, says he simply felt relieved. “It means that after 20 years, I finally really know what I am doing,” he jokes.
Independent Owner of the Year:
Robert “Buzz” Pritchard (26-100 Units) and
Dennis Shea (1-25 Units)
For the first time this year, SFAA split up the Independent Owner of the Year award into two categories. Dennis Shea took home the Trophy for 1-25 units and Robert “Buzz” Pritchard took home the award for 26-100 units.
Shea started in the industry by managing his father’s building, then went on to buy his own. He now owns 16 units in the city. He attributes the award to his hard work maintaining the units and his relationships with his tenants. “I honestly care about my tenants and my building,” he says. “I try to have a good working relationship and rapport with them and am very attentive to their requests.”
Owning buildings was hardly a family affair for Pritchard. He bought his first building in 1969 simply because it seemed like a good investment, even though he had never been involved in apartment management before. “It just seemed like a no brainer to go ahead and get involved in it,” he recalls. “But before I knew it, it took on a life of it’s own.” Pritchard now owns 77 units in San Francisco, and although he isn’t actively looking to increase his holdings, he says, “My eyes are always open.”
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the SFAA or the SF Apartment Magazine. Emily Landes is the Managing Editor of SF Apartment Magazine. Copyright © 2009 by Black Point Press. All rights reserved.