Share Your Story

Thank You IREM

Michael C. Bingham — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:21:27 GMT

IREM: The Key to My Success in Property Management

In 1987, I was employed as a plant operator for an asphalt company in Madison, Wisconsin. I mixed asphalt, operated heavy machinery, and did maintenance on all the plant equipment. I was married with three children ages 1, 2, and 3, and living in a three bedroom townhouse in the Madison area.

In April, of 1987 because of unplanned circumstances, my marriage ended and I ended up with full custody of all three of my children.

Because of the long hours at the asphalt plant and the cost of daycare, I was forced to quit my job. I attempted to raise my children on AFDC and food stamps, until another job opportunity presented itself. I also applied for Section 8 Housing and Title 19 Daycare, and was told the wait on both of these was at least a year.

We were forced to move into a very low income neighborhood in Madison. Initially we moved into a two bedroom apartment as that was all I could afford. I had the two boys in a bedroom, my daughter in a bedroom, and I slept on the couch. After about a year I received my Section 8 Housing and moved into a three bedroom apartment in the same neighborhood. This apartment was located in a complex that consisted of three eight unit buildings.

After living in this apartment for a few months, it was really apparent that no one cared about the residents or the building. The manager literally did nothing, the grounds and hallways were in terrible shape, and maintenance was non-existent. The hot water heater had been leaking for months, and at times you couldnt even take a shower.

One day I was so frustrated, I went down to the management company that owned and managed the building. I was very upset and complaining loudly to the receptionist, when the owner came out of his office and asked what was going on. The receptionist replied, this is one of your residents from ______ (the apartment community which I wont name). The owner replied, call the police and have him arrested for disorderly conduct. I then responded to him that I didnt come down here to get arrested, but if he wanted to keep throwing hundred dollar bills out of his pocket, go ahead. I then proceeded to explain to him about the hot water heater, maintenance issues, poor performance of the manager, and the other problems with the property. I told him that because of these issues I felt his asset was deteriorating. I then left and went home.

About two hours later I received a call from the owner asking if I could manage the buildings better. I said I thought I could and the next morning the owner came and fired the manager and handed me the keys. That was the start of my property management career, in 1988.

I started out on the property doing showings, collecting rent, cleaning hallways and doing grounds. I also helped with the turnovers and maintenance. I did such a good job that I was asked by another owner on the same block that had 48 units to manage his, which I accepted. I did this for about two years. I had the same responsibilities for him. It was a very tough job in this neighborhood; I had my car tires flattened twice, a rock thrown through my front window, and other acts of vandalism against my apartment. I then started getting phone calls threatening my children. I decided this was enough. During this time, I had also started a full-time position with the State of Wisconsin as a Certified Nursing Assistant working with the developmentally disabled.

At the same time a few blocks away they were constructing a new 48 unit apartment complex which I felt would be a better and safer environment for my family. I was afraid it would not be affordable; however, I came to find out it was a Section 42 Tax Credit property. I moved in on August 1, 1990, having resigned my property management positions. I continued working full time for the state.

Three months after I moved my family in, the resident manager quit. I applied and ended up getting the job. The property was being fee managed for Gorman and Company. I worked for the company that was fee managing the property for Gary Gorman for about six months. Then in June of 1991, Gary Gorman started his own management company. I interviewed with Gorman and Company and ended up being employed with them for almost nine years.

My initial position with Gorman and Company was an on-site manager for this property. In no time they had moved a desk, filing cabinets, computer, typewriter, and other office supplies into the dining room of my apartment. This was really my true start in property management. I eventually went on to doing multi-site management and managing distressed properties for Gorman and Company.

It was with Gorman and Company that I had my first exposure to IREM. Gary was very pro-education and supported IREM. I started out taking the 101 course and getting my ARM designation. During my career with Gorman and Company, I was able to complete most of the IREM courses towards my CPM designation.

I continued to advance my career through a number of opportunities that presented themselves after 1998. I worked for two and half years as an Asset Manager for Wisconsin Economic and Development Authority and two and half years as an Asset Manager for Keycorp Housing Management. Both of these organizations supported IREM, and I was able to achieve my CPM Designation in November of 2003. Also in 2003, Keycorp Housing Management closed our office in Middleton, Wisconsin and relocated to Kansas City. I made the decision to stay in Wisconsin and in the fall of 2003, I accepted an Area Manager Position with Oakbrook Corporation managing a portfolio of tax credit properties. In October of 2004, I was promoted to Regional Manager overseeing the Proprietary Portfolio. My portfolio consists of 1529 units with properties located in Madison, Waukesha, Glendale, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I also manage properties in Arlington Heights, Naperville, and Galesburg, Illinois.

I believe 100% that both my CPM and ARM designations and the education I received through IREM have played a huge role in my Property Management Career. I really enjoy being involved in IREM and the networking that goes along with it. I am so confident of this, that I have passed this on to numerous employees that have worked under me in my career. I have numerous current and prior employees that have taken advantage of the wonderful education opportunities that IREM offers, received their ARM Designations, attended IREM Luncheons, IREM Sponsored Seminars, and Networking. I am currently on our Chapters Education Committee. I know I would not be where I am at today if it wasnt for IREM. In fact I am so grateful for IREM; my license plate on my car says CPM ARM.

I am thankful to the employers throughout my career that have supported IREM and my education. Besides my CPM and ARM designations, I hold a Wisconsin Real Estate Brokers License, I am certified as a Certified Occupancy Specialist (COS), and I am Housing Quality Standards Certified (HQS).

I have remarried since, and my wife and I have a fourteen year old daughter. My three oldest children are now 24, 23, and 22.

Thank You IREM !!!

Forum: How is IREM Special?

Celebrate 75 Years Storey -- 15th year anniversary

Lisa Diehl — Thur, 10 Apr 2008 19:39:34 GMT

Lisa L. Diehl, CPM, CCIM

15 year anniversary

Lisa L. Diehl, CPM, CCIM began her career over 20 years ago in retail management with Kmart Corporation, along with setting up new stores and remodels. Looking to incorporate retail with another business discipline, Lisa felt real estate was a nice compliment with the retail background and college education of business and interior design. She later went to work for the Dial Companies REIT in 1987 and managed the Thunderbird Mall in Virginia, Minnesota. During her tenure with Dial, a fellow Chapter 45 member, Chris Holm, CPM encouraged Lisa to take her first IREM course in 1988 and shortly after moved to Minneapolis to manage condominiums and townhomes and completed her CPM coursework to achieve the CPM designation.

In her career, Diehl has worked for notable companies such as Opus Northwest, McDonalds Corporation, Paper Warehouse, The Shelard Group. She has had experience in the areas of of property/asset management, real estate/site selection, brokerage, and development. Currently, Lisa is working with clients in the area of brokerage, consulting, and development.

IREM is a first class institute with talented individuals who Ive had the good fortune of working with and meeting over the years. The real estate industry has also provided me with the opportunity to gain experience in different disciplines I would not have otherwise had. I look forward to continuing to serve our Chapter and industry for many years to come.

In addition to the CPM designation, she holds the CCIM designation. Lisa is an active member of MSCA, ICSC, NAIOP, MNCAR. Over the years, Lisa has served on several IREM committees (Program, Experience Exchange, and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Education Committee. She has a BAA degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth in Business/Interior Design.

Lisa and her husband, Bruce, reside in Edina, Minnesota.

Submitted By Lisa Diehl
Lisa.Diehl@closethediehl.com

April 10, 2008

Forum: How Are Our Members Special?

My Story

George Allen — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:50:56 GMT

A decade after serving in the Marine Corps and in civilian jobs as a lumber yard supervisor and plant operations manager, I was hired to learn and apply the basics of real estate management in general, and multifamily rental community management, in particular. During the next two years, as a Certified Property Manager Candidate member of IREM, I learned the principles and experienced the challenges of garden style apartments and mobile home parks.

In 1980, my wife and I founded GFA Management, Inc., in Indianapolis, as a fee - management firm. And as Carolyn has oft said, "For the first five years we managed anything that didn't move!" By the mid-1980s, with assistance of a partner, we'd bought -- out of foreclosure; and in quick order, operationally turned -around; then sold, for 625 percent 'return', our first large income - producing property, a 500 rental home site mobile home park. That was my 'trial by fire' as a Certified Property Manager!

The sale of that property allowed me to begin fulfilling a goal I'd set when learning this unique property type a decade earlier: to replicate in statistics gathering and publishing, book knowledge, newsletter and magazine writing, and property management training, the IREM resources I'd used as a new apartment manager, but had been - and continued to be missing, from the world of 50,000 mobile home parks.

Twenty years later I can say that I've accomplished that goal! My first book, titled Mobile Home Park Management, debuted in 1988. The sixth edition will be released during 2008, and has undergone three title changes: from Mobile Home Community Management to Manufactured Home Community Management to finally, Land - lease Community Management. With more than 10,000 copies sold, the self - published book is marketed exclusively by IREM, the Manufactured Housing Institute, and PMN Publishing. Other books I've penned, published by J. Wiley & Sons, remain the only books in print describing the development of new, and acquisition of existing, land - lease communities.

During all these years, Carolyn and I have continued to own and manage income - producing property. And through it all, the words of an old hymn have served as a continual reminder, encouragement, and guide:

'Where duty calls or danger, be never (found wanting) there!'

Forum: How is IREM Special?

A Special Team

Jason Stowe — Thur, 07 Feb 2008 18:48:14 GMT

Growing up in the 80's, all I ever wanted to do was play baseball. Since I was 5 years old I have been a part of a baseball "team". Each year I would look forward to spring, where I would meet new players and teammates, and to see old friends, coaches, and mentors. I continued pursuing my goals of becoming a better player and defining my role on the team.

In 1995, three years after my baseball career had ended, I started a new career in real estate management with the acquisition of two office buildings by an investor out of New York that needed a local manager. I was an individual in a company that volunteered to take the position with very little knowledge of how to manage a property. This is when I was introduced to the Institute of Real Estate Management where I could go to a different kind of "spring training" and take classes to condition my skills.

On September 1, 2002, I was installed as a CPM and became a member of a new team called IREM.

The IREM "team" has enabled me to pursue new goals of becoming a better real estate manager and defining my role in the real estate market. I now manage a portfolio of real estate totaling over 2 million square feet of office, retail, and flex properties.

As the years have passed, IREM has been special to me in many different ways. I now look forward to each meeting that I attend on a local, regional and national level, being able to meet new members and teammates, and seeing old friends, teachers, and mentors. IREM continues to elevate my game by providing quality programs, webinars, and conferences to hone my skills as a manager. The knowledge of the membership of IREM and the willingness to share that knowledge is unmatched in the real estate profession. But the most important thing to me that makes IREM special is the people. Sharing the common thread of "real estate manager" brings value to the designation, but the global network of friendship is priceless.

IREM is a "team" that I am proud to be a "player" on.

Forum: How is IREM Special?

Happy 75th IREM...from Dallas

Kristin Hiett — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:57:57 GMT

Chapter components provide one of the most valuable tools in the industry today; networking. Following in the footsteps of IREM Headquarters, Chapters bring Ethics, Education and Excellence to local Property Managers and their staff. Around the globe, we are family.

Congratulations IREM from the IREM Dallas Chapter, for 75 years of service to the industry of Property Management.

Forum: How Are Our Chapters Special?