Condo conversions can be risky business. That’s the lesson learned in Chicago over the last four years, where many efforts to transition apartment properties into for-sale condominium units flopped – and in some cases even reverted back to apartments once again. Chicago, the nation’s third largest condo market, saw median sales prices plummet when the economy crashed. The Case-Shiller Home Price Index reports that the Chicago condo index is now back to July 2002 levels, having fallen a total of 22.5% from its peak in September 2007. Steven Maher, Managing Broker and Director of Investment Sales for Kinzie Real Estate Group, has had a close-up look at the Windy City’s winners and losers in sales and leasing for more than two decades.  He specializes in urban infill development, particularly in the construction and adaptive reuse of mid and high rise condominiums, multi-family housing, resort properties, and condo conversions. After taking a close look at trends in Chicago adaptive reuse development, Maher shared his expertise with us. MHN: Condos, especially in urban markets, were one of the development types that really suffered when the economy spiraled. Many of them found new homes as apartment communities, rather than the owner-occupied use originally intended. Where was this type of reuse most common and was it successful? Maher: We have seen “fractured Condominium” projects all over the City as well as in the suburbs find temporary shelter as apartments. In some cases, especially when less than 25% of the units were sold, the properties were actually de-converted from condo ownership back to a single PIN and will likely remain as rental apartment buildings for the foreseeable future. In my opinion, this strategy has been most successful with condominium conversions that really should not have been converted in the...

Being tied to one city has never been In-Rel Properties’ CEO Mukang Cho’s M.O. Born in South Korea, he lived in eight countries while growing up due to the career of his father, Key-sung Cho, a diplomat who served as the South Korean ambassador to Guatemala, Peru and Argentina.  The family’s immersion into Latin America was so thorough that Mukang Cho’s first language wasn’t Korean – it was Spanish. Since coming to the U.S. to attend Cornell University followed by Harvard Law, he’s translated an interest in architecture, passion for business and his top shelf legal education into a successful real estate career. Cho joined the privately held In-Rel Properties in 2010, and has been instrumental in doubling the commercial firm’s portfolio, primarily through the acquisition of distressed assets. “With the broader real estate and capital markets improving, we are seeing fewer acquisition opportunities that come with a significant pricing dislocation, but they do exist,” Cho noted. The narrowing window for such opportunities is due mainly to strengthening retail and office markets around the country, including in Florida, where In-Rel is based. Founded by Charles Stein and Dennis Udwin in 1985, In-Rel now manages 6 million square feet of office and retail property in seven states. Cho explains that the company focuses not on markets, but on individual assets, when making purchasing decisions. “We really start with the asset itself, and try to create a thesis that this is an asset we want to own and operate. Once we make that determination, at the asset level, then we get comfortable with the submarket and market that the property is in. Unlike a lot of companies that take more of a top down approach, first identifying where they want to be, we take the inverse...

Yardi Voyager is used by companies and agencies around the world. But a training session for Yardi’s flagship product had probably never been delivered in American Sign Language (ASL) until very recently. Thanks to the initiative of Yardi Public Housing Technical Account Manager Bill Hughes, a staff member of the Ventura County Housing Authority, who is deaf and depends on ASL and reading lips to communicate was recently trained on Voyager by Hughes, using ASL. A student of ASL for about four years, Hughes and his wife Rosa volunteer to work with members of the local deaf community through their congregation. But that volunteer work typically doesn’t involve real estate technology. Converting some of the technical details of the sophisticated accounting and record-keeping system was more than a little tricky, Hughes said. “There were industry signs I had never used, because that’s not what I have practiced. So I immediately I went to work researching certain terms,” Hughes said. “Most everything software related was an immediate challenge. I had to do a lot of online research and work with the client prior to the visit to establish signs related to industry concepts.” The advantage to having a Yardi expert fluent in ASL conduct the training, rather than using an outside interpreter, was pivotal. “The few seconds between interpretation and vocal training would be eliminated, making it easier for the recipient to interject questions,” Hughes wrote in an article about the training that was published in the company newsletter this month. The article generated tremendous response from his colleagues at Yardi, who applauded his effort and shared their own experiences with sign language and in some cases dealing with hearing disorders in their own lives. “It’s really nice to know that our company has taken...

Looking for a new way to bring prospective residents to your property? One innovative approach, tried out successfully at numerous communities, involves everybody’s favorite meals on wheels: Food trucks! At a largely student-populated apartment complex in Gainesville, Florida, bringing together 12 food trucks for an afternoon this April resulted in resident fun, great local media buzz, and a handful of new leases. Stoneridge Apartments’ Super Sunday Funday Food Truck Festival wasn’t just a success – it was an epic success. “We had a turnout of approximately 500 people and our residents loved it. We’ve had a lot of positive feedback as well as requests for more food events like these,” said Denise Snyder, Regional Property Manager, CAM, for The Emmer Group. “The food ranged from awesome cupcakes, to ice cream and doggie ice cream, and there was Thai food, Cajun food and gourmet grilled cheese.” Snyder had a strong feeling that food trucks would go over well with her residents, and not just because many of them are college students who love to try new things. Stoneridge’s popular Perks Program, which gives residents discounts at local restaurants and other businesses, has been a big success. “Our residents (and staff) love to eat!  We plan to host another big event this fall, and delectable treats will certainly be a huge draw,” she said. Harnessing the power of social media before, during and after the event, word-of-mouth from residents and local businesses drove prospects, friends of residents, and the simply hungry to Stoneridge. Once they’d wandered the truck lineup and sampled some tasty treats, there was no reason to leave – a beer garden was set up on site, next to a lake on the property and under some shade trees. There was live music and...

Editor’s note: This guest post comes to us thanks to Patricia Marroquin, a Senior Writer for the UCSB Graduate Division. This post originally appeared on GradPost, the division’s online news magazine, which often features stories about exemplary alumni. Yardi COO Gordon Morrell certainly falls into that category, as do many of our Yardi team members. Read on for the profile and find the full interview on gradpost.ucsb.edu. Gordon Morrell has been juggling roles for decades, going back to his days as an Education Ph.D. student at UCSB in the 1970s. At that time, in the halls outside their tiny graduate student offices in what is now the Hosford Clinic, he and several of his cohorts would take breaks from their studies and do a little three-ball juggling. “We actually got to the point where we could pass to each other,” Morrell recalled with a laugh, adding: “It was a stress breaker; it was like a little relief.” In explaining why this routine was helpful for the grad students, he said, “You have to really focus when you’re juggling. You can’t be thinking about other things. So maybe it’s just a good way to get your mind off what you’re doing.” That focus and work-life balance has served Morrell well. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and raised along with his older brother in Goshen, a small farming town north of New York City, he earned his Education Ph.D. (Counseling Psychology emphasis) in three years at UCSB. “I went straight through from kindergarten to Ph.D.,” he said. “There were no breaks.” He put himself through college by singing and playing guitar in such local venues as The Feed Store restaurant and bar in Santa Barbara (no longer in existence); SOhO; and Cold Spring Tavern. Morrell’s career path...

Make-A-Wish operates on a simple premise: every child deserves the hope, strength, and joy that comes with a dream fulfilled. The idea of Make-A-Wish spread like wildfire after the first wish was granted in 1980.  Seven year-old Chris Greicius yearned to become a police officer. His battle with leukemia posed a threat to his dream. Family friend, Officer Tommy Austin, and the team at the Arizona Department of Public Safety would not settle for a dream deferred. They arranged a special experience just for Chris including a custom made uniform, a city tour via helicopter, three cruisers and a motorcycle to escort him through town, and the title of honorary patrolman. As icing on the cake, Chris was tested for motorcycle proficiency, passed, and earned wings to pin to his new uniform. Regardless of his life-threatening illness, Chris fulfilled his dream. Chris’ experience sparked an outpouring of support. Make-A-Wish has blossomed ever since, granting the wishes of over 250,000 children with life-threatening conditions. The Georgia Chapter has fulfilled nearly 6,000 of those wishes since 1995. It expects to grant 425 wishes this fiscal year. Kari Love, Vice President of Corporate Development & Events of Make-A-Wish Atlanta, believes that the nonprofit can rise to its goals. She has been an advocate of the cause long before she began her career with Make-A-Wish. “I’ve always had a heart for nonprofit work,” she explains. “I loved the foundation’s mission before I was on staff.” Kari previously worked as a marketing director for radio.  In 1997, the radio station completed a holiday fundraising campaign on behalf of Make-A-Wish. “I fell in love with their mission and a few years later I had the opportunity to work here. I’ve been fundraising with Make-A-Wish ever since!” The mission of Make-A-Wish...

Alexis Vance wants to get inside the minds of the Millennials. So the vice president of marketing for Yardi client Alliance Residential Co. and her team completed an in-depth demographic analysis that revealed not just facts, but helpful nuance, about the country’s newest powerful renting and spending cohort. With a nationwide portfolio that touches 24 major metro markets, Vance knows that going beyond the surface to understand Millennials, who seem to appear in every other news story on demographics these days. While there is some definitional discrepancy about the exact range of the Millennials’ birth years, they are essentially in their early 20s to mid-30s today. Many moved back in with their parents during or after college due to a tough job market, but as the economy has improved, they are expected to account for formation of up to 3 million new households. They’re an important new consumer base for apartment owners and managers, and some of their unique behavior patterns—including reliance on technology and social media to accomplish almost any task—have made them the subject of focused marketing studies like Vance’s. “I do believe our industry needs to do its homework to truly understand this complex demographic. We need to shift marketing and communication habits significantly in order to effectively market to and resonate with this highly media-savvy generation,” Vance said. MHN: Could you define: experiential marketing, social responsibility and incentive to share as they are relevant to the multifamily leasing and living experience? Vance: Experiential marketing goes beyond a basic tagline, brand or event. The effort is comprehensive and engages the prospect in a way that allows them to participate with the brand. Because this demographic is skeptical of traditional advertising channels, experiential marketing is an excellent way to create conversation and develop rapport through...

At the heart of most talented marketing professionals is a creative and artistic sensibility. It’s something that Tarragon Property Services’ Jane Griffith was able to express in spades with her recent work on best-selling author and leadership trainer Ken Blanchard’s “Whale Done My Wonderful One!” The original iteration of Blanchard’s “Whale Done!: The Power of Positive Relationships” came out in 2002, and described the experience of trainers working with killer whales at Sea World to exemplify the immense power of positive reinforcement as a management, parenting and leadership skill. Recently, Griffith had the chance to illustrate a version of the book that focuses on children and their parents. What started as a storyboard project turned into a publication agreement with publisher Harper Collins. “It’s a mama whale and a baby whale, and the message is positive reinforcement as opposed to training by fear. It’s for adults as well as children, and teaches adults: You don’t have to yell at your child. Tell them they’re doing a good job. Catch them doing something right.” Despite already having a demanding full time job and busy life, Griffith made the time to complete the project. “I worked at nights, on weekends and whenever I could get the time. It ended up being really fun, and that was something on my bucket list that I never thought I’d get to do,” she said. In her day job, Griffith is Marketing Manager for the Seattle-based Tarragon Property Services, a division of Investco. She has extensive multifamily experience, having previously served as national Marketing Director for Pinnacle. “We have a long and extensive history of building our own properties and managing our own properties,” Griffith said of Tarragon. The Seattle-area multifamily market has been booming as of late, and one...

Yardi client Housing York, Inc (HYI) is The Regional Municipality of York’s non-profit housing corporation and the seventh largest housing provider in Ontario. This year, HYI added Mackenzie Green to its portfolio of sustainable housing. Located in Richmond Hill, one of the fastest growing communities in Canada, Mackenzie Green has demonstrated a complete approach to human and environmental wellness. Sustainability Mackenzie Green awaits Canada Green Building Council LEED® Silver certification, meeting strict criteria for resource efficiency, sustainable material selection, and innovative design. The site’s energy efficiency begins from the core. Mackenzie Green’s insulated envelope facilitates 30 percent energy savings. To further increase cooling efficiency, designers chose white dolomite marble to cover most the roof. The stone’s reflective properties disperse the sun’s rays rather than absorbing them. Mackenzie Green’s windows also contribute to the envelope’s overall efficiency. Double-paned, low-e windows were filled with argon gas. The gas reflects outside heat and simultaneously stabilizes indoor temperatures. This composition helps units maintain comfortable living conditions while decreasing strain on interior heating and cooling systems. The well-sealed, insulated envelope does not entail that tenants are breathing stale, captured air. Efficient HVAC systems work in conjunction with heat recovery ventilator (HRV) systems into regulate the indoor air quality of each residence. HRV systems recycle room air in a manner that circulates it with air entering from the outside. HRV then cools or warms the air depending on the desired interior temperatures. The result is fresh air for tenants without compromising the building’s thermal integrity. Though Richmond Hill has access to Lake Ontario, fresh water isn’t taken for granted. Low flow fixtures and toilets reduce water waste by 45 percent. Randall Profitt, Manager Operations at Housing York Inc. South, says Housing York hasn’t stopped there in its effort to keep...

John Huskey has a different twist on seniors and affordable housing. He’s giving it a theme—and not just to attract residents but to drive resident interaction and engagement. His theory, at least in the case of senior residents, is that being an essential part of a group is vital, answering a desire to feel needed and inspiring mental stimulation and creativity. The venture, which began with education-oriented and then arts-themed offerings in a few focused properties, now provides some degree of programming in all of Meta Housing Corp.’s Los Angeles-area properties. And that is no small undertaking, considering the portfolio now consists of 27 seniors apartment assets, 16 family-oriented affordable housing complexes and eight that it classifies as rehab projects, plus its recently opened The Metro @ Hollywood mixed-use complex. Another 14 properties are under construction, and Huskey has his sights set on expanding into select locations around the country. Huskey, who has been developing housing units since 1969, founded Meta Housing Corp. in the early 1990s and opened his third arts community, NoHo Senior Arts Colony, in North Hollywood in January with a new twist: a professional on-site theater. He credits Tim Carpenter, founder & executive director of non-profit seniors activity provider EngAGE, for identifying the need to encourage interaction among seniors housing residents to improve their quality of life rather than simply providing the high-quality environments on which Huskey’s company and its predecessors have focused. Research provided by the University of Southern California at the request of financier Century Housing Corp. confirmed that providing such interaction increases residents’ health, longevity and happiness, he said. The specialized seniors housing properties target a mix of professionals with a “strong desire to share and teach”—the first to be recruited to a new property in order...

While biking down The Strand in Orange County, Kyle Kazan blends in with other fitness seekers and nature lovers. With his broad smile and down-to-earth demeanor, one couldn’t easily tell the years of graveyard shifts and pavement pounding that it took to build his company from the ground up. That company is now a Yardi client and a recipient of  The Apartment Association of California Southern Cities’ Property Management Company of the Year. Kazan’s hard work is paying off and with every mile that he puts behind him, he draws closer to a more promising and exciting future. Before starting Beach Front Property Management, CEO Kazan served five years as a gangs and drugs identification and eradication specialist for local law enforcement. The police force is not a common segue to a career in property management, but it is one that has served Kazan well. While many companies can’t handle the crime that creeps into neighborhoods, Kazan is able to take a hands-on approach. “I’ll actually leave my office, jump in the car, and go talk to the gangsters. I speak English. I speak Spanish. I read ‘gang,’” he laughs. “I’m quite capable of looking at tags in the area to figure out who’s hot and what’s going on.” Kazan’s local research helps him to zero-in on troublesome tenants. “I’m very good at talking people out and stabilizing the building. It helps that I can talk the talk and walk the walk; it bridges the divide, the delta, between law enforcement and property management since I’ve done both.” Bridging that divide has helped Beach Front Property Management turn mediocre properties in profitable successes. Another benefit to his background in law enforcement: Kazan isn’t afraid to take calculated risks. When economic downturn hit southern California in...

Steve Schutz would have come to the Fall 2013 Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference (YASC) no matter what – as a 12-year user of Yardi products, he recognizes the value of the event to educate and inform him about developments and solutions for the software he uses daily. “I do everything from training, document writing, help desk, troubleshooting, setting up properties, setting up menus, just about anything and everything,” said the Yardi Director for Trade Street Residential, an East Coast multifamily management firm. A free entry to the conference (valued at $995), $500 VISA gift card and VIP seating at the conference gala event managed to put a smile on his face and new baseball jersey in his closet. Steve’s name was drawn at random from hundreds of entry forms. Oh, and he learned a few cool things about the new Voyager 7S, too. Trade Street will upgrade to the new Voyager version in November. In addition to its device and browser agnosticism, two things that piqued Steve’s interest in 7S are its search capabilities – it features global and predictive search – and overall look. “The search functions are great. As the help desk person, I often get the phone call: ‘Where can I find this report?’ And now, users can type a key word in there and find it themselves,” he said. A veteran of five YASC events, his favorite parts of the conference include networking and the opportunity to work through trouble spots in the lab. “I’ve learned a lot, just being in the lab,” he noted. Schutz is based in Florida. He’s worked in residential, commercial, affordable and military property management for the last 12 years. That new baseball jersey, though, wasn’t for a Chicago Cubs player – he probably already...

Last month, The Laramar Group announced a major acquisition in Southern California. With the purchase of Los Angeles-based JB Partners Group, the company assumed management of 7,000 new third-party owned units, adding 77 properties and 170 employees with the merger. It’s the latest significant uptick in what has been a steady several years of national growth in inventory  for the Chicago-based firm. CEO Jeff Elowe, who was recently named Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young for the Mountain Desert Region, took the time to speak about the company’s strategy and give us his take on the multifamily industry now. Elowe has worked in multifamily since 1989, and has charted the course for Yardi client Laramar as the firm  invested $3 billion in real estate, primarily multifamily and retail assets. MHN: The Laramar Group came out of the economic downturn in a strong position as a third-party manager and owner. How has the last year been? Are you still seeing growth, and in what asset sectors and markets specifically? Elowe: We used the downturn as an opportunity to grow, especially our third-party management business. We grew by two and half times. We really took on a lot of meaty assignments that led to a more institutional third-party management business. We’re in 26 markets, so we expanded from about 15 to 26 markets, with a distinct focus on major market, such as Los Angeles, where we now manage  in excess of 8,000 units. It’s a very big target market for us, and we acquired a property management firm there. We really grew on a national basis and established Laramar as a highly recognized, go-to property manager for institutions, lenders, and servicers. MHN: Denver has been an especially strong multifamily market as of late, and...

Every year, local chapters of United Way host Day of Caring festivals throughout the nation. These celebrations promote the value of volunteerism while shining light on community service programs, civic agencies, and human-interest organizations. Saturday, September 28th marked Santa Barbara’s 22nd annual United Way Day of Caring. Yardi employees joined forces with more than 1,000 local volunteers of various ages to support 60 nonprofits. To kick off the festivities, attendees were treated to breakfast at Ben Page Youth Center. The meal was followed by a pep rally including a marching band, dancers, cheerleaders, and morale-boosting speeches by local leadership. K-lite emcees Catherine Remak and Gary Fruin, as well as elected official First District Supervisor Salud Carbajal spoke at the event. After the pep rally, attendees switched into high gear. Yardi team members focused their efforts on Home Play Learning kits. These packages were invented by the United Way Neighborhood Parent Education Project to help give pre-school age children a jump start on learning. Multimedia tools including story books, craft supplies, and games to develop memory and cognitive skills were combined into handy packages. Each kit also came with a bilingual letter with tips for parents that will guide them in fun ways to use the kits, helping to stimulate children’s learning at home. The packages will be delivered to local low-income families who are enrolled in United Way’s Best Parenting Practices Program. Other Day of Caring activities allowed volunteers to share their strengths while helping the community in a variety of ways. Some volunteers gathered for a beautification project at Casa Esperanza homeless shelter, improving landscaping on the grounds. Another group of volunteers got down and dirty as well, creating adobe bricks to be used by the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation (image,...

He was a member of the Greatest Generation who exemplified its values so wholly that Tom Brokaw featured him in the definitive book by the same name. His success in real estate development changed and improved the state of Indiana post-World War II, but that success never went to his head. He and his beloved wife, Marilyn, gave away several fortunes to improve the lives of others and make their state a better place. Yardi would like to recognize and honor the legacy of Eugene Biccard Glick, who passed away in Indiana at age 92 earlier this month. Glick leaves behind not only his family and apartment management company, Gene B. Glick Co., but a legacy of community service and philanthropy. According to his official obituary, he and Marilyn established the Eugene & Marilyn Glick Family Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in the state, in 1982. They funded the Glick Eye Institute at the Indiana University School of Medicine, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, the Indiana Authors Award, and projects in arts, education, public health, and aid organizations throughout the state. The pair also established The Glick Fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation and The Glick Fund of the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis (JFGI). One of Gene’s favorite philanthropic projects was the Pro-100 mentoring program, administered by the Children’s Bureau. Created by Glick in 1981, Pro-100 offers paid summer internships for disadvantaged youth. As his business thrived, he gave even more back in return. “Gene Glick was an entrepreneur in the truest sense of the word,” said David Barrett, President and CEO of the Gene B. Glick Company.  “He started with very little and built a successful company that is respected throughout our industry.  He was an inspiration to many of...

Mercy Housing has found the key ingredients to a successful affordable housing community. Trendsetting design, effective public programing, and soulful community involvement have been combined to create award-winning communities that are residents’ pride. For more than 30 years, Yardi client Mercy Housing has offered program-enriched affordable housing for families, seniors, veterans, those with special needs, and the medically underserved. The organization is one of America’s largest affordable housing firms with over 260 communities across 43 states.  To date, nearly 150,000 people benefit from the organization’s efforts. Though its operations are vast, Mercy Housing has managed to keep its focus on what matters most: providing families with homes that they can be proud of in a nurturing environment. Design Mercy Housing is stylish. The organization has stepped away from the block-style developments of the past. Rather, recent developments ride the latest trends in sustainability and style. Many of Mercy Housing’s properties have achieved LEED and other environmental certifications. Recent projects represent a new wave of determination towards affordable living that is sustainable, beautiful, and long-lasting. Savannah Gardens, located in the city’s historic district, is a prime example of Mercy Housing’s approach to affordable developments. The organization redeveloped a dilapidated 44 acre site to present the city with economical, eco-friendly housing. This smoke-free community provides residents with a healthy living option that has easy access to a large central park, health center, popular shops, and a variety of events and services. By meeting rigorous standards for energy efficiency and sustainability, Savannah Gardens received the EarthCraft Coastal Community seal. 10th & Mission Family Housing of San Francisco received the Overall Winner of the Affordable Housing Finance Reader’s Choice Award upon its completion in 2010. With units of up to four bedrooms, it is an ideal choice for...

Many first read about Ashish Dhamnekar in the July issue of the Yardi newsletter. Ashish teamed up with fellow Yardi employee Nilesh Shinde to help drought victims in the village of Ashathi. Their initiative began with an assessment tour, followed by volunteer and staff recruitment. At the project’s culmination, the village received drinking water twice a day, each day, for nearly two months. Yardi’s contributions totaled ₹29,000 rupees; Ashish and his teammate visited the village each week to ensure that the villagers received the full benefit of the deliveries. When Ashish isn’t exploring outreach options in his community, he works as part of Yardi’s  License and Build Team in Pune where he handles license cases and custom CPR builds.  “It’s just me and Kunal Sonawane,” Ashish explains. “We assist each other to accomplish daily tasks. In his absence I have to manage the entire load and vice versa. We always try to maintain cheerful environment.” Even after six years with the company, Ashish feels a fresh sense of enthusiasm and dedication around the office, particularly when it comes to philanthropy. “Employees are really very enthusiastic and responsive by all means,” says the young technician. “Yardi culture is always supportive for social causes and general socio-awareness programs like blood donation camps, stress management workshops, sports activities and so on.” In addition to Yardi’s emphasis on community, Ashish also appreciates the company’s efforts to foster growth. “The organization supports learning and development on the job and of course it rewards hard work too. I enjoy the work that I do!” Learn more about Ashish: In your free time, what are a few of your favorite activities? Frankly speaking, we hardly get free time at work.  On weekends, we spend quality time with friends and go for...

If you are joining us for our upcoming Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference in Anaheim, Calif., from Oct. 9-11, you can look forward to an experience that will be packed with value. From the course sessions, which are tailored to your corporate needs, to the chance to troubleshoot Yardi issues one-on-one in the computer lab, to networking and learning from your peers, there’s something for everyone at our bi-annual conference. Held for the first time this year in Anaheim, our entire conference team looks forward to meeting you and engaging productively to help you better use our software and systems. At the conclusion of each conference (events are held annually on the East Coast in the spring and on the West Coast in the fall), attendees are asked to review the speakers and teachers who led their classes. Thanks to their invaluable feedback, we were able to seek out some of the top Yardi experts who you may encounter at YASC. Thanks to their insight and contributions, we’re able to share a quick primer on some of the recommendations they have for you during your time at YASC, and we hope you’ll have a chance to check out their classes!   Dwayne Jordan Class everyone should take: “Tenant Ledgers is probably a good one. Everyone is going to have tenant ledgers, regardless of the market they are in. That’s a good class to help them troubleshoot some of those basic issues that everybody has.” What he’s teaching in October: Advanced recoveries, advanced lease administration, reporting and other features, retail calculations and reporting. (Commercial.) Why he’s a strong teacher: “I interact with clients as much as I can, stay upbeat and keep them on a good pace so they can ask questions and don’t feel uncomfortable...

Billy Pettit, senior vice president of Seattle’s Pillar Properties, has been named 2013 Rising Star of the Year by a major multi-family trade publication, Multifamily Executive. Pettit’s aggressive rebranding of Pillar’s marketing strategy and strong leadership of the company, a division of R.D. Merrill Co., helped earn him the award. A passionate and creative visionary who was recruited to join the company by his father, President Bill Pettit, he embraces a hands-on approach to development and technology and is eager to try new things. Back in December, Pettit gave us great insight into his approach and willingness to try out new technologies in an exclusive interview. Here  is an excerpt: Pillar’s five apartment communities implemented Yardi Voyager earlier this year, as well as mobile applications for inspections, maintenance, invoice approval and resident services. Yardi Leasing Pad allows on-site leasing agents to be able to sign prospects anytime, anywhere. Pillar leasing staff members tested Leasing Pad at two properties. One, The Lyric on Capitol Hill, is a brand new community undergoing the lease-up process.   “Our mobile vision is empowering our team members so that they don’t have to sit behind a desk any longer. They can take care of just about anything they need to do at any location throughout our buildings, whether it’s the leasing staff, the maintenance staff, or me as a manager,” Pettit explained.   In practice, Leasing Pad meant that with an iPad as the only necessary tool, agents could execute a lease in the apartment unit the prospect selected, on the rooftop deck with beautiful views of the Seattle skyline and Mt. Rainier, or even down the street.   “They were beyond excited about the ability to meet with the prospect at a local coffee shop, or meet with...

A North Carolina native who puts faith and family first, Matthew Scott’s colleagues on the Raleigh Payment Processing Implementation Team say his energy and enthusiasm is tremendous. Though he has been with Yardi less than a year, Matthew has already developed a real passion for the company, its products, and the customers he interacts with on a daily basis. “I love my team, the customer interaction, and helping people,” he said. “I feel like we really do make an impact within the company, and that’s the part I really enjoy.” Until earlier this year, Matthew thought that he’d spend his entire career at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, where he was employed as an account manager. He enjoyed his work assisting insurance agents with the details of their policies and responding to customer requests. But then a good friend invited him to check out his new employer, Yardi Systems, at a career fair held by Yardi’s Raleigh office. Such events are held regularly to attract qualified new candidates for open positions. Though he wasn’t even really looking for a new job, Matthew found himself drawn to the leadership, company culture and potential mentorship and growth opportunities that revealed themselves as he went through the interview process. He didn’t know much about the real estate industry at first, but has quickly learned lots about many verticals that Yardi serves and the incredible variety of technology products that address just about every business services need. “We’ve done a great job of letting people know that Yardi will be your one stop for all real estate technology solutions. Clients are very dependent on our software,” Matthew observed. His friendly and personable approach to customer support comes through as he works with clients to diagnose any...