We can almost guarantee that within one click of your mouse, we can convince you that Point2’s office in Saskatoon, located in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, is a pretty fantastic place to work. Why? Well, the company is known for its team cohesion and spirit. And then there’s the secret weapon: the cooking abilities of Jacquelyn Bauer, Point2’s Director of Customer Relations. The Gourmet Housewife is the food blog that Jacquelyn maintains in her free time, but her lucky coworkers often get to sample leftovers. Not much helps wear off the chill of a sub-zero Saskatoon winter day like a warm loaf of homemade bread. In other words: if you’re ever invited to a Point2 company potluck, be sure to attend. There will be a near-certain chance of encountering a Jacquelyn-made treat, like a sautéed kale salad with panko and pine nuts, chewy peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, or homemade bagels. That’s right folks, she makes her own bagels. Totally awesomesauce. But even if we can’t all work with Jacquelyn at Point2 or invite ourselves to her house for dinner, we can still enjoy the gorgeous food photography and creative original recipes to some of her favorite dishes via her blog. She focuses on “simple gourmet” fare that you can recreate without too many trips to the grocery store or hours spent stirring sauce on the stove. It is easy to forget that good food doesn’t have to be sacrificed due to a busy schedule, and Jacquelyn makes preparing such dishes look easy. A self-described perfectionist, Jacquelyn applies the same loving care and attention to detail to her work at Point2 as she does to her kitchen creations. She’s been with the real estate software firm for 13 years, starting when she was...

Across all sectors of the real estate marketplace, Yardi clients are innovators when it comes to development, management, operations and producing returns on investment. In Philadelphia, Yardi client Post Brothers is defining a new niche in multifamily living with units that are both eco-friendly and targeted to the renter who appreciates luxury and high quality of life. “The Goldtex Lofts can best be described as a new breed of Eco-Chic apartments. Not only are these luxury units on the cutting edge of design with the highest-end amenities, they were built with the most advanced environmental features available, creating a new standard for green development in Philadelphia and beyond,” Post Brothers CEO Mike Pestronk told Multi-Housing News’ Jessica Fiur. You can find the full interview with Pestronk about the project, including details on the design and environmentally-conscious aspects of the project,  on Multi-Housing...

L&B Realty Advisors has been named one of Dallas Morning News’ Top 100 Places to Work for the second consecutive year. The company received accolades for its stellar work environment and nurturing relationship with clients. The success of Yardi client L&B starts from within. The company’s culture statement reads, “There is a FORCE that drives L&B. It is the connection of our people, their careers and our clients.” That FORCE—flexible, ownership, relevance, connected, empowered—unites teammates to create an atmosphere that is professional, innovative, effective and fun; the FORCE reference naturally led employees to select Yoda as their mascot. Those who uphold the FORCE host a miniature version of the Star Wars sage on their desk for a few weeks. It’s a simple way to keep the FORCE alive among employees each day. Employees’ balanced approach to business and interpersonal skills has served them well thus far. Since 1965, L&B Realty Advisors has provided real estate and asset management services to institutional and private investors. Services assist clients with the acquisition, management, and disposition of assets as well as pension plans, public and private wealth funds, endowments, and foundations for investors. L&B prides itself on longstanding client relationships, many of which average 17 years with returns that exceed benchmark forecasts. Currently, the company manages more than $5.4 billion on behalf of its clients. One successful project, a series of new developments at Tyson Corner Center in Washington, D.C., is an L&B real estate holding with a promising future. The project consists of mixed-use facilities that furnish the neighborhood with over three million square feet of combined hotel, retail and residential space. The site has been propelled into the spotlight by the adjacent mall, which holds anchor tenants such as Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor, Macy’s, L.L....

The Manhattan Valley Development Corporation will mark 45 years of providing affordable housing in Manhattan at the end of 2013.  As part of the celebration of this milestone anniversary, Yardi client MVDC will award the first Leah Schneider scholarship in honor of the organization’s former director who passed away in 2001. Since 1968, MVDC has maintained a focus on one vital goal: providing and maintaining affordable, safe housing in Manhattan’s upper Westside. Over the years, MVDC rehabilitated and developed more than 1200 housing units, including affordable ownership projects that were sold to residents at below-market prices. Today, MVDC oversees 784 apartments in 47 buildings, serving around 3,000 residents. The ongoing challenge of maintaining affordable housing in New York City, one of the nation’s priciest apartment markets, and serving an aging resident population are two priorities for MVDC Executive Director Lucille McEwen. “There are market forces and gentrification and pressure to create more high-end living in this immediate area, but we’ve always maintained affordable housing and that’s our real focus,” said McEwen (left), an attorney who has a passion for affordable housing and is also a lifelong Manhattan resident.  “We are reaching out to other like-minded individuals and organizations to see what we can do collectively.” “One of the things we’re trying to figure out is: How do we get more housing that’s targeted towards low-income seniors? That’s a great need in the community. They can’t afford to move, and they can’t afford these new construction co-ops and condos that are going up. They need the accessibility ramps to get into buildings, and elevators, and other things that help when you have limited mobility.” Many of MVDC’s residents have been living in their apartments for years, even decades. McEwen knows of one man who has...

For Sharon Terry, CEO, establishing PXE International was not a matter of fulfilling a personal preference or a sense of adventure. The organization was created out of necessity. “We didn’t feel like we had a choice to start PXE,” she says. “We were completely compelled. If we didn’t do it, nothing would happen.” Nearly 20 years ago, Sharon discovered that both of her young children had pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), a rare genetic disease that affects the tissues of the eyes, skin, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems. Sharon and her husband embarked on a whirlwind study of genetics to learn more about the disease and available treatments. At that time, they had woefully limited data to help them. Inconsistencies and contradictions riddled what little information they found. The Terrys decided to take matters into their own hands, initiating PXE International. Sharon details her account in the article, Learning Genetics. “We were starting from the ground up,” recalls Sharon. “Now, we are the world’s premiere organization for PXE research.” Since 1995, PXE International has encouraged and sponsored groundbreaking research while providing support for those affected by PXE. To date, the organization has raised more than $1.7 million for applied translational research, treatment development and product development. The organization also provides insurance advocacy for families who were previously denied coverage. Researchers have determined that PXE is triggered by a gene that is expressed primarily in the liver; recent research has shown that PXE is a metabolic disease like diabetes or phenylketonuria. The disease can ultimately cause skin problems, vision loss, and problems in the arteries. There is no certified treatment or cure for PXE, though recent clinical studies have made promising headway. PXE International is a collaborator in a study by Dr. Lebwohl of Mt. Sinai School of...

Melanie Calbow has proven to be more than a Billing Administrator. Her dedication to problem solving and quality customer service has earned her the reputation of being a stellar team player and customer advocate. Melanie quickly adapted to her position in the finance department after graduating from UCSB. “I didn’t have an accounting background but I was in school for it. I found that I really enjoyed working with numbers and things fell into place.” For eight years, Melanie has excelled in the fast-paced atmosphere of finance. As a Billing and Collections Administrator, each day is packed with new challenges and opportunities. “My day differs each day. That’s the fun part of my job,” Melanie says. “You have to be on your feet and ready to change gears at any given moment.” Creating statements and sending out invoices are only the tip of the iceberg. Sale order addendums, contracts, and even a few IT calls make their way to Melanie’s desk.  “I also talk to tenants every day,” she laughs. “Sometimes they don’t recognize how the statement is arranged so they call us. I’ve even gotten a few calls from people wanting tech support for Voyager. We live and breathe yCRM; though it’s similar to Voyager, it’s not the same so I have to point them in the right direction.” Melanie and her team are known for problem solving. It has been a part of her job that has allowed her to have major one-on-one impact with clients. “We get callers who have been to other people and we’re often the last ones in the line,” she explains. “They’re tired, usually frustrated, and they just want some help.  We try to improve the mood and find them the appropriate contact. We have that contact...

Eric Matulka has a simple yet solid foundation from which to build technology strategy and policy: He believes that good technology should make life easier.  From that baseline, when he chooses vendors and platforms for DEI Communities, he’s looking for solutions that are time and efficiency savers for all users. Matulka, Vice President of Information Technology for Yardi client DEI Communities in Omaha, Nebraska, applies business acumen and a wealth of IT experience to his role. He’s a dedicated student of social media, experimenting with social engagement services on an in-depth personal level to determine how they can bring value to DEI Communities’ residents and employees. “We want to be able to tell our story, and allow people to learn more about our apartment communities. We want to be able to say to people – this is how to find us, this is how to communicate with us, and if you have more questions, here’s a variety of ways to find out more about us,” said Matulka. When he assesses new software offerings, he looks first at how they might improve life for residents. Next on the checklist is how the product being considered could improve things for employees. “I also seek ways to make life easier for our staff. If we can make it easier for them to do their job, whether it is communicating with residents, or doing some of the back-end tasks, or working with the corporate office, banks, vendors, that’s an exciting development,” he said. An expert on social media and online engagement, Matulka has watched how different types of multifamily communities are using social media services. He’s concluded that there is no “one size fits all” solution when it comes to the relationship between social media and the apartment...

Today, April 22, is Earth Day. Alliance Residential Company is among the Yardi multifamily clients that will mark the occasion: A tree will be planted at almost every Alliance community this week, except those that are in exceptionally urban environments or have special circumstances. “The goal is to plant a tree at the majority of our Alliance communities,” said Kelly Vickers, Alliance’s National Director of Sustainability. “Trees do so much for the environment: filtering air pollution, reducing soil erosion, creating shade, helping recycle water.” Alliance’s facility directors, who oversee 257 apartment communities across 13 states, worked with the companies’ regional landscaping vendors to coordinate the selection of appropriate local native trees, which will find new homes in the ground at each community site. The properties that can’t plant trees are helping out in a different way, such as supporting the Nature Conservancy’s “Plant a Billion Trees” campaign, which is working to preserve Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, an endangered tropical forest, and entails planting a billion trees by 2015. Each $1 donated equals one tree planted, and Alliance communities are encouraging their residents to support the cause. Broadening awareness about the benefits of sustainable living is just one aspect of Alliance’s Focus Green campaign, which was formally launched in 2012. Earth Day comes and goes in a flash. With Focus Green, Vickers and Alliance have developed a set of comprehensive principles to help guide the company toward a greener future. This year, the program will expand into action items that touch development, operations, training and administration. “The program has two overarching goals. The first is to reduce the consumption of energy and natural resources at our communities and our offices. The second is to educate, promote and support our associates’, residents’ and owners’ participation in more...

Phipps Community Development Corporation (Phipps CDC) is dedicated to creating programs that help lift families out of poverty. More than 40 programs provide New Yorkers with the tools needed for self-sufficiency and promising futures. Nancy Riedl, Director of Development and Communications, addresses the hurdles that many low-income families face, “Housing isn’t the only answer. Residents need other supportive services—education, career readiness and community resources—to propel them into successful and sustainable futures. Our programs address these issues,” she says. “Many people living in poverty haven’t been exposed to all of the resources that they need. We try to directly address those needs where we find them.” Each year, Phipps CDC assists more than 9,000 New Yorkers with a variety of resources to meet their unique needs. Youth Education To break the cycle of poverty, Phipps CDC begins working with expectant parents and those with young children in its Early Head Start program. Classes are held in clients’ homes or at community centers, helping parents prepare their homes, finances, and social lives for the joys and challenges of parenting. More than 1,000 children ages 5-13 partake in Phipps CDC after-school programs. Volunteers and staff offer homework assistance, computer instruction, and guidance in the visual and performing arts, culinary arts, environmental studies and sports. The activities encourage kids to set goals, work in teams, and practice self-discipline. As a result, youth discover the skills needed to build confidence, become stronger students and take leadership positions among their peers. Phipps CDC youth programs extend beyond the school year and into the vacation months. Each summer, more than 600 families participate in camps that strengthen the body and the mind. Full-day camps pull youth away from the televisions and provide a safe, structured environment in which they can thrive....

Nearly six months after Hurricane Sandy swept the east coast, thousands of Long Island residents struggle to pulls their lives out of the rubble. The dire need for assistance remains. Many aid organizations have withdrawn from the region, piling a daunting load upon the few organizations that remain. Island Harvest is one of the few nonprofits that have endured in Long Island, providing food assistance to those hardest hit by the storm. Nicole Kowaleski, Vice President of Development, recalls the spike in aid requests that followed in the wake of super storm Sandy, “In the past, we gave to 570 agencies that then helped about 300,000 people in need. After the hurricane, 90,000 additional people were in need; five months later, 30,000 of them are still displaced in addition to the population that we regularly serve.” Kowaleski maintains a level head about the extent of residents’ need. She estimates that relief efforts will continue for at least another 18 months. “We’re targeting people in the hardest hit part of Long Island, the south shore. We’re making sure that every single person has their needs met. We give out food, water, and snacks–not just to the residents but also to first responders at pop-up sites throughout the area,” she explains. “We let people know who we are, let them know that we are here for them and that we are a resource for them.” Rising to the occasion has posed a series of challenges for Island Harvest staff and volunteers. Several member agencies, which act as extensions of the organization, were disabled by the storm and remain inoperable. Island Harvest is helping member agencies get back on their feet. Once those agencies recover, they will be able to contribute more fully towards the cause. Standard...

Numerous personal transitions have sharpened Rachel Lindley’s ability to adapt to anything that life hurls her way. The Sales Executive for Affordable Housing has worn many hats at Yardi, relocated across the country, and is raising a large family while maintaining a positive disposition. Her key to success? Focusing on what matters, which has consistently boiled down to a high regard for the team she works with and the people that she works for. After leaving behind her life as a stay at home mom, Rachel landed a role as an administrative assistant for Classic. She soon transitioned into a support team member in the Atlanta office. It was a perfect match that maintained her interest even after the Yardi acquisition. “When I was in a support role with Classic, I really enjoyed working with people who needed my help and were grateful for it. It felt like I made a difference. In sales with Yardi, I help companies and individuals find out what’s best for them and their growth. I get to use my background in customer service and I love helping them.” Even as job descriptions change, keeping her eye on the needs of others helps Rachel transition with grace. Though she could not have foreseen herself as a Sales Executive in her youth, she loves where she has landed. “I’m naturally a bit introverted and a bit shy,” she shrugs. “It took a while to get used to talking to people and putting myself out there.” Being introverted does not mean that Rachel is a homebody. Her love of the outdoors has always played a huge role in fulfilling her sense of adventure. “I grew up hunting and fishing,” she admits, her voice instantly igniting. “I really enjoy hunting in the...

At Aegis Living, corporate values are much more than pleasant words that conjure positive thoughts. The philosophy for Dwayne Clark’s Washington-based residential senior living company is rooted in poignant personal history, and creates a culture focused on happy employees and helping people. “There’s a type of person that wants to work at Aegis and fits the criteria we look for in our employees. They’re passionate about what they do, and they understand empathy,” said Jennifer Hall, Director of Marketing for Aegis Living. Empathy is at the heart of the Aegis experience. Company founder Clark absorbed its importance during his childhood. Raised by a single mother who worked hard to support herself and her son, Clark has written a book about his mom, My Mother, My Son, and speaks frequently of the lessons his upbringing contributed to his life and work. At the heart of those experiences is a story that motivated the start of Aegis Living’s Potato Soup Foundation, an internal non-profit benefiting employees going through crises or emergencies, in 2005. When Clark was a teenager, there came a time when his mother simply didn’t have the money to put food on the table. So she ‘borrowed’ a bag of potatoes from her workplace, brought them home and made them into soup, which she and Dwayne ate for a week. It was a week he never forgot, but it wasn’t the monotony of potato soup that made the biggest impact. Clark’s mother, Colleen Clark, urged him never to forget what the experience felt like. She told him: “And when you have employees, don’t ever forgot to be there for your employees and they will always be there for you.” In practice, the concept has expanded to Aegis employees who support each other just as...

For the founders of The Marquette Companies, building a successful community is about much more than construction followed by profitable management. It’s not just about building a place for people to live, but a place where residents can engage with their neighbors, participate in healthy activities, and learn and grow together. That’s the foundation of the model of the Institute for Community (IFC), which began in 1996 and provides on-site programming and true opportunity for connection that’s available to thousands of Marquette residents. “Our mission is building quality relationships where people live and work through the power of genuine community,” said Mike Vickery, Executive Director of the IFC. “The founders (of Marquette) had built beautiful places, and they really wanted to build places where people lived beautifully as well.” In practice, that meant putting together a place and a program that would foster social interaction, community connection, and enhance residents’ lives and well-being. The IFC Friendship Centre in the Romeoville, Ill. HighPoint community brings in 8,000 to 10,000 people per month, many of them children, for sports, classes, activities and other programming. The Friendship Center is a 27,000 square foot facility that’s available free of charge to community residents and also open to non-residents, who can use it for a fee. With a staff of just four full-time employees, 125 volunteers contribute weekly to help everything run smoothly. An annual Marquette Charity Golf Tournament raises around $100,000 each year for scholarships for low-income HighPoint youth. Vendors and equity partners get involved as sponsors and donors, and Marquette properties around the country pitch in as well. The scholarships ensure everyone is included in the activities and opportunities. Income from memberships and programming, as well as outside grant funding, covers the rest of the center’s operating...

There is both a touching family story and a caring resident focus in practice at the senior living residences operated by Yardi client Bloom Senior Living (f/k/a Bloomfield Senior Living), which operates senior care communities in Indiana, Ohio and South Carolina. Bloom’s parent company, Kandu Capital, LLC also owns independent senior residences in Southern California and Arizona, and has acquisitions pending in the Southeast. In the rapidly growing market for residential memory care services, the Bloom model is both personal and heartfelt. The approach may stem from the company’s history. Founder Richard Tischler, a hard-working family man who still comes to the office five days a week at age 98, built a nursing home business with the support of his late wife Ruth, who in her later life suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Her illness, and the experience of finding a suitable living facility to meet her needs, had an immediate impact on the Bloom approach to care. With Richard’s two sons-in-law (Howard M. Dubin and Mitchell A. Kantor) and three grandsons (Bradley E. Dubin, Scott M. Kantor and Tony Kantor) involved in growing and efficiently operating the family’s seniors housing portfolio, the company strives for the highest quality care and a top-flight customer service experience. They want families and residents to find the type of residential experience, exceptional care and resulting peace of mind that they sought when Ruth Tischler became ill. She and Richard are considered the company’s “Chief Inspiration Officers,” a fitting title. “We went through the process of looking for (a care community) for her and seeing what was out there while we were doing our own search. We looked at it not just from the perspective of being an operator, but from being a family member. We stood in those...

Esther Bonardi, Industry Principal for Yardi Marketing Solutions, has joined the Apartment All Stars team and will be sharing her wealth of experience on the multifamily industry on the All Stars’ nationwide tour circuit. The Apartment All Stars are a team of experts that provide impartial instructive programming to apartment associations across the nation. They are known for their inspired, energetic and motivational speaking skills, wealth of multifamily industry knowledge, and results-inducing best practice tips. “I am honored to be included in this group of industry experts.  For years, our industry has looked to the All Stars to share the latest information, the most leading edge solutions, and the most effective strategies for marketing and managing apartments,” Esther said. “And of course, our industry also knows that along with great information, they are going to have a great time at an All Stars event.  I’m very pleased that the All Stars counted  me among those who could deliver this experience to their audiences. “ Esther will bring strong knowledge of multifamily marketing to her presentations on the All Star tour. “I’m all about digital marketing.  I love marketing technology, including both the opportunities and the challenges that it presents.  I will be bringing best practices in digital marketing to the All Stars events. A marketing ‘geek’ is the best kind of ‘geek,’ and I think All Star audiences will feel excited and empowered when they see how easy it is to make technology work to their benefit,” she said. Esther began her career in the multifamily industry in 1987 as a leasing professional, and she never looked back.  Over the years, she has served some of the industry’s best and brightest multifamily firms, taking a career journey from on-site management to multi-sit e management, and...