Every year, Yardi honors outstanding members of the customer service department during the CSD Week Awards ceremony. Cody Costello, consultant, consulting practices, received the VP Award at our most recent event. Tamara J. Berndt, vice president, residential, consulting practices at Yardi, works closely with Costello. She has seen him assist many of the company’s complex clients. During customer service week, the team received an extraordinary kudos from a client stating that “Cody was the best account manager [she has] ever had.” “That is high praise from a client that has been using the Yardi suite of products for more than 15 years,” reflect Berndt. “I never have to worry about Cody’s clients. He just takes care of business. He does it with a calm and professional manner that instills confidence and gets the job done!” Berndt continues, “Cody does a great job taking care of his clients. He is helpful towards his colleagues. Cody embodies the ‘whatever it takes’ attitude of the services department.” We caught up with Costello to learn more about the man behind the VP Award honor. TBS: What does it mean to you to receive the VP award? Costello: I think this means I might actually be kind of good at this job! I think it’s easy to get caught up in the now without looking back to see how far I’ve really come since I first started here. TBS: What do you enjoy most about working at Yardi? Costello: There are so many things I enjoy, from the challenging and diverse work to the wonderful employees. If I absolutely had to pick one thing, I think it would be the freedom that is given on how to best complete my work and accomplish my goals. I’m given all of the tools...

Conflicting research has many housing professionals—and house hunters—wondering if the nation has reached an affordability crisis or not. There are a few factors that influence why reputable sources are coming up with such different perspectives. Is there an affordability crisis? First American Financial Corp says no. A recent research summary posits that while home prices and mortgage rates have been increasing, the nation isn’t near crisis mode. CoreLogic’s Home Price Index reports that home prices increased 7 percent year-over-year. The Primary Mortgage Market Survey issued by Freddie Mac shows the recent mortgage rate has increase to its highest since 2013. First American Financial Corp suggests that the nation is not in crisis mode because while home prices and mortgages rates have increased, incomes have also increased. Most states have reached income levels that exceed their 2007 peak. Many incomes are higher than they’ve been in more than a decade. The organization’s conclusion: there is no crisis, just a casual decrease in affordability. Additional factors It’s not just home prices, mortgage rates, and incomes we must consider. Non-housing cost of living increases play a practical role in housing affordability for households. These costs have been rising for most of the nation, with six cities experiencing the steepest increases. GOBankingRates lists Atlanta; Denver; Eugene, Ore.; Nashville; Portland; and Seattle as cities with the highest spikes in non-housing cost of living. Healthcare, groceries, transportation and utilities are among the expenses that consume residents resources and contribute to the inability to afford housing. While incomes have increased over the years, housing costs have increased faster. The rising cost of non-housing expenses make affordability more challenging. An earner spends 29.1 percent of their income on a median-priced home. The established recommendation for affordability is 30 percent of income, which brings the average wage earner...

A new report by Yardi Matrix indicates that multifamily deliveries might outpace demand in some key U.S. housing markets. Matrix conducted a study to determine which areas might be at risk of oversupply or undersupply over the next five years. The research revealed that deliveries in 2016 and 2017 helped compensate for the construction shortage in the wake of the Great Recession. “Most of the metros that are at short-term risk of oversupply have strong economies and healthy multifamily demand, so units coming online should be absorbed by growing populations,” the report concludes. Markets and submarkets with outsize development activity, however, “can expect volatility” that will give rise to higher vacancy rates and stagnant rent growth. Achieving market equilibrium going forward will require developers to “intelligently calibrate the amount and location of new projects” to accommodate finite demand. Yardi Matrix identified Denver, Seattle, Dallas, Phoenix, Miami and Charlotte, N.C., as key markets at risk of oversupply over the next five years. Demand is projected to exceed supply of apartments for rent in San Diego, Los Angeles, California’s Inland Empire, Houston, New York and Sacramento, Calif. Read “U.S. Multifamily Supply and Demand Forecasts by Metro” to learn more about homeownership, population shifts, social trends and other factors affecting the multifamily...

The End Hunger Games have been a Foodbank of Santa Barbara County tradition for five years. This winter holiday campaign adds a dose of friendly competition to local corporate philanthropy. Each year, 10-15 corporate teams compete to be crowned as the biggest givers. Yardi has participated in the End Hunger Games since its inception. “We use Yardi activities as examples to inspire the other teams to go above and beyond,” says Nathalie Keller, Corporate Giving Manager at the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. “They have several teams within the company. They volunteer regularly, donate food, post on social channels, and plan events like their holiday boutique and company party to benefit the Foodbank.” Yardi emerged as the victor of the fifth annual End Hunger Games, followed closely by other fine local organizations: First place: Yardi – Total Points: 1466 Second place: Evidation Health  – Total points: 1457 Third place: FastSpring – Total Points: 1327 The vast outpouring of corporate support, coupled with donations from the community, could not have come at a better time. The Thomas Fire, one of the largest and costly in the state’s history, caused widespread dislocation and loss of property. For the Foodbank, the efforts to provide for daily community food needs were made even more challenging by this disaster. Keller explains, “Children and families experienced increased food insecurity during this time of crisis. Many were unable to work because businesses had shut down or reduced work hours during the emergency. This meant that hourly employees faced sudden loss of wages. Owners of businesses connected to tourism and recreation, along with service providers and vendors, experienced immediate loss of income.” As soon as the UCSB American Red Cross shelter opened, the Foodbank began providing food, water and snacks to evacuees. Two...

The multifamily industry converged in San Diego last week for Apartmentalize Powered by National Apartment Association. Formerly known as the NAA Education Conference and Exposition, the annual event is the largest educational conference for apartment industry professionals. We highlight five of our favorite lessons from this year’s event. 5 Lessons from Apartmentalize 2018: Own the Age of AI On Thursday, industry experts discussed the impact of artificial intelligence in multifamily. Panelists included Dawn Wise from Berkshire Communities, Michael Barry from Bozzuto, Tim Reardon from Bridge Property Management, and Yardi’s Dhar Sawh. Artificial intelligence has just recently emerged in the rental housing industry. “This is so new for our industry, so the sky’s the limit,” explained Reardon. The session explored the benefits of artificial intelligence, big data, and business intelligence tools. How can you get energized for the Age of AI? Top tips from panelists: learn more about AI, and make a data strategy plan. Today’s Renters Have a Multi-Touch Journey Over the last two decades, we’ve gone from tracking walk-ins and phone calls to embracing comprehensive CRM systems. On a panel moderated by Yardi’s Esther Bonardi, Holli Beckman from WC Smith, Israel Carunungan from Greystar, and Mia Wentworth from CWS Apartment Homes discussed multi-touch lead attribution, a model for tracking and weighing touchpoints in the lead-to-lease cycle. How can smart marketers improve lead tracking? “Dig into it, study it, and it can open a whole new world,” advised Bonardi. Learn more about multi-touch lead attribution and download our free eBook. Sustainability Wins At Friday’s Apartmentalize session, panelists including Yardi’s Martin Levkus explored resident engagement through energy efficiency. In a recent National Apartment Association survey, windows were the top sustainability item residents cared about. For one panelist, energy efficient windows resulted in a $75 per month...

A report published by the Identity Theft Resource Center and CyberScout found there were 1,579 data breaches tracked in 2017. That figure represents a 45% rise over 2016, and an all-time high number of such events. More than half of the breaches (870) listed by the report were associated with the business sector. Other categories reported by ITRC and CyberScout include 374 breaches in the healthcare sector and 134 breaches in the banking/credit/financial sector. “Each year we see an upward trend in number of data breaches cited in these reports. These troubling statistics are a good reminder for property managers to take proactive steps to avoid the potential catastrophe of a data breach,” said Jay Shobe, Yardi vice president of cloud services. According to the report, the most common breaches occurring in 2017 involved hacking of user accounts to gain access to protected data. Hacking typically involves phishing scams, where scammers fool users into entering a username and password into a forged online form, and ransomware which can infect a computer when a user clicks on a nefarious email attachment. In the case of ransomware, access to data can be locked until a payment is made. On a positive note, the study found that the rise in breaches isn’t purely due to increased illicit activities. An increased willingness of organizations to make breaches public knowledge, as opposed to keeping them quiet and privately handled, also boosted the number of 2017. “Companies can avoid a lot of negative attention by responding to data breaches with transparency, as opposed to covering up attempts to steal their clients’ data. When individuals know their data is compromised they can take proactive steps to mitigate immediate and long-term impacts of a breach,” said Shobe. The Security of the Yardi...

Without the right tools, running a senior living community is extremely challenging. Piles of paperwork can be overwhelming, and manual data entry can cause errors. When care staff get bogged down with administrative tasks, they have less time to spend with residents. In your back office, the accounting team spends time chasing down billing and cutting paper checks. These inefficiencies add up to become costly for your organization. But, here’s some great news: the Yardi Senior Living Suite is a single software platform that lets you connect, control, track and improve all aspects of your business. Watch a video about senior living software Here are three key ways the Yardi Senior Living Suite can transform your senior living operations: Centralize data to work more efficiently Lower your total cost of ownership, reduce paper and improve your bottom line by managing resident care, finance, operations and marketing with a single connected solution that begins with Yardi Voyager Senior Housing, a property management and accounting platform designed specifically for senior living. Having all of your operational and resident information centralized in one secure, cloud-hosted database with mobility enables complete oversight across your business, instant data access and more responsive care services. Optimize care and improve oversight Gain real-time executive healthcare oversight, keep resident health records free of errors, limit your liability and improve resident satisfaction with Yardi EHR, a full-service electronic health record solution specifically designed for the needs of senior living providers. Get advanced clinical reporting with detailed analytics and instant access to financial data. Customize your care billing options and provide flexible, individual rate plans. Allow caregivers to spend more time with residents and eliminate errors with simplified record keeping that includes easy information sharing at the point of care and a mobile app...

Spring is a time for cleaning house and fresh beginnings! Unfortunately, spring cleaning isn’t intuitive or easy for some residents. Your intervention may be needed to keep residents and your property safe. Hoarding disorder is the excessive collection of possessions. It is closely linked with obsessive compulsive disorder, a mental illness that affects nearly 3 million people nationwide. As a mental illness, residents that hoard are protected under the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Disabilities Act. They must be cared for accordingly. When It’s More than Just a Mess When do you need to get involved? Some residents have different standards of tidiness, or they are avid collectors of certain items. Not all collectors are hoarders. A few key risks identify hoarding behavior: A living environment that is dangerous to the hoarder, neighboring tenants, and the property Blocked access to emergency exits, hallways, and windows Blocked pathways to ventilation that may result in mold, mildew, and poor air quality for the inhabitants of the unit as well as neighboring units Improperly stored food items that attract and harbor pests If a resident displays one or more of the aforementioned risky behaviors, an intervention may be necessary. Staff Training  To address hoarding properly, early detection is key. Regularly scheduled inspections for health code compliance, fire safety compliance, and smoke detector maintenance provide staff with reasonable access to units. When risky behaviors are identified, promptly get assistance. On-site staff members do not have to be experts in the illness to help renters in need.  More than 100 task forces are available to assist you through the International OCD Foundation. Such organizations can help property managers assist residents with hoarding issues—without compromising health and safety for other residents. Avoiding Catastrophe Hoarding disorder is a mental illness...

In 2017, Yardi sponsored a survey of hundreds of real estate professionals across Asia as well the subsequent report on the survey findings. Completed by Asia real estate business intelligence source Mingtiandi, the report examines the state of technology in Asia’s real estate industry – and looks at where it’s heading. According to the report, property management technology has seen a global investment of $7.8 billion since 2013, with 60% of that investment going into Asia. Despite such hefty figures, up to 77% of Asia’s real estate professionals feel that they’re lagging technologically, citing the overwhelming reason for the region’s slow adoption of technology as resistance to change. Staying ahead of the game over the next five years will mean that managing human behavior, alongside investing in technology, will be crucial for companies looking to drive success through integrated, cohesive data and operations. Read the report executive summary and stay tuned for updates on the Yardi/Mingtiandi...

Commercial real estate education and event organization the Realcomm Conference Group LLC (Realcomm) celebrated its two-decade milestone by honoring 20 visionaries at its annual conference in Las Vegas. The prestigious group of honorees included Yardi founder and president Anant Yardi, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award recognizing his career-long accomplishments in real estate and technology. Realcomm also recognized the following industry leaders: Jesse Carrillo, SVP and CIO, Hines; Dave Clute, Chief Marketing Officer, ESD; Maureen Ehrenberg, President, Global Integrated Facilities Management, JLL; Robert Entin, EVP and CIO, Vornado Realty Trust; John Gilbert, EVP, COO and CTO of Rudin Management; Mark Golan, VP of Real Estate and Workplace Services, Google; Don Goldstein, former SVP and CISO, Digital Technology, CBRE; Hari Gunasingham, Founder, Sigma Sustainability Institute; Tama Huang, Principal and Global Real Estate Advisory Services Leader, NOI Strategies; Sandy Jacolow, CIO, Silverstein Properties; Ted Maulucci, President, SmartONE Solutions; Scott Morey, Executive Director of GPG Advisers; Paul Oswald, Managing Director, CBRE; John Petze, Principal, SkyFoundry; Wayne Pryor, Principal, 2Five1 Consulting; Joseph Rich, SVP and CIO, Related Companies;  Darrell Smith, Director, Central Facilities Operation of Google; James Whalen, SVP and CIO, Boston Properties; Scott Zimmerman, CIO, CenterPoint Properties. The award criteria included consistent focus on real estate innovation and contributions to the industry for more than 20 years. Mr. Yardi founded his company in 1984 in Santa Barbara, Calif. Since then, it has become a global real estate software leader, and now has over 6,000 employees in 40 offices worldwide. “Anant is a constant supporter of Realcomm’s vision for uniting technology, innovation and real estate operations. His thought leadership, service to the industry and technology innovation over the years have been profoundly impactful,” said Jim Young, co-founder and CEO of Realcomm. “Realcomm has done a remarkable job enhancing...

Clearwater Living is new to the senior living real estate market, but the Southern California-based developer and owner/operator of new senior communities aims to set standards for high quality resident and employee experiences in every market it enters. As they  opened their first three communities, and prepare to manage more independent senior communities  Clearwater Living wanted to start off with a strong technology platform. After analyzing the options in the marketplace, the Yardi Senior Living Suite was the right choice. Breck Austin, VP Support Services for Clearwater Living, knew of Yardi’s strong reputation in the real estate technology space from his work at prior employers. Though Austin had never been a Yardi user before, he knew that the reputation of the company’s platforms was tremendous for meeting a myriad of business needs, from resident services to the back office. “As we grow our company and the systems we use, one of the questions we faced was how to best support the next generation of senior living residents coming into our communities with robust technology and systems,” Austin said. “We wanted to be able to easily communicate to residents about our lifestyle programs and engage them into enjoying our restaurant venues. We wanted them to see their statements and pay bills, and provide their families access to those resources. We knew that what would provide the highest resident and associate satisfaction was a fully integrated system, so Yardi was our answer.” The RentCafe Senior Living resident portal for family and resident provides access to records, statements and care details which was one of the main factors that led Clearwater Living to pick Yardi as its software provider. “To have your medical records, your electronic health care records, all housed in one place with your accounting...

Yardi returns this year as a sponsor of the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) Mid-Year Meeting in scenic Park City, Utah, taking place from June 27-28 at the Grand Summit Hotel. ASHA is expecting around 175 executive members to attend. ASHA’s meetings, which are complimentary and open only to Association members, are stimulating and thought-provoking gatherings of the nation’s top senior housing professionals. ASHA meeting participants share information and business insights, debate industry issues and hear nationally recognized speakers. As stated on the ASHA website, the generous sponsorship the Association receives for its events and research makes it possible to host the senior living industry’s premier executive meetings and also remain at the forefront of major research initiatives. “Yardi is delighted to support conferences and events such as ASHA’s meetings, where senior living industry leaders get together to exchange insights, explore opportunities and discuss important issues facing the industry,” said Richard Nix, senior director of senior living at Yardi. ASHA also has the largest senior housing political action committee focused on supporting federal candidates who understand and promote the interests of senior housing. ASHA’s lobbying team has extensive experience on Capitol Hill, and works to educate policymakers about the industry. To educate and help consumers, ASHA maintains the where you live matters website to keep seniors, families and other influencers informed about senior living options and innovations to enable empowered decisions. Yardi provides a complete software platform with services designed to move the senior living industry forward by optimizing care and helping businesses of every size succeed. Learn about Yardi’s single connected solution for senior living or watch a short...

Yardi Boston recently participated in a Garden Party project at Somerville Village that will bring therapeutic and educational resources to young women in transitional housing. The project reflects how humble beginnings can be transformed into spectacular endings. About Somerville Village Somerville Village is a collaboration between Focus and The Home for Little Wanderers. The former is a Massachusetts-based non-profit that advocates and supports affordable housing as well as services for its residents. The latter offers programming to strengthen vulnerable families and keep children safe in their communities. Together, the organizations launched Somerville Village, transitional housing and programing to help young women who have aged-out of The Home for Little Wanderers yet need additional assistance to pursue higher education. Somerville Village is a two-story house with 15 bedrooms, five bathrooms, a kitchen and several communal spaces. Residents have easy access to public transportation, allowing them to commute to their post-secondary classes. In addition to housing, Somerville Village also provides access to therapeutic and educational support for residents as they take additional steps towards independence. The Garden Party When Yardi Boston team members arrived at Somerville Village, they found a lovely home with one aesthetic flaw: an underused side yard in serious need of attention. The organization wanted to transform the space into an educational and functional garden. Yardi was there to help. Rick Houpt, Development, The Home for Little Wanderers, explains, “The Yardi team absolutely transformed a dreary, black-padded side-yard into a cheerful educational and therapeutic space: a garden of raised beds for vegetables, herbs, and flowers.” The garden is an educational opportunity because the women of Somerville Village will have the chance to learn about nutrition, gardening, and growing food. The resource can help them take better care of bodies and minds, reaping the...

In a recent nationwide survey, Yardi office listings platform COMMERCIALCafé investigated what office employees across a variety of industries had to say about their work spaces. We asked 2,107 respondents from a wide range of ages (from Baby Boomers to Gen Zers), working in different fields (from tech to retail, education and entertainment) some questions about what they view as productivity killers in their current workspace, and what improvements could make a difference. The Quest for Privacy in the Office Most Americans work in an open-plan office—roughly 70% of workspaces in the nation currently sport this design. Employers have many reasons to love open-plan offices, as they are cost-effective and grant great flexibility in accommodating a growing workforce. Nevertheless, from our respondents’ point of view, there are several grievances that the offices they work in fail to address. What stands out most is the employees’ concern regarding the lack of privacy and high noise levels. Roughly 64% signaled they had trouble concentrating due to interruptions from their coworkers, while things like outdated equipment, air quality or poor lighting were raised as issues by around 33% of respondents. Designers are trying to address some of these problems and their current range of solutions combine the use of sound-absorbing materials for flooring, walls and furniture, panels and partitions to create a sense of privacy, and soundproofing quiet rooms or pods. Plants in the office can also contribute to bringing down noise levels and improve air quality, not to mention the added aesthetic appeal they provide. Millennials and Baby Boomers Agree: Private Offices Are Still the Best We know open-plan office designs are widespread, but does that mean they are also popular? Only 9.87% of surveyed workers indicated this layout as their ideal workspace. By comparison, roughly...

Homeowner associations are experiencing a period of rapid change. These changes influence everything from how parties communicate to the appearance of the community. Explore three HOA trends for 2018-2019. Revisiting Short-Term Rental Rules Short-term rentals are an increasingly hot topic, particularly in popular tourist destinations and bustling metros. Many HOAs are tightening up short-term rental restrictions due to local government policy. Complaints from neighboring owners over safety, noise, and cleanliness have also raised concerns At the other end of the spectrum, some HOAs are finding ways to amend bylaws, making it easier for owners to rent out their units. This is rare, occurring only when the majority of owners value the economic potential of short-term rentals. HOAs may also find themselves revisiting rules about the community’s appearance. Regulations on political signage, flags, and other exterior décor have surfaced during owners’ meetings throughout the country and will likely continue. Increasing Demand for Certified Property Managers The demand for licensed property managers has surged in recent years. Community association managers (CAMs) remove the burden of fee collection while dedicating time and resources to owner and prospect care. Residents appreciate the professional services. Managers benefit from delegating tasks and potentially higher resident satisfaction. In most states, CAMs do not need a license. The lack of consistency and regulation has managers seeking CAMs with certifications in an effort to ensure quality Organizations such as the Community Associations Institute (CAI), Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and National Associated Builders and Owners (NABO) have witnessed increased enrollment. As these graduates enter the workforce, managers will have a larger body of certified CAMs from which to choose. Growing Prominence of Software Solutions Owners and manager both are discovering the benefits of condo-specific software that expedites documentation and billing processes.These solutions...

“We use our Yardi platform to accomplish everything. It works for us,” said Joenita Turner, senior application support specialist at Silver Sky Assisted Living. Silver Sky Assisted Living and Silver Sky at Deer Springs are Nevada HAND’s two communities for seniors who need some extra help. The communities offer comprehensive services including meals, onsite caregivers, 24-hour nursing and medical support along with a full calendar of activities. To ensure the most efficient operations so that its residents get the best care possible, Silver Sky relies on fully integrated and cloud-hosted software solutions from the Yardi Senior Living Suite including Yardi Voyager Senior Housing, RENTCafé Senior Living, Yardi Senior CRM and Yardi EHR along with Yardi Maintenance and Yardi eLearning. Turner started out as a property manager before switching over to her applications role at Silver Sky. “I know how things work from the front office to back end administration,” she said. The company recently went through a rebrand, which included adding RENTCafé Senior Living to offer a range of convenient online services to its residents and their families. Succeeding with online services RENTCafé Senior Living is built into the Voyager platform and through online portals it allows residents and their families to manage healthcare information, make payments, communicate with staff and submit service requests. “Out of state family members can log in to make payments, view health records and submit maintenance requests — which saves them time so that when they visit, they can focus on being with their loved ones. Our residents have been excited to enroll for online services, and we’re expecting an at least 80% adoption rate,” Turner said. Silver Sky’s staff is also enjoying the benefits of online services and electronic transactions. Turner added, “Our accountants love it, because it...

What’s the verdict on the U.S. multifamily market—healthy, ailing or somewhere in between? Data presented in a recent webinar led by Yardi Matrix indicates that the news is mostly good. “Despite a fair number of headwinds that include decelerating rent gains, growing supply, the advanced age of the economic cycle and the increase in interest rates, the multifamily market remains in a healthy state,” says a presentation delivered by Jeff Adler and Jack Kern, vice president and director of institutional research, respectively, for Yardi Matrix. Positive signs for the U.S. multifamily market include: The economy, which grew by 2.3% in 2017 and the first quarter of 2018, added more than 200,000 jobs so far in 2018 and spurred a high level of consumer confidence; Plateauing rental unit deliveries combined with steady economics that will increase rents by an estimated 2.9% in 2018; Rising wages and a tight job market that “pulls people off the sidelines”; Moderate inflation Potential crosswinds include: Demand—meaning jobs and population—which, while strong, is shifting to lower-cost cities, driving a gradual rise in homeownership; Increasing financing costs; Abundant multifamily capital, holding cap rates steady and compressing spreads; New supply deliveries that are still being absorbed in many markets. There’s lots more insight in the full webinar.  The recording, presentation and accompanying report are available...

There are several reasons why a client may not be able to tour the property in person. Our increasingly mobile and digital industry makes remote tours an excellent alternative, yet it also requires that agents are ready to sell to a client, sight unseen. The six tips below can make selling to remote clients easier and faster than ever. Master the Basics By now, you know that your website must have a virtual tour—or virtual reality tour—along with detailed a floor plan and a description of the condo. Make sure that all information is up-to-date. Even minor changes to appliances or fixtures may matter to a remote client. If any of those essential features are missing, get the tools you need for a better website. Request Client’s Must-Haves In Writing Let’s face it: you’re busy. A written list of your client’s must-haves, desires, and deal breakers is a cheat sheet for you. But most importantly, having a concrete list means that the remote buyer has a clear understanding of what he wants. This list will expedite the condo hunting process, especially if he can choose between several similar unit styles. FaceTime, Skype, or Zoom Tours with Clients The virtual tour on your website is the first step. A live video tour, however, gives the client greater control over what they see and how they see it. It’s like he gets to walk through the home himself. That greater control over the details will help the client feel more comfortable with the unit and ready to seal the deal. Send Listings with All the Local Details If your client has already said the school system, crime rate, or walkability score are important to her, why not email those details with the listings? Presenting a complete...

California faces a dramatic shortfall of college-educated workers. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, by 2030, the state will be more than a million bachelor’s degrees short of what its innovation economy requires to thrive. In other words, if every college and every university in the state of California continues to graduate students at the current rate, the state will still be more than 1 million degrees short of what employers need. California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) is positioned to help meet the needs of the state’s growing economy. The university has committed to addressing that shortfall by serving a largely first generation, underserved student population. CSU Channel Islands’ Solution “CSUCI is about access to education. We believe that we play a pivotal role in equity and social mobility for vulnerable populations with in our region, state, and our nation,” says Nichole Ipach, Vice President for University Advancement. The large majority of the university’s populations come from first generation, underserved, low-income, and underrepresented groups. Such populations are critical to filling the state’s need for college-educated workers. “Serving these populations is at the heart of our mission at CSUCI. In fact, CSUCI was ranked 18th in the nation for social mobility just this year,” says Ipach. The student population at CSUCI is 50 percent Hispanic, where 60 percent are the first generation in their families to go to college. About 80 percent of students are qualified for financial aid, creating tremendous social mobility opportunities for graduates. Student Focus Leads to Statewide Success George Leis, the President of Montecito Bank and Trust and the currently the CSUCI Foundation Board Chair, has been a proud member of the CSUCI Foundation Board for almost 10 years. Over that time, he watched the university change the lives of...

During the recent Argentum Senior Living Executive Conference in San Diego, sociobiologist  Rebecca Costa shared scientific breakthroughs that are prolonging the lives—and quality of life– for seniors. Preventing Falls In seniors, falls are directly linked to shorter lifespans. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that the death rate from falls among adults ages 65 and over has increased 31 percent from 2007 to 2016. The rate is growing the fastest among seniors aged 85 or more years. Understanding the cause of falls has helped researchers develop tools to prevent them. An article in the National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health reveals that changes in gait are the predecessors to falls. Gait disorders are often indicative of lesions in the nervous system, adverse side effects from medications, the onset of dementia, or misalignments within the spine, hips, or knees. With advanced technology called predictive analytics, caregivers can now foretell when a person is going to trip within three weeks with 86 percent accuracy. Sensors attached to the senior or the senior’s support mechanism (such as a can or walker) can detect a 3-5 centimeter per second change in gait, walk or stride. This information is then sent to caregivers in the form of a digital alert. The information sent by the sensors can help caregivers determine the best method of treatment for the senior. Treatment could include physical therapy, alterations to a sedative prescription, or tests for brain and nervous system health. By preventing falls through Predictive Analytics and accessories, seniors can avoid assisted living for up to four years. Nanobots Promote Health from the Inside, Out A post released by the World Economic Forum explores how nanobots are being used to fight cancer. Nanomachines, or nanobots, are robots made of organic,...