WHO'S WHO 2020
FAITH AIDS BROOKE AKINS
Laramar Group Ross Management Group
Vice President, Marketing & Branding
15+
YEARS WORKED IN THE
INDUSTRY
16k
UNITS I
OVERSEE
Regional Manager
7
EMPLOYEES I OVERSEE
WHO HIRED YOU INTO THIS BUSINESS, AND WHAT’S YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM TODAY? Carla
Schumacher was my Regional Manager at Carmel Partners and she hired
me as a Leasing Agent. Carla and I both work at Laramar today. She
remains one of the best Regional Managers and leaders of people I have
ever worked with and is personally one of my favorite people! YOUR “GO TO”
INTERVIEW QUESTION? Tell me how you “enjoy the ride” (Laramar value),
personally and/or professionally. BEST OR WORST DECISION YOU MADE IN LAST 6
MONTHS: To take a vacation. WHAT CAN DEVELOPERS DO DIFFERENTLY WHEN DESIGNING A
PROPERTY? Connect interior design with branding IF YOU COULD LIVE IN ANY
SITCOM, WHICH ONE WOULD IT BE? Parks and Rec – I need Ron Swanson in my life
WHAT SHOW DID YOU BINGE WATCH EMBARRASSINGLY FAST? Ozark FIRST GUEST ON YOUR TALK
SHOW: Kirby Smart. So I could ask him about the play-calling in the
Georgia v. South Carolina game. MOVIE TITLE DESCRIBES YOUR WORK LIFE: A League
of Their Own HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE PEOPLE? Happy hour. FAVORITE TEAM BUILDING
ACTIVITY? Axe throwing THREE FAVORITE APPS: Spotify, Amazon, Instagram
BIGGEST PET PEEVE? Exclamation points and Calibri font. CAREER HIGHLIGHT:
The Laramar Marketing Team – such an honor to work alongside such a
talented, strong group of women. ONE ITEM ON YOUR BUCKET LIST: Cage dive
with Great White Sharks in Guadalupe Island
12 | TRENDS NOV/DEC 2019
20
YEARS WORKED IN THE
INDUSTRY
3,200
UNITS I
OVERSEE
110
EMPLOYEES I OVERSEE
WHO HIRED YOU INTO THIS BUSINESS, AND WHAT’S YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM TODAY ?
Cindy Rael, we are still working together. When I fi rst started working
at the property she managed, I never thought I would be in this
business long term. I couldn’t have asked for a better Manager to teach
me the ropes in this business. YOUR “GO TO” INTERVIEW QUESTION? How did you
get into this business? It's interesting to hear how and then you fi nd out
why they have stayed. That’s when you can really focus in on their
strengths or aspects of the business that make it rewarding for them.
BEST OR WORST DECISION YOU MADE IN LAST 6 MONTHS: Some of my hires. Industry
wide we are facing a lack of qualifi ed candidates. Some have worked
out and fl ourished and others were a chance I wish I had not taken.
WHAT CAN DEVELOPERS DO DIFFERENTLY WHEN DESIGNING A PROPERTY? More space for
staff and storage. Working in the aff ordable world, there is a lot of
paperwork and requirements to keep certain docs for 7, 15, 20, 30
years. There needs to be places to keep that stuff . Resident wise –
more parking and fl exible amenity space. IF YOU COULD LIVE IN ANY SITCOM,
WHICH ONE WOULD IT BE? Seinfeld BINGE-WATCHED EMBARRASSINGLY FAST: A little late
to the game, but Breaking Bad. MOVIE TITLE BEST DESCRIBES YOUR WORK LIFE:
Stranger than Fiction. I always say a property management reality show
would have ratings through the roof ! HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE PEOPLE?
Acknowledging their achievements in front of their peers. FAVORITE TEAM
BUILDING ACTIVITY? Property/portfolio scavenger hunts! THREE FAVORITE APPS:
Outlook, Google, King Soopers Click List BIGGEST PET PEEVE? Lying CAREER
HIGHLIGHT : Longevity and loyalty. I pride myself in the relationships I
have built in the business, but most importantly with the owners we
work for. Working with many for over a decade, the foundation we
have makes for successful communities. ONE ITEM ON YOUR BUCKET LIST: I
aspire to be a Snowbird! Summer in CO and winter in AZ.
www.aamdhq.org