Apartment Trends Magazine Nov/Dec 2019 | Page 56

WHO'S WHO 2020 KATIE VANDERVEEN DEBI ROSS WESELOH Pensam Development Ross Management Group Asset Manager 18 1,699 YEARS WORKED IN THE INDUSTRY CEO &President 500M UNITS I OVERSEE VALUE OF PORTFOLIO I OVERSEE BINGE-WATCHED EMBARRASSINGLY FAST: Arrested Development THREE FAVORITE APPS : Uber, Kindle, Weather BIGGEST PET PEEVE? People who can’t put their phones down while driving CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Having worked my way up and fi nding success in many diff erent roles in this industry (Property Manager, Property Accountant, Yardi Specialist & Trainer, Regional Manager, VP of Asset Management, Asset Manager) ONE ITEM ON YOUR BUCKET LIST: Travel internationally with daughter once she is old enough and take cooking classes in every country we visit HILLARY WALKER Regional Vice President & Co-founder Granite Management Group 13 YEARS WORKED IN THE INDUSTRY 1,000 UNITS I OVERSEE 25 EMPLOYEES I OVERSEE $200M VALUE OF PORTFOLIO I OVERSEE WHO HIRED YOU INTO THIS BUSINESS, AND WHAT’S YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM TODAY? I was hired in 2006 by Archstone-Smith in San Diego, CA as a Customer Service Associate by then Property Manager, Jason Lee who is now a Real Estate attorney in TX. We are still in-touch. YOUR “GO TO” INTERVIEW QUESTION? Describe your best and worst supervisor and what you look for in a leader. BEST OR WORST DECISION YOU MADE IN LAST 6 MONTHS: My best decision over the last 6 months was the promotion of a long-time manager into a Regional level position where we can better utilize her skills and qualities to help increase employee satisfaction and growth. My worst decision was not doing so earlier! WHAT CAN DEVELOPERS DO DIFFERENTLY WHEN DESIGNING A PROPERTY? Collaborate more openly with the “on-site” teams that directly work with prospects and that are more ingrained and saturated in the market and with the demographic. Balance cost-savings with actual functionality needs for property success. IF YOU COULD LIVE IN ANY SITCOM, WHICH ONE WOULD IT BE? FRIENDS BINGE-WATCHED EMBARRASSINGLY FAST: Yellowstone FIRST GUEST ON YOUR TALK SHOW: Sara Blakely MOVIE TITLE BEST DESCRIBES YOUR WORK LIFE: The Devil Wears Prada HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE PEOPLE? Genuine tokens of appreciation that are important to them specifi cally. FAVORITE TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITY? The 3 word challenge. Everyone gets to describe everyone on their team in 3 words. THREE FAVORITE APPS: Amazon, Starbucks, Orbitz BIGGEST PET PEEVE? People that interrupt CAREER HIGHLIGHT: I’m proud of the relationships that I have made over the years with infl uential supervisors and mentors and the team members that I have been graciously given the opportunity to lead and invest in their careers and lives. ONE ITEM ON YOUR BUCKET LIST: To enjoy a glass of wine in Tuscany with my mother. 54 | TRENDS NOV/DEC 2019 40 YEARS WORKED IN THE INDUSTRY 3,000 UNITS I OVERSEE 94 EMPLOYEES I OVERSEE $1M+ VALUE OF PORTFOLIO I OVERSEE WHO HIRED YOU INTO THIS BUSINESS, AND WHAT’S YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM TODAY? I started my career as an on-site manager and took advantage of many industry trainings and gaining many mentors along the way. I enjoy a long-standing relationship with many of them. YOUR “GO TO” INTERVIEW QUESTION? Tell me about a recent bad decision you made, and how you overcame it. WHAT IS THE BEST DECISION YOU MADE IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS? Best decision was to outsource non-core business activities. WHAT CAN DEVELOPERS DO DIFFERENTLY WHEN DESIGNING A PROPERTY? Bring the property management company in as an advisor at the inception of the project. AN AMENITY YOU WISH YOU COULD INVENT? Boutique restaurants onsite. IF YOU COULD LIVE IN ANY SITCOM, WHICH ONE WOULD IT BE? The Dick Van Dyke Show – things always ended on a good note. BINGE-WATCHED EMBARRASSINGLY FAST: Outlander. FIRST GUEST ON YOUR TALK SHOW: If he was still alive, it would have been Leonardo DaVinci. I would love to better understand how his mind worked, his creative genius. Today it might be Iain Armitage, who plays Young Sheldon. He is such a great little actor. MOVIE TITLE BEST DESCRIBES YOUR WORK LIFE: Agony and the Ecstasy. HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE PEOPLE? Supporting them, having their back, and making them see how they are part of the whole team. FAVORITE TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITY? Tiki Bikes – a 2-hour pedal- powered bar-cycle tour with the team. THREE FAVORITE APPS: Facebook, Google maps, Camera. BIGGEST PET PEEVE? Bicyclists outside of the bike lanes on the narrow Denver streets. CAREER HIGHLIGHT: For 33 years we have worked hard to provide aff ordable housing for chronically mentally ill, for those with physical disabilities, for homeless individuals, families and youth, for veterans, and for those needing a second chance coming out of prison. ONE ITEM ON YOUR BUCKET LIST: Retirement. www.aamdhq.org