IREM Houston Bids Farewell...

Cheers to 24-years! As our long-time Executive Direct Jo D. Miller moves to her next adventure, we want to highlight a few of her contributions to IREM Houston:

Food Fest

Here's to an unforgettable day at the IREM Houston Food Fest Kentucky Derby Party! 

We had a blast with The Reverb Cartel, indulged in delicious food, and raised $2,000 for Kids' Meals of Houston. Kids’ Meals has been providing free, nutritious meals to hungry children, delivering over 13.5 million meals to kids in need. Their mission is to combat childhood hunger and poverty by delivering meals directly to preschool-aged children and offering support to their families. 

A big thank you to our sponsors, cooking teams, volunteers, and food judges for making it all possible! 

Mentorship Exchange at UH

We were excited to learn 10 Undergraduate Real Estate Scholars at University of Houston wanted to interview our members about careers in commercial real estate. This was a rewarding opportunity for our IREM members to share their expertise and passions with a group of future professionals. 

Thank you to those that were able to support us with your time and service last week! And for any IREM member wanting to participate in this important industry partnership, check out the chance to be a UH student mentor by scanning the QR code.  

Kids' Meals

Our IREM Community Involvement Committee arranged a volunteer shift at Kids' Meals, Inc. and everyone enjoyed giving back to the community. Over 2,000 lunches (and happy memories) made. Thank you to all of our volunteers that showed up and showed out. We took over the whole facility. 

2024 Future Leaders

IREM Houton is excited to announce the 2024 Future Leaders Program participants! We are grateful for such an amazing group to partner with in 2024 and beyond. By investing in one another, we know our future is bright and secure. 

• Ali Raza Bana, ProLogis
• Justin Barrett
• Grace Callan, Griffin Partners
• Chad Conley, CBRE, AMO
• Jorge Escoto, Healthcare Realty Trust
• Kaylnn Espinoza, Lee & Associates
• Ashley Guillen, Griffin Partners
• Zoe King, Stream Realty Partners
• Emily Rivera, Fuller Realty Interests
• Oscar Rodriguez, Boxer Property 
• Kristina Stanley, Fuller Realty Interests 
• Iliana Valdez, Cushman & Wakefield 
• Kaylie Warfield, Transwestern
• Shyenne White, Stream Realty Partners
• Sarah Wilson, CBRE, AMO
• Ashley Wine, Brookfield Properties

2024 Foundation Donation

We believe in supporting our members’ career growth with everything we do. That is why we have committed to contributing $15,000 to The IREM Foundation in 2024. We are excited to see which deserving members will receive scholarships towards their IREM courses this year and love supporting the important mission of The IREM Foundation.

Calling All Future Leaders 2024

2024 Board Members

Join us in congratulating our incoming Board of Directors on their 2024 Leadership roles as they guide IREM Houston's success and support our growing membership. They will be installed on Friday, January 12th at Hotel ZaZa (Memorial City) at our 2023 Awards event.

2024 Chapter President, Kim Hannigan, CPM, ACoM, MetroNational
President Elect, Nicole Foster, CPM, Transwestern, AMO
Treasurer, Lillie Norton, CPM, ACoM, Lincoln Property Company, AMO
Vice President of Education, Leslie Sinclair-Kaye, CPM, ACoM, The Alley Theatre
Vice President of Communications, Amy Neyrey, CPM, Unilev Management
Vice President of Membership, Melissa Horn, CPM, Stream Realty Partners
Vice President of Services, Kerra Turner, CPM, JLL
Vice President of Legislative, Cindy Magouirk, CPM, Granite Properties
Member-At-Large, Greg Sherman, CPM, JLL
Member-At-Large, Jenni Woodruff, CPM, ACoM, Transwestern, AMO
Immediate Past President, Laura Harvey, CPM, Stream Realty Partners

Food Bank Outcome

Our recent Houston food bank initiative was a resounding success, yielding impactful outcomes for our community. We managed to fill 5 pallets totaling 3,750 lbs. Through meticulous organization, we assembled 750 bags of oranges and lemons, contributing to 3,125 meals for those in need.

The success of this endeavor was not only measured in the tangible assistance provided but also in the strength of our community involvement committee. 24 members of Houston's IREM chapter dedicated their time and effort to the cause, underscoring the collective commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others. 

Models Announced

There will be plenty of Legendary Lovers in the limelight! IREM models will strut their stuff on our catwalk for a cause at our upcoming IREM Fashion Fundraiser  on October 26, 2023. Checkout this legendary lineup of IREM Members on the order of appearance.

Roz Branch, JLL  
Christian Guerra, FCC Environmental 
Maya Citlalli, CDM 360
Jason Contreras, CPM, RMR Group
Catherine Schindler, KONE
Greg Sherman, CPM, JLL
Robert Neeson, The Urban Foresters
Mitze Babineaux, CPM, Fuller Realty 
Andrew Niemann, Silversand Services
Kelesia Kinchen, CPM, ARM, Courtland
Leslie Sinclair-Kaye, CPM, ACoM, The Alley Theatre
Grace Callan, Griffin Partners
Mike Short, Stream Realty Partners
Jason Tillman, CityWide Building Services
Nicole Foster, CPM, Transwestern
J Blanchard, GuardTexas
Alexandra Kircus, Blackmon Mooring/BMS Cat
Corey Menscher, Perceptive Things 
Janie Vasquez, Transwestern 
Michael Chan, Kastle Systems 
Lillie Norton, CPM, ACoM, Lincoln Property Company
Sarah Evans, CBRE
Colin Hooper, Stream Realty Partners
Giselle Padilla, JOBS/AMST
Sahar del Villar, ACoM, JLL
Kerra Turner, CPM, JLL
Courtney Griffin, APS Building Services
Ridge Eldridge, JOBS/AMST

DEI Game Night

Get Ready to Play! This inaugural event is set to celebrate all that we've discovered about DEI advancements within the Commercial Real Estate field, and it will also serve as a learning experience, revealing just how far we still have to go. Engaging games will take the lead in guiding and enlightening discussions while fostering networking among your peers, colleagues, and new industry acquaintances. The event offers numerous gaming opportunities, delectable food, loads of fun, photo opportunities, and exciting chances to win prizes. Stream Realty Partners is generously providing complimentary onsite covered garage visitor parking. Join us for a unique evening of fun, learning, and connection!

Budget for IREM for 2024

In an effort to help you plan fees and costs associated with IREM membership and engagement, we have shared our anticipated costs for the new year. We invite you to join us and welcome any questions or needs you may have as a member. Our number one goal is to support your career growth and development.

Nominations for 2024

Our 2024 nominated slate for Board of Directors is comprised of industry leaders who have previously participated on IREM teams and committees and have been promoted to governance roles within our organization. Each of them has demonstrated a dedication to enhancing the future of IREM and the industry of managing commercial properties. Therefore, on behalf of the Nominating Committee, we hereby introduce them publicly below:

2024 Chapter President
Kim Hannigan, CPM, ACoM, MetroNational

President Elect
Nicole Foster, CPM, Transwestern, AMO
 
Treasurer
Lillie Norton, CPM, ACoM, Lincoln Property Company, AMO

Vice President of Education
Leslie Sinclair-Kaye, CPM, ACoM, The Alley Theatre

Vice President of Membership
Melissa Horn, CPM, Stream Realty Partners

Vice President of Services
Kerra Turner, CPM, JLL

Vice President of Communications
Amy Neyrey, CPM, Unilev Management

Vice President of Legislative
Cindy Magouirk, CPM, Granite Properties

Member-At-Large
Greg Sherman, CPM, JLL

Member-At-Large
Jenni Woodruff, CPM, ACoM, Transwestern, AMO

Immediate Past President
Laura Harvey, CPM, Stream Realty Partners

New 2024 Scholarship

Boots for Troops

We're excited to announce the success of Boots for Troops Campaign 2023! The IREM Community Involvement Committee sent care packages with needed footwear to our active-duty service members in need. The group collected over $4,000 from IREM members and donors to fulfill the wish lists of 14 Troops. We are so proud of this group for doing an amazing job with this worthwhile cause.  

DEI Advice

We had the best with some of our favorite leading ladies (and guys too). Thank you to our speakers for sharing key highlights on these important women’s issues:

• Don’t shy away from networking. If you are an introvert, work to combat that and be strategic about making worthwhile connections to help you succeed.
• Successful people love to help others, if there is an area you are struggling align yourself with a mentor, sponsor, or teacher.
• When you “arrive” at different levels of your career, always give a hand up to others behind you.
• Don’t hold back during negotiations. If you believe in yourself say it and sell it.
• Don’t beat yourself up for mistakes, learn from them and use them for your growth goals.
• Women tend to say yes and take on a lot of responsibility, then not work toward their dreams. Make sure you carve out time for your own priorities and things you value.
• When fear of the next step kicks in, picture yourself as a fearless leader then go out and play that role confidently.
• If the men in the workplace are not advocating for equality and equity, it’s time for crucial conversations or to go somewhere where you are supported.

Advocacy Day

In our Nation's Capital, three IREM Houston members conducted several important meetings with Texas and Houston representatives to communicate the vital issues affecting the real estate management profession. Prior to these meetings, they attended IREM's Advocacy Impact event with fellow peers from around the U.S. as well as IREM's Global President and our CEO. Big thanks to our Legislative VP, Leslie Sinclair-Kaye, ACoM, CPM, Lizette Negrin, CPM, and Damian Negrin for representing us so well in these conversations with our elected officials.

2023 Future Leaders

IREM Houton is excited to announce the 2023 Future Leaders Program participants! We are grateful for such an amazing group to partner with in 2023 and beyond. By investing in one another, we know our future is bright and secure. 

Alejandra Banuelos Garcia - JLL
Lizzy Calkins - TRC Capital Partners
Rocxana Chum - Lee & Associates
Kailyn Crowe - Brookfield
America Cruz - Gordon Partners
Paula Delgado - Stream Realty Partners
Mattie Divin - Stream Realty Partners
Angelica Gonzalez - Brookfield
Brittney Jones - Fuller Realty
Christa Morris - Fuller Realty
Yoselin Roman - Braun Enterprises
Fiston Shingiro - Stream Realty Partners
Janie Vasques - Transwestern, AMO
Jessica Villatoro - Newmark
Shelby Zarei - Fuller Realty
Gabriella Zelaya - Stream Realty Partners

Foundation Associate Board

The IREM Foundation has created a National Associate Board for 2023 and we are honored to have ten of our Houston Members named to the board. These outstanding leaders are passionate about the Foundation's mission to offer educational scholarships and ensure real estate is managed by diverse, knowledgeable, and effective professionals. We know they will do great things in 2023! Learn more at www.iremfoundation.org Congratulations to our members:
Jason Contreras
Brianna Drisdale
Kelesia Kinchen
Olena Mann
Derek Montz
Lizette Negrin
Tammie Norris
Lillie Norton
Crystal Stewart
Marissa Zabala

Golf Raffle Tickets

Feeling Luck? Raffle proceeds benefit three great causes and come with the chance to win 7 Great Prizes!

How to Purchase: $5.00 for one ticket or (best deal) $20.00 for five tickets

1) Buy Tickets from Golf Committee Members at Golf Open on 3/27/2023, using cash, check credit card or digital purchase @iremhouston
2) Scan payment codes below and your name will be entered on raffle tickets stubs by IREM staff

Winner will be notified within 72 hours of the event if not present during the drawing.
Ticket purchases are not tax-deductible charitable contributions 

Raffle Tickets and Prizes to Win:

Golf Trip-Golden Nugget, Lake Charles
VIP, 1-Night Weekday Stay
Includes Round of Golf for Two
Donated by Golden Nugget & KONE Value $400

Luxury Condo Stay-Breckenridge Co., Mountains
2-Night Stay, April to December
2 Bedroom/2 Bath, Value $3,000

River Cabin Stay-Leakey Texas
3-Night Stay near Garner State Park
3 Bedroom/2 Bath, Sleeps 10, No blackout dates, Value $1,000

Astros Tickets-Complimentary two-tickets to
Weeknight Home Game.
Value $275

Booze & Cigar Basket-Collection of 10+ Bottles
of Booze for Your Entertaining Bar
Plus Cuban Cigars
Donated by IREM Golf Committee
Value $300

Wine Basket-Wine Collection of 10+ Bottles
of Red, White and Sparkling
Donated by IREM Golf Committee
Value $300 

PopStroke Outing-$250 Gift Card for Popular PopStroke
Family or Date Night Outing

No need to be present to win!

Calling All Future Leaders 2023

IREM Houston’s Future Leaders Program promotes the growth of up-and-coming industry leaders. Our 2023 Application period has launched and applicants to not have to be IREM members to apply. But, they must be excited about building a peer-network and learning more about the exciting industry of Houston Commercial Property Management. Our program has proven results with supporting professionals with earning certifications, scholarship funding, National awards, National and local publicity, leadership opportunities, valuable industry friendships, trips to educational conferences, speaking opportunities and more.

Our Future Leader Program participants gain valuable insights, earn free professional development classes, make vital industry connections and springboard to career growth within the organization and market. Learn more about past participants here or apply today here. 

If you know an emerging leader who would benefit from this exclusive opportunity, email us or call 713-783-9225 for more information. Application Deadline is March 1.

Live IREM Class Schedule 2023

Because we believe in the value of live education and peer-to-peer networking, IREM Houston will hold five separate in-room learning opportunities for commercial property managers. Although attendees can take the classes at any time for professional development, all classes also count toward IREM Certifications. Click here to read more or register for these or any other classes. Thank you to CBRE Sage Plaza for allowing us to host these class-A learning opportunities in their beautiful building.

MNT402 - March 8 & 9
Capstone (Test Prep) - May 3 & 4
FIN402  - July 19 & 20
Ethics - August 10
ASM Track  - September 18 to 21

The IREM Foundation offers Scholarship Awards to help offset large portions of course costs. Consider applying here or donating to help others pursue important skills and certifications. If a learning journey interests you and you have questions about IREM coursework or the steps needed to earn IREM credentials, please contact Jo D. Miller at 713-783-9225 or [email protected]

2023 Volunteer Leaders Named

Volunteering is proven to be good for your health and we make sure volunteers make valuable connections and enjoy giving of their time and talents. To join the team or just help on occasion, click here and share your interest. Big thanks in advance to our 2023 Committee Leaders and Board Members for giving of themselves in such special and meaningful ways in the coming year. We are truly member driven and our success is only made possible through their ongoing contributions.

Job Jumping Expected

Recent statistics show that over 45% of the workforce is considering a leap to a new job in 2023. That's over 10 million people in the U.S. If you have available positions consider posting on our website here, at the bottom of our page. We fully anticipate a lot of jobs activity within the Houston Commercial Real Estate Industry and know that IREM members make the best job candidates.

Thank You To Our 2022 Volunteers!

Two REME Awards

We are excited to congratulate local leaders for returning home with some of the highest individual industry honors; 2022 REME Awards. Congratulations to Christiana Webber for winning ACoM of the Year and to Kaci Hancock for winning CPM of the Year. The REME (Real Estate Management Excellence) Awards recognizes exceptional companies and individuals who make a difference in the lives of their tenants and within their communities. We are so proud of their achievements and commitment. The awards represent outstanding work and service and were given in Dallas, Texas on October  20 at the IREM Global Summit.

Local Project Won

The IREM Houston chapter leadership team returned from the annual IREM Global Summit with a National Innovation Award. This honor recognized a chapter program which aimed to bring more awareness to our IREM Industry Partners and their service to our members and industry. The program which won, our IREM Vacation Vibes Appreciation event from July, brought over 100 members out for fun, food, networking and prizes specifically to honor our Industry Partners. The unique event, which was sponsored by local commercial management firms, can easily be held in other markets with the same partner program. The IREM Innovation Award aims to promote association projects that support the mission of the Institute of Real Estate Management and promote engagement and meaningful experiences.

Fashion Show "Reel"

We're sad to see the 2022 IREM Fashion Fundraiser, "The Sequel" end, but are proud of everyone who brought this year's show to life. Check out the highlight reel here and photos here. Because of generous donors and sponsors the show helped us give 16K to the IREM Foundation and 5K to the local organization Genesys Works Houston. Thank you to the superstars of our show, our models and to an outstanding committee. This year's event reached over 400 attendees and was truly a Hollywood Hit. For a list of all 2022 Sponsors, check out our "Playbill" here and plan to join us Halloween week in 2023.

Models Announced

What would a Hollywood Hit be without the star attraction? Our Sequel Show could only be made possible by our IREM models who will strut their stuff on our catwalk for a cause at our upcoming IREM Fashion Fundraiser on October 13, 2022. Checkout this star-studded lineup of IREM Members.

Chase Crawford, CPM, Granite Properties
John Hinkle, Charlie's Plumbing
Taylor Polaniec, CPM, ACoM
Samantha Hernandez, Houston Waste Solutions
Roz Mohammed, JLL
Cynthia Bratton, Cotton
Eric Hancock, 3E Contracting
Lynn Thoms, CPM, Stream Realty Partners
Kyle Watkins, TK Elevator
Stephanie Sides, CPM, ACoM, Always In Season
Paul Hummeldorf, Fujitec America
Vivi Carr, ABM Janitorial
Kelesia Kinchen, CPM, ACoM, American Landmark
Kailyn Crowe, Transwestern
Jennifer Van Nort, GuardTexas
Brian Stewart, AlliedUniversal
Tara Meaux, Griffin Partners
Susanna Jenkins, MetroNational
Jason Contreras, RMR Group
Jaime Flores, PJS of Houston
Amber Young, Kimco Realty
Kelly Dale, Kimco Realty
Russell Griffin, APS
Brooke Caravela, ACoM, Brookfield Properties
Gloria Stelly, CPM, CBRE
Lizette Negrin, CPM, Lee & Associates
Damian Negrin, Sooner Management

Scholarship Kudos

Congrats to these local professionals for choosing IREM education and career development. We look forward to helping them with their certification journey and seeing them in upcoming courses. Big thanks to the IREM Foundation for supporting them with educational funds and always working to strengthen our property management industry. Because of the Foundation's mission and member support, we are pleased to once again contribute $15,000 in 2022 to help fund important scholarships and programs.

Irene Agho
Theresa Antunez
Michelle Arrendondo
Courtney Bollinger
Brooke Caravella, ACoM
Jason Contreras
Courtney Davis
Brianna Drisdale
Rene Duran
Nicole Gilmore
Jennifer Greer
Rhonda Holsen
Kelesia Kinchen, ARM, CPM
Amanda King
Itati Martinez
Brittany Mattaliano
Tara Meaux
Damian Negrin
Jenni Woodruff, ACoM

2023 Nominated Directors

Our 2023 nominated slate for Board of Directors is comprised of industry leaders who have previously participated on IREM teams and committees and have been promoted to governance roles within our organization. They have each shown a commitment to strengthening the future of IREM and our commercial property management industry. Therefore, on behalf of the Nominating Committee, we publicly present them below:

2023 Chapter President
Laura Harvey, CPM, Stream Realty Partners

President Elect
Kim Hannigan, CPM, ACoM, MetroNational
 
Treasurer
Nicole Foster, CPM, Transwestern, AMO

Vice President of Education
Lillie Norton, Lincoln Property Company, AMO

Vice President of Membership
Greg Sherman, CPM

Vice President of Services
Cindy Magouirk, CPM, Granite Properties

Vice President of Communications
Kerra Turner, CPM, The RMR Group

Vice President of Legislative
Leslie Sinclair-Kaye, CPM, ACoM, The Alley Theatre

Member-At-Large
Melissa Horn, CPM, Stream Realty Partners

Member-At-Large
Amy Munoz, CPM, Unilev Management

Immediate Past President
Sheryl Green, CPM, Camden Property Trust, AMO

Houston Staff Farewell

For 8.5 years, Lindsay Konlande has been an incredibly valuable member of the IREM Houston family and staff team. Her passion and dedication has contributed to our ongoing success, growth, and service to members and Industry Partners.

But sadly for us, Lindsay has resigned to take on a new professional challenge as a Meeting Director for a local association consulting firm, International Meeting Managers (IMM). This is a great opportunity for her next-level growth and we have no doubt she will thrive in that role.

“I want to thank the IREM Houston members, Industry Partners, leaders past and present, and most importantly, Executive Director Jo D. Miller for making these last 8+ years so amazing. I have learned invaluable skills, developed lifelong friendships, and made memories I will reflect on fondly for years to come. I am deeply grateful to the entire IREM family. This chapter of my career has been nothing short of life-changing, and I feel truly blessed to have been a part of the long legacy of this incredible organization.” – Lindsay Konlande

Although Lindsay’s last official day is Friday 9/2, she will be able to join us for a proper and public send-off at our IREM Breakfast on September 22nd. We hope you can be there and join in wishing her well.

Lindsay is going to be deeply missed by many. On behalf of all of us at IREM Houston, we thank her for an impactful and significant partnership over her long tenure.

Local Members Honored

The Annual REDnews Real Estate Awards recognize individuals, companies, and projects that push our industry forward in new, creative ways. For the 2022 awards, three IREM Houston leaders were recognized as finalists for their individual contributions to the field of real estate: Kaci Hancock, CPM, ACoM for the Champion of Diversity Awards, and Laura Harvey, CPM  and Cindy Magouirk, CPM for the Property Manager of the Year Award. All three ladies were incredibly deserving of their nominations and we are grateful to have them on our leadership team. 

At the Award Ceremony on August 18th, both Kaci Hancock and Cindy Magouirk walked away winners. Congratulations to these trailblazers along with all of the other nominees and winners! Thank you for your important contributions.

Budget for IREM in 2023

Make sure you include IREM events, education and dues costs in your annual budgets. Our vision for 2023 is grand so we're building a great year of initiatives that will benefit you, your company and your customers. Click here for a sample of potential costs. For a complete list of IREM membership benefits, click here. As always we're here to serve as your career partner, so please let us know what you need.

Building the Future: Jason Contreras

Congratulations to local chapter leader Jason Contreras for being featured in this wonderful article on the internationally-distributed IREM Blog. 

It’s very easy to engage CPM® Candidate Jason Contreras in conversation. In fact, at a luncheon or other IREM event, he’s likely to engage you first. “I have no trouble walking into a room and chatting with people,” he admits. That’s the secret to how he turned an accident into a career in property management. It’s also his solution to opening doors of diversity. First, some background.

Like many professionals, the 38-year-old will tell you, “I stumbled into this industry.” As a student at the University of Houston (his major was accounting), Contreras kept body and soul together by door-to-door sales. One of the doors he “stumbled into was a multifamily building,” he recalls, and given his outgoing nature, after hearing there was a job opening, he essentially walked out with an entry-level property management position.

To read the full article by John Salustri, visit https://bit.ly/3zN0Kk4

Newly Credentialed IREM Members

Congratulations to the below members who have spent the better part of this summer finalizing all they need to earn their IREM certification, including rigorous testing!

Hilary Burch, CPM - Stream Realty Partners

Natali Juarbe, CPM - Granite Properties

Kelesia Kinchen, CPM, ARM - American Landmark

Michael Nilsen, CPM - Tarantino Properties

Adriana Valdez, CPM - Lincoln Property Company

Frank Wallace, CPM - Triten Real Estate Partners

Jennifer Gourlay, ACoM - Fidelis

Emina Okic, ACoM - Read King

For more information on IREM certifications, visit www.irem.org/certifications. 

Past President's New Role in CORE Program

We are excited to announce the IREM Foundation is partnering with CORE (Careers in Real Estate), an online credentialing program. CORE will provide remote life and skill-based coaching to underrepresented groups, preparing participants for entry level jobs in the real estate industry under the tenets of awareness, readiness, and connection. The IREM Foundation is a funding partner of the program which has 135 high school and college students participating in its first months of launch. Their driving goal is to create a more diverse workforce by 2030.

Special congratulations to Chapter Past President Kaci Hancock, CPM, ACoM for being named a CORE Foundation Liaison. In this new role she will act as a representative for accountability, oversight, and guidance, as well as to provide updates to IREM  Foundation. 

To learn more, visit www.corearc.org.

IREM International Announces New CEO

The IREM^® (Institute of Real Estate Management) Board of Directors is excited to announce that Linda Caradine-Poinsett, Ph.D., will serve as IREM’s Chief Executive Officer/Executive Vice President, effective June 1, 2022.

2022 IREM President, Barry Blanton, CPM^®, adds, “The IREM Steering Committee has found the very best person to lead the talented headquarters team at IREM. The Committee was impressed with the outstanding group of candidates, and we feel Linda exemplifies the attributes we were looking for to lead IREM into a very promising future.”

Caradine-Poinsett comes to IREM from the American College of Prosthodontists where she served as CEO since 2016. A self-prescribed “servant leader”, Caradine-Poinsett has a strong history of overcoming challenges and creating measurable impact with a “pay-it-forward” leadership style. “I believe leadership is about serving others. Now more than ever, it is important to lead with empathy and compassion. I look forward to working with the visionary leaders and staff of IREM as we collectively fulfill our mission.” Her career aligns perfectly with IREM’s tagline – “For Those Who Manage to Make a Difference” and her entire career journey has been about making a difference, with a strong focus on education.

Caradine-Poinsett holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, an M.J. with an emphasis in Health Law, an M.B.A. with an emphasis in Finance, and a B.S. in Healthcare Administration. Linda was recognized with a Women of Excellence Award from the Chicago Defender (2021); REACH Award from National Louis University (2018); and a Women in Business Entrepreneur Award (Chicago). She also volunteers as a Board Member with A Silver Lining Foundation and as an Advisory Board Member for Southside Help Center.

“Linda joins an amazing team at IREM HQ and speaking on behalf of the entire volunteer Leadership Team, we couldn’t be more excited for what the future holds for IREM and our members,” adds Blanton.  “Welcome to IREM, Linda! We are so happy to have you here!”

Care Package Donation to Boots For Troops

The IREM Community Involvement Committee has worked together over the past month to gather both supplies and monetary donations to benefit the Houston-based charity Boots For Troops. Thanks to the support of the people serving on this committee, dozens of IREM members, and generous tenants, we were able to send 16 soldiers across the globe custom care packages!

Boots For Troops care package program is a unique, custom care package program that was designed to raise morale of our troops all over the world. To learn more about this organization, visit www.boots4troops.org. 

Important Public Policy Updates

City of Houston Planning Department Expedited Review for MEPS

Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Structural plan review expediting is now possible thanks to this new process launched by the COH Planning Department. The first 30 requests received daily between 6:00 am - 8:00 am are eligible. This is in association with an expediting fee and available only for re-submittals that have at least one full review cycle completed. To learn more, click here.

Important Code Updates

The Houston Construction Code establishes minimum standards for the construction, alteration, maintenance, repair, and demolition of buildings and other structures to protect the life safety of the public. The Houston Construction Code is adopted and amended by City Council. The latest revision was approved by City Council on December 1, 2021, and became effective on April 1, 2022. Recent changes impact members, owners and local properties. We urge members and their staff to review these changes for items that must be changed and updated. The amendments, along with the model codes, constitute the City of Houston Codes can be found on the local Houston permitting center website.  

Submit a Legislative Topic

As an IREM member, if you are made aware of a legislative matter you would like to share with other members or have our Public Policy team look into, please submit the topic or problem here.

Local Leaders Attend IREM Retreat in Chicago

Several local leaders and IREM Staff spend three days in Chicago last week with fellow IREM leaders from across the country. Throughout the week we participated in team building initiatives, in-depth workshops, and continuing education to maximize the services we provide our chapter members. We are looking forward to integrating the many things we learned at the chapter level throughout 2022 and beyond!

IREM Golf Open "Scores"

Our Game Day Get Down (IREM Houston Golf Open) was a huge success and we thank everyone who made it possible. Here are the stats: 60 Sponsors, 134 Players, 32 Volunteers, a $15,000 Contribution to Camp Hope/PTSD Foundation Of America, and a $5,000 Contribution for IREM Foundation scholarships. This year's Golf event celebrated all sports, and proved that team work really does make the dream work! . Our winning player team was PJS featuring Robert Jacobs, Shawn Harvey, CPM, Carl Holzapfel and Floyd Mahanay. Best booth was won by Paul Davis Restoration and runner up booth went to APS. 

Stay Up To Date: Public Policy Info

These helpful resources and updates cover recently-passed ordinances and laws which may impact your property:

City of Houston Building Code Amendments in effect January 11, 2022
Texas Lein Laws overhaul in effect January 1, 2022
Vaping Ordinance in effect March 30, 2022

IREM Statement on the Invasion of Ukraine

IREM wants to express our deep concern for the people of Ukraine and for all of our members affected by the ongoing violence in Eastern Europe. We continue to keep our Ukrainian members and their loved ones in our thoughts as they battle so bravely to defend their homes and protect their families. Their struggle for democracy, sovereignty, and freedom is a cause that, as Americans, strikes close to home for us all.

IREM has made a donation to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Many other international aid organizations are mobilizing across Ukraine and in its neighboring countries.  If you would like to donate to help those affected by the violence, you can also consider UNICEF or Doctors Without Borders.

Largest Delegation of National Volunteers in Chapter History

Just as the local Houston Chapter of IREM is managed by several member-run committees, so too are our Naitonal and International IREM efforts. In 2022, Houston has the largest local delegation of national volunteers in our chapter's history! We are so grateful for the time and energy each of these members put into work at the national level. Thanks to their service, IREM continues to be an organization run by members, for members. 

• Chase Crawford, CPM: Governing Council Councillor, Education & Knowledge Products Committee
• Nicole Foster, CPM: Student & Academic Outreach Advisory Board
• Sheryl Green, CPM: Education & Knowledge Products Committee, Credentialing Exam Project Task Force
• Kaci Hancock, CPM, ACoM: Elaina's Fund Selection Committee, Foundation Development Committee Member, Foundation Board of Directors, DEI Advisory Board Chair
• David Hargrove, CPM: IREM Instructor
• Shawn P. Harvey, CPM: Foundation Board of Directors, Foundation Scholarship & Grant Committee, Foundation Scholarship Committee
• Lindsay Konlande: Conference Advisory Board
• Robert Mann: Sustainability Advisory Board
• Jo D Miller: Foundation Board of Directors, Grant Committee and Elaina's Fund Committee
• Rachel Mondelli: DEI Advisory Board
• Lillie Norton: Legislative and Public Policy Committee
• Stephanie Paige: Conference Advisory Board
• Alicia Poullard: Next Gen Advisory Board
• Philip Schneidau, CPM: IREM Instructor
• Stephanie Sides-Sembera, CPM, ACoM: Membership & Credentialing Committee
• Leslie Sinclair, CPM, ACoM: Governing Council Councillor
• Pauline Speckman, CPM: Governing Council Councilor, Legislative and Public Policy Committee

IREM Houston Pledges Large Foundation Donation

As part of the IREM Foundation Chapter Giving Campaign, IREM Houston has pledged to donate $15,000 in 2022, providing several member scholarships for those seeking to grow in their real estate management career by earning an IREM designation. 

We believe that well managed real estate leads to thriving communities, and we value providing access to education and resources that assist those in the real estate management profession. The IREM Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity and was established in 1977. The Foundation is exclusively supported through donations from IREM members and is led by a board of directors who volunteer their time and expertise to ensure the organization's success.

To learn more about the various IREM Foundation initiatives and how to give, click here.

To learn more and apply for an IREM Foundaiton Scholarship, click here. 

2022 Class of Future Leaders Announced

Congatulations to the thirteen professionals that were chosen to particiate in this year's Future Leader Program. Through this program, these individuals will gain valuable insight, earn free professional development classes, make vital industry connections and harness the tools for a successful career in the Houston market. 

• Irene Agho, CPM Candidate
• Judy Bachicha, Lee& Associates
• Brooke Caravela, CPM Candidate, Lincoln Property Company
• Meghan Cavazos, Associate Member, Stream Realty Partners
• Sahar del Villar, JLL
• Brianna Drisdale, Gary Green
• Danielle Lewis, Lincoln Property Company
• Reanna Lopez, CPM Candidate, JLL
• Katherine Ludwig, Stream Realty Partners
• Alia Mortada, Lee & Associates
• Maria Morales, Lee & Associates
• Olena Petrova, Associate Member, Lincoln Harris CSG
• Tiffany Selva, Associate Member, Brookfield Properties

Congrats to our 2022 Chapter Leadership

After completing a full day of training ans strategic planning with our 2022 Chapter Leadership Team (listed below) we can promise great things are in store for the new year. Stay tuned for exciting initiatives, events and more!

Board of Directors:

Chapter President - Sheryl Green, CPM, Camden Property Trust, AMO
President Elect - Laura Harvey, CPM,  Stream Realty Partners, AMO
Treasurer - Robert Tyler, CPM,  JLL
Vice President of Education - Kim Hannigan, ACoM, Transwestern, AMO
Vice President of Membership - Nicole Foster, CPM,  Transwestern AMO
Vice President of Services - Greg Sherman, CPM,  Brookfield Properties
Vice President of Communications - Stephanie Sides-Sembera, CPM, ACoM
Vice President of Legislative -  Lillie Norton, Lincoln Property Company
Member-At-Large - Kerra Turner, CPM, The RMR Group
Member-At-Large - Cindy Magouirk, CPM, Granite Properties
Immediate Past President - Kaci Hancock, CPM, ACoM, REIS Associates

Committee Chairs:

Awards Chair - Marvette Perry, ACoM, JLL
Community Involvment Committee - Lizette Negrin, CPM, Lee & Associates
DE&I Chair - Jason Contreras,  REIS Associates
DE&I Vice-Chair - James Woodley, J Woodley Realty
Education Chair - Leslie Sinclair-Kaye, CPM, ACoM, The Alley Theater
Fashion Show Chair - Melissa Horn, CPM,  Braun Enterprises
Fashion Show Vice-Chair - Jessica McCurley, CPM, Stream Realty Partners
Future Leaders Chair -  Shenea Bankhead, Brookfield Retail Properties
Future Leaders Vice-Chair - Raven Livingston, Kimco Realty
Golf Open Chair - Cindy Magouirk, CPM, Granite Properties
Golf Open Vice-Chair - Andi Perry, CPM, Transwestern, AMO
Networking Chair - Tammie Norris, ACoM, CP Group
Outreach Chair - Amy Munoz, CPM, Unilev
Outreach Vice-Chair - Jillian Anderson, CPM, ACoM, EQT Exeter
Programs Chair - Lisa Hendley, CPM, Insite Realty
Programs Vice-Chair - Pilar De La Rosa, CPM, Stockdale Management

IREM 2022 In-Person Learning Announced

IREM Launches Search for 2022 Class of Future Leaders

IREM Houston’s Future Leaders Program promotes the growth of up-and-coming industry leaders. Please consider nominating real estate management professionals from your company to participate in the program, where they will gain valuable insight, earn free professional development classes, make vital industry connections and harness the tools for a successful career in the Houston market. If you'd like to learn more about the IREM Houston Future Leaders Program and apply, you can submit an application today.  If you know an emerging leader who would benefit from this exclusive opportunity, email us or call 713-783-9225 for more information.

6th Annual IREM Fashion Event Returns to Raise $30k for Beneficiaries

Our Sixth Annual Fashion Fundraiser succesfully brought in $30,000 in total, supporting a $15,000 donation to our partner charity, IREM Foundation. The remainging funds will be used to support further education for our property managers through scholarships, classes and professional development.

Thank you to all of our fantastic volunteers, sponsors, models and attendees that made this event not only possible, but incredibly profitable!

Check out some of our fabulous event photos here.

Local Members Earn International Accolades

Congrats to our 2022 Nominated Leaders

The IREM Houston Executive Council serves the membership by advancing the mission of the Institute. The below leaders have been nominated by their peers to serve the IREM Houston Chapter in 2022. 

Chapter President - Sheryl Green, CPM, Camden Property Trust, AMO
President Elect - Laura Harvey, CPM,  Stream Realty Partners, AMO
Treasurer - Robert Tyler, CPM,  JLL
Vice President of Education - Kim Hannigan, ACoM, Transwestern, AMO
Vice President of Membership - Nicole Foster, CPM,  Transwestern AMO
Vice President of Services - Greg Sherman, CPM,  Brookfield Properties
Vice President of Communications - Stephanie Sides-Sembera, CPM
Vice President of Legislative -  Lillie Norton, Lincoln Property Company
Member-At-Large - Kerra Turner, CPM, The RMR Group
Member-At-Large - Cindy Magouirk, CPM, Granite Properties
Immediate Past President - Kaci Hancock, CPM, ACoM, REIS Associates

If you’d like to be part of our Houston Chapter activities or join the 2022 team in our industry success, please consider volunteering here.

Why IREM Education Video Series

There is perhaps no better person to describe the value and uniqueness of our education than an IREM certification holder. In our recent video series, we highlight the testimonials of three IREM Houston members, each with their own career journey and perspective on how IREM education shaped that journey and who they are as real estate professionals.

"The whole atmosphere created in that class...I was hooked!" Stephanie Houle Sides-Sembera, CPM, ACoM sharing how she felt after attending her first in-person IREM Houston course.

"I fell in love with commercial real estate because of the IREM course I took." - Chase Crawford, CPM shares how IREM education inspired and expanded his career in real estate management.

"IREM education is truly diverse. It's about the well-roundedness it takes to be a real estate manager" - Kaci Hancock, CPM, ACoM shares what makes IREM education so unique and valuable.

To learn more about IREM education, certifications, and how to take the next step in your career, click here.

IREM Certification Checklists

We offer our members a variety of certifications in the real estate manangement field. As you move forward in your education and career with IREM Houston, the below checklists can be extremely helpful in keeping you on-track to reach your certification goals. 

ACoM (Accredited Commercial Manager) - for those who are in the early stages of their commercial property management careers and want to prove they’ve mastered core competencies.

CPM (Certified Property Manager) - for individuals managing a portfolio of properties in any asset class who are ready to advance their career with this premier property management certification.

ARM (Accredited Residential Manager) - for managers of any type of residential property – multifamily rental communities, condominiums, homeowners associations, single-family homes, and mixed-use property.

IREM Donates Funds to Kids Meals Capitol Project

We recently hosted a cause-concious happy hour benefiting Kids' Meals Houston. On top of decorating 500 lunch bags to donate for their lunch deliveries, we raised $450 from ticket sales to contribute to their new capitol campaign, Building Hope. The campaign will support the purchase and renovation of a purpose-built facility, which will allow the organization to serve more than 26,000 children a day by 2031. Thank you to all of the members that donated to this worthy cause through this event. If you'd like to know more, visit https://kidsmealsinc.org/campaign/

Budget for IREM in 2022

Make sure you include IREM events, education and dues costs in your annual budgets. Our vision for 2022 is grand so we're building a great year of initiatives that will benefit you, your company and your customers. Click here for a sample of potential costs. For a complete list of IREM membership benefits, click here. As always we're here to serve as your career partner, so please let us know what you need.

Local Real Estate Firms Recognize the Added Value of Professional Education and Certifications

 June 2, 2021 – The Houston Chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM^®) has announced its annual list of top real estate companies in the Houston area based on the number of Certified Property Manager^® (CPM^®) members they employ locally. To obtain the CPM^® certification, one must meet stringent requirements in the areas of professional education, examination and experience.  They also must pledge to abide by a rigorous Code of Professional Ethics that is strictly enforced by the IREM^® organization.

“A professional designation represents not only the breadth of knowledge needed to earn that certification, but is also a visible representation of the commitment it takes to achieve that goal.” Said IREM Houston President Kaci Hancock, CPM^®, ACoM. “The Certified Property Manager^® certification signifies a level of ethics, acumen and proficiency unparalleled in the property management industry. By employing managers that hold the internationally-recognized CPM^® certification, owners and asset managers have the assurance that their properties are managed at the highest level of expertise, quality service, and competency.”

Below are the top five Houston firms with the highest number of local employees who hold the IREM CPM^® designation:

• Transwestern, AMO^® – with 19 CPM^® Members
• CBRE, AMO^® and Stream Realty Partners – with 9 CPM^® Members each
• Brookfield Property Partners – with 7 CPM^® Members
• Lincoln Property Co., AMO^® – with 6 CPM^® Members

IREM Members Earn Additional Certifications

Out of nearly 600 local IREM Houston members, these 13 have doubled-down on their learning and earned not one, but two (and three) IREM certifications. Congratualtions on their achievements! We appreciate the IREM loyalty and are glad they have found that their IREM certifications bring themselves, their owners, their companies and their customers value. 

Jillian  Anderson, ACoM, CPM, Newmark
Sandra  Arriola, ACoM, CPM, Transwestern, AMO
Lori Bryant, CPM, ARM,CBRE, AMO
Michelle Cintron, ACoM, CPM, Accesso Services, LLC
Karina Collins, ACoM, CPM    
La Nee Evans, ACoM, CPM, CBRE, AMO
Kaci Hancock, ACoM, CPM, REIS Associates
Kim Hannigan, ACoM, CPM, Transwestern, AMO
Melissa Horn, ACoM, CPM, Braun Enterprises
Robert Lopes, ACoM, ARM, CPM, Relik Realty, AMO
Stephanie Sides-Sembera, ACoM, CPM, Transwestern, AMO
Stephanie Swanson, ACoM, CPM, Transwestern, AMO
Matthew Townley, ARM, CPM, Lee & Associates

IREM Houston Golf Open Donated $22,000

The 2021 IREM Houston Golf Open was a sold out success with nearly 300 players, sponsors and volunteers on tap for a beautiful day of fundraising. The IREM Golf Open committee along with the IREM Houston Executive Council was pleased to support our charity partners, Camp Hope/PTSD Foundation (Houston) with a $12,000 contribution and the IREM Foundation (Chicago) with a donation of $10,000 to help fund Commercial Real Estate scholarships. Thanks to everyone that made the day such a success. Our sponsors can be found at www.iremgolfopen.com

HLSR Donation Honoring Past President Gregg Raymond, CPM

Charity Raffle Launched by Golf Open Committee

We're excited to announce the launch of a charity raffle as part of the fundraising efforts for our annual IREM Golf Open. Proceed from this raffle will benefit our incredible charity partner Camp Hope along with IREM education in the form of scholarships and classes. Our generous sponsors are offering amazing prize packages, and anyone can get in on the action! 

Purchase Tickets Here ($5 Single Ticket/$20 Booklet of 5 Tickets)

Grand Prize Donated By Worldwide Power Products: 2-Night Weekend Stay at Boot Ranch Resort in Fredericksburg. Private home on golf course has 6 bedrooms and 6.5 baths. Getaway includes Wine Tour of 3 Wineries for Four.

2nd Prize: Golden Nugget, Lake Charles VIP, 1-Night Weekday Stay, Including Round of Golf for Two.

3rd Prize: Wine Collection of 25+ Bottles of Red, White and Sparkling, Donated by IREM Golf Committee.

4th Prize: $500 In Dinner Gift Cards to Three Locations Donated by Pritchard, Merit Service Solutions, and PaulDavis.

5th Prize: $200 Home Depot Gift Card Donated by Clay's Glass.

Drawing will occur on 4/19/21 at the IREM Golf Open. You do not have to be present to win!

To participate in the IREM Golf Open, clcik here.

New Crew Virtual Coffee Hour

IREM Houston is launching a new member coffee hour series, starting April 1st. These events are designed to be a casual peer-to-peer virtual meeting with other new members and chapter leaders. This will be a great opportunity for our newest members to learn more about the association and member benefits, make connections, and ask questions.

What Happens at a New Crew Coffee Hour?

• Attendees meet fellow new members and build an instant network of industry peers
• Chance to connect with local leaders in real estate management
• Learn ways to maximize an IREM Membership and career development
• Grab support, resources and answers about everything IREM
• Attendees are entered into drawing for Starbucks gift cards

If you're a new member and want to attend, email IREM staff here to RSVP.

Thinking of joining IREM, let us know you’d like to attend and we can share how to get the most out of your membership or get started on certifications.

IREM Regional 21-Day Challenge

IREM Scholarship Giving in 2020

This translates to thousands of scholarship dollars each year for our members. The value of this charitable service has perhaps never been more needed than it is now. The IREM Foundation has given $36,000 in scholarship dollars in 2020 to our Houston members to complete IREM education and earn valuable industry certifications.

IREM Launches a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Committee and 2021 Initiatives

IREM Houston is fortunate to have a diverse base of members and recognizes this is a major source of our strength and success. We value differences and work to welcome and serve individuals of all races, ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, creeds, national origins, and abilities. We are excited to bring back diversity initiatives in 2021 that will be expanded to include industry-wide DE&I advocacy and awareness. Volunteers on this team will help determine goals, areas of concerns, and ways that IREM Houston can make the greatest impact to grow a more inclusive leadership within the Commercial Real Estate Management profession.

Congrats to our 2021 Nominated Leader

The IREM Houston Executive Council serves the membership by advancing the mission of the Institute. Due to the pandemic, our industry, organization and members have faced unique challenges this year. Our Nominating Committee knows that 2021 will require a diverse group of professionals who have the potential to reimagine the future, rethink strategies and offer exceptional bench strength as we navigate the new year. Due to these unprecedented times and in an effort to maintain organizational consistency, many associations will conduct a "reset" on their leadership structures. As such, the majority of the below leaders will be repeating a year of service.

Chapter President - Kaci Hancock, CPM, ACoM, REIS Associates
President Elect - Sheryl Green, CPM, Camden Property Trust, AMO
Treasurer - Laura Harvey, CPM,  Stream Realty Partners, AMO
Vice President of Education - Robert Tyler, CPM,  JLL
Vice President of Membership - Stephanie Sides-Sembera, CPM, Transwestern, AMO
Vice President of Services - Kim Hannigan, ACoM, Transwestern, AMO
Vice President of Communications - Nicole Foster, CPM,  Transwestern AMO
Vice President of Legislative -  Greg Sherman, CPM,  Brookfield Properties
Member-At-Large - Heather McMillon, CPM, Brookfield Properties
Member-At-Large - Kerra Turner, CPM, The RMR Group
Member-At-Large - Chase Crawford, CPM, Granite Properties

If you’d like to be part of our Houston Chapter activities or join the 2021 team in our industry success, please consider volunteering here.

Celebrating 100 Members and Their Years of Loyalty

Congratulations to 100 long-time IREM Houston members who are celebating significant anniversaries of the date they earned their IREM certifications. We appreciate their patronage through the years (20 years to 45 years...wow!) and know that their expertise and engagement year after year is what makes IREM Houston stronger and the local property management industry better. While earning IREM certifications is challenging, we can tell these members find value in the organizations mission and in being part of an association built on ethics, professionalism and education. 

Houston Chapter Wins National Award

The IREM Houston Chapter recently won one of two National IREM Innovation Awards at the Virtual IREM Summit. This award was received for our Future Leaders Program and the successes of the members that completed the program last year. Here are just a few stats showing the success of the program:

• In total, we had 19 applicants and graduated 15 individuals through the 2020 program.
• IREM gained 9 new members.
• 12 of the program participants immediately begin attending IREM courses.
• 9 of our Future Leaders signed up for chapter volunteerism ranging from committees, to community involvement and even to writing blogs for our website.
• At this time, 4 have completed their IREM ACoM certification, three became CPMs this month and 7 others are currently working toward their CPM.
• 8 of our Future Leaders received career promotions during the year.
• 8 sought and received IREM Foundation scholarship support.
• And finally, two became 30 under 30 recipients and attended the IREM Global Summit in San Francisco.

Huge thanks to all who supported the development and lift-off of this program in 2019, to those who encouraged employees to join, and for those who participated in the program and reached such great heights of success. This program not only helps with our own bench strength and with participants’ training but also with workforce development. We are honored to be recognized at a national level and look forward to watching our second class of Future Leaders flourish in the next year.

Houston Member Named 30 Under 30

Congratulations to Ashley Sims, ACoM for being recognized in 2020 as a member of this elite group!

The IREM 30 Under 30 program acknowledges the next generation of real estate management leaders. Each year, the program highlights 30 professionals who have already made significant impact on the industry and in their communities. Their various contributions to the profession are demonstrated through career success, professional leadership, and community involvement.

You can learn more about Ashley and the other 30 Under 30 recipients here.

Virtual IREM Summit: Inspire 2020

When did you last feel truly inspired? At a time when so much is changing and you’re just trying to keep up, inspiration can be hard to come by. We get it. That’s where we come in. The Virtual IREM Summit is designed to give you that jolt of inspiration – a new way to view the current reality and look ahead to what you can accomplish. Join us for an exciting two days of real estate management education to refresh your mindset and get ready to tackle whatever comes next.

Why should you attend?

• Education - Learn from real estate industry leaders and experts over two days and 12 education sessions
• Inspiration - Hear from four keynote speakers sharing inspiring stories about leadership, reinvention, recovery, and embracing and adapting to change
• Community- Enjoy interactive experiences with speakers and Virtual IREM Summit attendees
• Discussion - Participate in industry roundtables to discuss and learn about topics affecting you in your segment of the real estate industry
• Connections - Meet with the companies providing the solutions your business needs at our virtual tradeshow
• Networking - Schedule one-on-one meetings with your real estate management peers and expand your network

Graduation of First Class of Houston Future Leaders

This pioneering first class of IREM Houston Future Leaders celebrated their graduation from this progam along other IREM members and chapter leadership at our drive-through graduation event last week. In this program, these emerging professionals strengthened their professional skills, developed important relationshisps with their industry peers, and committed themselves to continual growth in IREM and in real estate management. Congratulations to the Future Leader Class of 2020!

The IREM Houston Future Leaders Program will assist emerging professionals in further establishing and identifying their mentor pool, building and strengthening their networks, developing and honing their real estate management expertise, and will help guide them on their journey through personal and professional advancement. For more information on this program, please contact us here.

Staying Prepared Through Hurricane Season

IREM is always an indispensible partner and trusted resource to industry professionals. So as the end of the 2020 Hurricane Season proves to be very active, we want to make sure members are directing some of their attention to property emergency preparations and readiness. IREM has a number of resources to help you including the Before and After Disaster Strikes guidebook, preparedness forms and checklists here, and a Risk Assessment checklist. And for onsite support, don't forget to reach out to our Industry Partners Blackmon Mooring, Cotton, and Mooring USA.

Participants Announced for New Class of Future Leaders

We are excited to announce the chosen participants for our second year of IREM Houston's Future Leaders Program. Through personal and professional efforts, along with high praise from their superiors, these individuals have proven a strong work ethic, eagerness to grow in the real estate management industry, and an overwhelming desire to become future leaders. Congratulations to:

Jillian Anderson, ACoM, JLL

Shenea Bankhead, Brookfield Properties

Jareli Barerra, REIS Associates

Lexi Cosse, LandPark Commercial

Jewelee Gremillion, Stream Realty Partners

Lisa Hendley, Insite Realty

Raven Livingston, CBRE, AMO

Taylor McGullam, Lee & Associates

Tara Meaux, Griffin Partners

Brittany Metzler, Lee & Associates

Christina Rodriguez-Leon, BG Talent

Chris Taylor, CBRE, AMO

Marissa Virgadamo, NAI Partners

Emily Williams, Stream Realty Partners

Jenni Woodruff, Transwestern, AMO

The IREM Houston Future Leaders Program is a professional development initiative for emerging professionals in the local real estate management industry. Our goal is to cultivate a group of driven professionals in the industry and support their development professionally and personally through a strong network of colleagues. Program participants will enjoy many benefits including free classes and socials, mentorship opportunities, exclusive attendance at specialized events, and opportunities for trips and scholarships. Ideal candidates for this program are dedicated to growing within the industry and learning the skills needed to become a leader in real estate management.

Budget for IREM in 2021

Make sure you include IREM events, education and dues costs in your annual budgets. Our vision for 2021 is grand so we're building a great year of initiatives that will benefit you, your company and your customers. Click here for a sample of potential costs. For a complete list of IREM membership benefits, click here. As always we're here to serve as your career partner, so please let us know what you need.

First Houston Recipient of National Grant

We're thrilled to congratulate IREM Houston member Rosalind Branch-Muhammad, CPM Candidate, on becoming the first chapter recipient of the annual Upbeat Site Furnishings National Grant for Property Managers. Only 15 applicants across the country were chosen to receive this grant which awards $1,000 to recipients to go towards IREM education. We are so proud of Rosalind's accomplishment and know we will continue to see many great things from her as she grows in her career and in IREM.

IREM Relief Program: You Asked And We Listened

After IREM members expressed an interest in doing more to support our community during this difficult economical time, IREM Houston and the IREM Foundation have partnered to launch our Kids’ Meals Relief Program. Everyone recognizes the increased strain this crisis has put on families to provide meals to their children due to both a growing financial crisis and the closing of school food programs.  Local charity Kid’s Meals has been feeding underserved children in the Greater Houston area for almost 15 years, and now demand for their services has grown exponentially.

How You Can Help

Give Funds - Kids’ Meals is a first-responder to children facing debilitating hunger due to extreme poverty. The pandemic has caused their program to grow a staggering 135% overnight. As of July 2020, they are delivering 7,000 meals every weekday. To contribute to our relief fund, click here. Every dollar raised by IREM Houston and the IREM Foundation will go directly to Kids’ Meals. Thanks to the generosity of our members, we surpassed our first goal of raising $5,000! Now we're seeking support to reach our new goal o f $7,500. Just $2 can feed a child so every dollar counts! Help us reach our $7,500 goal which will feed 3,750 children!

Give Time -  Our Community Involvement Committee will host two services days at the Kid’s Meals packing facility. Extensive precautions will be taken to ensure a safe environment for all volunteers as we pack lunches, sort donated food and decorate lunch bags. Consider joining us on July 10th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Give Love – Each healthy meal is packed in a decorated brown bag, but supplies often run low. To help contribute, please purchase standard brown paper lunch bags, sized  5 1/8 x 3 1/8 x 10 5/8 in,  let your imagination and artistic side run wild, then deliver the bags to Kid’s Meals during business hours or bring your decorated back on our service day.

Thank you in advance for supporting the children of Houston!

Because of Covid-19 impacts around the world, the IREM Foundation will be matching up to $1,000 of our local funds raised for Kids’ Meals. Learn more about the Foundation’s impactful Worldwide Relief Fund here. Our current amount raised before this contribution is $5,220.00

Community Involvement Committee Recommends Ways to Help During the Pandemic

The IREM Houston Community Involvement Committee works tirelessly each year to reach out and support local organizations and charities trying to make a difference in Houston. While this team hasn't been able to get together in-person to achieve this goal during this period of Stay Home, Work Safe, they still have a plan to help. This committee of 25+ industry professionals has put together a Top 10 list of organizations worth giving back to during this truly challenging time for our city, state and country. If you feel drawn to help in this time of great need, these causes are doing incredible things!

1. Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation aims to improve lives through the power of literacy. Among many initiatives, they recently joined forces with Mayor Turner to launch #WeRead, a focused effort in response to the need for high-quality, digital learning content to support at-home and distance education amidst school and library closures.
2. Blood Bank Donations through Red Cross, Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, and others are vital for saving the lives, especially during this pandemic when the need is so much greater.
3. Camp Hope (PTSD Foundation) provides interim housing for our combat veterans suffering from combat related PTSD in a caring and positive environment. Volunteering and donations have been severely limited during this pandemic, yet the needs of those they serve continue to grow every day.
4. Dinner's On Us by Second Servings was an effort specifically launched to feed Houstonians in the hospitality industry that have been hit very hard by the economic crisis surrounding this pandemic. Thanks to continual donations and volunteers, they've been able to expand services to provide for all Houstonians in need.
5. Fare for Care is a partnership between Rice Village District and their local restaurants to provide meals to frontline medical professionals at local hospitals. Thanks to generous donations from Houstonians and Rice Village matching meals, their goal of providing 15,000 meals for our heroes well within reach.
6. Feed the Frontline is a national organization making a big impact in cities across the country. This organization support local restaurants and their employees as they struggle to stay open while also providing healthcare workers with fresh, nutritious meals.
7. Kid's Meals is a local charity working to end childhood hunger by delivering free healthy meals to the doorsteps of Houston’s hungriest preschool-aged children. During these spring months, they typically delivery 3,000 meals a day. Due to school and childcare closures, they are now feeding 7,000 children every day in the Greater Houston Area.
8. Project C.U.R.E is the largest provider of medical supplies and equipment to developed countries. As our healthcare system is stretched thin to meet mounting needs, now more than ever these supplies are needed in this community.
9. Rescued Pets Movement provides a second chance for thousands of homeless dogs and cats through rehabilitation and transport to forever homes in communities throughout the United States and Canada that have a demand for adoptable pets. With many people spending so much time at home, this is a great opportunity to foster in-need animals in the Houston area.
10. Southern Smoke is a crisis relief organization for people in the food and beverage industry, founded by local Chef celebrity Chris Shepherd. During this unprecedented time in history, they are answering calls for help more than ever.

Remember, this is just a starting point. There are endless ways in which you can support our community right now. We are so very grateful for the IREM network and all of the work members do in the community. The Community Involvement Committee is looking forward to launching an in-person volunteering opportunity this summer so stay tuned!

Cancelled IREM Golf Open Still Benefits Local Charities

Cancelling the 2020 IREM Golf Open was a difficult decision, but doing so meant keeping our members safe and that always comes first. And while it is disappointing not to share endless moments of fun and comradery with our members and friends today, there is a great silver lining here! We are fortunate to have incredible volunteer members that planned for months to bring this event together, and those efforts will definitely pay off when we come back strong in 2021. We are also very grateful for the many companies that stepped up to sponsor this charity event and have given them all a shout out below.

Lastly, we want to mention that when we cancelled this event, some of our sponsors decided to donate their dollars to our partner charities, Camp Hope and IREM Foundation. Thanks to the generosity of these sponsors, each organization will receive $3,350!

Thank you to our Golf Open sponsors!

3E Contracting, ACS Flooring Group, ADM Security Solutions, AFPG Houston, AllStar Pavement, Always In Season, Ambius, APS Building Services, AT&T Business, Ben & Jerry's, Blackmon Mooring, Byrd Interior, Cannon Enterprise, Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing, Champion National Security, Chick-fil-a, City Wide Building Services, Clay's Glass, Comcast Business, Corporate Fitness Solutions, Cotton, DTK Facility Services, Fujitec America, Garrison Construction, Gregory-Edwards Inc., GuardTexas, Hotel ZaZa, Houston Waste Solutions, Interstate Restoration, J Miller Electric, JOBS/AMST, KONE, Lane Property Tax, LetourneauKeller, Liberty Kitchen, LMC Houston, Matera Paper, Merit Landscaping, Millsap Waterproofing, Modern Pest Control, Mooring USA, OTIS, PaulDavis, Pavement Services, PJS of Houston, Pritchard Industries, Recycling & Waste Reduction, REEF Parking, REIS Associates, Rouxpour, Royal Services Company LLC, Schindler Elevator Corporation, Silversand Services, Smith Construction, South Coast Construction, SP Plus, Spark Lighting, Spectra Contract Flooring, Taylor Waterproofing, TDB Inc., Tejas Elevator Co., Texas Floor Covering, The Liberty Group, The Urban Foresters, Transwestern, UBM Janitorial, United Protective Services, Uptown Diamonds, Western Construction Group, Wilson Fire Equipment & Service Co., Woodbranch Management

Pandemic Resources from our Industry Partners

We lean heavily on our Industry Partners for resources for real estate management professionals, especially in times like these. We reached out to our partners for information, tips and resources for our members specifically related to the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Below are just a few of the many insights they have to share. We encourage you to reach out to our Industry Partners directly as well. They continually prove to be an invaluable resource for our members and true partners to our organization.

AT&T Business is focusing on supporting customers with high quality continuity planning, like how to optimize collaboration with your newly remote teams or how to secure your data while working virtually. You can read through their full continuity planning packet here.

Comcast has opened Xfinity WiFi Network nationally for free, offering unlimited data for free and confirming its commitment to connecting families and professionals no matter the circumstances. You can read through the many generous benefits they are offering here.

Corbett Personnel Services is maintaining operations by leveraging remote meetings and interviews. By starting the process “remotely” once we are all back in business, clients will then be much closer to hiring that new employee.  Also they are actively interfacing with clients and providing them temporary employees, some of whom are working remotely. This is very helpful during a time when usual staff might be strained due to higher work volume, loss of regular school or childcare, or becoming sick.

Mooring USA has established a Coronavirus Task Force which consist of a team trained in executing biohazard remediation, containment and decontamination procedures. They have the right safety protocols in place to clean any type of facility when needed. Click here to read through their brochure explaining these cleaning methods.

PJS of Houston has the Clorox 360 Electrostatic Sprayer which involves a spraying process that utilizes the Clorox 360 chemical sprayed on all surfaces. (curtains, furniture, desks, restroom fixtures and partitions.) This process is rated by the EPA to killing the COVID-19. After killing the virus, they can follow behind the Clorox 360 product with Razor. This product leaves a microscopic film behind that is effective on killing Coronavirus for up to 3 months. This is fairly new technology and they have it. Both of these products are available to PJS clients and is currently the best defense against COVID-19.

PaulDavis offers a simple decontamination program that will bring peace of mind and a sense of safety back to your organization. They specifically offer some eco-friendly cleaning options that can fight this specific virus. Click here for more information.

Schneider Electric will be hosting a free energy market update webinar that takes a closer look at the impacts COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) is having on crude and natural gas markets. With this being a large market in Houston and the business of many office tenants, these updates could be of high value for real estate managers.

United Protective offers several types of programs to help during this time; our first priority being the protection of your assets. Unarmed Security Personnel offers on-site coverage 24 hours per day for both temporary and permanent coverage. Patrol Services available for day time and after hours; traditional drive-by and also dis-mount service to check doors and perimeters of properties. This can still be done during a “lockdown” situation should Houston receive those orders.

For additional resources for real estate managers, visit IREM’s dedicated Pandemic Resource page for regularly updated information.

Coronavirus Outbreak: What Property Managers Need to Know

IREM acknowledges that property managers around the world are concerned about the health and well-being of their tenants and residents, as well as operational and business implications, related to the spread of the Coronavirus. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are monitoring the situation in real-time, and while much is still unknown about how the virus spreads, both organizations have issued guidance for preventing exposure to respiratory illnesses, as well as planning considerations for places of business.

IREM/NAA Coronavirus Webinar Recording: “Coronavirus Outbreak: What Property Managers Need to Know”

It is IREM’s position that the aforementioned organizations are the best resources for up-to-date, science-based information about the Coronavirus disease. We’ve shared links to some of this information below. IREM is being proactive in reaching out to both the WHO and the CDC to ask them to issue specific guidance for real estate managers to prepare for and respond to an instance of COVID-19 should it occur at one of their properties, as they have done for other industries serving concentrated populations such as airlines and cruise ships. In the meantime, please consider the following general best practices:

• Prepare a continuity plan for your business if you don’t already have one in place, and make sure your employees have reviewed and understand the plan.
• Thoroughly review all your leases to make sure they address potential business disruptions in a pandemic.
• Keep your working environment healthy by establishing hygiene protocols such as providing easily accessible hand sanitizers, ensuring adequate air circulation and encouraging the use of sick leave as necessary.
• Provide information to residents and tenants about the common sense actions they can take to prevent the spread of infection (IREM has prepared these customizable templates property managers can use to post at their properties.)

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) resources:

• World Health Organization
• Find rolling updates on the virus, workplace readiness, basic protective measures, and press briefings.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
• Find information for businesses, interim guidance, and frequently asked questions about the virus.
• In addition, IREM has developed the Pandemic Guide For Real Estate Managers to help in planning efforts for this Coronavirus outbreak and to guide preparations for future pandemics when they occur.

If a property manager becomes aware of a tenant or resident with a confirmed case of COVID-19, they should contact the WHO, CDC, or local health department. Questions from tenants, residents, or the media should also be directed to the local health department or CDC resources. We encourage everyone to regularly check these resources for the latest information. While this is an evolving situation and concern is reasonable, we can all take an active role in preventing the spread of infection by following the expert guidance from these organizations.

Future Leaders Participate in HESS Tower Tour

Many of our IREM Future Leaders enjoyed a private tour of the historic Hess Tower last week guided by the amazing CBRE staff that manages the property. This single tenant, 29-story, Double Class A building offers a particularly unique perspective on property management for our emerging professioinals. It was home base for the NFL Host Committee for the Houston-hosted Super Bowl as well as activities associated with the NCAA Championship in 2016. The building security is 43 employees strong and uses state of the art technology to ensure the safety of its tenant, HESS Corporation. Attendees were able to explore many aspects of the building, from the high-level boardrooms to massive chillers. We are so grateful to CBRE and Hess Tower for this amazing opporunity!

Congrats to Our Recent Award Winners

We are lucky to have such engaged and inspiring volunteer leaders. Below are our IREM Houston Award Winners for 2019:

Breakout Member of the Year - Kerra Turner with The RMR Group
Associate Members of the Year - Leslie Sinclair-Kaye and Maira Santos with Stream Realty Partners
ACoM Member of the Year - Tammie Norris, ACoM with Shorenstein Realty
 ARM of the Year - Robert Lopes, CPM, ARM, ACoM with Relik Realty, AMO
CPM Candidate of the Year - Gloria Stelly with CBRE, AMO
Industry Partner of the Year - PaulDavis Construction 
Jeff Burck CPM of the Year Award  - Nicole Foster, CPM with Transwestern, AMO
Mentor of the Year - Entire 2019 Outreach Committee
Jeff Williford Award of Excellence - Sheryl Green, CPM of Camden Property Trust
Industry Impact Award - Kim Hannigan, ACoM with Transwestern, AMO

2020 Executive Council Installed

On January 17th, the IREM Houston Executive Council was sworn in as chapter officers. They are:

2020 Chapter President – Kaci Hancock, ACoM, CPM, REIS Associates
President Elect – Sheryl Green, CPM, Camden Property Trust, AMO
Chapter Treasurer – Laura Harvey, CPM, Stream Realty Partners
Vice President of Education – Robert Tyler, CPM, JLL
Vice President of Membership – Natalie Parker, ACoM, CPM, Encino Energy
Vice President of Services – Kim Hannigan, ACoM, Transwestern, AMO
Vice President of Communications – Stephanie Sides-Sembera, ACoM, Transwestern, AMO
Vice President of Legislative – Greg Sherman, CPM, Brookfield Properties
Board Member at Large – Nicole Foster, CPM, Transwestern, AMO
Board Member at Large – Heather McMillon, CPM, Brookfield Properties
Immediate Past President – Janet Shipley, CPM, CBRE, AMO 

Local Real Estate Firms Recognize the Added Value of Professional Education and Certifications

January 7, 2020 – The Houston Chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM^®) has announced its annual list of top real estate companies in the Houston area based on the number of Certified Property Manager^® (CPM^®) members they employ locally. To obtain the CPM designation, one must meet stringent IREM requirements in the areas of professional education, examination and experience.  They also must pledge to abide by a rigorous Code of Professional Ethics that is strictly enforced by the organization.

“A professional designation represents not only the breadth of knowledge needed to earn that certification, but is also a visible representation of the commitment and diligence it takes to achieve that goal.” Said IREM Houston President Kaci Hancock, CPM^®, ACoM. “The certifications provided by the Institute of Real Estate Management are among the most recognized designations globally. The Certified Property Manager^® certification signifies a level of ethics, acumen and proficiency unparalleled in the property management industry. By employing managers that hold the internationally acclaimed CPM^® certification, owners and asset managers have the protection and assurance that their properties are managed at the highest level of quality service and competency.”

Below are the top five Houston firms with the highest number of employees who hold the IREM CPM^® designation:

• Transwestern, AMO^® – with 18 CPM^® Members
• Stream Realty Partners, AMO^® – with 15 CPM^® Members
• CBRE, AMO^® – with 9 CPM^® Members
• Brookfield Property Partners – with 6 CPM^® Members
• Tarantino Properties, Inc. – with 5 CPM^® Members

Other important stats about the IREM Certified Property Manager^® certification are:

• 70% of professionals who hold their CPM^® are in higher management positions than those without the designation.
• 57% of U.S. Commercial Inventory is management by Certified Property Manager^®.

If you're interested in learning more about IREM credentials, click here or contact us via email.

#GivingTuesday at Memorial Park Conservancy

In celebration of the growing global movemebt Giving Tuesday, 23 IREM members spent an afternoon volunteering at Memorial Park Conservancy. Our efforts included seed spreading and soil laying, all in an effort to protect trees and plants vital to the South Coastal ecosystem. Memorial Park Conservancy is a private, nonprofit organization that operates and maintains 1,100 of the Park’s 1,500 acres. The Conservancy’s mission is to restore, preserve and enhance Memorial Park for the enjoyment of all Houstonians, today and tomorrow.

Help us recognize IREM Members

As we wrap up 2019, the IREM Houston Chapter would like to honor the outstanding volunteer service of our members. We are accepting nominations for a wide variety of awards based on members’ dedication, leadership and professionalism. Members may nominate more than one person in each category. 

• Breakout Member of the Year 
• The Jeff Burck, CPM of the Year Award 
• ARM of the Year Award
• Industry Impact Award
• Mentor of the Year
• Industry Partner of the Year
• Other: For a range of other honors, please name a non-CPM/ARM member(s)

Please send nominations here by December 2nd.

5th Annual IREM Fashion Event Raises $30k for Beneficiaries

Our Fifth Annual Fashion Fundraiser succesfully brought in $30,000 in total, with $6,500 being donated to our partner charity, Project Prom HISD. The remainging funds will be used to support further education for our property managers through scholarships, classes and professional development.

Thank you to all of our fantastic volunteers, sponsors and attendees that made this event not only possible, but incredibly profitable!

Check out some of our fabulous event photos here.

Reminder to Vote!

Our Public Policy Committee wants to remind you to cast your ballot. Learn about the issues at hand and find a convenient voting location at www.harrisvotes.org

IREM Houston Wins Innovation Award

IREM Houston won a National IREM Innovation Award at the IREM Global Conference last week for our membership outreach efforts in 2018. Our recruitment efforts are aimed at assisting members with a larger pool of qualified professionals and talent development. Our event, "IREM Goal Digger," promoted IREM certifications and education.  Following the recruitment event, IREM Houston guided attendees through coursework, volunteerism and engagement. The Innovation Award recognized our conversion success rates. Of all attendees, 55% became IREM members; 30% percent joined committees. In total, 85% of the attendees have remained engaged within the chapter within the following year. Of that group, three were awarded a spot in our 2019 Future Leaders program and two earned an ACoM credential within the year. Accepting the award in San Francisco on behalf of the Houston Chapter was Stephanie Swanson, ACoM, CPM of Transwestern.

Global Summit Attracts Houston Leaders

The IREM Global Summit, IREM's largest annual educational conference is being held in San Francisco this week. The IREM Houston Chapter has 24 attendees in route. During this week of learning and networking, key chapter leaders will be recognized or will serve in special roles within meetings:

• George Griffin, CPM, CCIM – Is being installed as the 2020 National Treasurer 
• Amy Johnson and Amy Munoz – Were named part of IREM’s 30-under-30 honorees
• Ciara Escobedo and Stephanie Duplan – Named to the national NextGen Program 
• Robert Lopes, ARM, CPM, ACoM – Is one of the Diversity Inclusion Scholarship recipients
• RMR - Earned a national REME Award
• Sheryl Green, CPM – Serivng as Vice Chair of Chapter Leadership Session

IREM 2019 Course Schedule Available

Somehow we're almost to the last quarter of 2019! As you map out your 2020 year and set new goals, be sure to mark your calendars for the 2020 IREM Houston courses. These classes are great for real estate management professionals at any level of experience and for those working towards an IREM credential. All IREM courses offered locally are required for the Certified Property Manager (CPM) credential and many are required for the Accredited Commercial Office Manager (ACoM) accredidation. 

Budgeting, Cash Flow and Reporting for Real Estate Investments (FIN402).....February 25-26

Managing Maintenance and Property Operation Risks (MNT402).....February 27-28

Management Plan Skills Assessment (MPSA).....Date to be announced in October

CPM Certification Exam (CPMXM).....Date to be announced in October

Ethics for the Real Estate Manager (ETH800).....June 5

Marketing & Leasing Strategies for Office Buildings (MKL406).....September 22-23

Leading a Winning Property Management Team (HRS402).....September 34-25

Financing and Loan Analysis for Investment Real Estate (AMS603).....November 2-3

Performance and Valuation of Investment Real Estate (ASM604).....November 4-5

Asset Analysis of Investment Real Estate (ASM605).....November 6

Congrats to our 2020 Nominated Leaders

And just like that, we are half-way to 2020. Recently, our nominating team completed their work in building the IREM board of the future. Below are the nominations for our 2020 Officer and Executive Council positions.

Chapter President - Kaci Hancock, CPM, ACoM, REIS Associates
President Elect - Sheryl Green, CPM, Camden Property Trust, AMO
Treasurer - Laura Harvey, CPM,  Stream Realty Partners, AMO
Vice President of Education - Robert Tyler, CPM,  JLL
Vice President of Membership - Natalie Woodard, CPM, Encino Energy
Vice President of Services - Kim Hannigan, ACoM, Transwestern, AMO
Vice President of Communications - Stephanie Sides-Sembera, CPM, Transwestern, AMO
Vice President of Legislative -  Greg Sherman, CPM, Brookfield Properties
Member-At-Large - Nicole Foster, CPM,  Transwestern AMO
Member-At-Large - Heather McMillon, CPM, Brookfield Properties
Immediate Past President - Janet Shipley, CPM, CBRE, AMO 

All nominated leaders are dedicated to the advancement of the property management industry and bring a wealth of professional experience and expertise to their nominated positions on our governing board. Each nominated leader must be confirmed by a majority vote of IREM Houston Members taking place at our September Luncheon. We hope to see you there participating in the vote. Once elected, they will be installed at the January 2020 Luncheon.

If you’d like to be part of our Houston Chapter activities or join the 2020 team in our industry success, please consider volunteering here.

Applicants Chosen for 2019 Future Leaders Program

We are thrilled to announce the chosen participants for the inaugural year of our Future Leaders Program. Through personal and professional efforts, along with high praise from their superiors, these individuals have proven a strong work ethic, eagerness to grow in the real estate management industry, and an overwhelming desire to become future leaders. Congratulations to:

Tanny Broaddus, Camden Property Trust, AMO

Alli Collett, Madison Marquette

Jason Contreras, Relik Realty, AMO

Ka'Lisia Hagwood, Stream Realty, AMO

Monica Holvey, CBRE, AMO

Amy-Nicole Johnson, Brookfield

Kelsey Kubiak, ACoM, Transwestern, AMO

Jasmine Matias, Relik Realty, AMO

Jessica McCurley, Stream Realty, AMO

Amy Munoz, Stream Realty, AMO

Cassidy Nessen, Stream Realty, AMO

Emina Okic, Read King

Ellen Pellegrin, Transwestern, AMO

Alyssa Riedel, Transwestern, AMO

Natalie Rodriguez, Unilev Management

Maira Santos, Stream Realty, AMO

Ashley Sims, Wulfe & Co., Inc.

Leslie Sinclair, Gemini Rosemount

Shaun Ward Taylor, Madison Marquette

The IREM Houston Future Leaders Program is a new professional development initiative for emerging professionals in the local real estate management industry. Our goal is to cultivate a group of driven professionals in the industry and support their development professionally and personally through a strong network of colleagues. Program participants will enjoy many benefits including free classes and socials, mentorship opportunities, exclusive attendance at specialized events, and opportunities for trips and scholarships. Ideal candidates for this program are dedicated to growing within the industry and learning the skills needed to become a leader in real estate management.

Budget for IREM in 2020

Make sure you include IREM events, education and dues costs in your annual budgets. We're building a great year of initiatives that will benefit you, your company and your customers. Click here for a sample of potential costs. For a complete list of IREM membership benefits, click here. As always we're here to serve as your career partner, so please let us know what you need.

IREM Launches Search for Future Leaders

IREM Houston’s Future Leaders Program promotes the growth of up-and-coming industry leaders. Please consider nominating real estate management professionals from your company to participate in the program, where they will gain valuable insight, earn free professional development classes, make vital industry connections and harness the tools for a successful career in the Houston market. If you'd like to learn more about the IREM Houston Future Leaders Program and apply, you can submit an application today.  If you know an emerging leader who would benefit from this exclusive opportunity, email us or call 713-783-9225 for more information.

IREM On Demand Learning Available

The cornerstone of our organization is work force deveopment through education, but we know you only have so much time in the day. That's why IREM offers On-Demand Online Learning. These one-hour, on-demand courses are a fast and convenient way to learn current trends and skills for immediate on-the-job application. Anytime, anywhere access gives you the flexibility to learn on your own schedule.

Topics range from Budget Spreadsheet Techniques to Emotional Support Animals Best Practices. One of our local IREM Staff even hosted one recently on Using Social Media to Reach Cleints and Market Your Business. Check out the full list of available courses here.

IREM Golf Open Benefits Great Houston C.O.P.S.

Our 2nd Annual IREM Golf Open will share a portion of our profits with Greater Houston Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.). C.O.P.S. is a not-for-profit organization that was founded in 1995 by MaryBess Salvaggio (surviving spouse of Officer John Salvaggio, Houston Police Department) and Rick Hartley, Executive Director of The 100 Club in Houston. Their mission is to rebuild the shattered lives of survivors and co-workers affected by line of duty deaths, through partnerships with law enforcement and the community. At the time of its birth, Greater Houston consisted of 15 counties. Today, Greater Houston C.O.P.S. has a service area of 73 counties that are situated along the Texas Gulf Coast and the Southeastern section of Texas. The heroism and bravery of those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the Greater Houston C.O.P.S. service region must never be forgotten; therefore, the organization is committed to see their memory and acts of bravery live forever.

To support the fundraising efforts of this event for Greater Houston C.O.P.S. and IREM education, join us Firday, March 29 at Wildcat Golf Club. Golfers will enjoy a day of networking, games, drinks, prizes, silent auction bidding, and time on the green! Details on playing can be found here. If you're interested in sponsoring this event, you can find more information here.

2018 IREM Award Winners

Congratulations to all of our 2018 IREM Award Winners. These members exemplify the highly valued qualities of professionals in our industry and have gone above and beyond to support IREM Houston in our mission to provide education and professional development to those in our industry.

IREM’s Liaison to the Construction Industry Council: Stephen Lloyd with Transestern, AMO

Rising Star: Robert Lopes, CPM, ARM, ACoM with Relik Realty

Committee of the Year: Golf Open Chair Kim Hannigan, ACoM with Transwestern and Co-Chair Greg Sherman, CPM with Brookfield

Jeff Williford Award of Excellence: Victor Vacek, CPM with Central Management

Breakout Members of the Year: Phoebe Gregg, CPM and Amy Munoz with Stream Realty Partners, AMO

Associate Member of the Year: Marvette Perry with Unilev

ACoM Member of the Year: Kim Hannigan, ACoM with Transwestern, AMO

CPM Candidate of the Year: Heather McMillon with Brookfield Properties

Mentor of the Year: Kaci Hancock, CPM, ACoM with Wulfe & Co.

Jeff Burck, CPM of the Year Award: BSheryl Green, CPM with Camden Property Trust, AMO

Friend of the Year: GuardTexas

Local Real Estate Firms Recognize the Added Value of Professional Education and Certifications

The Houston Chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM^®) has announced its annual list of top real estate companies in the Houston area based on the number of Certified Property Manager^® (CPM^®) credentialed members they employ locally. To obtain the CPM^® designation, one must meet stringent IREM requirements in the areas of professional education, examination and experience.  They also must pledge to abide by a rigorous Code of Professional Ethics that is strictly enforced by the organization.

“A professional designation represents not only the breadth of knowledge needed to earn that credential, but is also a visible representation of the commitment and diligence it takes to achieve that goal.” Said IREM Houston President Janet Shipley, CPM^®. “The credentials provided by the Institute of Real Estate Management are among the most recognized designations globally. The Certified Property Manager® designation signifies a level of ethics, acumen and proficiency unparalleled in the property management industry. By employing managers that hold the internationally acclaimed CPM® credential, owners and asset managers enhance the protection and assurance that their properties are managed at the highest level of competency and quality service.”

Below are the top 5 Houston Firms with the highest number of employees who hold an IREM designation:

• Transwestern, AMO^® – with 19 credentialed Members
• Stream Realty Partners, AMO^® – with 15 credentialed Members
• CBRE, AMO^® – with 10 credentialed Members
• Brookfield Property Partners – with 5 credentialed Members
• Woodbranch Management, Inc. – with 5 credentialed Members

Other important stats about the IREM Certified Property Manager^® credential are:

• 70% of professionals who hold their CPM^® are in higher management positions than those without the designation.
• 57% of U.S. Commercial Inventory is management by Certified Property Managers^®.

If you're interested in learning more about IREM credentials, click here or contact us via email.

Announcing Our 2019 President

We're so excited to introduce our 2019 IREM Houston Chapter President, Janet Shipley, CPM of CBRE, AMO.

Janet began her commercial real estate career in 1990 in Houston.  She manages a commercial office portfolio of 3.6 million square feet, including the AIG Houston Portfolio.  Janet has broadened her property management and accounting experience with the preparation of financial statements, cash flow analysis, proforma preparation, due diligence, annual budget projections, construction management and sustainability/LEED projects. Maintaining a positive relationship and high retention levels with all Clients and Tenants is a daily priority. Janet earned her Certified Property Manager^® designation in 2013. During her years with IREM, she has been an active member and has served on many committees and the Executive Council.

You can read the full press release for our 2019 Executive Council here.

IREM 2019 Course Schedule Available

Education is at the heart of what we do. Be sure to download a copy of our 2019 course schedule here and you can register for any Houston courses here. These classes are great for real estate management professionals at any level of experience and for those working towards an IREM credential.

Budgeting, Cash Flow and Reporting for Real Estate Investments (FIN402).....February 19-20

Managing Maintenance and Property Operation Risks (MNT402).....February 21-22

Management Plan Skills Assessment (MPSA).....April 8-11

CPM Certification Exam (CPMXM).....April 12

Ethics for the Real Estate Manager (ETH800).....June 7

Marketing & Leasing Strategies for Office Buildings (MKL406).....September 17-18

Leading a Winning Property Management Team (HRS402).....September 19-20

Financing and Loan Analysis for Investment Real Estate (AMS603).....November 4-5

Performance and Valuation of Investment Real Estate (ASM604).....November 6-7

Asset Analysis of Investment Real Estate (ASM605).....November 8

FBI Speaker Presentation on Cyber Threats

We loved hearing first-hand how cyber threats happen and how simple precautions can help protect us. Click here for slides to our Friday, November 16th presentation from FBI special agent Michael S. Morgan.

IREM Fashion Auction Goes Digital!

This year’s Silent Auction has gone digital and we are previewing our 35 shopping packages in advance. Please visit www.32auctions.com/IREMFashion2018 to check out our trips, electronics, jewelry, and more! And while you’re there, feel free to easily set up a user login so you can be ready to bid and buy on October 25 from 5 to 7 pm. Our goal is to raise over $5,500 for two worthy causes.

IREM Leaders Attend International Conference

Over 800 real estate management professionals gathered in Hollywood, Florida this September for the only industry event specifically designed for both commercial and multifamily real estate managers. In attendance were 14 of IREM Houston's leading members. The IREM Global Summit provided attendees with rich, contemporary information that will help drive NOI and impact their bottom line, endless opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals from around the world, and the chance to embrace multi-generational perspectives from practitioners at various phases of their careers.

IREM Speaker Jeff Lindner's Presentation

IREM Houston's September luncheon speaker was Meteorologist Jeff Lindner. Lindner was the face of information during the difficult days leading up to, during and following Hurricane Harvey. He is an expert on hurricane impacts, flooding, and drought and how to prepare and respond to these weather episodes. Joining the Harris County Flood Control District in 2004 as the District’s first meteorologist, his primary role is Director of the District’s Flood Operations Program. In this role, Jeff implements regular communication with the National Weather Service and the Harris County Office of Emergency Management (HCOEM) during times of flooding. He is responsible for monitoring 154 rainfall and stage gages and collecting data at over 450 bridges.

At our luncheon, Jeff shared the many challenges of fixing IREM's flooding problems and explained the time and funds involved to address the different options. His presentation outlined many important statistics and lessons learned from Harvey. Click here for a copy of his slides.

IREM Houston Contributes to Fight Flooding PAC

Congrats to our 2019 Nominated Leaders

It is hard to believe we are half-way to 2019. Recently, our nominating team completed their work in building the IREM board of the future. Below are the nominations for our 2019 Officer and Executive Council positions.

Chapter President - Janet Shipley, CPM, CBRE, AMO
President Elect - Kaci Hancock, CPM, ACoM, Wulfe & Co
Treasurer - Sheryl Green, CPM, Camden Property Trust, AMO
Vice President of Education - Robert Tyler, CPM,  Rockwell Management Corp., AMO
Vice President of Membership - Erin Holland, CPM, Stream Realty Partners, AMO
Vice President of Services - Natalie Woodard, CPM, Accesso Services
Vice President of Communications - Kim Hannigan, ACoM, Transwestern, AMO 
Vice President of Legislative -  Stephanie Sides, CPM, Transwestern, AMO
Member-At-Large - Laura Harvey, CPM,  Stream Realty Partners, AMO
Member-At-Large - Greg Sherman, CPM, Brookfield Properties
Immediate Past President - Stephanie Swanson, CPM, ACoM, Transwestern, AMO 

All nominated leaders are dedicated to the advancement of the property management industry and bring a wealth of professional experience and expertise to their nominated positions on our governing board. Each nominated leader must be confirmed by a majority vote of IREM Houston Members taking place at our September Luncheon.We hope to see you there participating in the vote. Once elected, they will be installed at the January 2019 Luncheon.

Budget for IREM in 2019

Make sure you include IREM events, education and dues costs in your annual budgets. We're building a great year of initiatives that will benefit you, your company and your customers. Click here for a sample of potential costs. For a complete list of IREM membership benefits, click here. As always we're here to serve as your career partner, so please let us know what you need.

Summer Supply Drive for Yellowstone Academy

Once again IREM's Community Involvement Committee will be collecting items for the teachers and students of Yellowstone Academy this summer. Yellowstone Academy is answering the challenge of the education crisis that faces many students in Houston's historic Third Ward  by providing every child with an education that cultivates their intellect, nourishes their spirit, and empowers them to create a fulfilling future.

From July 1st through August 10th, we'll be collecting items to build First Aids Kits for Teachers, At-Home School Supply Kits and Individual Hygeine Kits for students. For a full list of the supplies needed, click here. All items can be dropped off at any of the 4 locations listed below. If you wish to donate funds, please click here.

To participate in assembling the kits or if you would like to help with delivery, please email [email protected].

Record Number of New Designees

Each year IREM Houston installs an average of 15 new Certified Property Managers at luncheons spread out over the year. This year, we are on track for at least 22 new CPMs, ARMs, and ACoMs. This is due in part to our larger than normal group of new CPM honorees in May. It has been over a decade since a group this size completed the CPM program together and therefore a proud moment in our recent history. Pictured here is: Tamiela Mitchell of Unilev, Tricia Mattice of Howard Hughes Corporation, Rachel Mondshine of PMRG, Katy Mayer of Transwestern, Robert Lopes of Relik Realty, Elizabeth Landa of Smith FTP, Cindy LaBure of Transwestern, Kaci Hancock of Wulfe Management, La Nee Evans of CBRE, Nicole Foster of Transwestern, Vanessa Dyer of Stream Realty Partners, Ashley Dollar of Stream Realty Partners pictured with Chapter President Stephanie Swanson.

Houston IREM President Honored

The Texas Diversity Magazine recently announced their inaugural Houston Power 50 award, honoring C-Suite female leaders from top companies. This award honors their hard work and progressive careers that have helped reduce the gender gap in upper management. Our own Chapter President, Stephanie Swanson, CPM, ACoM, Vice President of Transwestern is one of the honorees being awarded. Selection for this distinction was based on each individual’s contributions to business growth and strategic direction, proven record of innovation and accomplishments in their area of expertise, and their ability to serve as an active role model by mentoring the next generation of professionals in their industry.. “The Inaugural 2018 Power 50 award honors a diverse range of executive leaders of the highest caliber,” said Dennis Kennedy, Founder and Chairman of the National Diversity Council. “Our team takes great pride in honoring this group of accomplished women that continue to push innovation in business and beyond.” All honorees can be viewed here.

May IREM Events Focus On NextGen Development

All of our May events are geared toward new-hires, college students, new faces to the industry and those seeking more information about a career in commercial property management. Members and non-members.

Intro to Property Management, Thursday, May 3. Click here for more details and to sign up

Career Killers: Top 10 Avoidable Behaviors - IREM Luncheon, Tuesday, May 15. Click here for more details and to sign up

Whiskey and Wine Wednesday Happy Hour, Wednesday, May 23. Click here for more details and to sign up

Charity Golf Event Honors Jeff Burck, CPM

After a three year hiatus, the IREM Houston Chapter brought back their popular golf tournament in April 2018 with much success. The event, renamed "The IREM Golf Open," attracted 140 golfers, 35 volunteers, 60 sponsors and helped IREM donate a total of $15,000 to charity.

IREM Headquarters Honored for Earth Month

IREM Earns 2018 ENERGY STAR^®
Partner of the Year Award

IREM is proud to announce that it received the 2018 ENERGY STAR^® Partner of the Year Award for its outstanding efforts in the Energy Efficiency Program Delivery category.

IREM received the award for the following programs and activities:

• Live and online training on energy management, including a new course on benchmarking multifamily properties in the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager^® benchmarking tool.
• Integration of ENERGY STAR tools and resources with the IREM Certified Sustainable Property certification, an affordable, achievable, and meaningful recognition for existing office, multifamily, and retail properties.
• Industry research on energy efficiency practices and perceptions among real estate managers, including benchmarking and use of ENERGY STAR tools and resources, as well as a forthcoming study on the impact of property certifications such as ENERGY STAR on the financial performance of multifamily communities.
• Participation in ENERGY STAR-related events and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) participation in IREM events to provide ENERGY STAR information and updates to members and the industry.

This is the second consecutive year IREM has been named an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year. IREM’s accomplishments will be recognized by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on April 20, 2018.

IREM Golf Open Raises Over $70,000

With the support of sponsors, players and volunteers, the 2nd Annual IREM Golf Open was able to raise over $70,000 for our three beneficiaries, one of which was The Greater Houston Concerns for Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.). Beautiful weather prevailed for a day of golf and industry networking for our 40 sponsors, 170 players and 20 volunteers. Thank you to all who supported this event and we look forward to seeing you on the green in 2020!

Larry Goodman, CPM Honored

Long-time member Larry Goodman, CPM was recently honored at the IREM March Luncheon for his years of service to our organization. Larry, who has served on the IREM Legislative and Public Policy Committees for over 30-years has also represented the IREM Houston Chapter as our Construction Industry Council liaison for over 25 years. Because Larry Goodman, CPM is set to retire after 2018, the Houston Chapter honored him with an Industry Impact Award. 

"I believe my advocacy has been effective in reflecting the changing needs of commercial real estate." said Larry Goodman. Through his involvement in the legislative realm, Larry has been active on the Houston Triad team and worked with several City of Houston administrations to write and adopt important building code changes that have impacted members' management practices for decades. He earned the prestigious CPM designation in 1985, and won the CPM of the Year Award award in 1998, 2006 and received the Jeff Williford Award of Excellence in 2010. Larry also has a Masters of Urban Planning and graduated from Texas A&M.

Houston Member Awarded Prestigious Diversity Scholarship

The Diversity Scholars program recognizes IREM Members from underrepresented groups in the real estate management profession who have demonstrated leadership skills at the chapter level, an interest in advancing their leadership skills at the national level, and in advancing their property management careers using IREM networking and resources. Thanks to a generous grant from the IREM Foundation, eight qualified candidates are recognized each year from across the country.

This year one of those eight recipients is Houston's very own Nicole Foster, CPM Candidate with Transwestern. Nicole has been a member of IREM for a number of years and served as 2017 Community Involvement Committee Chair and currently serves as 2018 Outreach Chair. She is the Property Manager at the Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Campus; a 1.4M square foot campus comprised of Class A and B medical office buildings and corporate facilities.  Nicole is responsible for daily operations and management of 750,000 square feet on the campus.

Nicole has been in the commercial real estate industry for more than 12 years. During her tenure with Transwestern, Nicole has been involved in the repurpose of a medical office building to corporate facility, renovation of a Class C medical office building to Class B including major mechanical, structural replacement, interior finishes and wayfinding programming.  She oversees lease administration, accounting and contract management functions.  She also leads a tenant relations program that is instrumental to campus retention and renewal rates.  

Congratulations Nicole! We are honored to have you representing IREM Houston as a Diversity Scholarship Award Winner.

IREM Golf Open MC

We're excited to have news personality Cynthia Hunt as our IREM Golf Open Dinner and Awards emcee. Join us Monday, April 16 at Wildcat for a full day of lunch, golfing, drinks, dinner, networking and prizes all for three great causes: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), The IREM Foundation and IREM Houston's mission of professional development and scholarships.More details and registration links can be found here.

Announcing New IREM Sustainable Properties

2017 IREM Award Winners

Congratulations to all of our 2017 IREM Award Winners. These members exemplify the highly valued qualities of professionals in our industry and have gone above and beyond to support IREM Houston in our mission to provide education and professional development to those in our industry.

Breakout Member of the Year: Kim Hannigan with Transwestern, AMO

Mentor of the Year: Sheryl Green, CPM with Camden Property Trust, AMP

Friend of the Year: All Star Pavement

Associate Member of the Year: Mark Wright with Brookfield

CPM Candidate of the Year: Nicole Foster with Transwestern, AMO

Jeff Burck, CPM of the Year Award: Blaire Hoffman, CPM with Dean Realty

Jeff Williford Award of Excellence: Laura Krupowicz, CPM with Brookfield

Industry Impact Award: Larry Goodman, CPM with Goodman Technology Associates

Announcing Our New President

We're so excited to introduce our 2018 IREM Houston Chapter President, Stephanie Swanson, ACoM, CPM of Transwestern, AMO.

Stephanie oversees an office tower portfolio of several million square feet in the greater Houston area and directs property management operations for the Office Management Group at Transwestern.  She has been active in commercial real estate since 1992.  She is experienced in all aspects of real estate management, including property management, fiscal management and construction supervision of commercial office, retail and industrial portfolios for institutional and private equity clients. 

During this time, she has been an active member of IREM and has served on many committees and the Executive Council since 1997. Among her many accomplishments, she values IREM and the impact the CPM coursework and education has had in her career.  In addition, she credits the many lifelong friendships, mentors and industry relationships for their continued support.  “I grew up in IREM” is often heard by many of her team members and those that she now mentors in the industry. 

2018 Economic Predictions

Our November Speaker Dr. Ted Jones, PhD (Stewart Title Chief Economist) had a number of important predictions for the 2018 Houston economy. Click here to view his presentation.

IREM 2018 Course Schedule Available

Education is at the heart of what we do. Be sure to download a copy of our 2018 course schedule here and you can register for any Houston courses here. These classes are great for real estate management professionals at any level of experience and for those working towards an IREM credential.

Managing Maintenance Operations and Property Risks (MNT402) 
February 20-21

Budgeting, Cash Flow and Reporting for Real Estate Investments    February 22-23

Management Plan Skills Assessment (MPSA)                                        March 19-22

CPM Certification Exam (CPMXM)                                                          March 23

Ethics for the Real Estate Manager (ETH800)                                          June 21

Marketing & Leasing Strategies for Office Buildings (MKL406)      September 18-19

Leading a Winning Property Management Team (HRS402)            September 20-21

Financing and Loan Analysis for Investment Real Estate (AMS603) November 5-6

Performance and Valuation of Investment Real Estate (ASM604)    November 7-8

Asset Analysis of Investment Real Estate (ASM605)                      November 9

Congratulations to our 2018 IREM Houston Board

Congratulations to the incredible IREM members who will be leading our chapter in 2018. We're excited for the new year and know this group of professionals has big plans for our membership.

Chapter President -Stephanie Swanson, CPM, ACoM, Transwestern, AMO
President Elect - Janet Shipley, CPM, CBRE, AMO
Treasurer - Kaci Hancock, ACoM, Wulfe & Co
Vice President of Education - Blaire Hoffman, CPM, Deane Realty
Vice President of Membership - Sheryl Green, CPM, Camden Property Trust
Vice President of Services - Erin Holland, CPM, Stream Realty Partners, AMO
Vice President of Communications - Laura Harvey, CPM,  Stream Realty Partners, AMO 
Vice President of Legislative - Matthew Townley, CPM, ARM, Townley Realty Co.
Member-At-Large - Robert Tyler, CPM,  Rockwell Management Corp., AMO
Member-At-Large - Natalie Woodard, CPM, Accesso Services
Immediate Past President - Chase Crawford, CPM,  Stream Realty Partners, AMO     

All leaders are dedicated to the advancement of the property management industry and bring a wealth of professional experience and expertise to their nominated positions on our governing board. Our 2018 leaders will be installed at the January 2018 Luncheon.

IREM Fashion Raises $28,500 for Beneficiaries

Our Third Annual Fashion Fundraiser succesfully brought in $28,500 in total, with $6,000 being donated to our partner charity, ARC of Spring Branch/Memorial. The remainging funds will be used to support further education for our property managers through scholarships, classes and professional development.

Thank you to all of our fantastic volunteers, sponsors and attendees that made this event not only possible, but incredibly profitable!

Check out some of our fabulous event photos here.

Houston Brings Home Innovation Award

We are excited to have earned an IREM National Innovation Award for our Digital Strategy. Our Digital Strategy encompasses all our social media channels, our blog, our new website, increased video presence and time spent with a social media consultant in 2016. The best part of this honor is taking some of what we have learned and sharing it with other IREM Chapters around the United States. Check out our Innovation Award Showcase Presentation (with tips, resources and examples) or check us out online:

Our Blog
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
LinkedIn
YouTube

2017 IREM Awards: Nominate a Member

Have you noticed an IREM Member who has made a significant contribution to our organization or within the industry? As we wrap up 2017, the IREM Houston Chapter would like to honor the outstanding volunteer service of our members. We are accepting nominations for a wide variety of awards based on members’ dedication, leadership and professionalism. Members may nominate more than one person in each category. 

CATEGORIES INCLUDE:

• Breakout Member of the Year
• The Jeff Burcke, CPM of the Year Award
• ARM of the Year Award
• Friend of the Year
• Impact Award
• Mentor of the Year
• For a range of other honors, please name a non-CPM/ARM member(s)

To submit your nominations, please email us here.

Career Kudos!

We are pleased to announce the recent accomplishments of many of our IREM Houston CPM candidates. Congratulations on earning valuable IREM designations and taking the oath of ethics and professionalism.

Help with Hurricane Harvey Recovery

If you are able to help with Hurricane Harvey recovery and relief, please consider the following organizations:

• American Red Cross
• Central Food Bank of Texas
• Texas Diaper Bank
• SPCA of Texas
• Heart to Heart International
• United Way Greater Houston Harvey Relief Fund
• Map of Shelters - with volunteer and donation needs.

Elevator Safety Reminders for Hurricane Harvey and Beyond

As you are probably aware, there is the possibility of strong storms in the upcoming days. The staff of Thyssenkrupp Elevators would like to take this opportunity to remind everybody of the potential hazards associated with pipe breaks, hurricane storm surges, water from floods, and excessive rain. They've prepared a checklist to protect your investment as well as building tenants during and after storms such as these.

During the storm:

- Never ride elevators during any kind of storm

- Evacuate occupants who rely on elevators

- Shut down escalators

- Keep one elevator, serving all floors, operational for emergency personnel and disabled

- Run remaining elevators to the uppermost landings and cycle the doors shut

- Turn off the main disconnects of the remaining elevators in the machine room

- Place sandbags four feet high around the machine-room door

- Shut or cover any vents or openings at the top of the shaft

After the storm:

- Make sure no one is trapped in elevators. If they are, call emergency personnel

- Inspect machine room and pit for water

- Do not ride the elevator down until you are sure there is no presence of water on lower floors

- Check for water on control panels and machine room before restoring power

- If water is found, call your elevator service company

- Open any vents or openings at the top of the shaft

- Record as much information about damage as possible

- Take photographs of any damage in case insurance companies need evidence

This helpful information is brought to you by ThyssenKrupp Elevators. If you have any questions regarding the safety or security of the elevator, please call their main line at (713) 849-2191.

Congrats to our 2018 Nominated Leaders

It is hard to believe we are half-way to 2018. Recently, our nominating team completed their work in building the IREM board of the future. Below are the nominations for our 2018 Officer and Executive Council positions.

Chapter President -Stephanie Swanson, CPM, ACoM, Transwestern, AMO
President Elect - Janet Shipley, CPM, CBRE, AMO
Treasurer - Kaci Hancock, ACoM, Wulfe & Co
Vice President of Education - Blaire Hoffman, CPM, Deane Realty
Vice President of Membership - Sheryl Green, CPM, Camden Property Trust
Vice President of Services - Erin Holland, CPM, Stream Realty Partners, AMO
Vice President of Communications - Laura Harvey, CPM,  Stream Realty Partners, AMO
Vice President of Legislative - Matthew Townley, CPM, ARM, Townley Realty Co.
Member-At-Large - Robert Tyler, CPM,  Rockwell Management Corp., AMO
Member-At-Large - Natalie Woodard, CPM, Accesso Services
Immediate Past President - Chase Crawford, CPM,  Stream Realty Partners, AMO     

All nominated leaders are dedicated to the advancement of the property management industry and bring a wealth of professional experience and expertise to their nominated positions on our governing board. Each nominated leader must be confirmed by a majority vote of IREM Houston Members taking place at our September Luncheon.We hope to see you there participating in the vote. Once elected, they will be installed at the January 2018 Luncheon.

IREM Members Support Our Show

We're excited to announce this year's IREM Fashion Show lineup of models! Without these supportive (and brave) individuals, we would not have such a great show planned for Thursday, October 26th at The Briar Club. More details at www.iremfashion.com

IREM Fashion Show 2017 Models:

Renee Boutelle, Tanglewood Management
Lauren Burgess,CPM, Stream Realty Partners
Chase Crawford, CPM, Stream Realty Partners
Brian Duckro, Spark Lighting
Nicole Foster, Transwestern
Colin George, Fujitec Americas
Robbie Gorrell, All Star Pavement
Sheryl Green, CPM, Camden Property Trust
Shawn Harvey, CPM, Griffin Partners
Haley Hubenak, PCD Management
Phil Jones, Transwestern
Monica Keels, Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing
Johnny Krupowicz, ARC Representative
Laura Krupowicz, CPM, Brookfield
Jessica Larson, Allied Orion
Spencer Overstreet, Terramont Realty Partners
Lynsie Pedraza, Houston Waste Solutions
Nicole Tringali, ThyssenKrupp Elevators
Janet Shipley, CPM, CBRE
Stephanie Sides, CPM, Transwestern
Greg Sherman, CPM, Brookfield Property
Frank Staats, CPM, REIS Associates
Floyd Mahanay, PJS
Jennifer Van Nort, GuardTexas
Robert Tyler, CPM, Rockwell Management
Stephenie Wendt, Stream Realty

IREM's Totally Rad 80s Holiday Party

Our holiday party is always rad, but this year's will be totally tubular. That's because we're getting footloose at our IREM 80s prom! Join fellow members and friends on December 7 for a night of networking, drinks and live music as we celebrate 2017. We'll also be handing out annual awards to some of our most excellent members so join us in wigging out over their righteous accomplishments. Find event information and registration details here. 

Join At A Discount Today!

Have you wanted to join IREM but been scared off by the price tag? Or perhaps you have an employee that needs to join but there's just not room in the budget? Well now is the time to sign up! IREM is offering Associate Memberships at only $110. You get to enjoy all of the benefits of this great organization, like the superior education and networking, for half the annual price. Visit www.irem.org to apply today.

Local Real Estate Firms Recognize the Added Value of Professional Education and Certifications

The Houston Chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM^®) has announced its annual list of top real estate companies in the Houston area based on the number of Certified Property Manager^® (CPM^®) credentialed members they employ locally. To obtain the CPM^® designation, one must meet stringent IREM requirements in the areas of professional education, examination and experience.  They also must pledge to abide by a rigorous Code of Professional Ethics that is strictly enforced by the organization. Read the full press release here.

Local IREM Members Recognized in National "30 under 30" Search

The IREM 30 under 30 Program highlights 30 of the next generation of industry leaders who have made significant impacts in their career and community. These individuals have made various contributions to the profession as demonstrated by career success, professional leadership, and community involvement. We can proudly say that three of them are part of the IREM Houston chapter. Congrats to everyone selected, especially to Houston members Barrett Bogatto with Lincoln Property Company, AMO, Rachel Mondshine with Stream Realty Partners, AMO and Blaire Moreland, CPM with Deane Realty. 

4 Reasons to Earn Your CPM

Are you looking to take your career in property management to the next level? The Certified Property Management (CPM) Designation offered by the Institute of Real Estate Management is a highly regarded mark of a property management professional recognized internationally in the industry.

"The Certified Property Manager designation represents a level of commitment, ethics, intelligence and skill unparalleled in the property management industry.  By setting a standard that managers hold the internationally acclaimed CPM credential, owners and asset managers add an extra layer of protection and assurance that their properties are managed at the highest level of competence and fortitude." - Chase Crawford, CPM, 2017 IREM Houston President 

Check out our new infographic to see just a few ways earning your CPM can propel your career forward.

Budget For IREM in 2018

Make sure you include IREM events, education and dues costs in your annual budgets. We're building a great year of initiatives that will benefit you, your company and your customers. Click here for a sample of potential costs. For a complete list of IREM membership benefits, click here. As always we're here to serve as your career partner, so please let us know what you need.

Annual Ethics Course Set for June

Annual Ethics Course Expected to Sell Out

To assist members with earning their IREM credentials, the Houston Chapter offers the IREM Ethics Course on an annual basis. This year's offering is scheduled for Friday, June 9 and is expected to sell out. 

This interactive media-based course teaches strategies for resolving ethical dilemmas and adherence to the IREM Code of Professional Ethics. It is taught by IREM Certified Property Managers and offers 5 hours TREC MCE for qualifying attendees.

For more information on applying for an IREM Scholarship, click here.

Mid-Year Scholarship Success

IREM Foundation and IREM Houston Award Educational Funds for Professional development

In the vein of our motto, "Leaders Developing Leaders," the IREM Foundation and IREM Houston Chapter have awarded financial scholarships to 16 applicants so far in 2017. Each applicant has the opportunity to use the funds toward three IREM classes before year-end. This totals over $16,000 in potential funds for courses which would assist attendees with valuable IREM credentials.

For more information on applying for an IREM Scholarship, click here.

IREM Book Drive 2017

For the second year, IREM HOuston partnered with Yellowstone Academy to provide books for deserving kids in need.

Yellowstone Academy's mission is to provide a high-qualtiy faith-based education exclusively to students from economically disadvantaged families that will prepare them for academic success in high school and college.

Leaders within Yellowstone Academy are continuing their strong effort to build literacy within the school. By collecting new to gently-loved books reading level Pre-K to High School, Yellowstone is ensuring that not only do they have a robust library, but that students also have reading options at home. IREM Members were invited to drop off any donated books or funds during the months of April and May. In total 400 books were collected along with $250 in additional funds for the library to make purchases. During the last week of school, IREM members participated in the book bask at Yellowstone where books were presented to the kids.

For more information on this incredible institution, watch their video here or visit their website www.yellowstoneacademy.org. 

Houston Member Nominated for RVP

Local Member Shawn Harvey, CPM Nominated for 2018-2020 Regional Vice President

Our former chapter President Shawn Harvey, CPM of Griffin Partners, has been nominated for the Region 7 Vice President position for the 2018-2020 term. His election will be made official at the IREM Golbal Summit in October. Once official, Shawn will represent and serve all IREM Chapters in Texas and Oklahoma for two years. Shawn will follow in the footsteps of current RVP, Kimberly Morgan, CPM (Austin) of Stream Realty Partners, AMO.

IREM Houston Launches Market-Driven Talent Search and Development Program

IREM Houston’s Future Leaders Program promotes the growth of up-and-comers. Please consider nominating real estate management professionals from your company to participate in the program, where they will gain valuable insight, attend free professional development classes, make vital industry connections and harness the tools for a successful career in the Houston market. If you are or know an emerging leader who would benefit from the exclusive opportunities provided through IREM Houston’s Future Leaders Program, submit an application today: