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Let IREM® Be Your Mentor
A mentor is a great asset to have personally and professionally. Mentors use their experiences, knowledge, and judgment to help guide you through challenges you may encounter as you develop and grow into your career. For years I regretted never having a mentor. I was either the head of a property management department or worked for a company usually located miles from its main office.
In the early 1970s I started my career in property management and decided to join IREM. I was managing and leasing a diverse portfolio for a developer and needed to expand my knowledge of property management. IREM’s publications and courses allowed me to build up a base of critical knowledge that helped me become an effective property manager and develop a successful career. IREM’s books along with my subscription to the Journal of Property Management helped me understand best practices in managing and leasing commercial and residential properties. Eventually, I became a Certified Property Manager (CPM®).
I started attending monthly chapter meetings in Los Angeles. Every property manager I met told me to call them if I had any questions. So I did! I was asked to serve on a committee that enabled me to work with some of the more experienced property managers, and later in my career I attended regional and national meetings to expand my industry contacts. I never could have developed such valuable and helpful contacts without IREM. I served as the Western Washington IREM chapter president in 1985 and as IREM international president in 1998. Being on committees, chairing committees, and serving as an officer of my local chapter and internationally instilled my confidence, improved my public speaking skills, and gave me the unique and incredible opportunity to observe and learn leadership skills from the best in our industry.
When you become active in IREM locally or nationally, you develop a wealth of resources. You build relationships with people you can call on for every imaginable property, client, and personnel situation you encounter. For years I did not realize I had a mentor. Looking back, IREM was always there for me developing my knowledge of property management and providing me with opportunities to grow personally and professionally. I always had a mentor and that mentor was and still is IREM. If you don’t have someone to guide you, let IREM be your mentor.
Richard Muhlebach, CPM® is a broker, consultant, educator, and author in Woodinville, Washington. E-mail Richard
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The Future of IREM: Q & A
An IREM Student Member shares his insights and offers suggestions to his peers who are looking at property management as a career choice.
Name: Evan Jaquias-Johnson
School: SUNY Stony Brook
Major: Business Management, Finance
E-mail Evan
Q. What got you interested in property management?
In 2008, my father became a partial owner of a 33-unit apartment complex in Oxnard, California. This exposure appealed to my business side, and I began to understand that property management would be a highly tangible application of the concepts and skills gained from my business degree. I have also been interested in real estate investments for some time, and during my last internship at a commercial leasing office, my broker suggested property management, not only as a wonderful, hands-on career path, but also as a great way to gain investment savvy.Q. How did you hear about IREM?
After researching property management, I noticed that the CPM designation seemed to be an important credential in order to succeed in the field, and I found that it was a credential through IREM. I also met with the former president of the IREM California Central Coast Chapter in my hometown who encouraged me to join my IREM chapter as a way to get into property management.Q. What was your first IREM event?
My first event was the Asset and Property Management Symposium in March, 2010 held by the Greater New York Chapter.Q. Describe your experience at the event.
My experience at the symposium was far better than I could have imagined. First off, the event was much larger than I had anticipated; however, this proved very beneficial since I was able to meet a large number of people. I found that everyone I spoke with was very welcoming of a new student member and very happy to talk with me and introduce me to other members at the event. The positive experience I had by going to this event encouraged me to continue attending the monthly meetings and build and strengthen the relationships I created at the symposium.Q. What did you get out of going to the event?
The most valuable part of attending the event was the numerous contacts I met through networking. Not only was I lucky enough to meet and speak with IREM 2010 President Randy Woodbury and Regional VP Jesse Holland, I met some of the chapter officers as well as representatives from many of the property management companies in the NYC area. Through speaking with these individuals and listening to the presentations, I gleaned some valuable insight on succeeding in the industry and how to gain a competitive edge.Q. What can IREM do for you to get you where you want to go?
Again, access to IREM’s massive network of professionals is one of the most valuable benefits which is sure to contribute to my entrance into the industry. Once established in the industry, IREM can help me pursue the CPM designation which can only add to my level of expertise and success in the industry.Q. What advice would you give to other students interested in property management?
By all means, attend the chapter meetings. You will stand out because very few students choose to attend—I was one of a few students to attend the symposium, and the only undergraduate student that I know of to attend the events. These meetings are a great way to meet local professionals in an informal setting, pick their brains for advice and information about the industry, and make yourselves known. By attending the meetings and talking with these professionals, you will have a better idea of the direction you want to go within property management. I know that meeting new people, especially professionals, can be intimidating, but trust me when I say that the IREM community is an extremely welcoming and friendly group of people that will not hesitate to help you in whatever way possible. Also, consider interning at a property management company or inquire about resident manager opportunities at your apartment building in order to see what property management is really about.
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gET educated
Success Strategies for Commercial and Multifamily Real Estate Careers
Your Personal Career Coach!
A practical guide that provides the know-how to develop and manage your real estate career so you achieve the results you want. Interviews of successful real estate practitioners, along with the author's experience, provide the knowledge, ideas, and plan to create career success! for you.
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Introducing IREM iCon
IREM’s annual business meeting and education conference are undergoing a makeover and will become IREM iCon. Students, who can attend for a nominal fee, will have access to industry professionals as well as numerous learning opportunities. Make plans to attend.
Date: October 19-23, 2010
Conference Location: Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
14100 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane Orlando, FL
Non-Member: $800
Member: $600
Student: $100
Want to know more? www.IREMiCon.com
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Are you connected to IREM? You can get the latest industry and IREM news wherever you are on the web!
RSS – add the IREM RSS feed http://www.irem.org/whatshappening.xml to your RSS reader and get the latest articles posted on IREMFIRST What’s Happening.
Twitter – follow @IREM_info for conference updates, industry news, and more.
Facebook – become an IREM fan at www.facebook.com/InstituteofRealEstateManagement
YouTube – check out the IREM YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/IREMinfo
IREMFIRST – don’t forget to add your profile to IREMFIRST.org, and rate articles, participate in message board discussions, and earn points on the community leaderboard.
