Executive Director’s Message — Working For Our Members

Working For Our Members

By DaviD J. CorDero exeCutive DireCtor

The Apartment Association of Orange County (AAOC) is now in its seventh decade of service to its diverse membership of rentalhousing providers. From serving “mom & pop” owners of a single-family rental home or a couple of duplexes or fourplexes, to independent rental owners with a few hundred units, to large property management companies and REITs with portfolios of 10,000 units or more, AAOC truly is an association that welcomes, serves, and offers something for everyone.

Which of these services offered by AAOC have you utilized and benefitted from as a member of the association?

• Resident screening (credit checks, resident & eviction history, criminal background, and more) • Operational assistance with your landlord-tenant and rental housing questions • Referrals to industry service providers • Legal & operational forms • Educational classes, trainings & certification courses

• Legislative advocacy and representation • Political action involving candidates and issues

• General Membership Meetings • Trade Show & Conference • Reverse Trade Show

• Networking events & business development opportunities • National Apartment Association (NAA) membership • California Rental Housing

Association (CalRHA) representation • Apartment News magazine subscription

In addition to these direct benefits, AAOC members also receive benefits as members of the National Apartment Association (NAA), including: • Click & Lease program – a streamlined leasing process for housing providers and renters, and rental properties of all sizes. • Nationally recognized industry credential programs, and other in-person and online education courses

• Career development & networking opportunities • Federal legislative and regulatory representation and advocacy • Operational solutions and best practices • Legal assistance, industry research, and other resources

• Meetings, conferences, and more

While AAOC and NAA provide excellent programs and services to its members, both associations must always be working to ensure their offerings continue to evolve, and that new benefits are introduced, if they are to remain relevant and valuable to its members for decades to come. Thankfully, they are very aware of this reality, and the efforts of their board leadership, staff, and member volunteers reflect their strong commitment to making sure this continues to happen.

Here, at home, AAOC has four standing committees — Education, Legislative, Membership, and Product & Service Council — whose members actively participate in the assessment of association programs and services. They also contribute to the development of new or the reimagining of existing offerings to help ensure their continued relevance and value to the membership. Our committee members provide a very valuable service, and I appreciate their insight, guidance, and leadership.

What I also appreciate is receiving feedback from the membership at large, letting me know how AAOC is doing and providing me with additional insight about the programs and services the association offers. Which meetings, classes, and special events provide the greatest value? How was their experience when they contacted AAOC with a landlord-tenant question, or a request for operational guidance? Is AAOC doing enough to meet the needs of its members, or are there service elements