Every Member Has A Story

Our goal for this issue and through 2024 is to introduce you to not just the faces of many AAA members but also to their diverse and intriguing stories, which make them the fascinating people who they are. Whether it’s AJ on the industry side or Sam on our products and services side, all of our AAA members are here on the continuous path that they are traveling, and we unequivocally value the moments we have with them.

Alvino Rosales Senior District Sales Manager, Rent.

Alvino has spent the last four years working in the multifamily industry. In his present capacity, he directs a sales team dedicated to serving and assisting the Texas and New Mexico markets. Moreover, Alvino actively participates in the Product and Service Committee at the Texas Apartment Association (TAA) and also holds a board member position with the Texas Apartment Association Education Foundation (TAAEF). As a University of Texas alumnus, he proudly represents Hook’em and currently resides in Austin with his wife and two daughters. This is Alvino’s story inside the multifamily industry.

How did you first become interested in this industry?

I first became interested in the industry through a friend, Brooke Kirkpatrick, who introduced me to Rent. It was a completely new industry for me at the time, but after learning more about the company and the opportunities it presented, I became intrigued. Being from Texas, I was aware of the population growth and the potential for success in an innovative tech company like Rent. Taking this into consideration, I decided to take a leap of faith and join the industry.

How do you believe your background and experiences have contributed to your success in the industry?

I think it’s played a critical role in my success. My parents are Mexican Americans, and I am a proud second-generation Texan! My parents are my heroes. I watched them work in various blue-collar jobs, from construction to janitorial work, before eventually both becoming successful entrepreneurs. They were both smart, resourceful, optimistic, and full of grit. These are all qualities that have continued to serve me well today.

What role do you think diversity and inclusion play in shaping the industry’s future, and how can our association support these ideals?

I think it’s critical to ensure that our industry reflects the changing needs of the customers we serve. The Texas population is growing and becoming more diverse each year. We need people in various roles with diverse backgrounds to share their stories and input to help shape how our industry helps serve a changing customer base.

What do you envision for the future of the industry, and how do you see yourself contributing to it?

I am excited about the future of the industry. Housing continues to be a major focus across the U.S., and the multifamily industry has a big role in shaping that future. I’m also excited to see so many bright and talented individuals contributing to the industry’s success. In Texas, we are making a strong effort to leverage that new talent and inform the public about the endless opportunities within the industry. I do wish I could have learned about the industry sooner in my career, but I hope to do my part in advocating for this amazing industry.

AJ Walker Assistant Regional Manager and Trainer, Rainier Properties

AJ can trace her roots to San Antonio, TX, where she spent her childhood due to her parents’ military service. However, the family’s origins lie in Santa Monica, CA. In 2019, AJ made a significant life-changing move to Austin, which she now holds dear to her heart, considering it the best decision for both personal fulfillment and career advancement.

In 2016, AJ was a college student approaching graduation and came to the realization that her initial plan of attending law school no longer appealed to her. Aware that this decision might not sit well with her father, AJ knew she needed a backup plan, and she needed it quickly. Here’s AJ’s story into the multifamily industry.

Can you walk us through your journey from when you started in the industry to where you are today? Were there any pivotal moments or breakthroughs?

I started as a leasing agent at a C property that was in desperate need of a facelift, internally and externally. But working at this property taught me the fundamentals of property management. I learned how to lease, of course, but more importantly, how to sell a product. It’s easy to lease a brand-new unit with all the upgrades, but to get a prospect to buy into the lifestyle you’re selling them whilst the rails are chipped and the landscaping is less than desirable is an art!

So, transitioning into my next leasing position at a Class A property was a breeze. At this property, I was able to learn how to cater to a different clientele and see what proactive maintenance looked like rather than reactive maintenance as well. This sharpened my skill set and made me feel like I was ready to take a stab at a larger company where growth should be attainable. By this time, I knew a career in property management was for me. There was one company in particular I had set my sights on, but I could not get an interview. I had revamped my resume and had great references, but still no dice. So, this time that I applied, I did something different: I applied as AJ versus my real name, which could be used to determine my ethnicity. To my surprise, I finally got the call for an interview.

Once in the door, I was finally able to be hired on. To some, you may wonder why you would want to work for a company that may have shown bias so early on, but I am a firm believer that you cannot make change if you are not in the room where these decisions are being made. This just made me go that much harder to ensure my name was synonymous with good things. All I needed was a chance to prove myself to be an asset. Within a year, I was promoted to assistant manager; the following year, I was promoted again to be a floating manager and later accepted another opportunity as property manager; and now I serve as the assistant regional manager and trainer at Rainier Properties.

Chris Romeo Regional Vice President, Dixie Carpet Installations

Chris began his career at Home Depot in Jackson, TN, working as a sales associate in the hardware department. His dedication and hard work led to opportunities to travel and assist in opening new stores across the country, and he achieved the position of store manager at the remarkable age of 22. After serving as store manager for a couple of years, he made the deliberate choice to temporarily step away from his career to pursue higher education. Eventually, he enrolled at UT Austin, where he successfully graduated in 2009. Here is Chris’s story into the multifamily industry.

Since you transitioned into this industry from the retail field, what prompted the change?

Serving as a store manager educated me on the fundamentals of leadership and helped me determine what kind of leader I wanted to become. I continued to work at The Home Depot after graduation as a pro-account sales associate. This position expanded my knowledge of flooring and construction in general. I always wanted to do something besides retail, so when Dixie gave me an opportunity, I decided to take a chance.

What was your career growth like at Dixie, and what motivates you in your role?

I started with Dixie in 2017 as an account manager. This was my introduction to the multifamily industry, which I quickly grew to love. I found myself helping train new account managers along the way and enjoyed doing so. In 2021, the Dixie branch in Austin had grown to a point where we needed someone to take over the sales team, and I was honored to take over as RVP of Sales. With the help of my mentor and friend Beau Bastian and an amazing team, we kept growing and growing. We went from a sales team of 5 to a sales team of 10. In 2023, my mentor Beau was promoted to SRVP of the state of Texas, and I was asked to take over the Austin branch. I took over as RVP of Austin. This role presents new challenges every day, and I try my best to tackle them and keep us moving in the right direction. My motivation comes from the people I work with and who depend on me every day.

What challenges or obstacles have you encountered along the way, and how do you deal with them?

Sales can be a challenge in itself. I had days where I thought I was not cut out for it, followed by days when I felt on top of the world. I always stayed positive no matter what kind of day I was having, and that helped me overcome the challenging days. I share these experiences with my team because I know they have similar days. I make sure they know it’s natural and that everyone, including me, has gone through it.

Kim McGregor Two Term AAA President

Kim’s expertise lies in the realm of property management. He ventured into the world of property management during his tenure at the University of Texas, a decision that wasn’t originally intended to shape his long-term career. His initial plans and preparations revolved around becoming an Air Force pilot. However, an unexpected turn of events shortly before his graduation altered the course of his life, leading him to exclusively dedicate himself to the field of property management. It was as if destiny had a hand in it. Here’s Kim’s story into the multifamily industry.

What was your introduction into the multifamily industry?

My college roommate and I lived in a 37-unit complex on the Drag that was older than we were, and when we started managing it, we received free rent plus $5 in quarters for cleaning the laundry. I was under contract with the Air Force through the ROTC program and the apartment deal was just a sideline to pay the rent. A bout with cancer canceled that flyboy dream, so I had to regroup to figure out my future and help support my family.

What was it about this industry that inspired you to grow into new roles?

I never planned on staying in this industry, but I soon learned that I liked it and admired the people I worked for. They worked hard and had nice cars, they had offices, and they treated me well. After managing and maintaining those 37 units, I moved up to 60 new units, plus performing light maintenance and make readies. I was really green, but I actually enjoyed it and I needed the money. The first sink disposal I changed out took me several hours, and I cleaned a lot of ovens before I discovered that if you remove the oven door, oven cleaning is a lot easier and faster. Working in maintenance was okay, but really, I was better suited to lead teams, organizing and completing projects, and solving problems.

What was a significant moment in your career growth, and any challenges that you faced?

One milestone was changing from hourly to salaried pay. I think I made less, but I began to feel like this was something I could make a career out of. One challenge for me was a lack of formal business training and minimal math skills. Although I had a degree in Radio-Television-Film, I found that I had to work hard, pay attention, and ask questions to grow in the industry. My leadership training and public speaking background were very helpful.

Since you have served two terms as AAA President, how did that come about?

My association involvement began by going to meetings and activities, I was soon on committees and on the board. In those days, elections for the Board of Directors was competitive, and I was on the Executive Committee for what seemed like a long time before I became the AAA president in 1989, several generations ago. In 1998 I was president again, after someone resigned. Along the way I have chaired many committees and have also been on the TAA and NAA boards as well.

Kim McGregor now serves as D.O.C. Drive Chair Emeritus

Heejon Ko-Herm Vice President of Client Relations, RPM Living

Heejon holds a threedecade-long career in property management, encompassing expertise in lease-ups, value-add, and student portfolios. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas at Austin, bleeds orange, and is a well-known figure of leadership within the multifamily industry. Let’s hear Heejon’s story.

What was it about this industry that sparked your interest?

During my last year at UT, while living in an apartment, I always watched the leasing office staff smiling and having fun. Since I had never met a stranger, I knew I could do the job. I inquired about a part-time position, and they immediately called me to start working weekends. After graduating, I pursued my degree, and after some time, my job did not fulfill me. I decided to get back into the multifamily business.

How did your previous experiences contribute to your success in the current industry?

I have found that true success comes from working with great leaders and doing what I love with people I love. It’s not just about achieving goals; it’s also about the journey and the relationships we build along the way. When we are passionate about what we do and surrounded by supportive and like-minded individuals, success comes naturally.

What challenges or obstacles have you encountered along your three-decade career, and how did you overcome them?

When starting in this business, you watch your assistant manager and manager and think, I can do their job. What do they do all day? I’m taking care of everyone who walks in the door. You push and push, and finally, you get that promotion. Everyone thinks they can do the job until you are in their shoes. Instantly, workload and responsibilities! I overcame the workload and responsibilities by working with a fantastic leader and mentor. She helped me prioritize and take it slow. I worked twice as hard and for more hours than I have ever worked. I wanted it that BAD. With passion and determination, I was successful in my role and received my next promotion in 6 months.

How do you believe your unique background and experiences have contributed to your success in the industry? 

Being an Asian American, my unique background has given me a business opportunity that has helped me grow. When a signifi- cant business came into Austin and needed an Asian translator, I welcomed them to Austin and made them feel at home.

What have been some of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned through your career?

You have to love what you do.

Looking back, what advice would you give someone new to the industry?

Take it slow. Be Passionate, invest in yourself, and love what you do. This industry has many different roles; find the right one for you.

If someone were to read your story, what takeaway would you hope they gain from it?

Do what you love and what you are passionate about. Success will follow.

Sam Levassar National Account Manager, WeDoTrash

Sam grew up in Houston and attended Texas A&M University, earning a theater degree. Shortly after graduation, he relocated to New York City, specifically Hell’s Kitchen, where he shared a 1-bedroom apartment with a friend who had already been living there. They resided in NYC for 8 years before eventually making the move to Los Angeles, where they spent another 10 years. Throughout their time in Los Angeles, they remained active in the acting industry, managed a theater in Theater Row, and supplemented their income by working as bartenders. This is Sam’s story in the multifamily industry.

How exactly did you transition from the LA film world into multifamily in Texas?

In 2008, our daughter was born, and I decided to put the wheels in motion to move back to Texas and get a “grown-up” job. So, I reached out to my buddy Billy Griffin, who had been trying to hire me all those years and told him I was ready to move back and come to work for him! His answer to me was, “We are not hiring…” But he did help me find a job in the multifamily industry in a sales position in Austin. So, we moved back to Austin.

I think that all the rejections I had gotten as an actor made it easy to transition into sales. As an actor, you are constantly going into auditions with a ton of actors all looking to get one role. So, it’s a numbers game, and after a while, you get numb to the rejection but keep on grinding until you get the part. It’s the same in sales; sometimes the reason you don’t get the sale has nothing to do with you or your product, so I never take it personally. Once I jumped headfirst into sales, I just stayed motivated and never got discouraged.

Can you walk us through your early days within this industry, and what were some pivotal moments or breakthroughs?

When I first started in the industry, I didn’t know anyone in Austin, much less in the multifamily industry, but I was told to get involved with the Austin Apartment Association, and I showed up to the first happy hour by myself. Thankfully, JR Rodriguez introduced herself (knowing I was new) and walked me around the event and introduced me to everyone. The next event I attended, I met Teri Needham with PS Landscapes, who kind of looked like she knew what she was doing! So, I asked her what I needed to do to get involved and become successful in our industry, and her response was, “Just show up.” From that point on, I showed up for everything, and my career started to take off from there.

Looking back, what advice would you give to someone new to the industry?

The best piece of advice was that you must show up, get involved, and be active. Newcomers also need to remember to tell people where they want to go, ask what they need to do to move up in the association, and be vocal of their goals. However, one of the most important tips I could give anyone is to make sure to put your drinks on “Fowler’s Tab."