The Cream of the Crop

How the winners of the Vision Awards put a strong focus on education, company culture and service to others.

1. Emphasize Education

Education is important and companies who won in this category offer specific in-house training for staff, developers they work with and homeowners/board members.

Some require CCAM certification from its community managers as well as for them to continue pursuing formal training beyond the CCAM.

Developers are taught about their role on the board when they own a majority of the lots not sold. And homeowners and board members are invited to board training sessions that provide them a better understanding of the inner workings of their communities and of their fiduciary roles.

These companies often invest in the education of their staff by paying for outside courses, certification, or for attendance at educational seminars and events. During the pandemic, they also took their education online to Zoom or other platforms to ensure opportunities were still available.

Associa Northern California

Powerstone Property Management, ACMC

The Helsing Group, Inc. ACMC

EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE – COMPANY WINNERS

Northern California

2021: The Helsing Group, Inc. ACMC

2022: Associa Northern California

Southern California

2021: Powerstone Property Management, ACMC

2022: Professional Community Management

2. Have Culture that Inspires

Inspirational culture comes in many shapes and sizes, but ultimately, it’s about uplifting morale, building loyalty and a team environment. During the pandemic, one company made sure to keep staff employed and paid them full hours even when days ended early or there was no work due to Covid restrictions. It also implemented health benefits amid the pandemic and provided raises even during difficult economic times. All of this was not lost on the staff.

Another company instituted flex Fridays to promote a healthy work life balance and holds nearly 50 events throughout the year including outings to Angels games, potlucks, Halloween costume contests, and beach days. During the pandemic, these became virtual games. Providing a team lunch once a month and recognizing those who are excelling publicly at meetings with awards are other ways in which staff are rewarded for their work.

Team building through weekly morning meetings and holding everyone accountable for their projects are other ways in which culture is created. Promoting collaboration but encouraging self-sufficiency is how one winner described it.

“Micromanaging will only hurt your team and your business because it disallows innovation and creativity,” this company said. “When bringing on new team members, we ask ‘how would you go about this’ instead of telling them how to do it because it opens doors to new perspectives and thoughts to enter the conversation.”

In a nutshell, leaders at these companies were described as “taking care of their people.” And as a result, they have created a work environment where employees are excited to come to each day.

One of these winners hosted a team bonding event as a way to address the stresses the pandemic brought on. They rented a party bus, closed the office on a Friday and took staff to Universal Studios Hollywood for the day. The result: “staff are closer than ever. We learned a lot about each other on individual levels and have embraced our different quirks.”

East West Building Works

Kelly & Eccleston Management

INSPIRATIONAL CULTURE – COMPANY WINNERS

Northern California

2021: East West Building Works

2022: California Builder Services

Southern California

2021: Powerstone Property Management, ACMC

2022: Kelly & Eccleston Management

3. Are In Service of Others

Finally, companies that won the social impact award showed their devotion to serving others. Whether it was through toy drives, food drives or fundraising, these winners devoted significant time and money toward the service of others not through one charity or one event, but by supporting many causes throughout the year.

Service to others is deeply ingrained in their company fabric. Through the pandemic, many events were postponed or canceled, but one company kept its annual charity casino night going – taking it virtual.

Another winner has supported a cancer foundation for many years, organizing various fundraising events, and through a decade-long partnership raised more than $800,000 to defeat childhood cancer. They started small, with a lunch/ happy hour or 5K run and each year have built on to their existing events.

At their latest silent auction, they had over 350 business partners and employees join. The next goal in sight is reaching a million dollars for the foundation they support.

“Having a culture of giving boosts the morale of our team,” the company said.

The Management Trust, Southern California, ACMC

Powerstone Property Management, ACMC

SOCIAL IMPACT – COMPANY WINNERS

Southern California

2021: The Management Trust, Southern California, ACMC

2022: Powerstone Property Management, ACMC