Letter from the President

LEARN FROM THE LEADERS

Advice from the Houston Apartment Association’s rich legacy of past presidents.

BEFORE I INTRODUCE the next HAA past president to share their leadership lessons, I want to thank our maintenance teams and our supplier partners for their courage and dedication in the wake of the winter freeze we experienced in the middle of February.

Millions of Texans were without power and water in freezing temperatures for days, some were without water for even longer than that. It was an uneasy time for Houstonians. We desperately wanted to go back to our pandemic infused normal. Thanks to our fearless and selfless maintenance teams and supplier partners, we were able to do just that. I know I can speak for the entire apartment industry when I say we thank and appreciate each and every one of you for the long hours you all worked under incredibly harsh conditions to get basic services restored as quickly as possible back to our residents.

All of the challenges we have faced over the last couple of years has only made us stronger and so much more creative. These were skills that the iconic HAA Past President, Suan Tinsley, had to harness early on in her property management career.

Tinsley started her career during one of the most challenging times in Houston, during the 1980 oil bust. Relying on her creativity and resilience, Tinsley was promoted to vice president of operations. She went on to work for industry moguls such as Marvy and Ronny Finger of the Finger Companies and big-name companies like Greystar. Today, Tinsley is a partner of DayRise Residential, a management company she started with her partners.

Tinsley has poured so much of her time, energy and leadership into the association over the decades. Tinsley became HAA president in 2007, and in 2017, she was inducted into the HAA Hall of Fame. She, and so many other HAA veterans, have helped shape this association into what it is today.

John: What are some things you wish you knew when you started your career?

Suan: That the sky is the limit. Don’t be afraid to investigate all aspects of property management, such as marketing, asset management, business services, training, etc., to ensure you are on the right track with what makes you the happiest.

John: What skill do you believe is the most important to perfect for someone who does what you do?

Suan: Motivate, motivate, motivate your teams. Be a cheerleader for your employees. Also, hire zest.

John: What is the hardest leadership lesson that keeps being presented to you that you either have to learn or relearn?

Suan: Keeping up with technology. And, being willing to learn the most effective way of running your business. An owner once asked what my strengths and weaknesses were in an interview. He told me he believed in putting people in positions that complimented their strengths. That was very liberating for me.

John: What was either the best career advice you’ve ever received or the worst career advice you’ve ever received?

Suan: The best career advice I’ve ever received was that we are in the business 24/7. That advice really struck a chord with me. Also, one owner I worked for always said it’s all about the manager. This is so true. It is the most critical position in our business.

John: Describe either a challenge, accomplishment or decision that catapulted you to your success?

Suan: Focusing on revenue primarily, then expenses second. I had a boss who once asked me if I had an extra hour in each day, would I focus on revenue or expenses? I was always concerned about spending too much money, so my response was expense control. His advice to me was to focus on revenue and the rest would fall into place. That advice confirmed my main skillset.

John: Do you have a morning or daily routine that you feel makes you a more productive or successful person?

Suan: I get up early and spend quiet time planning my day. I used to be at the gym by 5 a.m. to workout for two hours. Unfortunately, I let that routine lapse when I started my company and I was on the road constantly. I know what you’re going to say, “You can work out in hotels!”