GCNKAA April 2024 Apartment Advantage Newsletter

PRESTIGEAWARDS HONORINGEXCELLENCE

GCNKAA PRESTIGE AWARDS: HONORING EXCELLENCE IN MULTIFAMILY HOUSING

The long-anticipated return of the Prestige Awards is right around the corner. We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to each of the finalists in our more than 30 award categories. Their remarkable achievements and contributions have truly stood out, and we commend them for their dedication and excellence. To see a list of the finalists, please see page 25 inside this newsletter.

The winners will be announced during our upcoming Prestige Awards ceremony on Friday, April 19, 2024, at The Savannah Center in West Chester from 6 pm to 10 pm. This event promises to be a celebration of excellence, professionalism, and success in multifamily housing. Limited tickets are still available on a first come first serve basis for $100 per person.

A big thank you to our sponsors, especially BRG Apartments for their Sapphire Sponsorship; HILLS Properties for their Platinum Sponsorship; Chadwell Supply, CIG Communities, Fath Properties,PLK Communities, Royal Finish, and Towne Properties for their Gold Sponsorships; Rookwood

MEMBERS WIN BIG MONEY AT TRADE SHOW!

Congratulations to Heather Cowgill with Morgan Properties, Amy Hardin with BRG Apartments, and Michael Atchison with Heritage Hill Capital Partners for winning, respectively, the 200, $500, and $1000 Scavenger Hunt prizes and to Johnathan Stephens with CB Management for winning the $1000 VIP Grand Prize at the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Apartment Association Trade Show.

With thanks to a jam-packed day and an excellent line up of seminars, a crowd of more than 700 people attended the free annual trade show which featured 90 exhibitors displaying their products or services. A big thank you to all our sponsors and exhibitors who made this event a success and we hope to see you back in 2025!

And finally, thank you to our VIP Sponsors who helped make this trade show as successful as before: AAA State of Play, Apartments.com, Apply Rite, Belfor Property Restoration, Calloway Cleaning & Restoration, Chadwell Supply, ePremium Insurance Agency, Hays + Sons Restoration, MB Link Refinshing, Pinnacle Paving & Sealing, PPG Paints, Rent, Rite Rug, Royal Finish, Sherwin Williams, Zillow Rentals, and Zumper.

Properties for their Silver Sponsorship; CORT, ePremium Insurance Agency, Hearth Home Communities, and Pinnacle Paving & Sealing for their Bronze Sponsorship; Dynegy, Marsh & McLennan Agency, Rent Manager, and Scherzinger Pest Control for their Copper Sponsorship; and AmRent and Dry Patrol for their Patron Sponsorship. None of this is possible without your support.

Pete Regules has worked at CORT for over 30 years and currently serves as the Vice President: Residential National Accounts. He has held leadership positions within numerous associations including the National Apartment Association. During his career, Pete has been an industry speaker, event emcee, teacher, and an award winner, including induction into the Florida Apartment Association Hall of Fame, NAA Paragon Award and receiving the NAA Lifetime Achievement Award. He has contributed to countless industry publications and is known to many as the “Doctor of Fun.” Click here for details.

BUSINESS EXCHANGE DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS APRIL 12

The Business Exchange offers our members the opportunity to meet one-onone in 5-minute intervals with key decision makers from several of the participating property owner and management companies. The first 10 to 15 rotations will be pre-scheduled meetings with companies with whom you have requested to meet. But hurry! Due to the time involved to schedule meetings and prepare the Event Booklet, the deadline to register is April 12! Click here to reserve your spot!

PROPERTY OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT COMPANIES:

This is your opportunity to conduct multiple meetings with multiple vendors in one morning, allowing you to easily expand your network of suppliers. Once you register to participate, you will receive an Information Statement Form complete with an A-to-Z listing of the products and services our associate members provide to the multifamily housing industry. Simply complete the information and select the top 10 to 15 products or services you are looking to invest in for 2024 and 2025 and return to GCNKAA. We will then schedule meetings with companies that provide the products and services in which you are interested.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS:

We are allowing participating property management companies to select up to 10 products and services they are looking to invest in during the upcoming year. We will then match your selections with their selections to provide all of our participants with more valuable meetings. After the initial 10 to 15 rotations, you may randomly move around the floor as you see best for your business goals. Depending on the total number participants, you may - or may not - have to wait a few rotations between meetings.

Diamond Sponsors

MELISSA JOY

Village Green Mgmt President mjoy@villagegreen.com

JUSTIN SEGER HILLS Properties

Vice President

JustinS@hillsinc.com

CRAIG COFFMAN Uptown Rental Properties

Treasurer ccoffman@uptownrents.com

MEGAN LAWHON PLK Communities Secretary megan@plkcommunities.com

TONYA PETERSEN

Vinebrook Homes Immediate Past President rpmhousingpro@gmail.com

2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mark Arnold, Royal Finish Associate Council 2nd Vice President

Lloyd Cobble, CIG Communities

Brian Fullenkamp, Legacy Management

Rod Herper, National Credit Systems Associate Council 1st Vice President

Todd Hignite, Hearth Home Communities

Lisa Isham, CMHA

Oksana Lukjanenko, Denizen Management

Mike Markus, BRG Apartments

Jordann Morgan, Fath Properties

John Recob, Towne Properties

Grant Saunders, Hays + Sons Restoration

Associate Council President

Charles Tassell, Parliamentarian Cornerstone Redevelopment

Elizabeth Werner, Sandstone Properties

GCNKAA STAFF

Rebecca McLean, Executive Vice President

Pat Crowley, VP of Governmental Affairs

Michele Klusman, Director of Communications & Programs; Apartment Advantage Editor

Rick Holste, Director of Membership Sales

Zach Jameson, Accounting, Database & Office Coordinator

James Combs, Education & Social Media Coordinator

Susan Peck, AA Outreach Coordinator

Nicole Metz, Membership Coordinator and Office Administrator

GCNKAA PAST PRESIDENTS

2023...Tonya Petersen

2022...Tonya Petersen

2021...Don Brunner

2020...Don Brunner

2019...Jud Oscherwitz

2018...Jud Oscherwitz

2017...Stacy Walton

2016...Stacy Walton

2015...Rusty Lykes

2014...Rusty Lykes

2013...Maria Stanton

2012...Maria Stanton

2011...Jeff March

2010...Brian Fullenkamp

2009...Brian Hendy, CPM

2008...Brian Hendy, CPM

2007...Becky Alejandrino, CPM

2006...Marc Cameron, CPM

2005...Marc Cameron, CPM

2004...Gary Sanzone, CPM, CAPS, CAM, NALP

2003...Gary Sanzone, CPM, CAPS, CAM, NALP

2002…Jim Ruh

2001…Jay Ingram, CPM

2000…Roy Wergers

1999…Roy Wergers

1998…Robert J. Wahlke, CAPS

1997…Terry Sievers

1997…Dave Lockard

1996…Jim Cohen, CPM

1995…Jim Ruh

1994…Mark Robinson

1993…David Noll

1992…Bernie Wessels **

1992…Jerry A. Molique, CPM, CAPS **

1991…Jay O. Ingram, Jr., CPM

1990…Ronald Bommer

1989…John Cobey

1988…Robert J. Wahlke, CAPS

1987…Robert J. Wahlke, CAPS

1986…Charles Berling

1985…Joseph Fullenkamp, CAPS

1984…John Stalnaker

1983…Jerry A. Molique, CPM, CAPS

1982…Harry Fath

**Apartment Association of N. KY merged with GCNKAA

ADVERTISING RATES 2024

The following advertising rates are for full year contracts. Six month contracts are also available. Call the GCNKAA office at 513 407-8612 for more information.

Ad rates are for full color ads. Link from your ad to your website is included. Ads must be submitted as a press quality pdf file or high resolution jpg sized correctly.

ADVERTISING DEADLINES

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October 2024

April 1, 2024

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December 2024

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Across the Board

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

By Melissa Joy, President

Spring has sprung in Greater Cincinnati!

The year 2024 is poised to be an exceptional year for the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Apartment Association (GCNKAA) and our amazing members. We have already packed in several meetings, events, education classes, and have a busy few months on the horizon. In case you missed it, we had one of the BEST Trade Shows ever! The GCNKAA rocked it out to an 80s themed Trade Show at the Sharonville Convention Center on March 27. Attendance was totally rad and the feedback from our members, just as rad! We hope you enjoyed the event and that you were able to connect with the supplier partners who showed up and showed out to support our organization. The event was preceded by a series of leadership forums for Human Resources, Marketing, and Executive professionals in the multifamily industry.

What else is happening at the GCNKAA? I’m glad you asked! There are SO MANY reasons to be excited about the rest of the spring season and summer. Just to name a few: coming up fast in April, we have the highly anticipated return of The Prestige Awards

This section contains articles and information concerning the Board of Directors and Association policies.

on April 19 at the Savannah Center. After the Prestige Awards, you will have just enough time to rest up for the Apartment Association Outreach (AAO) 5k for Rent on April 27 at Friendship Park. Find out more about both events in this newsletter and online.

And if you’re still making plans for summer, the National Apartment Association (NAA) Apartmentalize conference is taking place in Philadelphia from June 18 through June 21. This conference is chock full of education sessions, a national trade show, and an abundance of networking opportunities. The GCNKAA is fortunate to have many members, including board members, who serve on national committees and hold higher leadership positions at the national level. It’s an important time for our industry with the current economic conditions and boundless legislative issues that face multifamily owners and operators; the more members who stay actively involved and serve, whether locally or nationally, the stronger we are! If you’ve ever considered attending the Apartmentalize conference, I challenge you to consider making this the year you join us!

I look forward to seeing many of you in the upcoming weeks and months, both in person and online. If you don’t already follow our social media pages, check us out on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. We would love to interact with you and share photos! If you post be sure to use #GCNKAA and we will follow along!

SILVER SPONSOR

BRONZE SPONSORS

COPPER SPONSORS

Melissa Joy Village Green Mgmt.

Brain Power

OUR BIGGEST EDUCATION LINEUP IN 5 YEARS!

By James Combs, Education and Social Media Coordinator

It’s only April and we have already had six educational offerings! We don’t plan on slowing down. With so much great content coming, we want to show it all off. Below you’ll get a chronological outlook about what is to come but to fit it all, it’ll be abbreviated. Go to www.gcnkaa.org for full details!

HOUSING-PRO PASS: AVAILABLE NOW!

The Housing-Pro Pass is an undeniable value for our members. Sold at the top-level company, one pass covers your company’s entire portfolio. This bulk subscription allows every employee to enjoy unlimited-free or discounted education offered by the GCNKAA. This includes things like Fair Housing, Hands On Maintenance, Sales for Leasing, and more!

SEMINARS, WEBINARS, AND MORE! (MORE TO COME)

• Marijuana & Multi Family Housing – April 8, 2024 –Will issue 2 impact property management practices? Will it change employment practices? This session aims to answer these questions and any others you may have!

• Hands On: Leasing Meets Sales – April 11, 2024 –Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the numbers, becoming an expert in the subject will catapult you to the next level in your career!

• Hands On: Leasing Meets Sales – May 2, 2024 – Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the numbers, becoming an expert in the subject will catapult you to the next level in your career!

• KY Fair Housing by Art Crosby – May 10, 2024 – Join us for an engaging seminar focused on Kentucky Fair Housing laws and their crucial implications for the multi-family industry. Led by a licensed Kentucky Attorney.

• You Bet Your Assets! Animals, Accommodations, & HUD – June 10, 2024 – Learn how to navigate the intricacies of assistance animal guidelines with confidence and ease!

• Moisture & Indoor Air Quality – TBD – Uncontrolled indoor moisture can cause major damage to the building structure and negatively impact indoor air quality. This course helps you understand how to appropriately manage these conditions.

• Multimeter Basics – TBD – This class will cover how to use a multimeter and what to use it for. Topics include circuit basics and continuity/resistance related to appliance electrical troubleshooting.

• Underground Plumbing – TBD – An advanced level seminar, you’ll cover sanitary sewers and storm drains. How these systems work with and affect your property.

• Conflict Resolution Training – August 28, 24 – Acquire practical insights that will equip you with the knowledge to navigate complex relationships within the apartment indus-

James Combs

try and effectively find resolutions in times of conflict.

CERTIFICATIONS!

• EPA 608 – April 5, 2024 – Section 608 of the Federal Clean Air Act requires that all persons who maintain, service, repair or dispose of appliances that contain regulated substances be certified in proper refrigerant handling techniques.

• Certified Pool Operator – April 22, 2024 – A CPO® Certification provides individuals with the basic knowledge, techniques, and skills to manage pool and spa operations. Attendees will get to go for an on-site visit at our nearby pool facility for hands on learning!

• Certified Apartment Leasing Professional (CALP) –May 23, 2024 – CALP is many people’s first industry credential. By professionalizing your leasing skills, you set up the foundation of a successful career in the industry and add a great notch for upward growth!

• EPA 608 – July 19, 2024 – Section 608 of the Federal Clean Air Act requires that all persons who maintain, service, repair or dispose of appliances that contain regulated substances be certified in proper refrigerant handling techniques.

• Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor (CAPS) – July

22, 2024 – Recommended for multi-site managers or those looking to grow into a multi-site manager role.

• Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) – September 13, 2024 – 2024 brings a completely updated curriculum for today’s property managers! Allows you to demonstrate that you have the knowledge and ability to manage an apartment community

• EPA 608 – October 18, 2024 – Section 608 of the Federal Clean Air Act requires that all persons who maintain, service, repair or dispose of appliances that contain regulated substances be certified in proper refrigerant handling techniques.

INVOLVEMENT, SPONSORSHIP, QUESTIONS

If you are interested in getting involved with the Education or NextGen Committee and help plan all of the great education opportunities, join us for our monthly meetings! Contact james@ gcnkaa.org for details and invitations.

GCNKAA’s education and NextGen programs offer great exposure through sponsorship. Seminars and course modules can be sponsored for as little as $150 and comes with many benefits. Sponsorship funds help the association provide extra amenities to the attendees.

CPO CERTIFICATION COURSE

A CPO® Certification provides individuals with the basic knowledge, techniques, and skills to manage pool and spa operations. This training has helped protect millions of swimmers by reducing hazards at aquatic facilities. The PHTA® Certified Pool/Spa Operator® (CPO®) Certification program, the world's leading verifiable pool and spa training credential, is available as a blended (online and in-person) training program.

The course fee includes all books, handouts, worksheets, materials, the CPO exam, and a 5-year CPO certification for those who pass. Premier Pool Management also offers all students free phone consulting for issues related to the CPO course anytime they find themselves in a bind at their own pool.

TOPICS COVERED

Pool & Spa Management, Regulations & Guidelines, Essential Calculations, Pool Water Contamination & Disinfection, Water Balance, Pool & Spa Water Problems, Chemical Testing & Chemical Feed & Control, Water Circulation & Filtration, Heating & Air Circulation, Spa & Therapy Operations, Facility Safety & Record Keeping, Troubleshooting, and Facility Renovation & Design

GCNKAA’s Housing-Pro Pass

Unlimited learning for your entire company!

CEC’s for the whole team

Employees of the subscribed company can attend unlimited seminars for free!

Low, Predictable cost & High ROI

At .50 cents a unit, the average GCNKAA member’s savings pay for the pass after 5 people attend a single session!

Housing-Pro

library access

Can’t make a live session?

Subscribers get full access to our new online on-demand learning platform!

Add the pass right on to your dues for simplicity!

Our House

This heading contains membership, staff, committee information and events.

SEEKING PROPERTY OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT COMPANIES TO PARTICIPATE IN 2023 BUSINESS EXCHANGE

THE PROGRAM

The Business Exchange is a trade show-style event where the owner and property management companies are the exhibitors and the Associate Members are the attendees. The Associate members circulate the room in three-to-five minute meetings. This is one of the largest revenue generators for the Apartment Association and the participation of our management companies is critical for its continued success.

OWNER AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY REGISTRATIONS

The Business Exchange Committee has worked hard to make changes to this event to provide a better value for the companies who participate. The biggest change is that we will allow participating property owners and management companies to select the top 10 products or services they are looking to invest in over the upcoming year. We will then match your selections up with our participating associate members who offer that product or service. Your first 10 to 15 meetings will be pre-scheduled using these selections. After the first 10 to 15 rotations, we will revert back to allowing our associate members to meet with any property owners or management companies they would like to meet with that were not on their meeting list.

The only investment we ask of our property management

companies is your time and to donate two $25 gift cards of your choice OR a 30-minute coffee meeting with an associate member. These will be raffled off to participating associate members during the Business Exchange. The Business Exchange offers an easy way to take care of multiple vendor meetings in one location at one time. This is an excellent opportunity to gather the latest price and product information with a personal touch. We respectfully request that owner/management attendees be senior executives who have the authority to make purchasing decisions.

The Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Apartment Association’s 2024 Business Exchange will be held on Tuesday, May 7 from 8:30 am to 11:30 am at the Oasis Conference Center in Loveland, Ohio. Participation in this event is free for all management companies. Please plan on arriving by 8:15 am to make sure you have enough time to get ready for the first rotation of our associate members at 9 am. Networking and continental breakfast are from 8:30 am to 9 am.

If you would like to participate as a property management company or an owner, or would like more information on the Business Exchange, please click here or contact Michele at the Apartment Association offices by emailing michele@gcnkaa.org or calling 513 407-8612.

To download the Information Statement and Registration Form click here.

PRIMARY

Nisbet Property Holdings

Linda Bukvic

8041 Hosbrook Road, Ste. 206 Cincinnati, OH 45236 (513) 984-4450

lbukvic@nisbetproperty.com

Ollie Bear Management

Uriah Bisson

417 West Chestnut Street Oxford, OH 45056 (513) 392-1339

uriahbisson88@gmail.com

Threefold Properties

Lee Yoder

580 Stubbs Mills Road

Lebanon, OH 45036 (937) 407-0238

lee@threefoldrei.com

FEBRUARY 2024 NEW MEMBERS ASSOCIATE

AAA State of Play

Laura McGuckin

10859 East Washington St. Ste. 200 Indianapolis, IN 46229 (800) 667-0097

laura@aaastateofplay.com

Playground Equipment

BT3 Renovations

Laura Hallam 3313 Seajay Drive

Beavercreek, OH 45430 (937) 988-0029

info@bt3renovations.com

Apartment Turns / Bath & Kitchen Remodeling

Everline Coatings and Services

Aaron Mager 2621 W State Route 63, Ste. 4100

Lebanon, OH 45036 (513) 201-5828

aaron@everlinecoatings.com

Concrete / Pavement Maintenance

Hamilton County ReSource

Samantha Plante

250 William Howard Taft Road Cincinnati, OH 45219 (513) 220-6147

sam.plante@hamilton-co.org

Recycling / Education

Johnson Brothers Painting

Dustin Baker 2025 Longbranch Road Union, KY 41091 (513) 525-9018

Dustin@johnsonbrospainting.com

Interior / Exterior Painting

Junkluggers of Kentucky

Dylan Curry

916 Floyd Drive, Ste. 100 Lexington, KY 40505 (859) 554-8055

dylan.curry@junkluggers.com

Junk Removal / Hoarding

Resman

Kegan Arnold 2901 Dallas Parkway, #200 Plano, TX 75093 (888) 702-0971

kegan.arnold@myresman.com

General Software

Towne Construction Services

Dave Fallis

500 Kent Road Batavia, OH 45103 (513) 732-4300

Davidfallis@towneconstructionservices.com

Pavement Maintenance / Repair

Watchtower Security

Andrew Pieplow

145 Weldon Parkway Maryland Heights, MO 63043 (314) 427-4586

marketing@watchtower-security.com

Safety and Security Services

NAA APARTMENTALIZE HEADS TO PHILADELPHIA IN

REGISTER TODAY!

Whether you’re in management, leasing, marketing or maintenance, if you love working in rental housing, you belong at Apartmentalize. Come find your people in the City of Brotherly Love—connect with colleagues, share ideas, discover solutions and go home with renewed passion for your career.

EXPERIENCES

The Apartmentalize schedule is designed to maximize your connections with other attendees and exhibitors. With interactive sponsored activities, the NAA Exposition and structured networking sessions, Apartmentalize provides countless opportunities to meet and exchange ideas with the best in the industry.

• Nationally recognizable speakers from outside the industry motivate you with their inspiration and personal stories of success and real-life experiences. This year’s speakers include Kyle Carpenter, Mark Wahlberg, and Leslie Odom Jr.

• Welcome Reception: Kick off 2024 Apartmentalize by enjoying snacks and beverages while networking with fellow attendees and suppliers at the Welcome Reception. Wednesday, June 19 | 5:30-6:30 p.m.

• NAA Exposition: The NAA Exposition brings together the rental industry’s top management professionals and suppliers eager to network, share ideas and the latest products and services. Featured Areas

• Expo Eats: Grab a complimentary lunch on Thursday and Friday.

• Express Education: Two stages featuring 30-minute interactive sessions that include quick digestible content, easily applied takeaways, Q&A and storytelling.

• NSC Lounge: Learn more about the companies who are members of NAA’s National Suppliers Council.

Thursday, June 20 | 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Friday, June 21 | 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m

• NAA Excellence Awards: NAA’s Excellence Awards, or Excels, recognize excellence and leadership in the rental housing industry. Excels celebrate communities, industry professionals and affiliated apartment associations who make unique contributions to the industry. For the winners, receiving an Excels award represents milestones and outstanding achievement. This year’s awards ceremony will be complimentary for interested conference goers and those ready to cheer on their company, colleagues and other nominees. Attendance will be limited to the first 400 people who arrive. Wednesday, June 19 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

• Thursday Night Party: Apartmentalize will take over the Philadelphia Museum of Art and give attendees an iconic Philly experience! Attendees will LOVE the entertainment, food, drinks and fun! Thursday, June 20 | 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Apartmentalize is scheduled for June 19-21, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Registration is now open here.

GOLF

OUTING

SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13; SPONSORSHIPS STILL AVAILABLE

On Thursday, June 13, 2024, Aston Oak’s 18-hole golf course will host the Association’s 38th Annual Golf Outing. By using the 18-hole facility to host our event, we can host up to 160 golfers providing even more owners, multi-site managers, property managers, leasing consultants and other vendors for you to meet and greet. Here’s more information on how to get more bang for your buck.

There are NINE types of sponsorships available. You may select the type you want based on the level of participation you want the day of the outing. Hole sponsorships require the most participation while other types require only minimal participation. We strongly encourage all hole sponsors to have a representative from their company sitting at their sponsored hole. IF you cannot guarantee this, we recommend you consider a different sponsorship option that does not involve as much participation. To encourage hole participation, the golf committee will be hosting the Golfer’s Choice Award to the hole voted the best! All will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

All sponsors receive signage at the outing, pre-event marketing exposure and public acknowledgement of sponsorship during dinner the day of the outing. Hole and beverage sponsors also have the unique opportunity to create a memorable impression and build relationships at their sponsored hole/station. Beverage sponsors will be listed on the beverage cups distributed during the outing and trophy sponsors will be listed on the trophies. All sponsors are also invited to donate door prizes or give-aways to all participants.

Due to liquor licenses, NO sponsor is permitted to bring ANY alcoholic beverages onto the course. All alcoholic beverages will be provided by the course ONLY. There will also NOT be any beer at beverage stations. Beer and liquor will be provided only by two beverage carts controlled by Aston Oaks employees that will drive around the course all day. Beverage stations for the 2024 outing are located on holes 4, 8, 12 and 16. Please note that if you select one of these holes as a hole sponsorship, there is a chance you may have beverage sponsors nearby.

If you are interested in reserving a sponsorship or a foursome for the 2024 GCNKAA Golf Outing, call or email Michele at the Apartment Association office at 513 407-8612 or michele@gcnkaa. org or click here for more information. Foursomes and sponsorships are limited and will be sold on a first come first serve basis.

Click here for details.

GCNKAA 38th ANNUAL GOLF OUTING

NAA MAINTENANCE LEGENDS RELEASES FEBRUARY CONTEST PRIZES; ENTER YOUR TECHS TODAY!

The National Apartment Association (NAA) recently announced that they were ending the Maintenance Mania National Championship program after the 2023 Apartmentalize Conference.

Certification, and more.

A SHOT AT OUR GRAND PRIZE

LEGENDS™.

MAINTENANCE

While that program is concluding, NAA and HD Supply are thrilled to announce their new program,

This new program will shine a spotlight on the maintenance heroics we’ve all seen and heard about. It will give the rental housing industry the chance to celebrate the Maintenance Professionals going above and beyond every month.

WIN BIG EVERY MONTH

Three monthly winners will receive prizes up to $5,000 retail value. Submit your maintenance story for a chance to win.

PAID TRIP TO NAA APARTMENTALIZE 2024

Monthly winners will get airfare, lodging, and access to 2024’s Apartmentalize Conference in Philadelphia in June.

FREE TRAINING CERTIFICATIONS

In June 2024, 25 additional winners will be selected for a free certification including the Certificate for Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT), Certified Pool Operator (CPO), EPA 608

Monthly winners will have a chance to win big during the 2024 Apartmentalize Conference. The overall grand prize is a new Ford truck.

HOW DO YOU BECOME A LEGEND?

Are you, or do you know, a maintenance tech or property manager that goes above and beyond for their tenants? Time to turn those stories into Legends! Each month, in addition to the story with the most fan votes, our panel of judges will pick two favorites, for a total of 3 winners. Candidates can submit their story from April 1 through April 21 at www.maintenancelegends.com.

HOW, WHEN AND WHERE CAN WE VOTE?

Voting will be open to the general membership beginning April 22 and will close April 30. It is one vote per person.

Learn more at www.maintenancelegends.com.

April 2024 Prizes

The three winners for April 2024 will receive the following prizes.

Three

· Competitive Rates

· Quality Service

· State-of-the-art Products

· Low Odor

· Uniformed, fully screened Employees

· Fully Insured

· Warranty Work

· Serving You Since 1990 Serving

· Countertop, Cabinet and Bathtub resurfacing

· Cabinet Door Replacement with Resurfacing of frames and boxes

· Increase Rent/Occupancy

· NEW look - Fresh Colors

To see all the photos, click here.

GCNKAA 2024 Trade Show

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Sharonville Convention Center

Sharonville, Ohio

National Heating & Air Top Booth

Calloway Cleaning & Restoration Top Booth

Pinnacle Paving & Sealing Top Booth

Sherwin Williams Top Booth

Government & Housing Legalities

This heading deals with housing & legal issues within the Governmental structure.

GCNKAA MEETS IN THE HALL OF CONGRESS FOR NAA’S ADVOCATE 2024

By Pat Crowley, Vice President of Governmental Affairs

Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Apartment Association (GCNKAA) members worked the halls of Congress in mid-March, meeting with members of Congress and their staffs during the National Apartment Association’s (NAA) Advocate 2024 event.

About a dozen GCNKAA members met with Ohio Congressman Warren Davidson and staff members of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio and U.S. Representatives Mike Turner, Brad Wenstrup, Greg Landsman and Jim Jordan.

Topics members discussed included:

• Improving the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program to attract and better serve private sector rental housing providers by passing H.R. 4606, the Choice in Affordable Housing Act.

• Incentivizing local governments to lower barriers to development and increase the supply of rental housing by passing H.R. 3507, the Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Act.

• Ending the CARES Act 30-day notice-to-vacate requirement for federally backed and federally assisted rental properties, by passing H.R. 802, the Respect State Housing Laws Act.

WHAT IS NAAPAC?

NAAPAC is the bi-partisan political action committee that supports Congressional candidates who represent good government and understand the needs and concerns of the apartment housing industry.

If you are in housing, you are in politics. From fair housing to flood insurance, energy to the environment, the 535 members of the US Senate and House of Representatives play a huge role in shaping the policy and economic climate for the apartment housing industry.

It takes not only the collective power of the NAA, but also the work of individuals at the grassroots level to make sure we, as an industry, are at the table and not “on the menu” when important policy decisions are made.

Why Should I Care? NAAPAC Gives YOU:

• A seat at the Table. Would you rather be at the table, or on the menu? NAAPAC is your vehicle to support federal candidates who are open to the apartment industry’s views on issues crucial to your business and the industry at large.

• Credibility. NAAPAC gives our profession political credibility. It shows that we are willing to support lawmakers who help enact policies that will allow us to keep creating quality apartment homes across America.

• Success. Growing our influence in Washington, DC, does not happen easily. It is an ongoing and long-term process that only succeeds as more and more NAA members participate. Your involvement makes NAAPAC grow in strength.

To donate, click here.

(Make sure you include GCNKAA as your affiliate)

Pat Crowley

The Apartment Association Outreach,

Inc.

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

By Justin Seger, HILLS Properties, Outreach President

Justin Seger

The Apartment Association Outreach’s 5K-4-Rent is right around the corner on April 27, 2024, at 9 am, at the beautiful Friendship Park in Downtown Cincinnati. Sponsorship Levels are: $350 Bronze Sponsorship, $500 Silver Sponsorship, and $1,000 Gold Sponsorship. This is a great way to get extra company exposure while giving back to a great cause, as all of the proceeds go directly to rent assistance for families in need.

If you plan to participate in this fun-filled morning, please register at www.5k4rent.org. The cost is $40. If you register by April 11, you will receive a free tshirt. Everyone is welcome: families, friends, kids, residents and pets.

Childhood Food Solutions is a monthly opportunity to bag food for the Children of Roll Hill. The next bagging is April 17 at the Villages of Roll Hill Community Center. If you have any questions, please contact Susan at the Apartment Association office, 513.407.8612, or susan@gcnkaa.org.

If you don’t already follow the AAO on social media, check us out on Facebook. Keep up with all of AAO’s events and programs.

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5K-4-RENT SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSOR FINISH LINE SPONSOR

Jetz Service Company, Inc. BRG Apartments

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

Carpetland Autom Security

Forcht Bank

Monarch Investment & Management Group

Pinnacle Paving & Sealing

BRONZE SPONSORS Rent Manager

Harrison’s Pro Tree Towne Properties

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Don’t miss a minute of activity at the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Apartment Association! Like us on Facebook and Instagram, follow us on Twitter or visit our website at www.gcnkaa.org for all the latest updates on events, education or legislative efforts. And remember to use our hashtags:

Dear Friends,

Presenting Sponsor

Finish Line Sponsor

Our Committee

Josh Oram - Chair

Hays & Sons Complete Restoration

Susan Peck

Michael Wilke

Theresa Hallett

Sarah Brewer

John Gruen

Kellie Jones

Nichole Murphy

Rebecca McLean

Emily Mason

We are very excited to announce that the Apartment Association Outreach’s twelfth annual 5k 4 Rent Run/Walk event will take place on April 27, 2024 at 9am at Friendship Park, 1101 Riverside Drive, in Downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Please support this event and help Outreach raise money for Rental Assistance. Rental Assistance is provided to responsible and qualified recipients through our long-standing partnerships with Freestore Foodbank in Ohio, CAIN, Churches Active in Northside, Jewish Family Service and Santa Maria Community Services.

Gold Sponsor - $1,000

Company Logo on 5k 4 Rent Shirts

Company Logo on AAO Website & Sponsor Banner

Company Logo on AAO Facebook Page

GCNKAA Newsletter Recognition

Includes Brunch & Beverages

Silver Sponsor - $500

Company Logo on 5k 4 Rent Shirts

Company Logo on AAO Website & Sponsor Banner

GCNKAA Newsletter Recognition

Includes Brunch & Beverages

Bronze Sponsor - $350

Company Logo on Sponsor Banner & Brunch Table

GCNKAA Newsletter Recognition

Includes Brunch & Beverages Name: _____________________ Company Name: _______________________ Email: _______________________________ Phone: _______________

All donations made to The Apartment Association OUTREACH, Inc. are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Contact Susan Peck with questions at 513.407.8612 or susan@gcnkaa.org.

Trend Setting

This heading contains information on Management & Leasing.

HOW PROPERTY MANAGERS CAN COMBAT APPLICATION FRAUD

By Daniel Berlind

The uptick in apartment rental application fraud, where prospective residents use fake financial documents to inflate their income, is cause for significant concern.

According to a recent Snappt survey of property managers, 85% now report being targeted by application fraudsters, compared to 66% pre-pandemic.

Rachel Palmer, Chief Administrative Officer at Tampa, Fla., based American Landmark Apartments, which counts 35,000 units in its portfolio, has witnessed the problem firsthand.

She says about 40% of the applications her team vets each month are fraudulent. Most come in the form of altered bank statements and bogus paystubs—documents that are easily obtained online today but are hard to spot with an untrained eye.

With an average rent of $1,500 a month across the units she manages, that translates into $21 million in revenue that’s at risk every 30 days if she doesn’t stop those applicants from becoming her residents. “It’s not pocket change,” Palmer says.

The problem isn’t just that some prospective residents are engaging in fraudulent behavior, it’s also a matter of how many do not see their actions as unacceptable.

When asked their view of altering financial documents to apply for an apartment, nearly a quarter of renters said doing so was either “somewhat” or “extremely” acceptable, according to the same survey.

“There’s a lot more cunning in the world we live in today,” Palmer says. “We want to see the good in people, but there’s bad out there, too.”

BIGGER THAN JUST MULTIFAMILY

Fraud in general was already burgeoning pre-pandemic. But since that time, it has exploded, costing businesses $5.4 trillion globally, according to a report from Crowe UK and the University of Portsmouth. That’s more than twice the gross domestic product of the U.K. Crowe has called fraud “the last great unreduced business cost.”

In the U.S., reports of fraud, identity theft and other deceptions spiked by 67% between 2019 and 2021, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The grifts range from cyber and payment fraud to lying on bank loan applications, and more recently, supply chain and ESG reporting fraud, according to PwC.

While many of these schemes are orchestrated by professional

criminals, evidence suggests an increasing number of these perpetrators are casual practitioners of deception.

For example, LexisNexis Risk Solutions found over 30,000 fraud rings engaged in forgery, filing false claims, identity theft, identity manipulation and fake checks. Many groups comprised family members or circles of friends who collaborated to improve their collective fraud success rates.

A cottage industry has sprung up online to help consumers buy fabricated documents, including fake paystubs and bank statements, to fraudulently qualify for loans, mortgages, car purchases and apartment leases, among other transactions.

YOUR OWN PERSONAL FRAUD ‘COACH’

It’s from these sources that today’s apartment rental application fraudsters are buying their bogus documents.

These businesses claim to simply provide the documents as “novelties” and explicitly state they’re not distributing their wares to aid and abet illegal activity.

Take, for example, a YouTube video from a fraud “coach” who advises her followers that she’s not presenting her information to help them commit a crime.

“We are not here to help you defraud the banks, government or creditors in any way,” she says. “We are just educating.”

She then goes on to “teach” watchers how to avoid getting caught – by advising them to convince someone else to commit fraud on their behalf.

HOW PROPERTY MANAGERS ARE FIGHTING BACK

Dallas-based Eleven Market Research talked with some of the largest apartment operators in the U.S., and 40% of the 230 respondents manage more than 10,000 units. All of them focus on the application vetting process in their jobs, with most leading teams of professionals who qualify rental applications themselves.

Given the degree of fraud they’re seeing today, it’s no wonder 89% of Eleven Market Research survey respondents said making sure applicants can afford the rent and avoiding future payment issues and evictions were somewhat or extremely important goals of their application- vetting process.

But the challenges of hitting those goals are daunting, because of the ease with which bank statements and paystubs can be altered.

Altered documentation was the biggest problem identified in the survey, with 84% of respondents saying it was a somewhat or extremely significant challenge. The next largest percentage (79%) ranked running afoul of the Fair Housing Act for flagging applicants with altered documentation in the same category.

In tandem, these two largest challenges underline the Catch 22 managers find themselves in when fighting application fraud: Choosing between a potential Fair Housing violation or the risk of letting a fraudster in the door.

FIGHTING FRAUD ON MULTIPLE FRONTS

Given these hurdles, property managers do what they can to stop fraud before it gets inside the building including:

• Asking for financial statements such as paystubs and bank

statements (78%)

• Using resident screening software (66%)

• Running credit checks (61%)

• Implementing ID verification (59%)

• Using a solution to detect fraudulent documents (59%)

• Checking references (56%)

• Running a criminal background check (56%)

• Checking prior convictions (56%)

• Linking bank accounts to avoid payment issues (33%)

But even after taking these steps, managers said fraud was

still slipping through the cracks.

More than three quarters of respondents (78%) said the fact that their process wasn’t spotting bad applicants was a somewhat or extremely significant challenge, while 75% put screening reports that contain faulty information in the same tranche.

Meanwhile, 72% said potential Fair Credit violations as well as erroneously denying good applicants were similarly difficult hurdles. Finally, the staff time it takes to vet applicants was among the most significant challenges for 69% of respondents. (Previous surveys indicate property staff spend between four and 10 hours on the vetting process for each applicant.)

THREE CORE COMPONENTS OF APPLICATION VETTING

The length and complexity of the process speaks to the severity of the challenge property managers face.

But what’s interesting is that three of these steps took the majority of time for property staff to complete, constituting the core of application vetting. Those three areas were:

• verifying bank statements (72%)

• verifying paystubs (67%)

• checking references (67%)

These were also among the most important steps of the entire process.

For 90% of respondents, verifying the accuracy of a paystub was somewhat or extremely important, while nearly the same cohort, 89%, put authenticating an applicant’s bank statement in the same tier.

Only verifying an applicant’s ID, i.e., confirming the person is

who they say they are, was seen as more critical to the process, with 92% of respondents ranking it with the highest degree of urgency.

The takeaway is that while application fraud can seem almost overwhelming, by focusing on the three core components of application screening – verifying bank statements, paystubs and ID – property managers can more effectively allocate staff time.

“We have to put processes in place so that this doesn’t overwhelm our company and our people,” Palmer says. “It’s just a small step, but it is a step in the right direction for us to stop deceit in its tracks.”

Revisiting the basics of good property management helps, too.

• Set the bar higher for applicants by requiring two months of paystubs or bank statements with an application.

• Look for variable dates between when a paystub was issued and when the deposit hit the applicant’s account.

• Pick up the phone and call employers to confirm an applicant works where they claim.

• Incentivize your team to prioritize legitimate applications by tying future bonuses to a property’s on-time rent payment score, not just new leases.

The increased risks of apartment application fraud and the lingering effects of the pandemic mean management companies must work harder than ever to make sure they’re not actually accumulating record levels of bad debt, instead of higher rent rolls. Focusing on these three areas can help.

Daniel Berlind is CEO of Snappt and President of Berlind Properties.

HOUSING FEATURED PROMINENTLY IN STATE OF THE UNION

By Nicole Upano

For the first time in a generation, housing was a prominent feature in the Presidential State of the Union address. Importantly, President Biden called upon Congress to pass his plan to build and rehabilitate 2 million rental homes and bring renters’ housing costs down.

Just before the State of the Union, the White House released a number of fact sheets laying out the President’s housing agenda for the remainder of this term, which contemplated policy changes and federal investments to lower the costs of homeownership, build and preserve affordable housing and lower costs for renters, including:

• An expansion of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program and creation of a new Neighborhood Homes Tax Credit;

• $20 billion in competitive grant funding to support the construction of affordable multifamily rental units; incentivize local actions to remove unnecessary barriers to housing development; pilot innovative models to increase the production of affordable and workforce rental housing; and spur the construction of new starter homes for middle-class families;

• Proposing that each Federal Home Loan Bank double its annual contribution to the Affordable Housing Program – from 10 percent of prior year net income to 20 percent – which will raise an additional $3.79 billion for affordable housing over the next decade and assist nearly 380,0000 households; and

• Expand housing choice vouchers to more than half a million households.

While the National Apartment Association (NAA) is pleased

that housing policy is meaningfully in the spotlight, we are concerned about the rhetoric surrounding the President’s housing plans.

During the State of the Union address, President Biden remarked: “For millions of renters, we’re cracking down on big landlords who break antitrust laws by price-fixing and driving up rents.” Read NAA’s response to the 2024 State of the Union address.

The President also announced new steps “to crack down on unfair practices” that drive up rents. As part of the President’s Strike Force on Unfair and Illegal Pricing, co-chaired by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), announced by President Biden, he called on federal agencies to root out and stop illegal corporate behavior that hikes prices on American families through alleged anti-competitive, unfair, deceptive or fraudulent business practices.

Additionally, the President announced that the Federal Communications Commission will propose rulemaking that will ban “bulk billing” arrangements between housing providers and broadband providers, intending to lower costs for American renters and promote competition. This is yet another step to dismantle partnership agreements between these parties. These proposed policy changes could have wide-ranging impacts on the industry and potentially significant market disruptions. Read more about NAA’s advocacy on this topic.

NAA continues its federal advocacy efforts on behalf of its members to ensure the industry’s voice is heard in conversations about changing federal laws and regulations. Instead, NAA calls on the Congress and the Administration to adopt responsible and sustainable housing policies to address the nation’s housing affordability and availability challenges.

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THE McLEAN FAMILY

To become a Champion For Outreach, please contact Rebecca McLean, Justin Seger, Susan Peck. Rebecca@gcnkaa.org - justins@hillsinc.com - susan@gcnkaa.org