KURT SHOEMAKER WITH CBRE TO PRESENT STATE OF THE INDUSTRY AT FEBRUARY GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Kurt Shoemaker and the team from CBRE will present the Annual State of The Industry Report for 2025 during the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Apartment Association’s February General Membership Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at Oasis Conference Center. This is by far the most popular meeting of the year answering all your questions regarding trends in the local apartment industry.
Kurt Shoemaker is a Senior Vice President and team lead with the OH + LEX Multifamily team. In this role, Kurt focuses exclusively on the sale of multifamily properties throughout the Central Midwest and Kentucky. He is responsible for listing and selling multifamily apartment complexes, accompanying prospective buyers on property site visits, maintaining current market knowledge, and negotiating contracts. Kurt has been working in the commercial real estate industry for over 15 years and has sold over 30,000 units, aggregating over $3 billion.
Kurt’s agenda will include:
• National, Regional and Local Economic Overview
• Greater Cincinnati Multifamily Market
• Rental Market Performance
• Investment Market Metrics
• Development Trend
• Forecasts for 2025 and Beyond
Thank you to all our 2025 Diamond Sponsors for sponsoring this event: Apartments.com, BRG Apartments, Calloway Cleaning and Restoration, Denizen Management, DMG Management Group, Fath Properties, Hays + Sons Complete Restoration, HILLS Properties, Pinnacle Paving & Sealing, Rent, Rite Rug, Royal Finish, Sherwin Williams, Towne Properties and Uptown Rental Properties.
The February GMM is Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at the Oasis Conference Center, 902 Loveland-Miamiville Road, beginning at 5:30 pm. Cost is $80 per person or a reserved table for 10 for $800. Reserve directly online to get the discounted rate of $70 per person! Sign-ups made after Thursday, February 13 at noon will be assessed a $10 late registration fee. Call the office at 513 407-8612, click here, or email nicole@gcnkaa.org to make your reservation.
TRADE SHOW SOLD OUT; LAST CALL FOR SPONSORSHIPS
Don’t miss out on your chance to register for the GCNKAA 2025 Trade Show. Booths are completely sold out and we have created a wait list for any company interested in exhibiting. Contact the office if you would like to get added to this list.
If you are looking for a way to participate in the 2025 Trade Show, sponsorships are still available through February 11. You can still choose from a $300 Phone Charging Station Sponsorship, $500 Executive Forum Sponsorship, $500 Beverage Sponsor, $350 Education Seminar Sponsor, or a $300 Food Sponsorship. Some restrictions do apply. If you would like to reserve a sponsorship, click here. Sponsorships for our vendor members also include 2 admissions onto the trade show floor. Check with GCNKAA staff for restrictions on sponsorships.
The 2025 Trade Show is scheduled for TUESDAY, March 11 at Sharonville Convention Center.
The theme for this year’s show is Island Grooves and Business Moves and focuses on beach and tropical destinations.
MEGAN LAWHON RECEIVES PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Congratulations to Megan Lawhon with PLK Communities for receiving the 2025 President’s Award from Melissa Joy. This award is handed out each year by the GCNKAA president to the person of their choice in recognition of their service to the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Apartment Association.
Ms. Lawhon was honored with the President’s Award for her outstanding leadership, unwavering dedication, and selfless service as a volunteer. Her commitment to making a difference in the community, inspiring others, and going above and beyond in every task set her apart. This recognition is a testament to her invaluable contributions and the lasting impact she has made to the GCNKAA. Megan is current secretary of the GCNKAA and is chairing the Business Exchange Committee. She is also the past president of the Apartment Association Outreach (AAO) Board of Directors. We look forward to many more years of her leadership.
Diamond Sponsors
2025 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
MELISSA JOY
Village Green Mgmt President mjoy@villagegreen.com
JUSTIN SEGER HILLS Properties Vice President JustinS@hillsinc.com
**Apartment Association of N. KY merged with GCNKAA
Office Hours: Monday Through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
ADVERTISING RATES 2025
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Apartment Advantage is a monthly publication of the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Apartment Association, Kenwood Executive Center, 7265 Kenwood Rd, Ste. 100, Cincinnati, OH 45236; phone (513) 407-8612; fax (513) 407-7868. For up-to-date information check out our website: www.gcnkaa.org.
FEBRUARY 2025
Across the Board
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
By Melissa Joy, President
Melissa Joy Village Green Mgmt.
TGJO! (Thank Goodness January is Over)! Am I right? My favorite internet jokes every year are those that speak to how long the month of January seems to be. This year the arctic blast, multiple snow days, and very little sunshine made it seem even longer. While there were plenty of exciting things that happened in the GCNKAA last month, I am very thankful for the month of February - it is short, sweet and full of opportunities for human connection.
Perhaps the BEST opportunity for connection and one of the most highly anticipated events of the year is right around the corner! The State of the Industry presentation, hosted by our friends at CBRE, is set for February 18 at the Oasis Conference Center. This event offers valuable insight into current trends, market forecasts, and pipeline information for the multifamily housing sector in Greater Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky. Whether you’re a seasoned expert or new to the industry, this event is the perfect chance to gain knowledge, network with peers, and prepare for the year ahead.
It’s always important to be focused on professional growth, but
This section contains articles and information concerning the Board of Directors and Association policies.
anything else that revolves around hearts. But, did you also know that February 17 is Random Acts of Kindness Day? There is actually an entire week in February dedicated to Random Acts of Kindness and February, the month itself, is “Kindness Month.” I would like to challenge you, my friends and fellow multifamily industry professionals, to make Random Acts of Kindness Day count! There is no act of kindness too small to make a difference in our communities or the world. And if we are honest with ourselves, the world could use a massive outpouring of kindness these days. I have not yet decided how to honor National Kindness Day, but I want to end this message by sharing a few ideas: give someone a compliment, send a thank you card, make a donation to charity that supports an industry cause or one that is dear to you, volunteer, allow someone to go ahead of you in the checkout line, smile at a stranger, write a positive review for a business you frequent. There are so many small, but mighty, ways to demonstrate kindness. You can also plan a Random Act of Kindness for one day after the national day and make it a point to shake hands and introduce yourself to someone you don’t know at the State of the Industry meeting on February 18. I can’t wait to see you there, and please- if we have never met in person- say hello and let’s shake!
P.S. Congratulations to my dear friends, Megan Lawhon and Todd Hignite for their latest industry accomplishments: Megan was
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!
Government & Housing Legalities
By Greg Brown, Courtesy of National Apartment Association (NAA)
Not only did 2024 continue the previous year’s trend of increased attention on housing affordability from federal, state and local policymakers, it surpassed it. Housing issues, specifically the need for greater supply, were even a key theme of this year’s presidential contest. While a first in presidential politics, it is not surprising given public opinion polling, which shows large majorities of voters with significant concerns about the cost of housing.
The National Apartment Association (NAA) engaged in these debates from the beginning, and as the 118th Congress wraps up and the Biden Administration comes to an end, there are many policy accomplishments to celebrate. What follows is an update on what the new year will mean for the rental housing industry, particularly on our efforts in Congress and with a new administration.
WHAT THE 2024 ELECTION MEANS FOR HOUSING
Housing policy – and particularly a focus on housing costs –was at the forefront of this election. In his campaign for the White House, President-elect Donald Trump (R) outlined the following pillars of his federal approach to housing policy:
• Help new homebuyers by reducing mortgage rates by slashing inflation and opening limited portions of federal lands to allow for new home construction;
• Promote homeownership through tax incentives and support for first-time buyers;
• Cut unnecessary regulations that raise housing costs; and
• Ban mortgages for undocumented immigrants and mitigate increases in housing costs due to illegal immigration.
In addition to capturing the White House, Republicans will also take control of both chambers in the 119th Congress. Republicans won the U.S. Senate by flipping key seats in Ohio, Montana, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and will control the chamber with 53 seats. The party also narrowly retained the U.S. House.
Beyond the presidential campaign, housing was on the ballot in states and localities across the country. In total, NAA tracked 19 ballot measures across seven states that would impact housing –ranging from rent control to affordable housing and property taxes. While the results were varied across states, California’s Proposition 33 – which would have allowed rent control policies to expand to properties built after 1995 and limit housing providers’ ability to raise rents to market rates upon move-in also known as “vacancy decontrol”– notably failed.
An increased focus on housing throughout the election ultimately points to an increased desire for policy action. As NAA President and CEO Bob Pinnegar stated after election day: “This election made clear that housing is top of mind for voters throughout our country, and it’s past time to come together and meaningfully address long-standing housing affordability challenges. Working alongside our nation’s elected leaders, NAA looks forward to sharing the unique perspective of rental housing professionals to ensure the industry’s voice is a part of important policy conversations.”
BUILDING THE FOUNDATION IN CONGRESS
Over the past year, NAA successfully built bipartisan, bicam-
This
FEDERAL ADVOCACY OUTLOOK: WASHINGTON ENTERS 2025
eral support for sustainable policy solutions that address the historic undersupply of housing and that protect the nation’s rental housing infrastructure for future generations of renters. All three of our proactive pieces of legislation are bicameral and bipartisan, a significant accomplishment in a noisy political environment. Even more, the progress these priorities made builds a firm foundation for more responsible housing policy solutions in the 119th Congress.
• The Respect State Housing Laws Act clarifies that the federal CARES Act pre-eviction notice requirement ended when the CARES Act eviction moratorium expired in 2020. We must eliminate any ambiguity which allows this point to remain a contested issue in courts today. This bill passed successfully out of the House Financial Services Committee and was included, at NAA’s urging, in the House-passed HUD appropriations bill.
• The YIMBY Act, reintroduced in both the House and Senate, incentivizes local communities to remove barriers to apartment development. The legislation passed unanimously and on a bipartisan basis out of the House Financial Services Committee in May.
• The Choice in Affordable Housing Act, also reintroduced in both chambers of Congress, enacts much-needed commonsense reforms to the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. This legislation has slowly built strong support, especially in the Senate and while it will not pass this session, it remains well positioned for re-introduction in the 119th Congress.
NAA also worked with Congressional offices to highlight important federal regulatory issues. These include complexity in the Section 8 program, and Biden Administration proposals from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and United States Postal Service (USPS). Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, at NAA’s urging, weighed in with regulators directly on the industry’s behalf.
TAX POLICY A KEY PRIORITY IN 2025
Undoubtedly, tax reform will be the cornerstone focus on Capitol Hill in the year ahead. Key elements of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) – passed under the prior Trump Administration – expire in 2025. Every member of the rental housing industry will be impacted in some way by the outcome of those deliberations, and NAA will be at the forefront to ensure the industry’s voice is heard.
NAA will work to protect key provisions from the TCJA that protect the industry’s long-term viability and promote housing affordability, including:
• Individual tax rates
• Qualified business income deductions up to 20% (section 199A)
• Expanded estate-tax exemption.
Additionally, NAA will work alongside lawmakers to explore other tax incentives that would boost housing supply – from ex-
panding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and enacting the Workforce Housing Tax Credit Act to enhancing opportunity zones and encouraging the use of adaptive reuse.
NAA’S FEDERAL REGULATORY ADVOCACY
In 2024, Biden Administration activities touched all aspects of owning, managing and developing rental housing. NAA responded at every turn to relevant federal regulatory activity and proactively inserted the industry’s perspective in national policy conversations.
closely with the National Multifamily Housing Council and its coalition partners in our advocacy efforts to uplift the industry’s concerns about EPA’s approach to achieve further reduction of lead dust levels and all options remain on the table to protect the industry from bad policy.
• “Junk Fees” - Thanks to the tireless advocacy of the NAA and its industry partners, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) notably excluded the rental housing industry from its final “junk fees” rule, Trade Regulation Rule on Unfair and Deceptive Fees. It is an acknowledgment that the landlord-tenant relationship fundamentally differs from the single-point transactions ultimately regulated in the rule. The FTC’s final rule focuses on total price and fee disclosure requirements for liveevent ticketing and short-term lodging industries.
• Filing Beneficial Ownership Information – The U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) previously announced new “beneficial ownership information” reporting requirements. This requires business owners to disclose information about individuals who directly or indirectly own or maintain substantial control over a reporting company, or an individual that directly or indirectly owns more than 25% of the ownership interests of the reporting company. These new filing requirements are expected to have a significant impact on independent rental owners. Learn more about BOI.
• Landlord-Tenant Requirements for Fannie/Freddie Properties – During the Biden Administration, FHFA considered federalizing landlord-tenant requirements for Enterprise-backed multifamily housing i.e., properties backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises). FHFA and the Enterprises already announced that a 30-day notice of rent increase, 30-day notice of lease expiration and a five-day grace period from late fees will be required for new loan applications beginning in February 2025. While this measured approach was welcome news, onerous requirements remain on the table, such as rent control, just cause eviction limitations that effectively eliminate housing providers’ right to nonrenewal and a “source of income” mandate intended to require housing providers to accept Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. NAA looks forward to continuing the conversation with regulators to elevate the industry’s perspective on these issues.
• Enhanced Standards to Address Lead Paint Hazards – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its final rule dramatically altering how dust hazards from lead-based paint are defined and remediated in covered rental housing. The final rule reduces the level of lead dust considered hazardous to “any reportable level as analyzed by any laboratory recognized by EPA’s National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program” and substantially reduces the threshold for clearance post-abatement, increasing operational uncertainty for housing providers and confusion among renters and their families about potential lead hazards in their homes. NAA worked
• Mail Delivery Impacted at Rental Communities – NAA continues its work on the student housing reclassification issue that resulted in leasing staff being required to deliver mail to residents. Now a new issue is on the horizon: As a continuation of Project Safe Delivery, USPS announced replacement of physical keys to electronic systems to reduce safety risks to letter carriers and their liability for fraud. NAA is elevating industry concerns about implementation delays of replacement keys that have led to negative repercussions, similar to the student housing issue.
• NSPIRE Inspections – HUD extended the compliance deadline for assisted housing providers that are now subject to NSPIRE inspections, moving the deadline for housing benefiting from the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program from Oct. 1, 2024, to Oct. 1, 2025. Much like the widely attended education session at the 2024 Apartmentalize conference, NAA will continue to work with HUD and industry leaders on both inperson and virtual opportunities to help members understand their new compliance responsibilities.
• Section 8 HCV Partnership with HUD – In 2024, NAA embarked on a new collaboration with HUD to promote the unique challenges that housing providers face by participating in the program across the country and explore regulatory channels to make meaningful improvements that help housing providers better serve voucher holders and their families. The multi-city roadshow includes Boston; Charlotte, N.C.; Cleveland; El Paso, Texas; Las Cruces, N.M.; Philadelphia; San Diego; and Tampa, Fla.
In 2024, NAA’s Executive Committee and volunteer leaders met with federal regulators and reinforced the industry’s perspective on important regulatory issues related to the Section 8 HCV program, borrower responsibilities for Enterprise-backed housing and insurance.
GETTING INVOLVED
As always, your participation in all of these efforts is crucial. NAA’s partnership with our affiliates and members is why we enjoy so much success in our advocacy efforts. There are many options for how you can contribute. To learn more, contact Seth Turner, Senior Manager of Grassroots Advocacy & Stakeholder Engagement, at sturner@naahq.org.
In order to make tangible progress on tax policy and with our sustainable housing policy solutions, we need your voice at Advocate 2025, NAA’s annual Capitol Hill fly-in. Join us March 2526, 2025, in Washington, D.C., to help build consensus in Congress and ensure that your voice is heard. Learn more about Advocate 2025.
Greg Brown is SVP, Government Affairs, and Nicole Upano is AVP, Housing Policy and Regulatory Affairs for NAA.
REGISTRATIONS FOR NAA ADVOCATE CONFERENCE OPEN
As the new Congress settles into Capitol Hill, the time has come to introduce members to the rental housing industry. Advocate – NAA’s annual advocacy conference – is the prime opportunity to meet with your representatives by joining rental housing suppliers, property managers, owners and operators in Washington D.C. on March 25-26, 2025. NAA Governance meetings continue from March 27-28, 2025.
It is more important than ever to communicate the rental housing industry’s policy stances and priorities to our representatives in Congress following years of pandemic-fueled challenges and political polarization. Sharing the unique operational needs of rental housing is critical, and there is no better way to educate federal lawmakers than in-person in the halls of Congress.
Advocate is the opportunity to make that a reality by coming together with a family of over 92,000 members and 141 affiliates. Help us lay a new cornerstone on which we can build even more successes for the rental housing industry.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Pre-registration for Advocate is complimentary for all attendees who register on or before March 18, 2025. After this date, registration must be done on-site and will be subject to a $50 charge.
Please Note: Congressional offices may restrict the number of people allowed to participate in meetings on Capitol Hill during Lobby Day. Registering for Advocate does not guarantee that you will be able to participate in a meeting. Please make sure you are working with your local affiliate if you are planning to attend a meeting.
HOTEL INFORMATION
Grand Hyatt Washington 1000 H St NW, Washington, DC 20001
BOOK YOUR STAY
Click here to reserve your room or call 202-582-1234. The NAA Advocate group block code is G-APT0.
Hotel reservations may be canceled up to 4 weeks prior to the date of arrival without penalty. Rooms canceled within 4 weeks of arrival will be charged one night’s room and tax.
Rooms in the NAA room block are intended for registered attendees of 2025 Advocate. You must be registered prior to making your hotel reservation. Only one (1) hotel reservation will be allowed per registered attendee. NAA has the authority to cancel any duplicate hotel reservations or those that are not registered for the conference with or without prior notification.
· Countertop, Cabinet and Bathtub resurfacing
· Cabinet Door Replacement with Resurfacing of frames and boxes
· Increase Rent/Occupancy
· NEW look - Fresh Colors
Our House
TRADE SHOW SPONSORSHIPS NOW ON SALE!
Even though the GCNKAA is sold out of all their 2025 Trade Show booths, you still have plenty of opportunities to participate. Below is the list of remaining sponsorships. Each sponsorship comes complete with two floor admissions for our vendor members (limitations do apply). Fore more details on sponsorship or if you have any questions, please email michele@gcnkaa.org.
PHONE CHARGING STATION SPONSOR.................... $300
Limit of 1. Your company name and logo on signage at the Phone Charging Station located in the Concierge Area near the entrance/exit of the trade show floor. For exhibitors only. The deadline to reserve your sponsorship is February 11, 2025.
Get your name out in front of all attendees as they enter and exit the facility for the trade show and education seminars. Ad is 24” x 30” and will be placed on select exterior doors. For exhibitors only. The deadline to reserve your sponsorship is February 11, 2025.
EXECUTIVE FORUM SPONSOR ................................... $500
ONE LEFT!! The forum sponsor will receive logo inclusion on forum invites, signage, and pre-event marketing. Sponsors will also have the opportunity to introduce themselves to attendees as well as introduce the moderator. Primary or associate members. The deadline to reserve your sponsorship is January 28, 2025.
Beverage Sponsors will receive inclusion on promotional
This heading contains membership, staff, committee information and events.
pieces and signage at the 2024 trade show. For primary and associate members. The deadline to reserve your sponsorship is February 11, 2025.
EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR SPONSORS
....................................
$350
Limit of 2. Sponsor will have the opportunity to speak prior to educational seminars and introduce the speaker. May also distribute promotional material to seminar attendees. Also includes signage and pre-event marketing. The deadline to reserve your sponsorship is February 11, 2025.
Returning to the 2025 trade show is free food from 4:45 pm to 5:45 pm. Food Sponsors will receive inclusion on promotional pieces and signage at the 2025 trade show. For primary and associate members. The deadline to reserve your sponsorship is February 11, 2025.
LOGO SPONSORS ............................................................
$300
Due to its success, we will once again be distributing the GCNKAA Tote Bag to the first 500 attendees. Logo sponsors receive inclusion on promotional pieces and the company logo on this bag. For associate members only. The deadline to reserve your sponsorship is January 28, 2025.
BAG SPONSOR ...................................................................
$500
Bag sponsors will receive inclusion on promotional pieces and your company logo on the event ‘swag bag.’ For primary members only. The deadline to reserve your sponsorship is January 28, 2025.
NAA MAINTENANCE LEGENDS: ENTER YOUR TECHS TODAY FOR FEBRUARY CONTEST PRIZES
The National Apartment Association (NAA) Maintenance Legends returns for the 2024-2025 season. This program will continue to 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 2025
Monthly winners will get airfare, lodging, and access to 2025’s Apartmentalize Conference in Las Vegas in June.
FREE TRAINING CERTIFICATIONS
In June 2025, 25 additional winners will be selected for a free certification including the Certificate for Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT), Certified Pool Operator (CPO), EPA 608 Certification, and more.
A SHOT AT OUR GRAND PRIZE
Monthly winners will have a chance to win big during the 2025 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 February 1 through February 20 at www.maintenancelegends.com.
HOW, WHEN AND WHERE CAN WE VOTE?
Voting will be open to the general membership beginning February 23 and will close February 28. It is one vote per person.
Learn more at www.maintenancelegends.com.
become a Legend? know, a maintenance tech or property manager that goes above and beyond for their tenants? Time to turn those stories 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. August 2023.
How To Become a Maintenance Legend
Hard work, dedication and 3 easy steps can make you a Maintenance Legend!
Provide Your Info
Fill out our form with your name, address, affiliate association & more.
Tell Your Story
Tell us all about you or your Legend's actions and why they deserve to win.
Submit Your Photo(s)
February 2025 Prizes
Deck Out Your Space
The three monthly winners will each receive an appliance prize package featuring top-tier appliances from Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, and more!
Every maintenance pro deserves to be recognized. Enter at www.maintenancelegends.com
Three monthly winners will receive prizes up to $5,000 retail value. Submit your maintenance story for a chance to win.
2025 NAA APARTMENTALIZE IN LAS VEGAS: REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
Whether you’re in management, leasing, marketing or maintenance, if you love working in rental housing, you belong at Apartmentalize. Apartmentalize provides countless chances to converse with the best in the industry through interactive activities, the NAA Exposition and structured networking events.
6 REASONS YOU SHOULD ATTEND APARTMENTALIZE
Innovative learning formats and open spaces that foster knowledge exchanges allow you to align your own education to your personal learning level, need and interests. As you design your own education experience with your professional objectives in mind, you will be able to challenge yourself to explore and find fun in your learning.
General Sessions
Hear from three accomplished general session speakers who will inspire, motivate and entertain you with stories from outside of the industry. Speakers announced so far include podcaster and author Jay Shetty and Olympic Champion Simone Biles.
Jay Shetty, a global bestselling author, award-winning podcast host of On Purpose, and purpose-driven entrepreneur, has made an indelible impact on hearts and minds worldwide. With an astounding following of over 50 million across social media platforms, Jay possesses a talent for making purpose and ancient wisdom not only relatable but also practical and easily accessible. His journey of transformation and inspiration has touched the lives of millions across the globe.
Simone Biles is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time. The most decorated gymnast in history with 41 medals across World Championships and the Olympic Games, Biles holds the most World Championship medals (30) and gold medals (23) in gymnastics history. A three-time Olympian, her 11 Olympic medals and seven Olympic gold medals are the most by a U.S. gymnast. The three-time Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year and Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, she has earned the rare distinction of having five skills named in her honor – The
Biles – in the beam, floor (two), and vault (two) disciplines.
Educational Seminars
Choose from over 90 sessions throughout the conference spanning a multitude of topics including Maintenance, Operations, Leasing, Affordable Housing, Marketing, Leadership and Industry Trends. With over 250 industry experts, you’ll find a solution for every day of the week! These sessions feature industry experts and provide useful information that attendees can apply to daily work life. The full listing of Education Sessions will be available soon!
Open Space Stations
This peer-to-peer learning experience is an opportunity to engage in creative conversations with fellow attendees who are passionate about the same issues and topics as you. Expert facilitators support small group discussions that explore a dedicated topic for each group, which you determine together.
Express Education
These sessions take place in a dedicated space in the NAA Exposition and are quick 30-minute interactive sessions that include quick digestible content, easily applied takeaways, Q&A and storytelling. The full listing of Education Sessions will be available soon.
Fishbowl Sessions
Fishbowl Sessions are meant to be more intimate, allowing for more active participation from all attendees, breaking down the separation between ‘panelist’ and ‘audience. A chair is left open on the panel to allow for attendees to step into the conversation.
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.
Apartmentalize is scheduled for June 11-13, 2025, in Las Vegas. Details and schedule will be released soon. In the meantime, registration is now open here. Full conference includes access to everything including General Sessions, Education Sessions, NAA Exposition, Welcome Reception, Lunch on Thursday and Friday, Networking Events including Thursday Night Party , NAA Excellence Awards. Early Bird rate of $955 per person is in effect through February 28, 2025. After that, price increases to $1080 per person.
Jay Shetty Author / Podcaster
Simone Biles Athlete/Advocate
NAA EXCELLENCE AWARDS NOW OPEN FOR ENTRIES
Your road to excellence is paved with hard work, dedication to one’s community and leadership skills. That’s why we recognize your actions with the National Apartment Association’s Excellence Awards (the Excels). With categories from all walks of the rental housing industry, NAA celebrates affiliated apartment associations, communities, companies, individual achievements and other initiatives that promote apartment careers.
All 2025 NAA Excellence Awards winners and nominees will get their moment in the spotlight at the industry’s largest education and networking event of the year, Apartmentalize in Las Vegas, June 11-13, 2025.
The NAA Excellence Awards applications are due: Friday, February 14 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
COMMUNITY AWARDS
The Community of the Year Awards represent the very best communities in the rental housing industry. These awards recognize excellence in the following categories: Small (less than 150 units), Large (150+ units), Affordable, Military, Student, New Construction and Major Rehab . Service is a very important component of these awards; service to the resident and service to the community. Financial performance will also be considered. The winning communities must be a member of NAA in good standing to be eligible for an Excellence award.
Applicants will be charged $225 per entry for the Community Award categories. Please note, three finalists will be chosen in each award category, and the winner will be announced during the 2025 Excellence Awards ceremony.
COMPANY AWARDS
The Company Awards recognize and celebrate organizations for their significant contributions to their staff, local community and the rental housing industry as a whole.
DO YOU KNOW
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
The National Apartment Association and the National Apartment Association Education Institute’s Individual Achievement Awards recognize individuals who have made noteworthy achievements within their professional career. Individual Achievement Awards are offered in seven (7) award categories, and only NAA members are eligible to apply.
There is no limit to the number of individuals that can be nominated. Self-nominations are allowed. If nominating more than one individual, separate nomination forms are required. Recipients, nominees, and nominators are encouraged to attend the Excellence Awards ceremony at Apartmentalize on June 19, 2025.
Applicants will be charged $50 per entry for the Individual Award categories. Please note, three finalists will be chosen in each award category, and the winner will be announced during the 2025 NAA Excellence Awards ceremony.
Please click here to see full category description, application field requirements, what the judges are looking for, and application fees.
The Apartment Association Outreach, Inc.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
By Justin Seger, HILLS Properties, Outreach President
The Apartment Association Outreach (AAO) is off to an active start in 2025. In January, volunteers from the AAO spent the day at Childhood Food Solutions bagging food for Cincinnati Public School students. Our long-standing relationship with CFS is one of the many impactful partnerships we have in our community. Please reach out to Susan in the GCNKAA Office if you can sign up for future volunteer opportunities. We have dates scheduled for February 19th and March 12th.
Holiday Cheers 2024 was the most successful Holiday Cheers Fundraising effort in the history of our organization. We are so thankful to everyone that attended, donated, and participated in the event. A special thanks to our Co-Chairs, Lloyd Cobble (CIG Communities) and Gerry Johnson (BRG).I would also like to give a shout out to Grant Saunders (Hays and Sons), Rod Herper (National Credit Systems), and the entire GCNKAA staff for their efforts in running the event and raising sponsorship dollars. I cannot wait for Holiday Cheers 2025! I am also happy to report that we are on pace to match or exceed our Champions Sponsorships for 2025 as we look forward to a robust schedule of volunteer opportunities and events this year.
This month, members of our AAO Board of Directors will be meeting with and touring Jewish Family Service for a look behind the scenes at their facility and a partnership review.
Our 5K 4 Rent is 9 am, April 26, 2025, at Friendship Park. Jetz Service is once again serving as our Presenting Sponsor and BRG Apartments is sponsoring our Finish Line. For complete details on how you can become a sponsor of the 5K 4 Rent or to register your team, visit gcnkoutreach.org/events/5k-run-for-rent.
Lastly, I just want to mention a few words about losing our friend Pat Crowley. Pat did a lot of work to support the Apartment Association Outreach. He handled our Public Relations and was always a vocal cheerleader for our organization with political leaders in the region. Pat is missed as a friend of Outreach and to so many of us on a personal level. The thoughts and prayers of our entire organization continue to be with Pat’s family and friends.
Thank you to our current 5K-4-Rent Sponsors: Presenting Sponsor: Jetz Service
Finish Line Sponsor: BRG Apartments
Gold Sponsors: Forcht Bank
Silver Sponsors: Rent Manager and Monarch Investment & Management Group
Bronze: Sandstone Management LTD
Justin Seger
Trend Setting
This heading contains information on Management & Leasing.
STRATEGIES FOR ATTRACTING AND RETAINING HIGHPERFORMING EMPLOYEES
By Paul Willis,, Linnell Taylor Marketing
Acquiring high-performing associates can be a difficult undertaking. Keeping them with an organization can be even more challenging. Readily aware of this notion, the rental housing industry is taking steps to make property management roles more attractive—and a place where associates have the opportunity to progress.
A revolving door of employees is counterproductive, naturally, and properties will certainly feel the time burden and cost impacts of replacing positions every eight months. That’s why offering robust learning and development resources, unambiguous job roles and a clear path for growth is paramount, according to panelists at the Apartmentalize 2024 session “Unlocking Potential: Strategies for Attracting and Retaining High-Performing Employees.”
“An organization’s most valuable asset is its people, so finding the right people for the available positions is vital,” said Jasmyn Sylvester, Vice President of Property Management—East for Pine Tree. “In today’s workforce, demands on employees are at an alltime high. With that in mind, candidates recognize they can ask for more and they don’t have to settle for any and everything.”
That further puts the onus on owners and operators to offer much more than a bare-bones experience when recruiting potential talent. Whereas some associates were content in the past to get the proverbial foot in the door and take any role, that is seldom the case in the current job climate.
“We’re having to be a little more creative with our recruiting and staffing efforts,” Sylvester said. “Finding the right fit largely consists of looking at which roles are available, and the harder the qualifications are to meet a certain role, the harder it is to find a good fit. Good fits matter to organizations, and you want to make sure that whoever you bring in is right for your work-culture environment and
the right fit for the position.”
To that end, Sylvester noted that property teams are being “more intentional” about who they bring aboard. And while a wide range of personality types have the potential to be successful fits, the industry certainly has a desired skillset that many operators seek in their recruiting efforts.
“In the property management business, we’re really looking for people who have the ability to think on their feet,” said Benjamin Underwood, Director for Greystar. “What we do isn’t rocket science, but it does require some tenacity, someone who can think quickly, make decisions autonomously and have the ability to grow within your organization. Ultimately, we’re not looking for a culture fit—we’re looking for a culture add.”
In the effort not only to fill positions but also hire associates who will add increased value to them, the panelists agreed that offering career development resources is integral. This includes internal training, mentorship programs, goal setting and implementing tech to help make the routine parts of the job easier. Panelists urged operators to challenge associates to continue their career development and to become part of industry associations to further continue education and fuel professional development.
Dawn Carpenter, Broker-Owner of Dawning Real Estate Inc., noted the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed a 5% uptick in new property management hirings. So, while the sector is active, it remains something of a struggle to attract and retain high-performing associates.
“Attracting good, qualified help that wants to be at your company is so important,” Carpenter said.
Paul Willis is a Content Director for LinnellTaylor Marketing.
Platinum Sponsor ($20,000)
Gold Sponsor ($10,000)
Silver Sponsor ($5,000) 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
