My Work History Page

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Property Management & Leasing

The property management industry is evolving expeditiously in large part thanks to technology. Technology provides a pathway for quick and effective communication. Communication skills are necessary to be successful in the industry.

I found success in property management by utilizing my experience with working with the public. Years of customer service taught me the importance of being patient and understanding. It is also important to be proficient with active listening and having the courage to offer advice and guidance. Providing safe and affordable housing is a delicate process of matching people up with the living situation that makes the most sense. 

Other aspects of property management that I enjoy are working with investors and their rental properties and establishing relations with third-party vendors to assist with maintenance. I appreciate the challenges that come along with property management and offering solutions to solve complex problems. In this industry, there are challenges every day.

Wireless Sales Management

Everyone needs a working mobile phone and a majority of people seek out a preferred wireless store to get connected! I worked in the mobile arena for just under 17 years and watched wireless phones go from clunky boxes of plastic, to pocket sized flip phones, to flat rectangles with advanced computing power and HD screens, to phones built into wristwatches! Along the way, I met thousands of people, heard thousands of life stories, and sold thousands of phones. Not only that, I hired and trained others to do the same. 

There are a few reasons why I enjoyed working with wireless phones. One of the biggest reasons was that the wireless phone allows people to connect with one another quickly. A phone call can save your life, an email can affect change at work, a text could land you a date - it's a pretty important item to have in your possession. When you are selling an item such as a wireless phone, there is a certain level of responsibility that accompanies that process. I certainly enjoyed the challenge and respected the responsibility. A perk to the job was the discount! I can vividly remember the flip phone years when my plan costs me just under $20 a month when everyone else had plans averaging $65! Those were the days....

Installed Sales (Installation Coordinator)

I wasn't in installed sales very long but I can certainly tell you that I learned a lot from working at this job. I coordinated the install of items sold by a home improvement store by independent contractors. For example, flooring installations kept me busy and after working in property management (and in my own experience) I have a firm understanding as to why people pay others to install it. Once the sale was made by the sales professional, it was up to me to coordinate the install date and find a respectable installer to do the work! When the installer agreed to take the job, I would cut the carpet down to manageable rolls so the flooring guys could deliver it to be installed. The job could be stressful at times but it was also very rewarding! Again, communication is key but with coordination, you certainly have to be prepared to plan, respond, get dirty, use math, and resolve some unhappy customer issues from time to time. And this was just one area of the store! Essentially, we had something in every room of the house that could be installed AND several things outside as well - including fences!

Retail Store Management

I worked for a consumer electronics retailer for many years coming out of high school. In fact, when I first started, the only electronic knowledge I had was that batteries needed to be inserted into a flashlight a certain way to work. In other words, I didn't know much! I honestly didn't think I could make it through the interview process, let alone be expected to sell advanced consumer electronics to people. I ended up making the team and I was blessed to get quality education from the early onset and that is one of the biggest takeaways that I can share with anyone. You can teach anyone to sell something but you can only do so much about someone's attitude. What I had going into that first interview was a good attitude, willingness to learn, and a smile. The experienced professionals quickly identified this and the rest is history. Every aspect of my work ethic was developed and expanded on in retail management. I was successful at a very young age and I didn't take it for granted. I made a lot of friends and helped people, whether it was selling them a package of batteries to a plethora of wireless gadgets - phones, chargers, headphones, etc. I do miss the radio controlled toys! Someone had to demo those toys before putting them on the shelves!