Q2 Update from Nick Marin
How is it already almost June?! Time always seems to fly by when you’re working hard and having fun! …And our WMFHA team have certainly been working hard the first part of Q2. A few of the important successes worth highlighting include:
-
The execution of a sold-out Business Exchange, with 72 supplier companies and 33 management company tables.
-
With the recent hiring of Jason Loughridge as WMFHA’s Career Development Manager, our training department has now started completing unique and specifically tailored trainings for members seeking to provide professional development opportunities for their staff. This month, Jason and Sloane conducted two private training courses for WMFHA members – a fair housing training, and a leasing training – that were created to match the individual needs of the companies. This is all in an effort to provide more to our members, expanding our member benefits portfolio. We want WMFHA to be known as THE resource for any professional development needs members may have.
-
We conducted our first ever Spanish language credential training, Certified Pool Operator (CPO). With the multi-family housing workforce becoming more and more diverse so too do our trainings need to be. We hope to offer additional Spanish language credential trainings moving forward, as the need grows.
-
Just this past week we held our 2nd ever EdCon East in Spokane. The event sold out and those who participated, both as attendees and sponsors, loved the opportunity to get back in front of each other. Hosting EdCon East was a great reminder of WMFHA’s strong presence in Eastern Washington and how important the diversification of members throughout the entire state of WA is.
Unfortunately, though, we did experience a little bit of heartache with the departure of 'Ula Kamaka from WMFHA. It came as a bit of a shock to staff, and (I presume) to many of our members, but 'Ula left with the purest intentions and, as an organization, we cannot fault her for that. But due to 'Ula’s departure, WMFHA staff are now diligently working on hiring a new Education & Events Coordinator to help once again reinforce two vital departments within WMFHA.
We’re also in the process of hiring a Public Affairs Manager to strengthen our advocacy and legislative efforts at the state and local levels. This is a new role at WMFHA, which will report to our Director of Government Affairs, Ryan Makinster, and will work closely with our lobbyists in Olympia.
Pheeeew! As you can see…WMFHA is turning a new page in its history. Our staff have not only been hard at work executing signature WMFHA events, but we’re also trying to expand our boundaries and roll out added benefits based on the needs and wants of our membership. Also, our internal growth is becoming very exciting. The Public Affairs Manager role has been talked, planned, and budgeted for over a year…but now that we’ve completed the first round of interviews, it’s becoming more of a reality.
Change and growth can be scary…but often times it leads to new roads and opportunities, and that’s what I see happening with WMFHA right now.