WMFHA Feels The Love at Apartmentalize

“Feel The Love”…that was the theme of this year’s National Apartment Association’s annual Apartmentalize conference hosted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the third week of June. The theme seemed appropriate, not just because it was held in the city of brotherly (and sisterly) love, but also because this annual conference really serves as a sort of “family reunion” for multi-family professionals from around the country. All throughout the week you saw hugs, handshakes and fist bumps as people reunited with colleagues and made new relationships.

12,000 attendees flooded the halls, classrooms and exhibition floor at this year’s conference. WMFHA was well represented with some members of our board of directors, 4 staff members and numerous other WMFHA property management professionals and supplier partners in attendance.

WMFHA IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Washingtonians should feel very proud of the impact our members made as they were recognized on the national stage:

• Sheri Druckman, Legacy Partners, was elected as Region 7 Regional Vice President (she will represent the member delegates from WA, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and Arizona)
• Greg Cerbana, Weidner Apartment Homes, was selected to Co-Chair the 2025 Apartmentalize Conference in Las Vegas
• Sheri Druckman Legacy Partners, Brett Waller, Weidner Apartment Homes,Diana Norbury, Pillar Properties  and Sierra Berg, Pillar Properties, were all featured presenters in the education sessions.
• Emerging Leader Christy Rolfe, Thrive Communities, was honored on stage as one of NAA & HD Supply’s Maintenance Legends. She was the only legend from Washington and the only female legend for the year.
• Emerging Leader Tyler Freed,CAM, CAPS and Miranda Hekimian (both from Greystar), were recognized as part of the 20 in their 20’s class of 2024.
• Nick Marin, WMFHA,  and Brett Waller, Weidner Apartment Homes, were recognized as part of the 2024 Leadership Lyceum.
• Our philanthropy efforts were highlighted on the #NAAGIVES photo wall.

JUNETEENTH HONORED

The first day of the conference fell on June 19.  This is known as Juneteenth, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. On this day in 1865, enslaved people in Texas finally learned that they had been freed - over 2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.

The organizers did a nice job of incorporating Juneteenth throughout the day with signage with QR codes for more information about the day and acknowledgements at many meetings and education sessions.

The conference opening session featured an all-black gospel choir that had the entire crowd on their feet, followed by Leslie Odom, Jr. who shared his story of growing up in Philly where he first tried out for the musical RENT at age 17, and then how he got his breakthrough role as Aaron Burr in Hamilton. He then delighted the audience by singing 2 songs. It was a really special moment for everyone in the room.

INCLUSION CELEBRATED

One of the exciting new features of this year’s conference was the Affinity Group Pavilion. This provided a space for 6 diverse affinity groups to have a table and a representative to share information about their group and recruit new members. This area was always buzzing with excitement as people got a chance to see themselves represented in a positive way:

• Multifamily Q Space
• Hispanos in Multifamily
• Latinas in Property Management
• Melanin in Multifamily
• Once A Warrior
• Multifamily Femmes

You can learn more about these groups here: https://www.naahq.org/affinity-groups

HAVING FOMO?

You can still get in on the action by purchasing the Best Of Apartmentalize 2024.

The Best of Apartmentalize will include 8 recorded sessions from the 2024 Apartmentalize conference in Philadelphia. Earn 8 Continuing Education Credits (CECs) with purchase.

Click HERE to preorder