Dan Hamelberg of The University Group, and Susan Jepsen of Reynolds Towing, Inc. were awarded the Property Professional of the Year Award and the Vendor of the Year Award for 2009 respectively by unanimous vote of the Nominating Committee and the C.I.A.A. board.

If you don’t know Susan by name, you have seen her. She is not only participating at virtually every function, she is a driving force behind making it happen. She has served four years as treasurer for the association, and has also put sweat and effort into recruiting new members, organizing events, making recommendations for the Trade Show, and getting out to show support for property owners with politicians, among other acts. She is even ready to take tickets for an event at the door if needed. Susan says she does it because she knows the direct impact her volunteering can have for Reynolds Towing. According to Susan, “Towing is not a typical business and being a vendor member of the association helps customers to better understand our business. We have gained many customers over the years for anything from a jumpstart to a heavy duty equipment hauling job.”

It should be noted that Susan’s dedication to giving back is a philosophy endorsed by her employer. Susan adds “Reynolds Towing is also very involved in the community, we participate in Touch a Truck day, Fourth of July parade, Christmas parade, and this year will be helping with the Illinois marathon. As our motto says Any Time – Any Place – Any Size.”

Dan Hamelberg’s support of your Central Illinois Apartment Association goes back to its infancy. Dan was there when it all got started and has been prepared at every turn to nurture it to its current health and vitality. Dan has always been prepared to give, serving twice as association president, being vocal in the community about issues affecting the real estate investor, encouraging membership education by hosting a library of resources, and being the catalyst behind a string of successful Trade Shows, to name just a few of his contributions.

The growth of The University Group is due in part to the lessons Dan has been able to learn and teach during his years with the association. Dan is particularly proud of the opportunity the C.I.A.A. provides to investors who are new to the industry or for whom it is a secondary source of income. He is pleased to be involved in shaping a leasing marketplace that is fair for resident and investor alike. Dan’s efforts in the association to foster cooperation and collaboration fit nicely with those of The University Group, a family-owned and family-run business that prides itself on offering safe, centrally-located and reasonably priced apartments on the University of Illinois campus. When we work together, we all can thrive.

Thank you Dan and Susan, for giving to us, your peers in the association, in 2009 and years past. We are grateful for your example.

… by Spending Time Away From It

You want to grow your business. You envision less work, more profit and more of that treasure that is uniquely yours: donating to your place of worship, helping that cause that touches you. It may appear to you the straightest path to achieving those rewards is by putting your head down and going directly toward your goal. Does it surprise you then to read a less obvious road might be the best one?

Volunteering for a committee in organizations to which you belong, such as your Central Illinois Apartment Association, adds value to your business that you cannot get elsewhere. It is sort of like those companies that match their employee’s contribution to a retirement plan; when you invest in your association, you get a matching investment in your business.

Your service on a committee broadens and deepens your connections. Working side-by-side with your industry peers allows you to encounter diverse views on issues that matter to you. These perspectives are often valid ways of seeing opportunities or pitfalls, and are effectively like seeing your profession with new eyes. When the work you do is renewed you enjoy it more, which is a gratifying return on your investment immediately. In addition, when you are freely offered different approaches that others are using to do the same thing you are, the result often is that you save time or money or both.

Committee service is a way to promote your business too. Whether you offer property for rent, have a product or service, you are going to be around others who are naturally interested in what you do and how you do it. It is often said that marketing is getting people to know, like and trust you. How much easier is it to get over those thresholds when you have rolled-up your sleeves and worked along side someone who might buy your product, service or refer prospects to you? “No amount of advertising can compare with direct interaction with current and potential clients. Working in a committee for a service organization is an ideal method to achieve positive marketing results as others will see your business abilities and dedication to the task at hand. You will build relationships and a solid reputation, which will prove to be much more powerful than simple advertising.” states Matt Carr, Vice President and Senior Commercial Lender at First Bank of Savoy. If these marketing benefits are not quite convincing enough, then remember this: Committee work can be published. Whether it is as simple as adding it to a resume, or even more widely read because it is printed in a newspaper, magazine or blog post, your name and the name of your business can be linked to producing results. And in this context, there is a credibility with which you and your business are imbued that money can’t buy. When the public reads an article that says you were part of a group that surpassed membership goals, redeveloped a web site, launched a new campaign or helped some needy cause, those readers are confident they are reading an impartial report of your work, not a paid advertisement. That’s convincing stuff.

While on the topic of credibility, let’s be sure to mention that committee members have more of it among the association members they serve. Individuals who are contributing their time and expertise are understandably perceived as leaders. With that perception comes recognition and trust. They are seen as people who get things done. As Stephanie Holderfield, Realtor with Re/Max Realty Associates, Champaign County Association of Realtors, Governmental Affairs Chair says, “Committee involvement within your organization also makes the association run more effectively, efficiently and with greater strength.” When other organization members see this, they take note. It is common for committee members to be approached as the go-to person. This is how people regularly have spontaneous opportunities gravitate their way.

You can look at this volunteer work as a learn-as-you-go program. One or two committee positions should be filled by people who are novices at the task and want to learn more. As they learn, the initiates ask questions that challenge seasoned members to rethink how they have done things in the past. Sometimes those questions are the source of improvement and enhancement. Coincidentally, the new volunteer is like an intern who gets years worth of experience handed to them by those who have served on the committee longer then they have. And since the task of a committee is usually either limited in scope or on a recurring cycle, volunteers learn in a low or no-cost way whether the work, like overseeing the financial health of the organization or planning a fund-raiser, is appealing.

A sense of camaraderie can develop among the team of fellow committee members. You might find yourself at a backyard barbecue or a holiday party you have never attended before. There might be a teammate in whom you can count to lend a hand with your work when you are overloaded. It could be as simple as being out shopping and running into a familiar smile. Holderfield adds: “Being a part of something bigger than you are and then taking a step back to appreciate, not only what you offered yourself, but more importantly how together a committed group of individuals collectively flourish the organization. The structure of the organization relies upon individuals who are willing to uphold the integrity of the past as well as grow along side of the future. Without those ideals and willingness to participate, an organization falls apart.”

These are just a few of the benefits of joining and pitching-in on a committee that reflects your interests. You start experiencing them first hand by contacting Randy Hughes, Andrew Timms, Susan Jepsen, Chandre Marino or any of your C.I.A.A. board members. Let them know what sorts of things you like to do or would like to try, and they can help you get into the mix of friendly, conscientious men and women who are eager to have your contribution.

For many years, corporations have been able to list the intangible asset “Goodwill” on their balance sheet. Why not consider service work on an association committee as a way to deepen and broaden your Goodwill assets? And don’t be surprised if you find yourself arriving at your chosen treasure sooner than you expected, even if it didn’t feel like you were running directly toward it.

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About the author: Andrew R. Timms has served in his community on various boards and committees for over fifteen years. He is currently actively involved in several apartment associations, learning and sharing best practices from around the State of Illinois. If you’d like to determine if his experience and network of leasing professionals can help you, contact him to arrange a free consultation.

Most landlords require a prospective tenant to submit an application prior to approval and occupancy. Professional landlords will consider the rental application information critical to the approval process. High on the scale of value of application information is who the current and past landlord is. By contacting the current and past landlord the professional property manager will find out key information regarding the prospective tenant’s desire to pay rent, take care of the property and reside without conflict with neighbors.

Recently our office had to evict a tenant for non-payment of rent, high traffic (in and out of the unit) complaints by neighbors and constant trouble of one kind or another. Upon discovering where the evicted tenant moved to, we contacted the local landlord and asked how he could be approved by them (one of the largest landlords in the C-U area) under the circumstances? We also asked why they had not contacted us for a reference. We were told he did not list a current landlord on his application! They made their decision based upon a recommendation by a local agency that helps tenants (on a temporary basis) pay their rent when they are about to be evicted.

It is hard to imagine approving a prospective tenant without running a credit check (that would show current and past addresses), verifying employment and talking to the current and previous landlord. These are the tools of our trade. When we do not use our tools our odds of failure increase exponentially.

When landlords do not rely on each other for key information when deciding on leasing property to tenants we miss out on the most important part of associating together. Think of it this way, the tenants in C-U have a tenant’s union and they do work closely together. Does it not make sense that we act as professionally as our tenants?

The heart of CIAA is the Board of Directors. Without good people on the Board our association would die. Therefore, it is very important to not only seek out and find excellence but to assure that the Board has a continuous life. We need your help!

Here are the positions that we need your help finding qualified individuals for:

• President
• Vice President
• Marketing Committee Chairman
• Finance Committee
• Website Committee
• Trade Show Committee
• Educational Programming

On September 16th, the nominating committee (composed of all past presidents) will meet to discuss all suggestions for the above positions. The elections will be held at our December meeting. If you would like to nominate someone (or offer your own name for consideration), please contact me prior to the September 16th meeting. Thank you for your input and concern for the future of CIAA. You can contact me at: randy@hughesre.com