Growing up I was always very good in math and it was actually one of my favorite subjects in school. When most students were taking art and music and other fun elective courses I was taking any and all types of math courses for my electives. I ventured into taking an accounting class in the 12^th grade and I knew then that was what I wanted to do. After graduating high school I took some accounting courses at a junior college. It was at this point that I realized accounting was what I wanted to do for sure and decided to enroll at Heald Business College.

After graduating, I had the privilege to work for some very good companies that allowed me to use the skills that I learned. Not only did I have the opportunity to utilize my skills but I worked with a lot of people that were willing to teach me areas of accounting that I didn’t know. That is probably where most of my knowledge in accounting comes from; on the job training and people that had confidence in me to teach me more. I know there is still plenty more for me to learn and I will continue to learn through education from accounting courses and asking how and why.

It’s always important to keep in mind that through work experience you can broaden your skills set and uncover new areas in your field of interest that you find interesting!

La Terra Francis, Accounting Manager

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When I first started working in the Property Management industry I had no idea just how far I would go and that I would always end up in the industry in one shape or another, even when I was trying to make a change to a different industry.

I started in the residential property division of a management company not too long after I got out of high school. It was a basic administrative position. The bread and butter of the company that I worked for was their Homeowner’s Association Management division. However, we were creeping up on them quickly and growing our division immensely. I was quickly learning the ins and outs of the business from my supervisor, who had been with the company for ten years and had started as an administrative assistant as well. Within six months I too was a Residential Property Manager, and I loved it. Since then I have been successful in Property Management, Real Estate, and now the placement of professionals in rolls just like the ones I’ve been in myself.

With the economic downturn over the past several years, Property Management has actually been on the upswing. More people are being forced to give up the homes they own and the rental market is large and thriving. I don’t believe that this is going to change for quite some time. It has been far more difficult to obtain a home loan and many people are too reluctant to purchase in this market. Hence, rentals will continue to thrive. With that comes the need for more qualified individuals in a variety of roles: Administrative, Leasing, Maintenance, etc. Many realtors that have been struggling with the poor Real Estate market have made the switch to Property Management.

I believe if you are customer service-oriented and have a true love of talking to people, this is a great industry for you. Also, if you enjoy variety, it suits that as well. Things change in the industry on an almost constant basis and there are always going to be new laws, or changes in laws, to keep you on your toes. Plus, nine times out of ten you are helping people and that, for me, is the best part. Property management is the perfect blend of giving back to your community as well as supporting your livelihood!

Erin Gilligan, Staffing Associate

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Employment through a temporary service creates many unique challenges for the safety of the employee that may not occur in a traditional employment relationship. It is the responsibility of the staffing company, the client, and the employee to create a safe place for the employee to work.

The staffing company is responsible for ensuring the employee is covered under a Workers Compensation insurance policy and to manage any claims of injury that occur. To minimize claims, the company needs to know as much about the job assignment and workplace where the employee will be working, since it is not possible to observe the employee on a daily basis. In order to gather this information, the company will perform periodic visits to the client worksite to check for anything that could be a potential hazard for the employee.

For a temporary employee, it is very important that he or she maintains communication with the staffing company, especially where safety is concerned. If the employee is injured or feels that he or she is working in an unsafe environment, the first call should be to the recruiter at the staffing company. The company should respond swiftly to any concerns to ensure that the employee is safe and any injuries are treated immediately.

It is the employee’s right and the employer’s (both the staffing company and the client company) obligation to have a safe place to work, but it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that this happens. With open communication everyone can a safe and productive workplace!

Sara Skowronski, Manager of Operations & Human Resources

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Although most people think it’s common sense, by law there are certain factors about a person which cannot be used in determining their eligibility for housing and other residential-related services. In this week’s blog, you will find a compilation of information and resources you can use to beef up your knowledge about fair-housing practices, whether you are in the property management field, or are looking to know your rights within the industry.

Special thanks to HousingLink and the U.S. Dept. of Housing for providing useful information on this topic.

Firstly, what is Fair Housing?: Originally, the term fair housing came from a political movement of the ‘50s and ‘60s to outlaw discrimination in the rental or purchase of homes and a broad range of other housing-related transactions, such as advertising, mortgage lending, homeowner’s insurance, and zoning.  During the 1960’s, at the urging of President Johnson, Congress passed the federal Fair Housing Act (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968).

The primary purpose of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 is to protect the dwelling seeker from landlord discrimination. The goal is a housing market in which a person’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or familial status does not arbitrarily restrict access to housing.  Everyone should have equal access to housing opportunities.

After a thorough search, I have found that the following links regarding Fair Housing are very helpful in understanding more about this subject:

1. http://www.housinglink.org/HousingResources/FairHousing.aspx- Equal Access to Housing For All People

2. hud.gov/offices/fheo/ -The Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO)

3. http://www.housinglink.org/Files/Fair%20Housing%20Flyer.pdf-Fair Housing Education

Renoir Staffing, LLC. is committed to complying with equal housing rights.

Connie White, Recruiter

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For more information, go to the California Apartment Association. According to the site, CAA: 

“is pleased to offer the California Certified Residential Manager (CCRM) professional certification program, for students who are interested in advancing in a career in property management.

When you complete the California Certified Residential Manager professional certification program you will have the skills necessary to efficiently and effectively manage rental property and to be an asset to any employer. If you are currently job seeking, your resume will stand out from the others due to the CCRM professional certification.

CCRM Professional Certification Courses can be taken individually or as a series. The Property Management series of courses provides professional training specific to the laws and regulations of California.

Property management companies find that the CCRM certification is a valuable employee retention tool. The CCRM is an excellent program for training new or inexperienced employees, or for giving current employees a refresher.”