| Past Issues | Advertise | www.faahq.org | Multifamily FLORIDA archive | November 2010 |
FAA Takes the Road to Brighter Horizons at 2010 Education Conference
This year’s meeting at the Omni ChampionsGate in West Orlando, drew nearly 500 property owners and managers and another 300 supplier representatives came together to learn from each other and celebrate another year filled with hard work, fun, and sacrifice. Our first meeting in the fall, the cool, dry air was invigorating for those who ventured outside. The Wednesday golfers and the volunteers didn’t have to get up at the crack of dawn or bathe in summer humidity or summer rainshowers. A slate of new speakers kept the program fresh, while all were touched by the amazing talent of our keynote speakers, Erik Wahl and Joel Zeff.
Pete Regules of CORT and Lori Trainer of Concord expanded their repertoire a bit this year as the annual APAC Poker Tournament on Wednsday night became a full-fledged casino with poker, blackjack, craps, wheel of fortune, and slot machines. Again, a kaleidoscope, a circus funhouse of people such as ARD’s Philip Pattishall dealing cards with aplomb in his newly cut, dyed-orange hair, RentWiki’s Tim Carmichael cackling with players at the craps table, teams of For Rent, Apartment Guide, and CORT selling buy-ins and getting drinks and managing the games. Lori Krull of Greystar coming in after a late flight and plunging into the action; Heather Calderone of CoreLogic SafeRent hugging everyone in sight. It’s a great way for everyone to come together in a casual setting. The serious business got underway with the opening keynote session the next morning. We recognize our Platinum Sponsors, hear an NAA update from the Chairman (Florida’s own Marc Rosenwasser, this year), induct Hall of Fame members (Gary Cherry of Tallahassee), and name our Legislator of the Year. Trudi Williams of Ft. Myers earned that honor this year and gave a short speech to the audience. Then it was time for keynote speaker Erik Wahl. While U2’s "Beautiful Day" boomed out the loudspeakers and the video ran, he began finger painting on a black canvas. Red and orange blobs at first, soon Bono’s face took shape in the negative space around the paint. Just as the song concluded, Eric tossed some white paint across the image’s sunglasses. Both friendly and energetic, Erik made audience members think as well as laugh as he talked about how to find and sustain one’s passion for life and work despite everyday obstacles. New speakers brought new insights to our members, from Andy Masters and Larry Johnson talking about customer service issues to Mark Ogier exploring the financial aspects of the apartment business and Heather Sizemore breaking down the realities of social networking for apartment managers. All were of high quality and brought new insights to those looking to understand their world in greater depth. Independent rental owners—who own few units individually but collectively own the great majority of apartments in the state—heard one of their own in Bryan Chavis, who owns properties himself and does training on behalf of NAA for IROs. I overhead Mrs. Lorie, an owner from Orlando, tell him afterwards that he was the best speaker she had heard. Joel Zeff, last year’s keynote speaker, returned to give a seminar and to emcee the Closing Celebration. His hilarious presentation included lots of audience participation, including an improvisation where two people were moved as human puppets by two others. If participants weren’t embarrassed already, Joel made sure to zing them. At the Closing Celebration, he had people howling as emcee, along with Cindy Fredlund, as he made fun of everyone, from the script to the photographer who was "slowing up" the event. Yet business was conducted, from showing off this year’s Leadership Lyceum graduates and Volunteer of the Year winners to installing the new officers and hearing new President Kellie Jackson’s inaugural speech. Our Trade Show once again sold out this year, with 144 booths and more than $78,000 in sponsorships. When it was time to give away cash and prizes, people followed Pete around like the Pied Piper as they hoped to hear their names called out. Many of them did, as $13,000 in cash was given away. Suppliers often had fun activities meant to draw people to their booths. At PSC members’ request, we had an outdoor reception outside the exhibit hall where people could talk more calmly and get away from their booths. It’s always amazing to see the stamina of our suppliers, busy people who are always there to sit in on seminars, talk to property managers at any time and place, hold hospitality suites. From the wild antics of the Big Dog Party on Thursday night to the more sedate ending of the Little Dog Party on Friday night, suppliers go non-stop. |
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