“Retired Dental Hygienist Turned Property Manager”
By Jennifer Stoops
That’s what the illustrious headline would read to describe my career shift to the real estate and property management industry!
I graduated college from the State University of NY at Buffalo with a bachelor’s degree in business and communications. Graduating was my single proudest accomplishment at that time in my life because I was the first person in my family to graduate from college. I did so by paying my own way while maintaining an apartment of my own and working multiple jobs. I had a sink or swim mentality about It, and I chose to swim as hard as I could.
After graduation, I began looking for my first “real job.” I read an ad for a business/office manager for a pediatric dental practice and applied. During the interview, I discovered the dentist who was conducting the interview had just finished her residency in pediatric dentistry and wanted to open a brand-new practice. We both agreed we would be a good fit for each other.
About six months into my new career, the doctor requested a meeting with me. I was nervous but felt I had been doing a good job in my role. Our accounts receivable was under 10%, and I was keeping her schedule full.
During the meeting, she asked whether I would consider going back to school. Puzzled by the question since I had already graduated with my four-year degree and certainly was not looking to be a dentist, I asked, “What for?”
Her response surprised me. The doctor was so pleased with how I interacted with the patients and their parents (by now I was also assisting her with patients a good bit as well) that she wanted to see if I would consider becoming a dental hygienist. She felt my personality was better suited to be working on patients rather than on the business side of things. If an employer is offering to pay for education, you take it! I completed a normally two-year full-time program in nine months by attending part time and continuing to work full time.
Time for a Change
As much as I enjoyed my 7-year career in pediatric dentistry, things took a different turn after I got married. My husband and I decided to leave Buffalo and start our lives together in North Carolina. I’d always had a passion for real estate, so I decided to start a fresh career too.
In February 2007, I enrolled in real estate school. After completing my class and waiting to take the state exam, I began looking for a job in the industry. I came across a tiny, 3-inch by 3-inch ad in the free local newspaper. The company was looking for “new and motivated agents for new real estate office.” Well, I was a new and I was motivated!
I interviewed with the firm’s owner. At the end of the interview, he asked me to call him after I passed my state exam and he would hire me. Two weeks later, I passed the licensing exam and called the owner to ask when I could start. He said he was surprised to hear from me because no one ever called back when they said they would. That was the first of many surprises ahead in my real estate career. I started with Park Avenue Properties full time in June 2007 (the firm opened in May 2007) as property manager. During my 12-year career there, I have worked my way up the ranks from property manager to sales manager to vice president to senior vice president today.
As senior vice president, I run the firm on a daily basis, from operations to budgets to staffing to business growth and all other aspects of running a successful business.
Embracing Leadership
Historically, leadership roles in the real estate investment sector are held primarily by men. I have been very fortunate to have been mentored by an incredibly smart man, our CEO John Bradford III, who saw potential in me that even I did not know I had. He has never once allowed me to believe that there are limitations or roadblocks for me as a female in this industry. On the contrary, he has continued to show me that I have unlimited potential. He has groomed me to be the leader of his firm, entrusting me to run his business so he can focus on other endeavors.
I am very proud to be a woman in leadership in our industry and embrace the opportunities that are before me. In the past year and a half, I have been asked to speak at several industry conferences and find myself one of only a few women tasked to be a speaker at these events. Admittedly, at first this was very intimidating. Not only because I was one of very few women in these situations, but also just the idea of public speaking terrified me. Many who know me are quite surprised by this, but as I said, I am full of surprises.
After my first unbelievably nerve-wracking experience at a large investor conference, I wasn’t sure I could do it again. However, during a candid discussion with our firm’s CEO, he told me I wouldn’t get better unless I kept at it—a basic concept all of us know but forget at times. I took the advice, and although I still get nervous before every speaking engagement, I am proud to represent the industry as a female in a leadership role and even more proud to represent our firm and our reputation within the industry.
To other women in the industry, I say: Don’t focus on being a woman in the industry. Focus on what you bring to the industry. That is what matters. Do you know your craft? If so, let it shine! Because we are in a male dominated industry, I think too many women doubt their ability to hold their own. Be confident in your abilities, trust your gut and continue to learn from those around you.
A Strong Future
Park Avenue Properties started as a Charlotte-based company and now operates in multiple cities in four states. We have the good fortune to work with individual owners with one asset to institutional investors with thousands of assets. We pride ourselves on growing strategically and purposefully. We make our share of missteps but always learn from them. We are constantly evaluating what we do and how we do it so we can become better. I am proud of what our team has accomplished over our first 12 years, and I look forward to what the next 12 years will bring. ·
