Career Spotlight: Stefanie Wilson
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Name: Stefanie Wilson
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Tell us about your career:
I started in property management in 2002 as a leasing consultant after my uncle, who was a maintenance supervisor, told me about the open position at the property that he was working at. After about a year in that role, I grew into the assistant manager position. My current manager was moving out of state after a year in the assistant manager role and so I bumped up to community manager after she made her move.
Over the years I have worked with multiple area property management companies in the Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem areas. At the end of 2012, I felt pulled in a completely different area and went to school to become a licensed esthetician. This was a fantastic experience and the flexible schedule allowed me to be home as we grew our family. I continue to renew my license in the event I ever feel like getting back into some part-time work with facials, waxing, and chemical peels. The fall of 2018, and after I was done having babies, property management was pulling at my heartstrings. Having been out of the field for a few years and going into an unknown territory of student housing, I came back in the assistant manager role with Signature Property Group to get my feet wet again. Now I'm back in the community manager role with Burkely Communities, currently at The Gardens at Anthony House, a 600 unit property in Greensboro and loving every minute of it.
What advice do you have for someone just starting in your field:
Welcome to the BEST industry, with the BEST people. You will encounter some challenging days but you will have some of the best days, have the sweetest experiences, and you'll learn so much along the way. Find a company that values you and run with them!
Anything else you would like to share:
"Attitude is EVERYTHING" and "Miracles Happen!" These are the mottos I live by in this industry.
"Attitude is EVERYTHING" With a positive view and attitude, you can do amazing things. The more you dwell on something in a negative light, the more it hinders you from greatness. Stay sweet, stay positive, and watch the dominos fall into place.
"Miracles Happen" They sure do! Every day! How many of us have had that resident who gets to the deadline of submitting something or making their payment and they give you excuse after excuse? Hold folks accountable and behold, the unfolding of miracles. 9 times out of 10, they'll be bringing that administration fee or rent payment in when they told you that they couldn't. It's okay to be sympathetic to one's situations, but it's also okay to hold people accountable. My employees hear me say this, sometimes, multiple times a day. I'd love to have a mural painted in my office of this particular saying.