Career Spotlight: Mary Beth Breen
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Name: Mary Beth Breen
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Tell us about your career:
Long running crazy road for 30 years in this industry we all love! This industry is never boring, never ceases to amaze me and mostly it's like coming home everyday. The opportunities are limitless and people that shape your career along the way remain in my heart as true pioneers of this industry. I've seen people come and go, in and out of this industry on both sides of the business. I was one of them as well starting out with C.L.A.S.S. with leasing up distressed properties throughout the country. One day in downtown Phoenix, Arizona I had a For Rent Magazine representative meet me at a distressed asset to revise the advertising campaign. I was amazed at how much fun marketing became on that particular asset where Guardian Management in Oregon had struggled for years to get this property stabilized in the heart of the city. I came back to Atlanta to start leasing for Julian LeCraw and Company (now Tribridge Residential) again leasing up distressed communities.
In my humble opinion I wasn't ready for the next step, management. It terrified me to have conflict all day. I did some soul searching and found that little voice in my head stating go find out if "advertising" is your passion. After interviewing with Brian Doherty (still in the industry today on the west coast) he gave me my shot to sell advertising at For Rent Magazine in Atlanta. I loved it... I thrived in that environment and was so thankful to do something I felt so passionate about with helping distressed properties reposition their marketing message to their future renters. After several years I was approached by a new management company in the market, Cornerstone Realty Income Trust (now today known as MAA) to become their marketing and training director in Georgia. Dan Ford (now with The Clear Blue Company) gave me that opportunity to take this region and make it shine. Our region crushed income goals and became the shining beacon market for Cornerstone. How much fun I had meeting new friends that are still very close to my heart that I hired and now have incredible careers in this industry.
Fast forward on a career path back on the supplier side on the national circuit to run the New Development Role Nationally for Apartment Finder and open up all new markets throughout the country, including Portland, Oregon, Dallas, Texas, Tampa, Florida and Orlando, Florida, and repositioning markets in Memphis, Tennessee, El Paso, Texas, and Madison, Wisconsin. It was a whirlwind of travel and always being out of state. Marriage took me back to Atlanta and I stepped back into a local sales position in Atlanta to start my family.
Recruited to sale screening and compliance for Resident Data (Lexis Nexis) and (Real Page for Compliance Depot). Back to my love of advertising with Apartments.com soon to be taken over by Costar. This again was a whirlwind of advancements in the industry to go from the third budgeted item in advertising to the number one budgeted item in advertising overnight. Running nonstop to get properties to adapting to the ever-changing world of advertising online and moving away from print.
Continue to advance technology, my skill set has taken me full circle now to my career on a national level presenting solutions to the multifamily industry to help owners with risk. Going back to my old ways of simplifying setting up process and systems to help owners achieve their revenue goals. My company The Guarantors offers risk services to help owners keep and get back the money that is rightfully theirs and mitigate risk by helping renters live in their apartment homes. It's the best of AI risk underwriting technology that is just getting started fully in the multifamily industry. Key to financial stability and the owners slice of the American dream owning real estate. I hope to continue to advance my career in this industry and have my best friends tag along with me on this great career path.
You never know who and how you will shape your dreams and the dreams of others in our wonderful industry.
What advice do you have for someone just starting in your field:
Listen. Care. Follow Up. Have Fun!
There are too many bridges to burn in this industry. Don't do it. Keep your chin up and always take the high road.
Anything else you would like to share:
Be your authentic self and remember this industry will take care of all those that show and support it through volunteering, training, and using your best skill set to help advance the industry forward.