New UAA Program Takes Students to Denver, CO
This summer, two UAA students from the Weidner Property Management and Real Estate Program at CBPP received travel awards to attend the National Apartment Association Education Conference and Exposition in Denver, CO. Amanda Doughty and Brooks Woods received these awards as part of the program’s inaugural offering of academic and travel opportunities for students declared in the new program at the College of Business and Public Policy.
Sponsored in part by the National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI) and the program, students attended the conference, all-expenses paid, to gain exposure to the apartment industry on a national level and hear from its leaders regarding current trends and issues.
This year, the conference attracted over 8,000 participants and offered keynote speakers ranging from Michael J. Fox to Bill Rancic, most notably known for his appearance and success on the first season of The Apprentice. Barbara Corcoran, real estate powerhouse and star of the ABC series, Shark Tank, delivered a powerful and humorous presentation about her life and struggles along the path to success.
The conference offered over 40 education break-out sessions covering topics that included generational differences in the workplace, tips for success in leasing, lessons in customer service, social media marketing, and so much more.
In addition to education opportunities, the students witnessed the expanse of the industry touring the exposition’s tradeshow floor. There, hundreds of suppliers and service providers showcased their latest products and technologies. The apartment industry is an economic driver, supporting thousands of jobs and businesses from furniture rentals, to appliance suppliers, to technology firms like YARDI, a software company that provides solutions for managing rent rolls, accounting functions, reporting, and maintenance.
While in Denver, NAAEI arranged for the students to attend networking events to meet students from other property management programs, including Ball State University and Virginia Tech, as well as recruiters from national companies like Weidner Apartment Homes and Greystar.
During the conference, Dean Weidner, founder and president of Weidner Apartment Homes was recognized for his company’s donation of $1 million to NAAEI’s Now Campaign, an outreach effort to promote career awareness and training for the industry’s future leaders. Following the recognition, Weidner Apartment Homes arranged a lunch for Amanda and Brooks to meet Dean and discuss the conference and property management industry opportunities. Having donated $4 million to the Weidner Property Management and Real Estate Program at CBPP, Dean is a dedicated advocate for the development and expansion of education for the industry.
For Amanda, this conference was just the beginning. In addition to receiving this award, Amanda also received a travel award to attend the Institute of Real Estate Management’s (IREM) Fall Leadership Conference this October in Orlando, FL. Founded in 1933, IREM provides support and resources for the management of both residential and commercial properties such as office buildings, retail centers, and industrial space.
The Weidner Property Management and Real Estate Program at CBPP was founded in August 2013. The program enables students to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Management with a concentration in Property Management and Real Estate. One of only a few schools in the nation that offer a degree focused on property management, this program provides UAA students a unique chance to set themselves apart and prepare for an industry full of opportunities.
To learn more about the Weidner Property Management and Real Estate Program at CBPP, including how to apply for upcoming academic and travel awards, please visit the website and direct questions to Terry Fields.