Catherine (Cathy) Lucas
Cartersville,GA
Summary
A seasoned real estate professional with over 35 years of industry experience as an established leader who can direct organizations to achieve business results. A solid decision-maker with a history of developing individuals, teams, and organizations to their full potential. Significant experience working in a fast-paced environment and demonstrated success in technology solutions, management change, community operations, and strategic planning. Able to acclimate quickly, set goals, and achieve maximum results in undefined situations through a flexible approach while keeping a constant eye on the progress of strategic management practices.
Overview
44
44
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Regional Vice President
DAYRISE RESIDENTIAL
09.2016 - Current
- Responsible for Atlanta portfolio of 25 properties totaling over 7326 apartments homes
- Regional Staff of four Regional Directors and Regional and Construction support
- Properties consisting of Multi-Million-dollar value-add renovations
- Actively involved with investor and partner tours
- Leadership includes rapid growth, renovation, acquisitions, recapitalization, and re-positioning
- Responsible for the financial performance of properties
- Responsible for maintaining client relationships
- Actively involved in staff development, training, and contract negotiations of all properties
- Winner of the Executive Excellence award for 2020.
- Increased regional revenue by implementing strategic sales initiatives and cultivating strong client relationships
- Developed high-performing teams through effective recruitment, training, and performance management practices
- Achieved cost savings through diligent expense management and budgetary controls
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by overseeing the implementation of improved service standards across all regional locations
- Established a culture of continuous improvement
- Reported issues to higher management with great detail
- Increased regional revenue by implementing strategic sales initiatives and cultivating strong client relationships.
- Developed high-performing teams through effective recruitment, training, and performance management practices.
- Delivered consistent growth in revenue by establishing partnerships with key industry players and stakeholders.
- Achieved cost savings through diligent expense management and budgetary controls.
- Drove employee engagement and retention by promoting professional development opportunities and maintaining an inclusive work environment.
- Negotiated favorable contracts with vendors and suppliers to improve operational efficiency while reducing costs.
- Established a culture of continuous improvement.
Senior Regional Portfolio Manager
FIRST COMMUNITIES' MANAGEMENT
10.2010
- Responsible for operating 3,739 apartment homes that consist of conventional and tax-credit communities
- These communities comprise a diverse portfolio of A, B, and C assets in various Atlanta markets and Tennessee
- Actively involved in multi-million-dollar rehabs slated for re-positioning, a newly developed lease-up community, and a strong focus on achieving positive cash flow for the remainder of communities
- Oversee marketing, financial analysis, human resources, training, vendor relations, and contract negotiations
- After the initial associate changes were made during the first few months, there has been minimal turnover, improved team member morals, and we have been able to meet and often exceed the owner's goals/expectations.
Regional Vice President
LANDMARK RESIDENTIAL
12.2009
- A senior leader in charge of the development and expansion of the Georgia Region, specializing in a diverse portfolio of A, B, and C assets
- This region excelled in resident and employee satisfaction and meeting or exceeding property Performa
- Manage the profitability of 6 properties and 3400 apartment homes through strategic, hands-on property visits to review operational and physical asset needs
- Owner Managed
- Implemented cost-effective measures to increase profitability while identifying critical problems and capital preservation
- The activity involved multi-million-dollar renovations on several newly acquired assets
- Training, mentoring, and coaching managers to raise NOI through increased occupancy, diligent rent collections, innovative cost control measures, and resident retention
- Enhancing property performance through efficient sub-market knowledge, being proactive with timely rent adjustments, and marketing initiatives
- Involved in the roll-out of the LRO program
- Built high-caliber teams charged with delivering professional services, resulting in reduced property turnover
- Actively assisted the owner with dispositions and acquisitions of properties in the Georgia Market.
Southeast Regional Vice President
GFI Management Services, Inc.
06.2006
- Atlanta and Florida portfolio of 21 (B & C) properties
- Owner Managed
- Grew occupancy portfolio from 58% to 92%
- Reduce regional delinquency of 23% of GPR to an average of 4%
- Assisted with acquiring 11 new properties to the Atlanta portfolio
- Approximately 9,000 units; over 150 employees
- Rehab several properties, which allowed re-positioning and successful refinance
- Developed and coordinated the multi-family divisions' first company-wide policy and procedure manual
- First region to implement owners “HWD” program for resident retention
- Regional staff of four Regional Managers, one Regional Construction Manager, and one Marketing Director
- Created and implemented a series of key performance indicators to increase accountability and deliver superior customer service
- Developed and taught several sales/leasing classes
- Implemented a concession management strategy and educated sites accordingly.
Regional Vice President
COLONIAL PROPERTIES TRUST
07.2005
- REIT experience
- Atlanta portfolio of 14 (A & B) garden-style communities
- Maintained 95% occupancy of all same-store assets
- Maintained delinquency of 2% or less of GPR
- Met or exceeded all quarterly financial goals
- Supervised and trained 14 Business Managers
- Participated in several Board of Director tours
- The activity involved dispositions and acquisitions of properties.
Operations Manager
ARCHSTONE SMITH
08.2003
- REIT experience
- Atlanta portfolio of eight (A & B) properties
- All the same store assets
- Training and Supervising eight Business Managers
- Led the division with regional occupancy and collection numbers
- Met or exceeded all quarterly financial goals
- Winner of the Revenue contest award for the division.
Regional Vice President
JPI
08.1998
- Owner Developer experience
- A portfolio of eighteen A and B communities in Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee
- Conventional, Midrise, and High-rise experience
- Regional staff of two Regional Managers and a Marketing and Training Manager
- Successfully achieved record-breaking lease-ups during my tenure
- Played an integral role in the dispositions of several communities, maximizing the sale potential
- Won several company awards during my tenure, including a Diamond Award, the Walk the Talk Award, and the Extra Mile Award
- Increased Customer Satisfaction scores for the Southeast Region
- Increased team member satisfaction scores and the company's lowest team member turnover.
Regional Vice President
ExecuStay Corporate Housing
06.1997
- Experience with Corporate Housing
- Opened a successful corporate housing program from the ground up in the Atlanta Market
- Marketed and landed several major business accounts for the company
- Assisted with the acquisition of another significant corporate housing provided
- Promoted and transferred to Houston to oversee multiple offices in Texas.
Southeast Vice President
GENERAL INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
11.1979 - 06.1997
- Held several positions with this company, including Regional Vice President, Vice President of Marketing, Regional Marketing Coordinator, Community Manager, and Leasing Representative
- The portfolio covered GA, TX, AL, FL, VA, MD, and NV
- Community profiles included garden-style and mid-rise communities: A, B, and C
- Successfully maintained and exceeded budgeted occupancy goal and maximized NOI
- Negotiated with the Atlanta Olympic Housing that aggressively increased NOI
- Responsible for training newly acquired Southern Region in the economically diverse Washington, DC corridor, stretching from Baltimore, MD to Richmond, VA
- Improved and maintained community occupancy to 95%
- Developed and supported an incentive/resident retention program, which was implemented company-wide
- Developed a successful corporate housing program for the company
- Team members' turnover was the lowest within the company
- Established a foreign exchange student contact with local universities
- Winner of several company awards
- Demonstrated proficient leadership skills to motivate employees and build competent teams
- Hired and managed employees to maximize productivity while training staff on best practices and protocols.
Education
UNLV
05.1979
Skills
- Leadership Development
- Project Management
- Contract Negotiation
- Emotional Intelligence
- Team Building
- Customer Service Management
- Analytical Thinking
- Revenue Growth
- Budgeting and Forecasting
- Financial Oversight
- KPI Tracking
- Decision Making
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Financial Management
Timeline
Senior Regional Vice President
DAYRISE RESIDENTIAL
09.2016 - Current
Senior Regional Portfolio Manager
FIRST COMMUNITIES' MANAGEMENT
10.2010
Regional Vice President
LANDMARK RESIDENTIAL
12.2009
Southeast Regional Vice President
GFI Management Services, Inc.
06.2006
Regional Vice President
COLONIAL PROPERTIES TRUST
07.2005
Operations Manager
ARCHSTONE SMITH
08.2003
Regional Vice President
JPI
08.1998
Regional Vice President
ExecuStay Corporate Housing
06.1997
Southeast Vice President
GENERAL INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
11.1979 - 06.1997
UNLV
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