Clara M. Pelayo
Summary
Professional with broad experience in regional management, ready to drive operational success and enhance team performance. Known for strong focus on collaboration, adaptability to changing needs, and delivering results that exceed expectations. Skilled in strategic planning, process improvement, and effective communication. Reliable and flexible, ensuring consistent achievement of organizational goals.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Regional Supervisor
Valiant Residential
03.2024 - Current
- Oversee the operational and financial performance of a 5-asset portfolio in Austin, TX
- Oversee day-to-day property operations and monitor revenue and expenditures
- Directly manage a 27-person
- Develop existing and new relationships with clients
- Create and manage adherence to annual operating and capital budgets for my portfolio
- Develop marketing strategies focused on increased resident retention and new resident acquisition
- Consistently analyze each asset's submarket to stay ahead of trends and ensure operational success
- Assist property managers and corporate accountants in preparing monthly financial accounting reports and explaining budget variances
Senior Regional Director
Presidium Property Management
10.2018 - 12.2023
- Oversee the operational and financial performance of a 6-asset portfolio in Austin, TX
- Directly manage a 43-person team, preparing multiple team members for promotion through mentoring and one-on-one training
- Create and manage adherence to annual operating and capital budgets for my portfolio
- Oversee numerous capital improvements, ranging from full-scope renovations to stand-alone capital projects
- Work alongside Presidium's in-house design team to ensure renovation scopes will attract each asset's target demographic and to ensure that all capital expenditures will generate underwritten increases in income
- Develop marketing strategies focused on increased resident retention and new resident acquisition
- Consistently analyze each asset's submarket to stay ahead of trends and ensure operational success
- Successfully increased total income by $1,182,582.74 year to date, 39.44% above budget
- Achieved this by raising rents and fees while keeping occupancy at 95% or above
- Successfully increased NOI through economies of scale and tight financial controls
- Successfully turned two assets from student to conventional
- Positioning them to be the two best-performing assets I currently manage
- Successfully converting over 3 months, beating the 6-month forecast expectation
- Perform routine site inspections on all assets to inspect for necessary repairs/upgrades
- Successfully positioned five assets (totaling ~1,316 units) for sale and generated strong investor returns
- Successfully positioned two assets (totaling ~754 units) for cash-out refinancing, returning capital to our investors and securing favorable financing to increase future cash flows
- Successfully positioned this asset for lease down over nine months
Community Director
Presidium Property Management
07.2016 - 10.2018
- Took over management on Presidium's most distressed asset and significantly improved operating performance through strong team building, mentorship, customer service, and operational strategy
- Consistently met challenging budget-driven goals set by upper management
- Reduced delinquency by 90% and increased occupancy by 4% within 90 days taking this role
- Increased income and NOI by 16% and 12%, respectively
- Directed the day-to-day activities of general operations, accounting, risk management, marketing, leasing, and ongoing community maintenance
- Managed compliance with LURA requirements on community's 372 affordable units
- Worked with code enforcement team, contractors, and engineers to cure community's historical code violations
- Executed and oversaw capital expenditures in excess of $5.2M
- Prepared all reporting for ownership and upper management
- Maintained strong resident retention in order to reduce turnover and maintain occupancy
Multi-Site Community Director
Presidium Property Management
11.2014 - 07.2016
- Oversaw all daily operations for two communities in San Antonio totaling 378 units
- Grew total income and NOI at Oasis at Oakwell by 17% and 40% respectively over a 20-month period
- Increased total income and NOI at The Settlement by 18% and 60% respectively over a 20-month period
- Led both teams through extensive capital renovations while maintaining occupancy in the 90's
- Helped to oversee the execution of a $1.7M renovation at The Settlement and a $2.2M renovation at Oasis at Oakwell
- Increased resident satisfaction at both assets through communication, resident events, and new customer service initiatives
- Successfully mentored multiple team members and enabled them to take on additional responsibilities and grow their roles at these assets
- Generated strong returns for all investors while creating a great home for all residents
Leasing Professional and Assistant Community Director
Presidium Property Management
01.2014 - 11.2014
- Increased occupancy from 71% to 92% in 11 months
- Performed outreach marketing within the community to expand reach and attract new clientele
- Performed leasing tours, obtained and processed applications
- Screened all applicants for rental history, credit, and criminal
- Transitioned into an Assistant Community Director role
- Once in Assistant Community Director Role, successfully doubled monthly fee income and reduced bad debt while occupancy continued to grow
- Posted rent and performed all collections efforts including late notices, notices to vacate, and evictions as needed
- Managed and processed all renewals and worked to increase resident retention efforts through frequent communication and superior customer service
- Processed all move outs, including final billings and account statements
- Managed all third-party vendor services including waste management, pest control, landscaping and other contract labor
Leasing Professional
Henry S. Miller
06.2013 - 12.2013
- Provided excellent customer service to all existing and prospective residents and worked to directly resolve any resident concerns
- Helped to create a customer service-oriented culture, increased resident retention and reduced turnover
- Performed outreach marketing within the community to expand reach and attract new clientele
- Performed leasing tours, obtained and processed applications
- Completed all credit and criminal screening
Leasing Professional
Sequoia Management
12.2011 - 06.2013
- Provided excellent customer service to all existing and prospective residents
- Helped to create a customer service-oriented culture, increased resident retention and reduced turnover
- Successfully increased resident retention to >70%
- Assisted upper management in improving internal operating procedures for more successful and efficient community operations
- Performed outreach marketing within the community to expand reach and attract new clientele
- Performed leasing tours, obtained and processed applications
- Completed all credit and criminal screening
Executive Recruiter
Adecco/Staffing Goodrich PMO
12.2009 - 11.2011
- Identified company and role requirements, created associated staffing plans
- Assisted HR department with hiring, training, and onboarding new employees
- Prepared work schedules and enforced compliance with company and industry labor laws
- Created daily staffing reports, monitored employee performance, and submitted weekly reports to management
- Determined staffing shortfalls and reported job vacancies and scheduling issues to HR
- Managed database of staffing details / working hours to ensure accurate compensation for all employees
Education
Criminal Justice
Palomar College
San Marcos, California05.2007
Skills
- Leasing
- Operations management
- Payroll
- Capital expense planning
- Budgeting
- Marketing
- Collections
- Accounting
- Due diligence
- Maintenance
- Recruiting
- Team building
- Team collaboration
- Goal setting
- Team member succession planning
- Training
- Mentorship
- Microsoft Office suite
- Yardi Voyager
- LRO
- BlueMoon
- Rent Café
- ResMan
- OneSite
- Custom Match
- Fieldglass
- QuickBooks
- Workload prioritization
- Training and mentoring
- Employee motivation
Awards
- AAA Property of the Year Award, Amethyst, 2021
- AAA Property of the Year Award, Ruby, 2021
- AAA Supervisor of the Year Nominee, 2020
- AAA Property of the Year Finalist, Ruby Category, 2018
- AAA Property of the Year Finalist, Ruby Category, 2019
- AAA Property of the Year Finalist, Ruby Category, 2020
- SAAA Property Manager of the Year Finalist, 2019
- Presidium Community Director of the Year Winner, 2018
- Presidium Community Director of the Year Winner, 2017
- Presidium Community Director of the Year Winner, 2016
- Presidium Community Director of the Year Winner, 2015
- Presidium Community Director Mentorship, 2014 - 2016
Community Engagement And Volunteer Activities
- Austin Apartment Association, Legislative Committee / Advocacy Committee, 03/21, 2022
- Friends of East Riverside, Austin, TX, 05/17, 2023
- Annual East Austin Community Festivities, 07/16, 2022
- Keep Austin Beautiful Clean Up, 03/19, 2022
Languages
Spanish
Full Professional
Timeline
Regional Supervisor
Valiant Residential
03.2024 - Current
Senior Regional Director
Presidium Property Management
10.2018 - 12.2023
Community Director
Presidium Property Management
07.2016 - 10.2018
Multi-Site Community Director
Presidium Property Management
11.2014 - 07.2016
Leasing Professional and Assistant Community Director
Presidium Property Management
01.2014 - 11.2014
Leasing Professional
Henry S. Miller
06.2013 - 12.2013
Leasing Professional
Sequoia Management
12.2011 - 06.2013
Executive Recruiter
Adecco/Staffing Goodrich PMO
12.2009 - 11.2011
Criminal Justice
Palomar College
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