Essence Hicks
Colonial Heights,VA
Summary
Accomplished Senior Property Manager with proven success leading affordable housing communities through operational turnarounds, financial recovery, and compliance improvements. Experienced in managing HUD-regulated properties, improving asset performance, reducing delinquency, restoring certification compliance, and achieving strong NSPIRE and Management & Occupancy Review (MOR) results. Recognized for transforming underperforming communities into financially stable, inspection-ready properties through strategic leadership, team development, and operational accountability. Seeking to leverage proven portfolio management experience as a Regional Property Manager.
Overview
1
1
Certification
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Property Manager
Beacon Communities
Richmond, USA
05.2020 - Current
- Lead daily operations for a 182-unit HUD affordable housing community serving more than 250 residents, overseeing property performance, compliance, financial results, resident satisfaction, and team operations.
- Successfully transformed a financially distressed property by reducing delinquency from over $500,000 (half a million dollars) upon assignment to under $10,000, restoring financial stability and improving revenue performance.
- Eliminated a backlog of more than three years of outstanding resident recertifications, bringing the property current and maintaining ongoing HUD compliance requirements.
- Improved overall property performance through strategic planning, staff accountability, process improvements, and enhanced operational controls.
- Achieved NSPIRE inspection scores in the 90+ range, demonstrating strong physical asset management, preventative maintenance coordination, and compliance leadership.
- Achieved above-average Management & Occupancy Review (MOR) results by strengthening documentation, compliance procedures, staff performance, and operational processes.
- Provide leadership, coaching, and performance management to property staff while creating a culture focused on accountability and excellence.
- Manage HUD compliance requirements including annual and interim recertifications, EIV requirements, income verification, file audits, and regulatory reporting.
- Partner with regional leadership, vendors, and maintenance teams to address capital needs, improve curb appeal, and maintain property standards.
- Analyze financial reports, monitor expenses, develop corrective action plans, and implement strategies to improve property performance.
- Prepare the community for inspections, audits, and management reviews while ensuring compliance with federal housing regulations.
- Successfully supported and facilitated a full property renovation project, coordinating unit upgrades, vendor communication, resident notifications, scheduling, and operational planning to minimize disruption while improving overall asset quality.
- Partnered with ownership, contractors, maintenance teams, and internal leadership to ensure renovation timelines, unit readiness, and property standards were successfully maintained throughout the project.
- Oversaw renovation-related operations while balancing resident needs, compliance requirements, inspections, and daily property management responsibilities.
Assistant Property Manager
Better Housing Coalition
Chesterfield, USA
09.2019 - 04.2020
- Spearheaded complex renovation, rehab, relocation, and housing projects, managing budgets, by monitoring expenditures, collaborating with stakeholders to gather project requirements, writing all necessary documents for approvals, assessing project risks and proactively resolving issues.
- Responsible for lease portfolio maintenance and new lease development of 400 units, driving operational excellence by responding quickly and effectively to tenant concerns and property emergencies, and regularly performing property assessments, determining areas that required attention and developing plans to address these deficiencies.
- Demonstrated expert supplier negotiations securing more favorable terms, by strengthening relationships, enhancing transparency, and leveraging data insights, and ensuring projects came in under budget.
- Audited and processed leasing agreement and section 8 housing terms, ensuring records were 100% accurate and compliant with government and operational standards.
- Delivered above expectation, maintaining seamless administrative support, repeatedly recognized for problem solving, attention to detail, thorough inspections, verbal and written communication, and meeting facilitation.
- Coordinated move-ins and move-outs, ensuring smooth transitions for both tenants and property management team.
- Followed up on delinquent tenants and coordinated collection procedures.
Skills
- Regional & Portfolio Operations
- Affordable Housing Management
- HUD Compliance & Regulatory Oversight
- Property Turnaround Strategies
- Financial Recovery & Delinquency Reduction
- Budget Management & Expense Control
- Recertification Compliance
- NSPIRE Inspection Preparation
- Management & Occupancy Reviews (MOR)
- Team Leadership & Development
- Occupancy Optimization
- Vendor Management
- Resident Relations
- Audit Preparation
- Process Improvement
Certification
- Fair Housing Certification
- NSPIRE Training
Key Career Achievements
- Took over a property experiencing significant financial and compliance challenges and successfully stabilized operations.
- Reduced delinquency by more than 98%, improving cash flow from a $500K+ deficit to less than $10K outstanding.
- Restored HUD recertification compliance by completing a three-year backlog and maintaining current certification timelines.
- Achieved NSPIRE scores above 90 and MOR results above company averages through strong leadership and process improvement.
- Built accountability within site operations by training, coaching, and developing team members to meet performance expectations.
- Assisted in the successful completion of a full community renovation, helping transform the physical condition of the property while maintaining resident satisfaction, operational continuity, and compliance standards.
Timeline
Senior Property Manager
Beacon Communities
05.2020 - Current
Assistant Property Manager
Better Housing Coalition
09.2019 - 04.2020