MELANIE A. COOK
Realtor in Louisiana
Slidell
18
years of professional experience
Experienced Residential Property Manager skilled in increasing occupancy rates by securing long-term tenants. Proficient in managing staff and maintenance teams, serving as a liaison between residents and board members. Versatile Property Manager with strong interpersonal skills and effective implementation and enforcement of property rules. Dedicated to creating a safe and comfortable living environment while advocating for the building board's needs. Licensed Realtor in Louisiana with core competencies in quick learning, time management, results-oriented, client-focused, file/records maintenance, training, and development.
Work History
Regional Collector
2 Years 6 Months- Managed high-risk accounts proactively, mitigating potential losses through early intervention efforts.
- Implemented successful dispute resolution techniques to recover outstanding balances without damaging client relationships.
- Spearheaded process improvements that led to increased recovery rates and decreased days outstanding.
- Enhanced collection efficiency by implementing innovative strategies and best practices.
- Conducted thorough audits of account portfolios to ensure accuracy and maintain regulatory compliance.
- Established regional targets and objectives aligned with company-wide goals, driving team performance towards success.
- Led by example, demonstrating a commitment to ethical collections practices and upholding the highest professional standards within the team.
- Collaborated with sales teams to minimize credit risk exposure and support business growth.
- Negotiated favorable payment terms with customers experiencing financial hardship, preserving goodwill while ensuring repayment.
- Reduced bad debt losses through effective monitoring and timely follow-ups on delinquent accounts.
- Streamlined collections processes for improved productivity and reduced costs.
- Monitored accounts receivable aging and worked with various areas to address business needs.
- Prepared accounts receivable-related journal entries for accounting month-end close.
- Monitored customer accounts for payment delinquency and initiated collection efforts.
- Entered client details and notes into system for interdepartmental access and review.
- Prepared and submitted legal documents to initiate court proceedings.
- Prevented impending loss and increased profitability by enforcing scheduled collection campaigns, consistently achieving targeted recovery rate.
Licensed Realtor
7 Years 4 Months- Team Player
- Decisive
- Fair housing mandates
- Multi-family property manager
- Skilled multi-tasker
- Increased home sales by providing exceptional customer service and maintaining strong relationships with clients.
- Enhanced team performance by providing regular coaching, training, and performance feedback to staff members.
Property Manager
1 Year 5 Months- New construction property consisting of 200 units
- Carefully screened applicants for tenancy
- Analyzed and evaluated monthly and quarterly financial statements
- Developed annual operating budgets and forecasts, as well as sales and marketing plans
- Verified that all customer complaints were handled promptly and appropriately
- Maximized rental income while minimizing expenses through effective planning and control
- Communicated effectively with owners, residents and on-site associates
- Maintained a sufficient number of units so that they were market-ready at all times
- Followed up on delinquent tenants and coordinated collection procedures
- Monitored the timely receipt and reconciliation of rent collections in accordance with landlord and resident statutes
- Scheduled contractors for maintenance issues
- Maintained original leases and renewals for the management office
- Delivered emergency 24-hour on-call service for any tenant issues
- Maintained current contract files as prescribed by company contract policies and procedures
- Responded to all Common Area Maintenance (CAM) inquiries
- Verified income, assets and expenses and completed file tracking sheet for each applicant
- Maintained constant balance of property petty cash account
- Developed and executed plan to achieve and maintain 100% or better rate of occupancy.
Property Manager
3 Years- Metairie Introduced and monitored effective lease renewal programs
- Secured an average of 5 rental agreements each month
- Carefully screened applicants for tenancy
- Analyzed and evaluated monthly and quarterly financial statements
- Developed annual operating budgets and forecasts, as well as sales and marketing plans
- Verified that all customer complaints were handled promptly and appropriately
- Maximized rental income while minimizing expenses through effective planning and control
- Communicated effectively with owners, residents and on-site associates
- Maintained a sufficient number of units so that they were market-ready at all times
- Followed up on delinquent tenants and coordinated collection procedures
- Monitored the timely receipt and reconciliation of rent collections in accordance with landlord and resident statutes
- Scheduled contractors for maintenance issues
- Managed a community of nearly 80-170 apartment homes
- Maintained original leases and renewals for the management office
- Delivered emergency 24-hour on-call service for any tenant issues
- Maintained current contract files as prescribed by company contract policies and procedures
- Responded to all Common Area Maintenance (CAM) inquiries
- Verified income, assets and expenses and completed file tracking sheet for each applicant
- Maintained constant balance of property petty cash account
- Developed and executed plan to achieve and maintain 100% or better rate of occupancy.
Assistant Property Manager
1 Year 3 Months- Meet with prospective tenants to show properties, explain terms of occupancy, and provide information about local areas
- Direct collection of monthly assessments, rental fees, and deposits and payment of insurance premiums, mortgage, taxes, and incurred operating expenses
- Inspect grounds, facilities, and equipment routinely to determine necessity of repairs or maintenance
- Investigate complaints, disturbances and violations and resolve problems following management rules and regulations
- Plan, schedule, and coordinate general maintenance, major repairs, and remodeling or construction projects for commercial or residential properties
- Determine and certify the eligibility of prospective tenants, following government regulations
- Market vacant space to prospective tenants through leasing agents, advertising, or other methods
- Review rents to ensure that they are in line with rental markets
- Prepare and administer contracts for provision of property services such as cleaning, maintenance, and security services
- Purchase building and maintenance supplies, equipment, or furniture
- Act as liaisons between on-site managers or tenants and owners
- Experience with Yardi systems, leasehawk, saferent and citrix applications.
Store Manager
5 Months- Direct and coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with the production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products
- Review financial statements, sales and activity reports, and other performance data to measure productivity and goal achievement and to determine areas needing cost reduction and program improvement
- Manage staff, preparing work schedules and assigning specific duties
- Establish and implement departmental policies, goals, objectives, and procedures, conferring with board members, organization officials, and staff members as necessary
- Determine staffing requirements, and interview, hire and train new employees, or oversee those personnel processes
- Plan and direct activities such as sales promotions, coordinating with other department heads as required
- Perform sales floor work, such as greeting or assisting customers, stocking shelves, or taking inventory.
Store Manager
6 Years 2 Months- Monitor customer preferences to determine focus of sales efforts
- Advise dealers and distributors on policies and operating procedures to ensure functional effectiveness of business
- Direct, coordinate, and review activities in sales and service accounting and recordkeeping, and in receiving and shipping operations
- Guest Engagement Conducted daily walk-throughs with store team to discuss interior visual displays including presentation
- Responsible for ordering all merchandise for store
- Responsible for store labor budget and payroll
- Generated weekly schedules for store team Training and developing store team on store procedures and weekly goals.
Education
High School Diploma
Skills
Leasing and Sales
Property Management
Property Maintenance
Appraisal Reports
Performance Management
Operational Management
Sales and Marketing Strategies
Collections
Timeline
Regional Collector
Multifamily Management Inc.
02.2024 - CurrentRead More
Property Manager
08.2019 - 01.2021Read More
Licensed Realtor
Realtor in Louisiana
04.2019 - CurrentRead More
Property Manager
1st Lake Properties Inc.
01.2016 - 01.2019Read More
Assistant Property Manager
st Lake Properties
10.2014 - 01.2016Read More
Store Manager
05.2014 - 10.2014Read More
Store Manager
Racetrac Petroleum Gretna
03.2008 - 05.2014Read More
Donaldson Real Estate School
Read More
John F. Kennedy Sr. High School
High School Diploma
Read More