Super Schneider
More than 600 spectators crowded into the Maintenance Mania arena in Las Vegas last week to witness the crowning of Jose Torreblanca as the champion of the National Apartment Association’s annual Maintenance Mania competition. Torreblanca, a member the Indiana Apartment Association and employee of Van Rooy Properties, was among 20 people who qualified from a pool of nearly 4,000 competitors nationwide to battle in Las Vegas for this year’s title. Second and third place titles were awarded to Enrique Alarcon of Van Rooy Properties in Indiana and David Berryman of The Kamson Corp. in New Jersey, respectively.
The competition, offered by NAA and presenting sponsor HD Supply Facilities Maintenance, was held during the 2011 NAA Conference & Exposition and consisted of eight maintenance-focused challenges testing competitors’ maintenance skills and knowledge of the industry as they competed for the national title and $7,000 in grand prizes. The finals in Las Vegas marked the end of the fifth season of the Maintenance Mania competition. Qualifying for the competition began in August 2010, taking place at almost 60 events across the country. The 2012 national championship will take place next June in Boston.
A Sweet Haul
Tampa, Fla.-based Valet Waste announced recently that the firm’s president and CEO Michael Ferris received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 Florida Award in the business services category. According to Ernst & Young, the award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in areas such as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.
“I am truly honored to accept this award,” Michael said at a gala event on June 16. “On behalf of our 1,000 employees and contractors nationwide, I have to say thank you to our customers and friends in the multifamily industry. We are only just beginning and on the cusp of our largest growth surge in our 15-year history. Very exciting times ahead!” As the Florida winner, Michael is now eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 National Award. Award recipients in several national categories, as well as the overall Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year National Award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, Calif., on November 12, 2011.
Editor’s note: Send your offbeat multifamily news leads to [email protected].
