Career Designs

By his own testimony, Rob Orme started at the bottom of the multifamily industry–cleaning toilets as an apartment community maintenance man. Ah, but how far he?s come: Today, Orme is the regional director for the new Phoenix office of Humphreys and Partners Architects. Previously a principal architect at Mark-Taylor, Orme has a bachelor?s degree in architecture from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and did some graduate work at Arizona State University.

Q: What appealed to you about this job?

A: Thus far in my career, I have been a regional guy working with regional firms. I am excited to join a national firm with experience in such a vast array of multifamily project types.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish in your new role?

A: It is my goal to provide innovative and practical design solutions along with responsive and competent service to the development community. Working with a national firm offers the immense resources and expertise that local offices often lack. I expect to bring that expertise and those resources to every project we do.

Q: What do you see as a big challenge for the industry in the coming year?

A: I think it will continue to be a challenge to, one, adjust rents to compensate for the ballooning cost of construction at new properties, and two, control the resulting ripple of rent increases at existing properties to prevent a shortage of decent affordable housing.

Q: What was your first job in the multifamily industry?

A: I started my multifamily career as the maintenance man for an apartment community while I was in college. In general, the flexibility worked well with my schedule, but I was often found plunging toilets between classes. ...so I guess you could say I literally started at the bottom.

Q: What?s the best advice anyone ever gave you about your career?

A: One of my college professors repeatedly taught that competence in your profession will provide longevity in your career. As an architect, it doesn?t matter how well you speak, how pretty your drawings are, or how much you produce–if you aren?t competent in all your responsibilities, you won?t last very long.

Q: How would you describe the multifamily industry?s career opportunities?

A: Vast. It is a continually evolving industry with still-untapped opportunities.

Julie Mahnick has joined Summit Design + Build as a project manager. She will be responsible for coordinating and supervising various projects? design and construction processes, including maintaining building standards. Prior to Summit, she was a project manager with Clayco.

Tena O'Hara Pinnacle, an American Management Services company, has promoted Tena O'Hara to investment manager in the firm?s San Antonio office, where she will oversee the management of four Texas properties. Previously, she worked as a district manager for United Dominion Realty Trust.

Shirley Aguilar has joined Trigon Management as regional vice president. Her responsibilities will include overseeing a managed portfolio with Class A, B, and C properties.

4240 Architecture has promoted Louis Bieker to senior associate. Bieker, who joined 4240 from Fong & Chan Architects, serves as project designer and project manager on a number of projects, including the Ritz-Carlton Residences at Vail.

Patton Bill Patton and Randy Giltner have joined the management team of Fogelman Management Group. Patton, who comes from Weston Cos., will be regional vice president of the mid-South region, overseeing all property operations in this area. Giltner, named director of construction services, will coordinate and supervise capital improvement and renovation projects at properties under the firm?s management. He has more than 30 years of experience in the construction industry.

Giltner Andrew Bloom has joined Hudson Realty Capital as director and general counsel, a position that focuses on all aspects of the firm?s business. Prior to joining the company, Bloom spent eight years in the real estate practice group of Sidley Austin of New York.

Bloom Mary Ann Voight has joined the Bozzuto Group as vice president of corporate marketing. Her responsibilities include brand development, market and consumer research efforts, and strategic marketing. Previously, Voight was a marketing consultant for America Online.

Voight

Doody Ted Doody has been named the development associate to head Lane Southeast, a newly established division of Lane Co.?s subsidiary, Lane Investment and Development. Doody brings Southeast experience: Prior to joining Lane, he worked on several Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana condo deals with a number of local development partners. Also, Brooks Castellaw has joined Lane Management as business development manager, a position in which he will be responsible for attracting new fee-based business opportunities. Prior to joining Lane, he was a partner and equity owner of Superior Waste Services.

Castellaw Dave Taylor has been named regional vice president of Pacific West Management, where he will oversee the company?s Pacific Northwest regional operations. Previously, Taylor was asset manager for Interland Corp., where he also was responsible for properties in California and Washington.

Michael Sheaffer has been promoted to senior director of client management at EverGreen Solutions. Sheaffer, who has been with the company since 2004, previously spent three years managing an international corporate portfolio of mass market accounts.

Hiller Amanda Hiller has been promoted to general manager of ForRent.com. Hiller, who joined the company as an account executive in 1999, will be working out of the firm?s headquarters in Norfolk, Va.

Lacki David Lacki has joined Green Park Financial as senior vice president. He will be responsible for the firm?s national affordable housing group, in addition to running the company?s western U.S. loan production activities.

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