No one can say Robert “Bob” Landis doesn't know what it's like on site. In his first job in the multifamily industry, he worked as a property manager for a luxury high-rise in the Washington area. “The challenges were diverse, and it required a lot of stamina to persistently deal with the management issues at the property,” he says. “I remember being exhausted after my first day on the job!”
Now he has a new job. In February, Landis, became president of Lane Management, a subsidiary of Lane Co. in Atlanta. Among his goals: achieving operational excellence and growing Lane's management portfolio. Landis has a bachelor's from the University of Delaware (where he graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa) and a master's in city planning from the University of Virginia.
A: The reputation of Lane Co. and its leaders, its progressive thinking, and the fact that it's a fully diversified multifamily real estate company.
Q: After the economy, what's the big challenge for the industry in 2005?
A: We must emerge from a concession-driven focus in many markets to growing the revenue stream more consistently.
A: Multifamily firms must leverage the value from their capital investments in technology and systems.
Q: What do you enjoy about working in the multifamily industry?
A: I like the people and building teams. I also like the service aspect of the business.
Q: What would you change if you could?
I'd like to accelerate the adoption of best practices from other industries.
Q: How would you describe the industry in terms of career opportunities?
A: As the business has become more professional, it has attracted some high-caliber individuals. There are ample opportunities for a wide variety of talents and backgrounds to thrive in this industry. We need to do a better job getting the word out about what our industry has to offer.
Q: What's the best advice you've had about the multifamily industry?
A: A favorite mentor once said: “You will never get in trouble at your property if you remember the words, ‘Go and see.'”
