Cheers to Your Peers

In this year of social distance, now more than ever is the time to celebrate and elevate young, talented, and diverse leadership within the IREM community. On Oct. 5, we raised a (virtual) glass to IREM’s 2020 award recipients, who are managing to make a difference in the real estate management industry.

Diversity & Inclusion Succession Initiative (DISI) Leaders Program

Recognizes IREM members from underrepresented groups in the real estate management profession. These dynamic professionals demonstrate exemplary leadership skills at the chapter level and have shown interest in advancing their careers using the IREM network and resources.

2020 DISI Leaders

Jacqueline Knight, CPM, Ackerberg, Minneapolis, MN
Whitney Lane, Weingarten Realty, Phoenix, AZ
Kandace Massenburg, Jones Lang LaSalle, Washington, D.C.
Chianon Mutsiwegota, Texas Capital Partners, Phoenix, AZ
Khanyisile Nene, CPM, Airports Company South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa
Karoline Peralta, ARM, Virtue Properties, Boston, MA
Michiko Sanchez, ARM, Denver Housing Authority, Denver, CO
Sarah Shezi, CPM, Broll Property Group, Johannesburg, South Africa
Shanicka Sudler, PropertyWize, Lutherville-Timonium, MD
Dee Wilson, Freeman Webb, Nashville, TN

Student of the Year

This award is given to an outstanding college/university student enrolled during the 2019–2020 academic year who demonstrates a record of academic achievement and interest in pursuing a career in real estate management.

Allison Grube of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is a scholar student who earned academic recognition at the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business, both for her many semesters on the Dean’s List, with a 3.9 GPA, as well as for being a member of the university’s chapter of Alpha Sigma Gamma Society, a nationwide real estate honorary society. Allison graduated in August with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a minor in Real Estate. Her academic advisor, Grayson Glaze, J.D., CPM, CCIM, said, “Allison is committed to both academic and professional excellence and is a contributing member of the Culverhouse Real Estate Society.” She is currently working on her ARM certification and hopes to earn CPM certification after that, further distinguishing herself in the industry. “Being recognized as IREM Student of the Year is the best way to elevate my education, broaden my networking potential, and kickstart my career.”

Lloyd D. Hanford Sr. Distinguished Instructor Award

This award is presented by the IREM Foundation to an IREM Instructor for exceptional commitment to the advancement of professional real estate management education.

Vickie Gaskill, CPM, ARM, MPM, has been an IREM instructor since 1996 and was inducted in 2008 to IREM’s Academy of Authors. Vickie says that “with IREM, my first love is the RES201 [Managing Residential Properties] course,” and it shows, having assisted with several updates to the course during her years of teaching it. As an instructor, she has taught courses in many states across the country, including her home state of Washington. In 2012, Vickie became the first person to receive the Western Washington Chapter’s Lifetime Achievement award and remains the only person to receive the honor. She has also been named Western Washington’s ARM of the Year, CPM Candidate of the Year, and CPM of the Year, and her firm has twice been selected as the AMO of the Year. “All in all, I love education.”

Louise L. and Y. T. Lum Award

Recognizes individuals who have made distinguished contributions to the knowledge and practice of the industry.

Fred Prassas, CPM, is a founding member of PMC Management Group, overseeing multifamily, litigation support, and association planning and management. He has authored numerous publications and is a true fixture in IREM education. Fred also serves as the real estate property management program director at the University of Wisconsin Stout and is dedicated to his students’ success. Since beginning in real estate management, he has devoted a portion of his time to the advancement of professionalism in the industry. In the latter part of his career, he has devoted even more time to the next generation of real estate managers through course development and teaching at professional and academic levels.

Eric Storey, CPM, is sadly no longer with us, but his legacy lives on through the success of his students and his many contributions to professional education. He loved to share his knowledge with others and see them succeed. Eric taught courses in China, Russia, Canada, Bulgaria, and throughout the United States, and he was awarded the Lloyd D. Hanford Sr. Distinguished Instructor Award in 2017. Eric was instrumental in extending the reach of IREM, accentuating the organization’s mission and standards on a scale which is incalculable. His instructing was his true legacy to property management.

J. Wallace Paletou Award

Presented to a CPM who has contributed to the betterment of society as a whole through the role of real estate manager.

Dr. Deborah Phillips, CPM, is a 32-year industry veteran with a history of industry research, legislation, education, and publication. She has spearheaded property management programs at the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Piedmont Technical College and has taught more than 15,000 students in real estate related courses. Dr. Phillips has served on various boards and task force committees focused on affordable housing, workforce development, design, and construction issues related to fair housing, land use, and sustainable growth. She also founded the Real Estate Career Academy, a nonprofit that pairs talented individuals with careers in real estate management. “Every day I wake up looking for someone to tell about the great opportunities that exist in the real estate industry.”

Chapter Innovation Awards

Recognizes IREM chapters for the development and delivery of innovative chapter programs.

Columbus Chapter, Clean up Columbus

In the midst of a tumultuous 2020, the Columbus Chapter wanted to make a positive impact. They came up with the slogan, “Clean up Columbus,” and have already held multiple cleanup events. They were the first in the city to offer such a program and forged new industry partnerships as a result.

Houston Chapter, IREM Houston Future Leaders Program

The Houston Chapter launched a new initiative aimed at engaging emerging professionals in the local real estate market through further education and increased connections with industry peers. Already, they have had 15 professionals complete the one-year program.

Funds raised during the Cheers to Your Peers event will support the IREM Foundation scholarship program, IREM’s Student Scholars, and IREM’s Diversity & Inclusion Succession Initiative (DISI) Leaders program, all of which were highlighted during the virtual celebration. Other groups recognized during the event include REME Award winners, IREM’s 30 under 30, Next-Gen CPM Leaders in the 2020 and 2021 cohorts, and the lifetime achievement of Robert K. and Gladys M. Beal.