A letter from IREM President Dawn Carpenter, CPM®

As we enter 2025 and I settle into my role as IREM President, I want to emphasize my theme for the year: We are “Better Together. “ Each IREM member has unique strengths, perspectives, and expertise, and by paying attention to and leveraging these qualities, we can achieve more, both in our businesses and at IREM itself.

In this issue, I share with you some of my journeys in property management and at IREM. There, I note, “In a rapidly changing world, educating and informing our members on how to navigate change—whether it be artificial intelligence (AI), ESG, or laws that infringe on our clients’ businesses—we are the ‘go-to’ organization.”

Our first feature focuses on ways property’s net operating income (NOI). Terry Fields, associate professor at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, notes that “controlling NOI is the most important way property managers can add value.”

Another way that property managers can improve their NOI is by correctly using property technology (proptech). We look at how property managers can leverage technology for smarter operations and sustained profitability.

In September 2024, IREM leaders and HQ staff traveled to South Africa. We share how making connections and expanding options in South Africa and surrounding countries supports IREM’s mission to expand the professionalization of property management worldwide.

IREM is powered by the time and talent of so many people who step up to be leaders—in their chapters, regions, and at the national level. In this issue, we share the slate of nominees for the 2026 IREM Officers to serve with 2026 President Mindy Gronbeck, CPM®, CCIM, CSM, CRX. The election of IREM Officers will take place at the 2025 Governing Council meeting. We also publish the list of 2025 chairs and vice chairs for IREM’s standing committees, advisory councils, and ethics panels.

IREM also actively nurtures the careers of those just starting in the profession. We highlight the exciting 2024 Impact Icon Challenge hosted by the IREM Foundation. This year, the Challenge raised $160,000 to support more than 150 scholarships for IREM education offerings.  

Speaking of scholarships, we take a closer look at the unique challenges property managers face regarding sororities and fraternities. These distinctive multifamily facilities come with endless considerations and challenges, from the number of active stakeholders, necessary zoning variances, and the quest to offer competitive amenities.

Demand for professional property managers remains high, and we are pleased to share the results of IREM’s annual compensation survey, highlighting how compensation differs between property managers with IREM certifications and those without.

Property managers need to take advantage of any opportunity for professional growth, education, and networking—and IREM’s PropertyCon is a great way to check all those boxes. Take a closer look at PropertyCon, to be held April 23 and 24, 2025, in Boston, Massachusetts. Attendees will benefit from 45 educational sessions and learn to manage expectations and build resilience from keynote speaker, medical doctor and mental health expert Dr. Drew Pinsky.