A letter from IREM President Dawn Carpenter, CPM®

Summer is here, and with the warmer weather comes outdoor activities and the perfect time to appreciate nature. It’s also the perfect time to analyze and execute your property maintenance needs. In this issue of JPM, discover the tools you need for the upkeep of your property, from disaster preparedness to landscaping and everything in between. 

While landscaping can be an afterthought, it provides the first impression of a property and can have a dramatic impact on your property’s performance and NOI. In the feature “Changing the landcape,” discover how the correct landscape can enhance energy efficiency, increase resale value, and mitigate the effects of climate change. 

2024 was one of the most devastating years on record for climate disasters. As natural and human-made threats increase due to population growth and climate change, it’s more critical than ever for property managers to develop and maintain effective, site-specific emergency plans. In the feature “Prepping for disaster,” learn more about property managers’ roles in disasters and how to create and execute an effective emergency plan. 

Another disaster that the world has dealt with in recent years was the 2020 COVID pandemic. Office buildings have seen significant changes over the past five years, from the quiet stillness of 2020 to a more bustling 2025. While these spaces are relatively closer to their pre-pandemic levels of demand, their transformation continues. Learn more in the Property spotlight column. 

In the Global practices column, learn about IREM instructor Lukasz Skowronski, CPM^®, and his revolutionary role in bringing world-class property management education to Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Skowronski spoke with JPM about his journey to becoming IREM’s first instructor in Kazakhstan, and his goal of bridging the gap between the demand for highly skilled property managers and the need for more growth in structured, internationally accredited education there. 

In our Committee central column, read about our 2025 Diversity & Inclusions Succession Initiative (DISI) Leaders 2025 recipients. DISI is a career development program empowering future leaders in real estate management. I am excited to congratulate the 2025 DISI Leaders and know they will continue the goal of championing diversity and inclusion within the workplace and the real estate management profession. 

JPM spoke with Wing Tek Lum, CPM^®, about his parents, Y.T. and Louise Lum. The Louise L. and Y.T. Lum fund was established in 1975 to recognize distinguished contributions to the real estate management profession. In the IREM Foundation column, discover their story and how the award’s legacy serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing the excellence of those behind the scenes of property management. 

Finally, I am thrilled about the success of IREM’s groundbreaking inaugural event, PropertyCon, which was held in Boston in April. It drew more than 500 attendees and offered 45 educational sessions across two days. The conference highlighted cutting-edge topics in property management, including AI integration, adaptive reuse, sustainability, team leadership, communication, and digital property rights. Dr. Drew Pinsky, whom I interviewed earlier this year on “From the Front Lines,” spoke about resilience in property management. Learn more here about PropertyCon 2025. 

The anticipation for the second annual PropertyCon is already high. Whether or not you joined us this year, we encourage you to join us for another dynamic gathering April 8–9, 2026, in Austin, Texas!