As anticipated, 2021 was a whirlwind of a year for the NARPM® Orlando/Central Florida Chapter. Just as we found ourselves more comfortable in a virtual space, the opportunity to meet in person became reality.
Pivoting into the hybrid term concept, while extending the utmost care and consideration, Chapter President Alex Zweydoff navigated the transition flawlessly!
We continued to meet via Zoom for the first half of the year and planned that part of our event calendar with creative and unique options conducive to social distancing guidelines, including informative Board meetings, a Fair Housing Game Show with Wesley Aleshire (Training Consultant), and a virtual panel of Financial/Tax Experts.
Our designation course had a great turnout and connecting with other members nationally was really the highlight of providing virtual education for sure.
Finally, in June, we were able to officially come back together. Kellie Tollifson, MPM® RMP®, helped us do so by visiting and providing a great presentation titled: “Call Time Out!” for our first in-person event since March of 2020.
From there, the Orlando/Central Florida Chapter did what we do best. Our chapter kept a positive, forward-thinking approach and with great support from our preferred partners we were able to provide many exciting events to our membership.
After a great mid-August Florida State Conference in Sarasota, we successfully hosted 200 plus attendees at “6 Hours of Property Management Law” with Harry Heist at The Ritz Carleton during the first week of September. This event brought 26 new members into our chapter and a few more for our sister chapters, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville-Northeast Florida. It was a hit!
We didn’t stop there. Later that month, we had a fun and very productive strategic planning event for 2022. In October, while some traveled to Kansas City for the National Convention, others participated virtually. The pandemic positively impacted our organization by allowing us all to learn how to hold events virtually, not only on a local and state level, but Nationally, as well. Offering the ability to attend the National Convention in that capacity really opened the door for many of our Orlando/Central Florida members to attend for the very first time and we were so pleased to hear all the positive feedback!
Having only a few weeks left before the holidays, we hosted an incredible new member orientation, as well as a super fun vendor appreciation happy hour. We then finalized the 2022 budget during a beautiful tea party thanks to our Affiliate of the Year, Ask an Adjuster.
So much was accomplished in 2021. To celebrate such an amazing year, we ended things with a rustic outdoor holiday party inclusive of food trucks, a DJ, and photo booth. Special guests, DD Lee, MPM® RMP®, and Harry Heist installed the new 2022 Board and we had a lot of fun presenting awards to close out such a successful term.
Looking ahead, Orlando/Central Florida is focused on providing more education in 2022, as well as designation workshops, and events centered around giving back to the community. We partnered with our selected local charity, Miles to Go, where donations Sponsor Bags for the Homeless, containing essentials.
We hope that by supporting our members in their goals for 2022 and providing a combination of both virtual and in-person designation classes, workshops, and roundtable discussions throughout the year we will see an increase in participation and involvement. In addition to an increase in education-centered events, we also have some amazing speakers lined up, including many new and a few familiar faces.
These will be presented in line with a plan to provide “something for everyone, at every level of experience and expertise.” This year, our presenters will be providing universal content in a specific topic order. In November, fan favorite, Jim Roman, will conclude with a full explanation of how each piece of the puzzle fits together.
As we work through the final details of what is to come this year, one thing is for sure, the Orlando/ Central Florida Chapter is committed to elevating and enhancing the member experience in every capacity. We have a few surprises in store to add additional value to membership and affiliation. Stay tuned!
More than anything, our hope is that each person who reads this spotlight will remember, as the last two years have proven to us, we truly are all in this together. Our chapter’s success is rooted with the committed involvement of our valued members, as well as the continued support from our loyal preferred partners and affiliates. We couldn’t do it without you and wouldn’t want to!
We are very much looking forward to showing our appreciation to YOU throughout 2022!