Making TAA Better: Meet our 2022 volunteer MVP Award recipients
Synopsis
Meet our 2022 volunteer MVPs, seven leaders who each made significant contributions to the Texas Apartment Association to make us all better.
The Texas Apartment Association is fortunate to have many passionate and talented members—and as part of our volunteer leadership initiative, we’re looking for new ways to reward and recognize them. In an organization with 12,000 members and more than 225 serving on the board of directors, narrowing the field to a small group of outstanding volunteer “MVPs” is a big challenge in the best possible way.
So, TAA President Clay Hicks, CPM enlisted help from TAA Executive Committee members, committee chairs, local association executives and TAA staff to nominate TAA board and committee members for our “MVP Awards.” Awards were presented for the second consecutive year during the Fall Board meeting in El Paso on September 30.
In true Clay Hicks fashion, TAA has made this program better and expanded the scope of recognition with this second class of recipients.
David Lindley, CAS – Senior Vice President, FSI Construction, Inc., Houston
Co-Chair of TAA’s 2022 ONE Conference and
Char McCurdy, ARM, CAPS – President, Summit Property Management, Dallas
Co-Chair of TAA’s 2022 ONE Conference
TAA’s ONE Conference & Expo is an annual opportunity for members to experience the best in rental housing industry education, the latest in products and services, and opportunities to connect in person with nearly 5,000 of their industry peers. The 2022 ONE Conference was truly the first post-pandemic event of its scope for TAA, and our co-chairs and their committee stepped up in a big way to deliver a world-class event.
“Char and David accepted the co-chair roles with enthusiasm and excitement and led a diverse group of leaders to create a ONE Conference & Expo experience that surpassed every expectation. I knew it would be big, but I didn’t know it would be that BIG! From breaking records for attendance, the number of education offerings and booth sales, these two delivered a world-class member experience.”
Clay Hicks, CPM, President, TDC Management, Houston
John Boriack – President, Veritas Equity Management, Houston
Testified before the House Urban Affairs Committee regarding workforce housing; served as chair of TAA’s Independent Rental Owners Committee
Advocacy on behalf of the rental housing industry is one of TAA’s key priorities, and member engagement in advocacy efforts is critical to our success.
“John has been a reliable and dedicated member of TAA’s Legislative Committee. He regularly attends Legislative Committee meetings as a contributing member – not just to check the box… Assisting the GA team behind the scenes is not glamorous and is rarely in the spotlight so it doesn’t often receive the recognition it deserves, but it is so important. Few members are willing to do this type of work on the back end, but we greatly appreciate John’s contribution.”
Casey Watts Morgan, MPP, Chief Executive Officer, Houston Apartment Association
“As a member of TAA’s Legislative Committee, John provided eloquent and valuable testimony to the House Urban Affairs Committee regarding workforce housing. We appreciate his willingness to engage at this level.”
Sandy Garcia Hoy, TAA General Counsel
Joshua Nichols, CAS – Director of Business Development, Contractors, Inc., Austin
Vice Chair of TAA’s NextGen Committee and enthusiastic advocate for member and leader inclusion and engagement in all areas, including TAA PAC and TAAEF
With a membership of nearly 12,000 companies and a volunteer board of more than 225, making members feel engaged and included is an ongoing challenge and a priority for TAA. Advocates – and cheerleaders – who embody contagious enthusiasm, a real passion for people and our association and the willingness to show up and make a difference are essential to TAA’s success.
“Josh Nichols tries hard to make sure everyone feels like someone special. He has an upbeat and enthusiastic presence, and he’s not afraid to use it to encourage and invite others to attend meetings and get engaged.”
Mary Mocniak, CAM, CALP, Association Executive, Piney Woods Apartment Association
“Josh isn’t afraid to ask questions, and in doing so, the answers and the process of getting to the answers make us better. Josh is also first to volunteer, and he follows through with his offer to help. Josh was our test case for TAA Education Foundation’s “What’s a Supplier Partner” campaign, and not only did he do a great job on his video, but he helped encourage others to participate as well.
Becca Ramati, Vice President – TAA Education Foundation
Stephanie Graves – Co-Founder, Q10 Property Advisors, LLC, Houston
Chair of TAA’s 2022 Leadership Lyceum Program and Committee
TAA’s commitment to cultivating future leaders through programs like TAA’s Leadership Lyceum is evident as you look at our association leadership. For the second consecutive year, all four of TAA’s officers on the Executive Committee are graduates of the TAA Lyceum, which is now in its 12th year.
“In her Leadership Lyceum Chair role, Stephanie created a program that was both educational and engaging. She is a great public speaker and is a real asset to the organization… she is so welcoming to new members who otherwise might be intimidated to get more involved. HAA believes she has been an impactful ambassador for TAA.”
Casey Watts Morgan, MPP, Chief Executive Officer, Houston Apartment Association
“What I admire even more is that she is so committed to this association and very generous with her time and talents even as she owns and runs a very busy property management firm. We are a better Association because of Stephanie.”
Christy Rodriguez, CAPS, Director of Multi-Family, Judwin Properties, Houston
Crystal Moya, CPM, CPO, SHCM, HCCP – Regional Vice President, The NRP Group, LLC, San Antonio/Rio Grande Valley
Participated on the TAA Legislative Committee’s Rent Relief Subcommittee and served as TAA Vice President at Large and volunteer spokesperson
The last couple of years have presented many challenges for the rental housing industry, along with opportunities for members to get engaged and involved in meaningful ways. Helping TAA navigate pandemic-related challenges like rent relief and serving as a media spokesperson in response to heightened demand for industry-related content are two examples.
“Over the past two years, Crystal has done an unbelievable amount of work for both local associations and for TAA. Her contributions include testifying eloquently on industry issues at the Capitol, serving as one of our most-utilized PR spokespeople, providing valuable expertise on issues like affordable housing and rent relief, cultivating future leaders through her participation as a speaker for TAA’s Leadership Lyceum and as a member of TAA’s Next Gen Committee, and serving on TAA’s Executive Committee. She is a most-deserving recipient of this recognition and our thanks.”
Mark Hurley, President, Highland Commercial Properties, San Antonio
Nichole Williams, CAS – Vice President of Business Development, Smart Apartment Data, Houston
Chair of TAA’s Product/Service Council; instrumental in creating TAA PSC Cares initiative supporting the Be a Blake Foundation
Supplier partners support the rental housing industry and our apartment associations in important, meaningful ways on an ongoing basis, sometimes behind the scenes. The TAA Product/Service Council’s focus on giving back through the creation of the TAA PSC Cares campaign benefitting the Be a Blake Foundation is one example of their meaningful involvement and leadership.
“As chair of TAA’s Product/Service Council, Nichole has accomplished so much, including the creation of the TAA PSC Cares program. I believe she has made a significant difference and embodies the heart and spirit of our supplier partners.”
Lynn Fisher, CMP, TAA Vice President of Conference & Exhibitions