TAA recognizes Amber Franklin with 2026 Frank P. Finch Presidential Award

TAA’s prestigious 2026 Frank P. Finch Presidential Award is presented annually to celebrate one or more volunteers who have gone above and beyond in their volunteer service. The award, named after TAA Past President Frank P. Finch (1989-90) by 1990-91 President Hap Hunnicutt, is one of the only honors that the TAA president decides solely on his or her own and recognizes outstanding leadership and significant contributions to TAA. Finch’s own enthusiasm for and dedication to his involvement in the Apartment Association of Central Texas and TAA, and his servant’s heart, live on in the recipients of this award. 

For 2026, TAA President Mike Rust selected Amber Franklin with Greystar in Central Texas as the recipient of this award. Amber served TAA’s Executive Committee as a first-year Vice President at Large this year.

When presenting the award, Rust shared the following:

“Supporting local associations has always been a priority for TAA. That shows up in a variety of ways depending on the timing and the local association, and TAA staff, officers and Vice Presidents at Large all engage with local associations on an ongoing basis.

This year, one of our local associations, the Corsicana Apartment Association, approached our team with a special request. After 46 years of serving members in their local area, the association leadership was discussing dissolution of their affiliate and realignment with one or more neighboring associations to ensure members continue to get the services they expect.

With the retirement of Barbara Long, their association executive, and the desire of their local board to expedite transition in the best interest of their members, we had a ticking clock and some work to do to help ensure a smooth transition for members in Corsicana. And so, the Vice President at Large assigned to Corsicana – our own Amber Franklin – was called into action. And Amber stepped up in a big way. Here are just a few examples of Amber’s contributions:

• She traveled to Corsicana to meet with the local board.
• She called individual members to invite and encourage them to participate in an all-member meeting. 
• She engaged in conversations with other local associations about what the realignment of Corsicana’s territory might look like. 
• She was always available for the many phone calls and text exchanges on this topic. 
• She assisted me and TAA staff as we prepared for discussion with the TAA Executive Committee on the recommendation for dissolution and realignment, which was ultimately approved by the TAA Board of Directors in July. 
• She served on the NAA Membership Committee, which considered the recommendation in August.

And with the recent approval of the NAA Board of Directors in September, she continues to be engaged as we take on next steps to ensure that we complete a smooth transition for Corsicana members to the Tyler Apartment Association and the Apartment Association of Central Texas by the end of this year.

Simply put, Amber made a difference for TAA, for our local association network, and for our members in Corsicana. She went above and beyond, and I’m excited to recognize her with this honor.”

Amber is a past president of the Apartment Association of Central Texas and past chair of TAA’s Leadership Lyceum, and has participated in numerous other committees at the local, state and national levels. While it’s a coincidence that Amber is from the same home local as Frank Finch, we somehow think he’d be especially proud.

Congratulations, Amber, and thank you for all that you give to TAA, our associations and our industry!