But in 乐竞体育赛事直播鈥檚 early days, members were not individual property managers. They were companies. And while the prestigious CPM certification was introduced in 1938, 乐竞体育赛事直播鈥檚 Governing Council soon realized that validation of excellence in real estate management should also extend to firms that provide property management services. And so, in September 1945, 乐竞体育赛事直播 introduced the Accredited Management Organization (AMO庐) certification.
Now, 75 years later, an elite group of 560 organizations hold AMO certification. Among the original 162 firms that first received AMO accreditation in the spring of 1946, two have maintained it continuously. Many of the others from that first class have combined with other companies or have otherwise ceased to exist in their 1945 form. However, among that first group of AMO firms were Chicago-based Draper and Kramer, Incorporated, and Morton G. Thalhimer. Both these firms recognized early on the value of AMO certification 鈥� how it validates the best industry practices their companies cultivate.
Draper and Kramer, Incorporated, AMO庐
Founded in 1893, Draper and Kramer was already a well-established, successful, family owned real estate business by 1945.听 Timothy S. Kramer, CPM庐, ARM庐, Vice President and Director of Operations, Management Services, offers background on the importance of maintaining AMO certification for his family鈥檚 business:
鈥淎t Draper and Kramer, Incorporated, we鈥檙e incredibly proud to have held 乐竞体育赛事直播鈥檚 AMO accreditation for more than 75 years, reflecting our history and longevity in this industry.听Likewise, it makes us doubly proud to be able to say we鈥檝e partnered with, supported, and worked with 乐竞体育赛事直播 since the beginning of that important certification.听It represents and requires a commitment to business excellence that speaks to the quality of听乐竞体育赛事直播, all its members and our firm by that association.鈥�
The early years at Draper and Kramer, established in 1893 by Arthur W. Draper and Adolph F. Kramer in Chicago, IL.
Still growing beyond its Chicago roots, 128 years since it was founded, Kramer tells us the AMO accreditation is a good reminder of what Draper and Kramer strives to stand for as a company, as it lets clients, residents, industry partners and employees know the company takes their commitment to ethical business practices very seriously.听
A promise to maintain ethical practices is at the root of every 乐竞体育赛事直播 certification, a meaningful attribute Kramer believes differentiates the company, as 鈥渆arning and maintaining the AMO accreditation is more than just a marketing ploy 鈥� more than a badge to be placed on business cards.听It subjects our actions to review by our peers.听That鈥檚 what makes AMO certification so different, and meaningful, as compared with accreditations offered by other organizations.鈥澨�
Kramer goes on to say, 鈥溊志禾逵轮辈� member organizations take the quality of the AMO accreditation very seriously, and 乐竞体育赛事直播鈥檚 members spend a significant amount of time making sure that everyone involved upholds the rigorous ethical standards that the organization, its members and AMO certification represent.听 In short, when you see the AMO accreditation, you can be confident that the firm upholds the highest ethical standards when conducting business.听That is good business.鈥�
Good business, a sentiment shared by Kramer鈥檚 colleague Julie F. Stevlingson, CPM庐 and Senior Vice President and Director of Management Services. According to Stevlingson and the company鈥檚 Executive CPM, Kimmberly Donnelly, 鈥淒raper and Kramer, Incorporated, realizes many benefits to being an AMO firm.听 We sponsor and encourage our management teams to obtain the ARM庐 and CPM庐 certifications. This elevates their ability to positively impact the financial performance of the properties, their customer service and ethical responsibilities to their residents and the communities we serve, all while furthering their professional careers in this ever changing industry.鈥�
Morton G. Thalhimer, Inc., AMO庐
Another company that has recognized the advantages of AMO certification听for 75 years is Morton G. Thalhimer, Inc., from Richmond, Virginia, now affiliated with Cushman & Wakefield. Curtis Mummau, CPM庐, the company鈥檚 Executive CPM and Senior Vice President of Commercial Property Management, tells us when he first moved into his new role as Senior Vice President with the firm, in 2012, one of the first strategies he and his team executed was to promote the company鈥檚 AMO certification more broadly. For example, his company is among the few he鈥檚 seen in his market to include the AMO certification logo on every company business card.
鈥淭he whole thought behind that, and what we try to demonstrate, is basically that the certification elevates our business among our peers,鈥� says Mummau. 鈥淚 think it represents and distinguishes us more in terms of all the qualities that 听make up AMO accreditation and what it stands for; the commitment to excellence. The ethical standards. And being a reputable organization in that regard.鈥�
Beyond recognition as a solid, stable, and ethically-managed firm, AMO certification has other benefits. Just like other 乐竞体育赛事直播 certifications, AMO firms are a community, and a close knit one at that. And just like individual members, AMO firms can count on each other for help and advice whenever they need it.
Morton G. Thalhimer celebrating 50 years of services in 1963.
In Morton G. Thalhimer鈥檚 case, his company鈥檚 status as an AMO firm helped navigate the global health crisis. Along with the pandemic resources 乐竞体育赛事直播 provided to all property managers and property management companies, Mummau and his colleagues were able to tap into the knowledge and experiences of other AMO firms, as far back as last March and April. While we鈥檙e well along with the crisis today, we need to remember that a year ago there were a lot of unknowns about the virus that property managers had to unravel.
鈥淎 lot of us reached out to each other, competitors and otherwise, and said, look, what does the industry need to do differently?鈥� says Mummau. 鈥淚 think we all kind of had some humility, at that point, or just kindness to say, look, we鈥檙e in this together, albeit spread out a little, 听but I think we looked at it and said, what are some best practices? What are some resources? How do we get through this as an industry for the benefit of our clients, tenants, residents, and communities?听 We're all scrambling to get hand sanitizers, working with signage companies. So we had some calls with a whole bunch of market leaders in the area, saying, Hey, what are you doing, how are you?鈥�
Commitment
Maintaining AMO status is a big commitment! These firms are subject to intense scrutiny, they鈥檙e evaluated carefully, and above all, they鈥檙e held to the highest standards in the real estate industry. Achieving and retaining AMO status requires:
- Professionalism 鈥� the organization鈥檚 property managers must be qualified, and experienced.
- Financial performance and integrity 鈥� AMO certification requires full financial transparency, proper accounting, clear segregation of client funds from company funds, and definitely no commercial actions that can be interpreted as misleading, inaccurate, or suspicious.
- And, there must be a Certified Property Manager (CPM庐) in an executive position, engaged in the company鈥檚 property management activities.
Being the best of the best isn鈥檛 easy. Staying the best may even be harder. But 乐竞体育赛事直播鈥檚 AMO firms believe the effort is worth it.
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