Employee Spotlight: Justen Arnold

Justen Arnold is part of the maintenance team at Fortress Property Management. He mainly works at Glendoveer Estates, but occasionally handles projects at the other properties as well. Justen has been with Fortress since 2010, and he says his typical day consists of making repairs, keeping up with regular maintenance, and working on units that have recently been vacated before new tenants move in.

Being a “Mr. Fix-it” at heart, Justen is so happy that he is able to do what he loves best. Each day is different, offering him a new scope of welcomed challenges. With the variety of jobs he encounters, he is able to continually hone his repair skills.

When he’s not making repairs and tinkering with things, Justen practices mixed martial arts – another passion of his. He also loves spending time in the great outdoors, and when he has time, enjoys fishing.

Employee Spotlight: Wes Sanders

Wes Sanders is a maintenance supervisor for Fortress Property Management. He oversees all properties, and has been with Fortress since September of 2011. He said that his typical day consists of going to the various properties to oversee his team – he is in charge of scheduling his maintenance team, answering their questions, diffusing any issues that may arise and, of course, ensuring a high performance level from all his supervisees.

When asked about the best part of his job, Wes, without hesitation, responded that he loves meeting and working with people. His job requires a lot of interaction, and it’s something he never tires of – meeting new people invigorates him and keeps his job interesting and fulfilling.

In addition, he mentioned that he is always up for a challenge – and with his ever-changing schedule, his job is just that.  There’s always something new for him to address, which keeps the day-to-day from getting monotonous.

In his spare time, Wes enjoys camping, fishing and playing guitar with his son. He also values time with his family, and when he gets the chance, enjoys playing a video game or two.

Meet Sonja Bryson

We'd like to introduce you to an important member of the Fortress staff!

Name:
Sonja Bryson

Position:
Property Manager for Maywood Court, 6th Street, and King St. Apartments

What’s a typical day like for you?
There’s definitely no such thing. Leasing and marketing take up a lot of my day. I also spend time creating monthly newsletters that give residents advice about practical things like meeting their neighbors. But every day is different—that’s what I love about it!

How long have you been with Fortress?
Five months.

And how long have you been in property management?
Five months!

How did you come into it?
Last summer I was a temporary concierge at a property management company in Corvallis, where I come from. My job was coming to an end, but I found that I liked the work and started looking for openings elsewhere. I interviewed for a position as a Fortress leasing agent, but Cammie, the owner, had confidence in my property management skills. I moved here two weeks later.

What’s the best thing about your job?
I love being able to help people find a home. Especially with times being so tough, it’s a great feeling to help people find a place where they’re happy and comfortable.

What do you do in your spare time?
My collection of books and movies just keeps growing.  I also love to connect with my family online because they’re so far away. But most of my time is spent being a pet parent—I have a 15 month-old Pomeranian and a three-and-a-half-yea-old cat.

Meet Rhea Bryant

We'd like to introduce you to an important member of the Fortress staff!

Name:
Rhea Bryant

Position:
I'm the Interim Property Manager at Continental Apartments. I'm also the Assistant Property Manager at Glendoveer Estates, where I live.

What’s a typical day like for you?
It's my job to make the property look and feel clean, friendly and inviting. There are a lot of ways to do that, and they change every day! Besides the usual administrative duties, I spend a lot of time taking care of residents' concerns. That could be listening to feedback, acting as a mediator between neighbors, or acting as a referral service. It might not be in my power to fix someone's problem, but I see it as my obligation to help direct them to someone who can.

How long have you been with Fortress?
Since October 2010. Before that I was a Resident Assistant and Hall Director at PSU.

What’s the best thing about your job?
I'm in a unique position to alter someone's living experience in a positive way. I help them live in a community they can be proud of and call home.

What do you do in your spare time?
Oh, boy . . . I like to shop. I love cooking  I read a lot. I write poetry occasionally. I hike. . . .

Meet Andrea Wagner

We'd like to introduce you to an important member of the Fortress staff!

Name:
Andrea Wagner

Position:
I'm the Property Manager for Hudson Court and Weidler House East.

What’s a typical day like for you?
There’s no such thing! Part of the fun is that every day is different.

How long have you been with Fortress?
Just under a year, but I’ve been a Property Manager for about six years.

What’s the best thing about your job?
The people, without a doubt. My job is to take communities that may need a bit of TLC and make them better.  I love to build communities.

What do you do in your spare time?
I spend time with my two sons, who are 6 and 8 years old, and my Jack Russell Terrier. My husband, Nick Wagner, is the Maintenance Supervisor at Fortress—so we keep each other busy all day!

5 Minutes With . . . Nicole Friton

We'd like to introduce you to an important member of the Fortress staff!

Name:
Nicole Friton

Position:
Property Manager at Sunrise Apartments

What’s a typical day like for you?
It depends what's going on. It's a small complex, so some days can be quiet. Other days are very busy! Generally my job is to make sure the residents are happy and the apartments are full. I live here, so I also do some basic maintenance and cleaning.

How long have you been with Fortress?
A little over a year. I've been managing at Sunrise since October. Before that, I was the Assistant Manager at Gledoveer Estates.

What’s the best thing about your job?
I get to work from home. I have a 2-year-old daughter, and I'm six months pregnant.  Working from home allows me to balance all that and continue to go to college.

What do you do in your spare time?
See the above question! I change diapers and go to doctor's appointments. That's about all.

5 Minutes With . . . Tammy Mills

We'd like to introduce you to an important member of the Fortress staff!

Name:
Tammy Mills

Position:
I'm the Property Manager for Glendoveer Estates, Eastwood Apartments, and The Village at Pine Street. I'll be taking over Rosewood Park any day now.

What’s a typical day like for you?
Varied! I manage all site personnel and accounts, and I take care of leasing and marketing. Additionally I organize community events and oversee maintenance. I’m also LIHTC certified, to make sure our properties comply with Section 42 tax credits.

How long have you been with Fortress?
For a year now, but I’ve been a Property Manager for eight years.

What’s the best thing about your job?
I love interacting with residents and the people I work with.

What do you do in your spare time?
Between taking care of my two kids and working on our family’s new house, I don’t have much time to spare!

All indivduals doing business with (and for) Fortress Property Management shall hold true to honesty, integrity, and strong ethics. Residents, Property Owners or Investors, and Industry Partners are the key to our success and must be at the forefront of how we conduct our daily business

To our Residents: Our promise is to treat you with the respect you deserve, regardless of your income bracket or social status. We will give you the home you have been looking for, and value you as part of our community.

To our Property Owners and Investors: Our promise is to operate your property as though it were our own. To deliver news, both good and bad, in a timely fashion and work to achieve positive NOI and cash flow for the property.

To our Industry Partners: Our promise is to maintain a good working relationship with you and to create the desire for you to continue working on Fortress managed properties.