Student Housing Matters

"COCM is receptive to hearing from their team. So…speak up if there's something that you need or have feedback on. Most people are really willing to listen and work with you to help create something better."— Dr. Amy Lorenz

Join us as we celebrate COCM's 20th anniversary with the theme "Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, and Building the Future." On this episode of Student Housing Matters. Alton C. Irwin, Director, and Chief Marketing Officer at COCM, sits down with Dr. Amy Lorenz, former COCM student housing professional and current Director of Residence Life at the University of North Florida.

Dr. Amy Lorenz is a highly experienced professional in the field of student housing. In her current role at the University of North Florida, she oversees the residence life team, including the Assistant Directors of Residence Life and the Residence Life Coordinator of Educational Initiatives. As a valued member of the Housing and Residence Life Senior Leadership team, Amy brings a wealth of expertise to her position.

During her conversation with Alton, Amy reflects on her time at COCM, the memorable traditions and the lasting connections she made with colleagues across multiple campuses, and her active participation in women's leadership.

Listen in to learn more about Amy's journey with COCM, her journey from COCM to the University of North Florida her current role as the Director of Residence Life, and her valuable advice for new COCM employees.

Introduction to Dr. Amy Lorenz and her roles with COCM at Marshall University and Bowling Green State University

Amy shares memorable experiences, traditions, and stories about women's leadership initiatives during her time at COCM

The transition to the University of North Florida and Amy's current role as Director of Residence Life

Amy's advice for new COCM employees

Amy Lorenz @UNF

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"You've got something unique here with COCM with so many different types of schools. One of the things I loved about COCM is the ability to move on within the company and grow and progress. I would really encourage people to do that as much as possible. It's really worth it,"— Erik Elordi

Join us as we celebrate COCM's 20th anniversary with the theme "honoring the past, celebrating the present, and building the future."

On this episode of Student Housing Matters, Alton C. Irwin, Director and Chief Marketing Officer at COCM, sits down with Erik Elordi, a former COCM staff member and now the Director of Campus Services at the University of Idaho.

Erik shares his journey of how he came to work with Capstone On-Campus Management (COCM), his initial hesitation in working for a third-party company, and the story of what made him decide to apply. He discusses his various roles within the company, the challenges he faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how he utilized his skills in different ways to support the company.

Listen in to learn about his experience at COCM and the organization's impact on student outcomes. Plus, what his current role as Director of Campus Services at the University of Idaho entails and his advice as a former COCM employee for employees new to the company.

Erik's introduction and his journey to COCM

Erik shares his initial hesitation about working for a third-party company and the story of what convinced him to apply

The challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic

Erik's role at the University of Idaho as the Director of Campus Services

The impact of COCM and on-campus housing on student outcomes and graduation

COCM's support for professional development and the all-around person

Erik shares his advice for new employees at COCM

University of Idaho Contact Housing & Residence Life

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"I may not have direct contact with our clients and owners and residents, but when I can fix a problem, or solve an issue for someone, that's what gives me satisfaction every day," — Tamiko Thompson

Join us as we celebrate COCM's 20th anniversary with the theme "honoring the past, celebrating the present, and building the future."

On this episode of Student Housing Matters, Kern Williams, COCM's Regional Vice President, sits down with Tamiko Thompson, Accounts Payable Manager, who has been with COCM since March 1997.

Tamiko shares the story of her unexpected hiring at COCM and her initial impression of the company. Then she reflects on the evolution and remarkable changes she has witnessed over the years, with a focus on the transformative impact of technology on the accounts payable process.

Gain valuable insights from Tamiko's extensive experience as she shares the essential role of remarkable service, the unwavering commitment to excellence in student housing management, and her anticipation for what lies ahead at COCM. Plus, discover what brings her the greatest satisfaction in her role as the Accounts Payable Manager.

Tamiko shares her journey to COCM and her initial impressions of the company

Tamiko's role as the Accounts Payable Manager and the daily functions of the AP process

The changes Tamiko has witnessed over the years, including technological advancements and the vendor verification process

How COCM has evolved over the years by embracing innovation while maintaining a strong focus on exceptional service

The #1 thing that brings Tamiko satisfaction in her job

The significance of remarkable service and its impact on client satisfaction

Tamiko's anticipation for the future at COCM, including plans for continued growth and success

How COCM's 20th-anniversary celebration reflects the company's commitment to progress and excellence in student housing management

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In this episode of the Student Housing Matters Podcast, host Alton Irwin, Chief Marketing Officer COCM, celebrates the 20th anniversary of Capstone On-Campus Management by looking back at the company's early days. He is joined by three longtime employees of COCM:

Doug Brown is the President and Founder of COCM. Doug's passion for higher education and dedication to fostering partnerships have been instrumental in shaping COCM's success. His visionary leadership has led the company to become a leader in managing student housing, challenging industry norms, and setting new standards along the way.

Michelle Smith, the Regional Vice President at COCM, drives growth and exceeds expectations through exceptional leadership. With a talent for building strong university relationships and mentoring her team, Michelle's contributions have made a lasting impact on the student housing industry.

Marsha Sapper, the Senior Vice President for Business Systems at COCM, brings extensive expertise and invaluable insights to the company. Marsha's commitment to innovation and ability to navigate complex challenges have made her an invaluable asset to COCM's success in the dynamic student housing landscape.

The discussion kicks off with the guests sharing how they came to join COCM, and Doug shares a behind-the-scenes look at the events that led him to establish COCM. The conversation then delves into memorable moments from the early days of COCM and reflections on the company's growth and the importance of promoting from within.

Join Alton and the guests as they reflect on the journey of COCM, from its humble beginnings to becoming a leader in managing student housing. Hear their stories, insights, and the lessons they've learned along the way.

Reflecting on 20 years: celebrating COCM's journey of success, innovation, and impact

The journey begins: how COCM found its footing in the student housing industry

Insights into the early days of hiring at COCM

How COCM built strong relationships with universities

Revolutionizing the approach to managing student housing programs

The key to transforming troubled projects into success stories

Nurturing talent and cultivating long-term employee success

How COCM provides career acceleration and diverse exposure

Sharing the lessons learned: wisdom and advice for new employees entering the student housing field

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Marsha on LinkedIn

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For Maria Saad, of the COCM team providing guidance and making a positive impact on students' lives is not just a job—it's a passion. On this episode of Student Housing Matters, Maria sits down to share her insights on the student housing industry. As someone who believes that 'it's more of a learning experience for the students,' Maria shares why she 'is passionate about providing guidance and making a positive impact on student's lives and why, for her, 'it's all about the experience' and 'making that connection' with students. In this episode, Maria takes us on a journey through her experiences from her multifamily background to her current role at CSCM. We discuss the challenges facing the industry today and Maria shares her wisdom on how to create a successful student housing experience that goes beyond the classroom and the importance of providing guidance and teaching moments for students who are living on their own for the first time. Maria also shares her experience attending Lease Con and the profound impact it had on her approach to creating a positive living experience for students. She shares several strategies for personifying the brand and becoming the experience, which is the biggest focus for her and her team in driving growth and making a connection with students. Listen in to hear Maria's unique perspective on the importance of creating a positive living experience for students and the impact it can have on their lives.

Maria shares her background in multifamily housing and transition to student housing

The importance of providing guidance and teaching moments for students

The impact attending Lease Con had on Maria

The importance of transparency in student housing

How Maria and her team approach creating a positive living experience for students

Key strategies for becoming the experience and personifying the brand in student housing

The impact that Maria hopes to leave on the student housing industry.

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"It's been an interesting, interesting time since early spring of 2020. And I think what we have learned are some lessons about how we can better provide service for both our students and our employees… Those folks on the front line really are the key to our success. We know that, and we're going to work really hard to make sure they understand that we understand that."

—Jeremy Biddy

Jeremy Biddy is the new Executive Vice President of Operations at COCM. He began his professional career working to prevent shoplifting at Kmart before transitioning to an opportunity in student housing at Spring Hill College in July of 2002.

In 2008, Jeremy joined the team at COCM, where he has served as Site Director, Regional Manager, Regional Vice President and Senior Vice President of Operations.

On this episode of Student Housing Matters, Jeremy joins host Alton Irwin to share his journey from Kmart to COCM, discussing some of his mentors in student housing and what they taught him about putting students and staff first.

Jeremy describes what he is most looking forward to in his new role, sharing his goals around applying best practices across the COCM portfolio and leveraging technology to work smarter, not harder.

Listen in to understand Jeremy's commitment to delivering top-notch service and learn how he plans to support students and staff as COCM's new EVP of Operations!

Jeremy's first job out of undergrad as District Loss Prevention Manager for Kmart

What inspired Jeremy to pursue an opportunity in the Housing Department at Spring Hill College

Jeremy's many roles at COCM since he joined the team in July 2008

Some of Jeremy's mentors in student housing and what he learned from them about putting students and staff first

What Jeremy is most looking forward to in his new role as EVP of Operations at COCM

Jeremy's goals to apply best practices across the COCM portfolio and leverage technology to work smarter, not harder

Jeremy's commitment to support sites in delivering top-notch service

Jeremy on LinkedIn

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"I think I'm the proudest of how much growth we've had. By expanding, we got to get on so many different diverse campuses. And we get to meet so many different administrators in the business of student housing, and that gives you the opportunity to provide jobs for folks, which gave me all the interactions I've had with the incredible employees we've had through the years." — Sandy Hill

Sandy Hill began her career in student housing as a desk attendant in 1979 and has served as the Executive Vice President of Operations at COCM since 2003.

On this episode of Student Housing Matters, Sandy joins host Alton Irwin to discuss how she came to COCM. We'll discuss her years with student housing, beginning as a desk attendant to the famous student she acted as a residence assistant for and her transition to COCM in 2003. Sandy will share the highlights of her career and the most memorable figures she met along the way.

Listen in as she reflects on her years in student housing, her more memorable mentors along the way, what's next for her in her journey, and her parting advice for everyone at COCM.

How Sandy was introduced to student housing

What brought Sandy to COCM

What Sandy is most proud of from her years at COCM

The surprising FAMOUS person Sandy served as a residence assistant for

The most influential people in Sandy's on-campus housing career journey

The two people who taught her the most in her career

The story of difficult but necessary growth

The priceless lessons she learned along the way in her career

Coming full circle: What's next for her in her journey

Where Sandy will be moving to for her retirement

Sandy's #1 piece of advice for everyone at COCM

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Web3 is coming and it will revolutionize the internet and how we transact business in all aspects of our lives.

In the student housing arena, technologies like blockchain and smart contracts can offer digital credentialing, making the real estate process faster, more efficient, and even more secure.

But, like with all new technologies, many new terminologies are being bandied about, with more questions than answers.

So how can we begin to understand these technologies and how they will be employed in student housing?

Michael Huereque is an entrepreneur with unique experiences in traditional and non-traditional media and marketing. As the founder and former executive vice president at Agency Fifty3, Michael managed marketing services for over 1000 communities and helped the agency bring home 68 awards and six years, including being voted a top place to work. For the last two years, Michael has switched gears, taking a deep dive into studying Web3 and how it will drastically change the way we do business in the future.

On this episode of Student Housing Matters, Michael joins host Brittany Pieper to discuss what Web3 is and his mission to bring it into the multifamily and student housing industry.

Listen in for Michael's insight on technologies such as blockchain and smart contracts and how they work in student housing. He'll share how student housing industry leaders can prepare to use these new technologies to recruit and retain residents. Plus, why he wants to use blockchain to revolutionize the way things work in multifamily housing.

Michael shares what Web3 is

How blockchain works

How smart contracts originated with the invention of vending machines

How smart contracts streamline the contractual process in real estate

How industries like healthcare are already successfully using smart contracts

The difference between a centralized and a decentralized system

Why decentralized is a safer alternative for your crypto wallet

The possible applications for the metaverse for multifamily and student housing and the resident experience

How industry leaders can prepare to recruit and retain residents using these new technologies

Why Michael wants to revolutionize the way things work in multifamily housing

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Sexism, racism, and economic and educational inequality are just some of the significant challenges and barriers women face today.

There are gender injustices everywhere, and women often struggle to make their voices heard.

So, what can student housing organizations do to make gender equality a priority?

Hannah Mountford serves as the Director of Facilities and Operations at Roundtree commons. As a hard-working team player, she takes great pride in her master's degree focused on Counseling Education with an emphasis on Student Affairs from Mississippi State University.

On this episode of Student Housing Matters, Hannah joins host Brittany Pieper to discuss why she chose COCM, the importance behind her position within the Women's Alliance, and the impact the Women's Alliance has on the student housing industry.

Hannah shares several examples of how the Women's Alliance is creating a safe space for members of COCM to share concerns, network, and champion one another.

Listen in for Hannah's insight on how the Women's Alliance advocates for women by bringing people together and helping them feel valued and recognized, giving them a voice so the critical conversations that need to happen for more equality can happen.

How she came to be the Director of Facilities at COCM in Plattville, Wisconsin

Why COCM was the right choice for her at this point in her career

What the Women's Alliance at COCM is

Why Hannah wanted to become involved in the COCM Women's Alliance

How the Women's Alliance helps create a safe space for members of COCM to champion for one another

The impact Hannah hopes to make with her involvement with the Women's Alliance

How cultivating connections in a safe space can help vital gender equality conversations take place

Why transparency is critical in student housing

Hannah shares her goals for the Women's Alliance and COCM

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It's one thing to see photos or even watch a two-dimensional video of a student housing complex you're interested in.

But what if you could experience what it's like to walk around the apartment, sit by the pool and even play cornhole with other students on the property—from anywhere in the world? Or even well before the property is built?

Rami Kalla is Founder of Point in Time Studios, an award-winning video production company and marketing firm that creates engaging content, photo-realistic renderings and VR tours for several well-known brands in the student housing space.

With a goal to help clients maximize their content across all channels and put more heads in beds, Rami and his team have helped clients successfully recruit and retain students year after year.

On this episode of Student Housing Matters, Rami joins host Brittany Oliver to explore how immersive marketing takes people to another world and explain why it's a game changer for marketing in the student housing space.

Rami discusses the future of immersive technology, describing how VR glasses are likely to evolve and what the hardware will be capable of in the years to come.

Listen in for Rami's insight on lifestyle photography as a marketing strategy in student housing and learn how Point in Time's technology can help your company or organization meet its lease-up goals.

How Rami's early passion for film translated to a career in marketing for student housing

How immersive marketing takes people away to another world

Rami's first experience with virtual reality and why he knew it would be a game changer for marketing

How VR allows students to experience an apartment and its amenities well before it's built in a fully immersive, hyper-realistic environment

The future of immersive technology and how it's likely to affect student housing

How VR and AR glasses are likely to evolve and what the hardware will be capable of

How Rami thinks about people who are slow to adopt immersive technology and want a human touch

How Point in Time's technology helps companies and organizations meet their heads-in-beds goals

Why Gen Z responds to lifestyle photography as a marketing strategy

A case study of how Point in Time helped a client explain roommate matching through 15-second animated videos

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The Metaverse vs. Virtual Reality

1994 GMA Segment on the Internet

2022 InterFace Student Housing Conference

Brent Little at Fountain Residential Partners