Apartment Associations 101: Why Joining AAOC or Your Local Apartment Association Is a Game-Changer” featuring David Cordero, Executive Director of AAOC

Hosts: Ronn Ruiz and Martin Canchola, Co-Founder of ApartmentSEO.com

Guest: David Cordero, Executive Director of the AAOC

Martin: Welcome back to The Multifamily Podcast with Ronn and Martin, powered by ApartmentSEO.com. Now today’s episode is all about leadership, advocacy and connection in the multifamily industry. Today, we’re covering Apartment Associations 101, and really diving into AAOC as a whole, the Apartment Association of Orange County. We’re joined by a very special guest, David Cordero, Executive Director of the AAOC. David’s voice and vision have helped guide the industry through challenges and change. Whether you’re an owner, property manager or supplier, you’re going to walk away with some key insights today. Welcome to the show, David.

David: Thanks, Martin. It’s good to be with you.

Ronn: David, I’m so happy to have you today. Thank you so much for joining, and I’m really excited for our audience to get to hear this perspective from you about the Apartment Association of Orange County and apartment industry as a whole. So, thanks for being here. For those that may not be familiar, what is the AAOC or AKA all these acronyms, right? AKA Apartment Association of Orange County, and what role does it play in our landscape and multifamily

David: Thanks, Ronn. It’s great to be here with both you guys and you know talking about the Apartment Association of Orange County is something that is very close and near and dear to my heart. I got my start professionally with the association back in the late 90s, and went away and did some other stuff, and had the opportunity to come back to AAOC as its executive director back in 2019. You know, they often say you don’t have the opportunity to come back home again. In this case, I have, and I haven’t been happier. I mean, this has been a great place to, you know, call home, professionally, but also home as far as the AAOC and its members and our team here at the office, we’re very much like the family. And I think this is something that you know, is the case for many apartment associations around the country, as far as the AAOC goes. You know, we are a nonprofit trade association designed to provide benefits and services for rental property owners and operators as well as industry suppliers who work with these residential communities, to provide them with different products and services that allow them to operate their communities effectively and efficiently and profitably. And you know, ultimately, we are sort of the hub that we want anybody who’s involved in the rental housing industry to be able to come to for the resources that they need to do their jobs to the best of their ability. Whether it’s, you know, educational programs that we offer, certifications and different trainings that owners and operators and their teams need to have to continue to make sure they’re meeting legal and regulatory obligations, the legislative representation that we provide is certainly a big component, as far as a benefit that that members across the board, you know, receive when they become a member of their local Apartment Association. You know, I like to talk with folks who are in the industry who don’t know what an Apartment Association, or even what a nonprofit trade association is, to try to put it up, you know, a level they might be able to better understand. And for folks, I kind of say we’re like a Chamber of Commerce for people specifically operating their businesses within the multifamily space. We operate in a way that is trying to advance the rental housing industry. It’s, you know, its agenda, its initiatives, its goals, to be the best possible operators and owners that they can be, and counter the very harmful narrative that is out there, especially in the legislative and regulatory world, that rental property owners are only in it for the money, and that they’re making cash hand over fist, when In reality, this is the largest small business that exists in the state of California. It’s been the source of, you know, generational wealth development for folks who have always called America home, but also for those that have moved here from, you know, other parts of the world and been looking for opportunity, and they’ve worked hard, they’ve made good living through themselves, and they’ve chosen to invest in income property to ensure, you know, wealth for their families that they can then, you know, hand down to their children and their grandchildren. And you know, make that American dream something that’s available for everyone. You know we look at, you know, other things that our Association does, both, you know, for AAOC, but any of the affiliates of the National Apartment Association, which is our, you know, our national organization that we belong to, and that provides benefits to our members as well, you know, again, said education, legislative representation, the business development and networking opportunities that we provide, bringing together suppliers and vendors to connect with the rental property owners and operators that are here in Orange County and even into Riverside County, which we also represent. There’s great value there. And you know, one thing that I think we want anybody who is listening today, and certainly either an owner operator or on the vendor side is, you know, when you become part of an apartment association, you’re opening up the doors to new opportunities for, you know, expanding your own business footprint, but also, you know, fostering relationships that will carry you through. And you know whether you’re looking to directly do business with people or get connected into other areas where you can expand your business operations. That’s a great place to come, is your local park association?

 Ronn: I love that. Mic drop.

Martin: If we could rewind back a bit, can you talk about the origin story of AAOC and how it came to be and how it’s evolved over the years?

David: Yeah, absolutely. Let’s go back to a much simpler time, 1961 AAOC was founded in Long Beach, of all places. We had, obviously, in this post-world war two era, a lot of suburban residential development. We had, obviously, in the Long Beach area and the South Bay and Los Angeles, we had a growing aerospace industry. We had a lot of people who called Long Beach home at the time, who were already in position to be able to invest in rental property, whether it was in LA County or into the at that point, partially agricultural and rural Orange County, but which was, of course, established with, you know, cities like Anaheim and Santa Ana and Fullerton back as far as the, you know, the 1800s and early 1900s and we started to see more growth, more suburban development happening in other parts of that area and apartments were a big part of that. They were looking for an organization that they could go to for resources and help in the operation of their local apartment investments. So, AAOC sprung out of that need, and it was very much a grassroots, you know, effort. It was just, you know, owners who shared, you know, obviously a common area of interest, recognizing a shared need, and it was a mutually beneficial entity that they created to ensure those needs could be met long term. And over the decades, we’ve obviously grown. Our membership today is right around 2000 members, between owners and operators and industry suppliers, and collectively, they own and operate in excess of 125,000 rental units between Orange County and behalf of Riverside County that we represent today.

Martin: That’s amazing. Now we know a lot of our listeners are owners, operators and vendors. Why should they consider joining AAOC or their own local Apartment Association?

David: Well, I think goes back to what I said just a moment ago. It’s the resources that AAOC offers, it’s the connections that they’re going to make with fellow owners and operators and industry suppliers, and I think it’s the representation that they receive. You know, for all of us, you know, time is precious, and time is money. What AAOC represents is an extension of so many of our owners and operators business day things that they don’t have time to be dealing with, necessarily. But they know, when they’re a member of AAOC, they can come and get the materials, the information, the training that they need to keep themselves, you know, compliant and doing business the right way. You know, they’ve got to run their business. So having a group that they can turn to for help is going to make their jobs much easier. You know, why pay an attorney and have them make a phone call and spend an hour on the phone getting questions answered and paying for it, when they can pay their membership dues to the apartment association of Orange County and have the opportunity for landlord tenant assistance, you know, whenever they need it. If they need operational forms, well, why try to spend the time developing it yourself and not knowing if it’s legally compliant? When as a member, you get to go to our website, you can download the forms that we provide which help you for, I’d say, probably 95% of your day-to-day operational needs. That’s a great benefit that that AAOC and any of your local NAA affiliated apartment associations are going to be able to offer legislative representation. How many owners and operators really have time in their business day to go down to City Hall to talk with the city staff member or meet with the city council member to address an issue that their city council is looking to impose? Well, I’d say probably most of them do not, but they’ve got AAOC. AAOC is the one that maintains relationships with staff and with the city council members and with the state legislators and congressional members. We can pick up the phone or set up a meeting and talk about, you know, a big issue that’s affecting our members in their community. Obviously, we are an advocate for them, so they should have comfort in knowing that how we are talking about the issue is going to be advancing and protecting their interest as rental property owners and operators or even industry suppliers. I mean, we’ve dealt with issues that whether it’s, you know, environmental and regulatory issues that would have an impact on our supplier members, we’ve been effective over the years in addressing those issues and, you know, making sure that our members are going to be protected. And again, like I said, it’s, you know, they don’t have time during their business day to really be dealing with this. That’s why, as a member of the association, that’s where the value really comes.

Ronn: Even on the marketing side, like we’ve employed Apartment Association of Orange County, for some of our employees, we’ve also had like the likes of, some of the trainers do the fair housing training for our teams, right? As their housing, obviously, has been around for decades, but you know the impacts that have happened since then, so we too have benefited to your point and appreciate that. Little plug for Star training, Angel Rogers. So, moving on. Can you share a story where AAOCs advocacy has led to a direct or positive impact for members in the broader rental housing community?

David: Oh, absolutely. I mean, I can still, earlier this month, beginning of June, we scored a huge victory, and it wasn’t just for the rental housing industry. It was a part of a larger business coalition effort, the Air Quality Management District, which regulates air quality regulations and dealing with pollution issues, has for obviously, many decades, they were considering a proposal which would have impacted not only Multifamily communities, but single family homeowners and even businesses, what they were proposing and considering was basically a what essentially is a ban on natural gas powered water heaters and furnaces, And in essence, was going to force properties to retrofit their communities with all electric devices. They, the policy recommendation at the staff level evolved. It was just going to be an out and out, you know, ban on the sale and installation of the devices starting in 2026, that they backtracked a little bit, and then basically it was going to financially disincentivize owners and operators from continuing to purchase those devices. So in essence, it was going to make it, you know, financially untenable for them to continue to use gas powered and, you know, basically force them to move over to the more costly electric. Well, AAOC worked here locally in mobilizing our members to send letters and send emails and make phone calls to the AQMD, sharing what that impact would be if that policy were to have been adopted. AAOC was part of a larger region wide business coalition that, likewise, was trying to bring together a lot of different impacted communities to talk about the threat that this represented, not only from an operational standpoint, but also from a housing availability and affordability standpoint. And that was something that was being lost, I think, in the minds of those that were supporting this policy proposal. We were fortunate after about, I think, five hours of public hearing and debate by the AQ of the governing board, they ultimately voted seven to five against staff’s recommendation. That’s the first time in 25 years that that governing board has voted against what staff was recommending, as far as a new regulation for air quality issues. That was a huge victory. And AAOC, obviously working with their, you know, their counterparts in San Diego and Riverside and LA counties and the larger business coalition that we all part of, we were successful in beating back something that would have been, you know, a huge financial hit for our industry. So that’s just one of, I’d say, the types of benefits and success stories that we’ve had on the advocacy level over the years. We’ve successfully fought back against rent control proposals in cities over the years, barring the city of Santa Ana, which adopted its rent control policies back in 2020 but other than that, we’ve always been able to work with city staff and council members. You know, our goals that issues like those never get to the city council. We want to contain it to the staff level, provide them with alternatives that then they can present to the city council, which represents a success for them, but also a victory for the rental housing industry. And that is, again, is something that members of their local associations will get when they become a member, they are making an investment in not only their own interests, but providing the association with the resources necessary to go out there and effectively advocate on their behalf and defend and protect their interests.

Ronn: That’s amazing, yeah. And the fact that you guys have like the national exposure as well, right? So not only on the local like you mentioned as like granular as like Santa Ana, let alone the whole county of Orange, let alone the national, you know policies.

David: Yeah, and that’s the thing is, you know, when you become a member of The Apartment Association of Orange County, because we are a an affiliate of the National Apartment Association, our members are also getting the benefits of the services that NAA provides at the national level, particularly on the advocacy front, but also on the educational front. There’s a lot of education programs that our members can participate in and get nationwide recognized certifications. So if they’re a, you know, on site property manager right now, but maybe they’re looking to move to another state for a new opportunity, they bring their certification with them. That’s great value that, you know, we really like to emphasize, in addition to the, you know, the benefits they receive on the, you know, the Federal front in Washington DC, and protecting our interests as an industry up there with Congress.

Ronn: Yeah, that’s huge, yeah. And I presume that you would, if you saw things coming down in other states across the country that you could, you know, easily get ahead of certain things that may impact or come to California, let alone Orange County.

David: Yeah, well, you know, as is typically the case, what happens here in California seems to be the direction that it heads eastward. You know, the new harmful policies for the multifamily industry seem to start here in California and work their way east, but yes, to your point, if there were issues that are being considered in other parts of the country that might come here, yeah, there’s the benefit of having NAA is sort of being that hub at the national level, to ensure that affiliates nationwide are getting that information and are being equipped to take their stand here locally, to protect the industry. And we’ve done a lot of work with them in recent years, particularly, you know, with, you know, threats to, you know, the rental housing industry. You know, NAA has funding available that we’ve been able to tap into to help with, you know, education and making sure that we’re able to shine the light on threats that have mobilized, not only our own industry, but you know, folks outside of it as well, and that’s really what comes down to. We can certainly fight as a standalone industry, but you know, having coalition members and partners from other industries, helps to amplify issues that don’t necessarily affect just rental housing, but obviously, you know, things that would still have a very significant impact on us, we’re able to get more mileage. And that’s really, I think, what it comes down to is partnerships.

Ronn: Absolutely. So, a little bit, I want to switch gears a little bit about getting involved now. I know, I’m sure, with you guys. I mean, we talked earlier offline about the, you know, generations that can, you know, have come into the industry. I too, get often hit up with like, hey, my sons or daughters looking to come into the industry. You know, are you hiring kind of thing, right? And like really creating a career here. For AAOC, like somebody new to the industry, maybe a younger operator, an on-site manager, how can they plug into AOC? 

David: Well, I mean, we have all sorts of opportunities. I would say the ambitious, up and coming rental housing professional, whether they work for a management company or maybe they’re just now taking over their family’s business, you know, they’re going to look for the resources that are going to help them do their jobs. And even, you know, find a sense of community. You know, even if you’re a family owner operator, you know, there’s things that being part of the association like ours can offer that otherwise, you know, you might be operating sort of in a bubble. We don’t want anyone in this industry to be doing business in a bubble and being isolated, just because I think there’s inherent risks of doing it that way. You know, we have, you know, association committees that they can become involved in which, you know, they can bring their own questions, their own interests, and you know, ideas to the association, and have those turned into services and programs that not only help them with their direct need, but certainly are, you know, issues that are probably shared by their fellow housing providers. So, we really, you know, we really want folks to feel, as a member of the association that they can get involved in a committee. We’ve got education, we’ve got a supplier and events committee, we’ve got a legislative committee, we have a forms committee. You know, these are the different areas where member involvement is critical. Because, you know, as staff, we are implementing the vision of our board of directors, but we’re also implementing the vision and the ideas that are brought to us by our members, and we’re here to serve them. So, the more participation, involvement that our members have in our association, the better we’re able to serve them. You know, we talk about, you know I’m saying now not operating in isolation. We have networking events and social events where we bring housing providers and vendors together. It’s not just for the purpose of building relationships that could lead to doing business together in the future, but it’s about sharing ideas and being able to share experiences that they’ve had and troubleshooting with each other, that peer to peer communication and the education that they can provide each other is even invaluable, and you don’t get that when you’re not part of AAOC or any of your local apartment associations that are out there, you know. And that’s, I think, one of the things we really, we would stress to anybody who’s new to the industry is, get connected and start talking and learning from your peers. That’s going to be a great benefit. And then the benefits and services that AAOC directly provides with day-to-day operational issues and in education trainings, that’s obviously, you know, valuable as well, but it really is about the relationships. And you know, AAOC has like, I think I was saying, you know, sort of at the beginning of our conversation, we kind of are a family. I mean, we have a lot of longevity within our industry, you know, relationships that have been fostered over many decades. And you know, we’ve all kind of grown up within the industry, and as our careers and our lives have progressed, those relationships and our networks have deepened and become more substantial, that we are able to not only do more for ourselves and our own businesses, but also being able to give back and help you know, folks who have been in the industry, in the relationship that we’ve had, and we get stronger together. And I think that’s, again, that is a value that AAOC has to offer, is helping each other. And you know, our industry gets better, but we individually get better as well.

Ronn: I think it’s amazing. And honestly, I do have to say that, I was doing the math as you were talking, and it’s been 21 years that I’ve been a member and participant within AAOC, you know, offerings and just their support. And I have to say, I’ve said this often, and I think I owe it to you and for those in the audience that you know my career path. I know some people locally use my career path from a temporary leasing agent to running, you know, multifamily, and then coming down this side, you can truly create a crazy amount of career opportunities within the industry. What I will say is I do attribute a lot of who I am, my name, my brand, personal brand, through the likes of AAOC and the opportunities you guys presented to your point about the networking events and education that was out there. You got to show up. Obviously, you got to show out. You got a network, and you got to, you got to do your part. But the platform you guys provide, I think, is completely invaluable. And so, thank you for that, by the way. Thank you for…

David: Thank you, Ronn. I mean, you’ve been a huge part of the extended AAOC family, you know, over the years. You’ve given back to the association in so many different ways, you know. So, yeah, we appreciate this, obviously the relationship we’ve had with you personally, but with apartment SEO as well. You and Martin and your entire team have been great to work with. And you know, it really is a reflection of what is possible when you get involved in this industry and build a career and put the time and personal effort into it to, you know, achieve the goals and success that you’re looking for as a business person. 

Ronn: And we’ve had a lot of fun through the years. You guys do a lot of great, you know, events that are obviously work and still work, right? Some of my family and friends will beg to differ, like is that really your job? But you know, there’s, again, the advocacy, the legal advice and all the above. It’s definitely work.

David: Yeah, but it’s work. But you know what? Work should also be able to be fun sometimes, and it’s finding that balance. But you know, we want to make sure that, you know, as individuals, you know, yes, we work hard, but we also have fun, and we want to be able to play hard sometimes too. And you know, I think it’s good for the soul. It’s good for our own, you know, growth and re-energizing us, you know, so that we’re not getting caught up in just the mundane, you know, administrative and business ownership and operation issues. There’s still that opportunity to let your hair down and have some fun with people that are in the same business with you.

Ronn: Yeah, absolutely. That’s where I feel like a family, especially 21 years ago that I became a new member to AAOC. What’s your advice for anyone new making the most out of the first year with AAOC?

David: Well, that’s a great question. And I will say it’s one that you know, as the individual joining the association has got to find out what works best for them. I would say, as the executive director of AAOC, if you’re joining, throw yourself into as much education and networking as you can that first year, that is when you’re going to begin meeting people. Whether it’s, you know, fellow owner operators, or, you know, industry suppliers. If you’re new and you’ve never owned rental property before, you’re going to want to build your list of vendors that you can turn to, you know, have that list ready. Well, you can’t just call people on the phone expect, yep, this is the person I want to stick with. It’s about really getting to know those individuals, how they engage at networking events and meetings and who you see and talking with fellow owners and operators, their you know, word of mouth recommendations are gold. You don’t get that simply by joining and getting our magazine and, you know, maybe calling us for, you know, operational guidance. That’s important. But it really comes down to the, you know, those building blocks of relationship first, you know, the education programs that we offer, whether it’s a one off training course on a topic or, you know, a multi part, you know, leasing 101 series. We’ve got that coming up here very shortly. You know, even if you’ve been in the industry for a long time, it’s always good to sort of check yourself and see, okay, is my game where it really needs to be. Well, for somebody new coming in, you don’t know if you’ve got game yet or not. As a new member, this is the chance to kind of gauge where you’re at as a housing provider or where you’re at as a supplier, and figure out, okay, where do I need to be? And again, talking to people, that’s how you start to find out. And then, of course, I think just you know, educating yourself on what the Association does, the legislative briefings that we do throughout the year, the updates, the red alerts we send out about engaging with our elected officials when there’s a an issue in Sacramento that’s going to impact our industry. Even if you are a new owner operator, you still have perspective. You’re figuring it out, but you’re recognizing, hey, this is a threat. I need to communicate my concerns as a new business owner or as even a new member, about how something is going to impact. So, we really, we encourage people just to throw themselves into it, and AAOC as an association is a resource. We can provide the information, the reassurance that they may need if they’re new. We don’t want anybody to be fly blind or feeling uncomfortable in what they’re doing. Confidence is important. Knowledge is important. And when you become an AAOC member, we’re going to help you fill the gaps that exist and guide you in the directions where we’re going to be able to give you the resources you need to be the best at your job. 

Martin: Yep, and again, it can be a little nerve wracking, especially if you’re new to any kind of, you know you’re going to a new class or a new, like I said, a new committee, and you don’t know anybody there. It can be a little overwhelming just trying, especially if you’re introverted, right? I mean, just trying to get out there, but I think if you can show up to some of these in person education sessions, luncheons, or happy hours, I mean, that’s a great opportunity just to kind of mingle, kind of push it out and you’ll make some contacts, you’ll do.

David: Absolutely and, you know, one of the things that we found, and it’s not even the current, up and coming generations that are getting into the industry. It’s individuals who kind of grew up in a rental housing family. They never envisioned themselves necessarily taking over the family business, but they’ve suddenly found themselves when there’s a parent who gets sick or passes away, they’re being thrust into a management of a portfolio of rental properties, where they perhaps haven’t really been you know, very involved, despite the fact that their parents were doing this for, you know, decades. They know, hey, my mom and dad were part of AAOC, so it’s not uncommon for us to get phone calls from that, you know, that son or daughter or even the grandchildren, saying, hey, you know, my grandparents or my parents just passed away, or they’ve gotten sick. I’ve got to do this. What do I do? And so that opens that door for us to say we’re here for you. We’re going to help you through it. Here’s what we’d recommend. And again, it’s that reassurance and making sure that they know that, yeah, this is a big undertaking, you know, running a rental property operation, but it doesn’t have to be something they go out alone. We’re here, and now that’s again, the value of being a member of AAOC.

Ronn: That’s amazing. So, looking ahead, what is ahead for AAOC in balancing 2025 and beyond? Any exciting initiatives, new directions? I know you’re always busy. 

David: Yeah, we’re always looking at looking ahead to, you know, figure out, you know, where is an association we need to be to meet the needs of our members and even that next generation. And that’s one of the things that we’re presently working on is, you know, helping those kids or those grandkids get connected with an AAOC. Something they’ve probably heard about over the years, but maybe have never gone to a meeting or gone to a trade show or attended a class. We’re in the process right now of launching our next gen committee. Basically, you know, 40 and under is kind of what we’re envisioning, as far as those that are maybe, you know, fairly new to the industry, or those that they have kind of gotten established, but maybe not as connected and involved as their parents or their grandparents have been. You know, we want them to recognize themselves what AAOC represents as a, like a community resource and a hub for them to come to, for that peer-to-peer conversation, for the services that the association itself provides to them directly as an owner and operator. And we recognize this is an evolving industry. The rental housing industry today is not what our parents or grandparents operated in. It’s changed, and the expectations of today’s young people is different, you know. And so we as an association are kind of going through a an evolution ourselves, continuing to service our long term members and helping them with their needs and their expectations as they have them, but recognizing that you know how we deliver services and how we engage our members with this next generation is going to be different. And, you know, right now, as we get this next gen committee kind of launched, this is an opportunity, when you asked earlier about how new members can get involved and what they should do, maybe in their first year. Joining the next gen committee will be a perfect opportunity for them to meet and work with people in their same, you know, same demographic, same age range, same level of industry experience. So that’s, you know, something like, kind of, we’re kind of getting off the ground. The other thing, and it kind of goes with the next gen component. But we’ve done a 10-week legacy planning series. We did our first one last fall, and we’re going to be doing our next one coming up this fall of 2025. It’s a 10 week series where, especially for our members, who have been long term owner operators, you know, hopefully they have already developed a legacy plan and have, you know, a trust in place, so that their family members know exactly what is supposed to be done with their portfolio when they eventually, you know, pass on. This is something that we’re trying to bring together the generations and have a a real conversation, so that they are beginning to look, if there haven’t already begin, looking at these different steps that they should be taking in developing that legacy plan. But making sure that you know some of the tough conversations that come when you look at end of life issues are really getting examined, and these conversations are being had within the families. We bring together subject matter experts for each of the 10 week series talking about specific aspects that they as families should be looking at, and at the end, they will have the knowledge and the resources at their fingertips to be able to then comfortably move forward in developing that plan, and really being ready to make sure that that portfolio that mom and dad or grandma and grandpa have worked so hard to build over many build over many decades, will be in good hands and will be protected and ultimately give as little to the government as is legally necessary, and keep that generational wealth and the resources available for their next generation as a legacy that their parents or grandparents have worked so hard to build. So, you know, we really, like I said, this is a an association that’s looking to our long term members and where they’re at in their stage of life, but also making sure there’s continuity and that that next generation is prepared and able to step in and keep what has been such a, you know, a thriving industry over the years here in California, alive and continue to be appealing as a a legitimate, you know, business, business endeavor that they should maintain and continue to invest in. And AAOC will be there for them along the way.

Martin: Nice, will that series would be virtual, like a webinar series or…

David: Yes. We have found that, you know, to maximize our reach, the online education courses are really, especially with things like this, are really the most beneficial. You’ve got family members that are, you know, spread out across southern California. They may be in other states. When we present these types of programs that are important for families to do together. Doing it online is going to allow them to eliminate, you know, geographic and time barriers, so that they can do it together through AAOC, and maintain that continuity. So, it will be a 10-week series in the evening, from like six till nine or something like that. We don’t have the exact time but, you know, spend 10 evenings with us, you’ll get the information you need to be set as you look ahead. 

Martin: Do they have to be there in real time, or can it be like on demand, almost were, if they can’t watch it at that time, they could check it out later. 

David: We, that’s a good question, Martin. We record our courses for, you know, on demand viewing, but the recommendation is do it in person. Because here’s the thing, you miss out on the opportunity for Q and A when you watch recorded training session, there’s no replacement for that. So those classes are definitely, you know, the focus is on online delivery, but we do a lot of things in person as well. And again, it’s finding that balance. Again, people are busy. Making a drive to a location for a one- or two-hour class. They can do it, but if they can do it for the convenience of their own homes, we’re going to see more people participate, and that is what we found to have been a very successful platform for a lot of our education post pandemic. And you know, there’s certainly a desire to see a lot more in person starting to happen. And so we are, you know, we’re getting, we’re making adjustments to make sure that both online and in person is happening and providing a variety of options and opportunities for our members. 

Martin: Yeah, and I know, go ahead.

Ronn: No, I was just gonna, I was just gonna applaud all of that. You guys did something a while ago. God, I think it was during the pandemic, and I remember having my aunt join, you know, who does our family looks for our family apartment communities. And she called me or texted me right after, and she’s like, oh my God, I didn’t realize what kind of resources, you know, they had, and it was, I think it was with an attorney, and it had something to do with financials. But the one thing that I realized, even just within my generation, I’m third generation in multifamily, technically, is us. Our generation also is looking at it like, like, why, right? Like is it a business that we want to take over? Is it a business that we want to keep in the family, be at the properties and or run? is you know, some of the conversations I’ve had with some of my cousins. So, I think you guys opening up that opportunity to share multifamily as a business, and the why behind it, you know, I think is huge. So, congratulations on that. And I know it’ll be really successful. And even though I’m not under 40, I would like to be part of it. 

David: At the end of the day, Ronn, we welcome everyone. So, we’re not checking IDs at the door. But I will say, you know, just we look at, you know, where our industry is headed, and you know, yes, we are running a business. I mean, that’s at the end of the day. We are a business, and we need to be able to operate profitably to make sure we’re paying our bills and meeting the demands that are put upon us as rental housing providers. But that’s the other thing. We are housing providers. We are providing an important service to so much of our communities, where we operate, our community, our properties, and I think that’s the part that oftentimes gets lost, is the fact that we’re sharing in the lives of hundreds and sometimes thousands of individuals living our communities each and every day. As an association. We want to make sure that our members keep sight of that in how they could do business, that they’re smart about it, that they value and recognize the important role that they play as a larger part of their society. That comes with responsibility. And you know, the education we provide, you know, we have, like I said, the trainings that we can do. We do an 11 week, localized, certified rental housing provider course, which is another great educational opportunity, especially for folks who are newer to the industry or just getting their feet wet now. It covers the gamut of how do you successfully operate and own a rental Property operation, or if you’re a property manager for management company, what are the things that you should be doing to operate knowledgeably as an individual, but as part of a larger team. That carries over to how you are engaging with your residents each and every day. And there’s that humanity component that, again, gets lost when so much of what we hear about in the news, what we see in the halls of the State Capital with the legislation and the policies that they’re trying to turn into laws here in California, it paints a drastically different narrative about who rental housing providers really are. And that’s something that AOC locally, but as part of a larger industry, wide coalition of associations are working toward, is trying to counter that negative narrative about our industry, and that’s something that I think every rental housing provider should be concerned about, because they may be doing their jobs, but it’s always the bad actors that are the ones that define our industry and our profession as a whole. And when you become part of AAOC, you know that we, not only are we here to make sure that you, again, are doing your job to the best of your ability, we’re giving the resources and the training and the tools for success, but that we’re also your advocate. And while again, you’ve got busy lives. You can’t be going to Sacramento, you know, having those meetings or going to City Hall and meeting with your city staff or your council members. We are able to do that, and we are there to be that voice and that representative to demonstrate all the good that we do as an industry, the responsible actions that we take, the way we are, you know, committed to fair housing and making sure that we are providing, you know, the type of rental housing that our tenants are expecting and that they deserve it, you know, from a simple, you know, humanity perspective. And so, that’s, again, something else I think we feel very strongly about. And you know, for those of our members that you know have been a part of AAOC for a long time now. They’ve seen that, and they’ve benefited from the trainings that we’ve offered, and the resources we’ve provided them.

Martin: I love that now, speaking about next generation when it comes to podcasting, I know we’ve been collaborating a little bit, and we’re talking about possibly, you know, putting out an AAOC overall type of podcast. What do you think? What are your hopes for that one and what kind of impact do you hope it has for your AAOC, for members and continuing education to get them, you know, really that content when they need it on demand most?

David: Yeah, this kind of goes along with, you know how we are evolving as an association. I’d say for the vast podcast listening audience today, I can say we are not your parents or your grandparents AAOC. We’ve prided ourselves for over 60 years providing our members with a monthly magazine with articles and information and announcements. But we’ve been a little late to the game when it comes to, you know, new technology and new communication platforms, particularly when it comes to you know, digital marketing and content creation, whether it’s through podcasting or other vehicles. We are looking at launching an AAOC podcast probably in the fall of 2025 and you know, we have a lot of stories to tell, whether it’s AAOC talking about issues that we’re working with our members on locally or legislative and regulatory issues, or just, you know, talking about success stories. And you know, origin stories, about how, you know, a local management company got its start. What went into that? What as a mom and pop owner operator, you know, what are they dealing with, and how have they grown their business? You know, there’s so many stories to be told. And again, we want to be an association that connects our history and our past with today’s rental housing industry and those that are now kind of coming up. So, I think it’s gonna be, it’ll be interesting to see, you know, what type of path our podcast ultimately takes. I think it really could be something for everyone. And you know, we are own out. Yeah, it’s very much in its infancy right now, but we’re excited about the potential to really share those types of stories and promote the good that our industry does, and create opportunities for our members, again, to share their stories and give people, you know, hope that staying in the rental housing business in California is still a viable and worthwhile endeavor. You know, it’s tough here in California, but those that are willing to work through the difficult times and kind of ride the turbulent seas, this could still be an industry that is worth remaining in and investing further in opportunities there, and you need to be smart about it. And again, when you’re part of AAOC, as a member, we are going to provide you with those tools to do things right, do it smart and find that success that you’re looking for. 

Ronn: I think that’s amazing. I think, definitely embracing the digital age, if you will. I know that term has been, you know, used for many years, so it’s not like but maybe it’s new to some. I think, through podcasts to do content. The online, I know Martin mentioned about like, you know, on Demand training. I think that it sounds like you guys are kind of getting your arms around that as well, acknowledging that that is an effort by way of just recording your trainings. But how do you see it shaping how associations like AAOC can continue to serve and connect with members? 

David: Yeah, well, I mean, as you guys know firsthand, content is king when it comes to…

Ronn: Like a true marketer…

David: Our goal is to get as much content out to our members and to the larger multifamily space. You know, our membership is really just a small representation of the total number of owners and operators who are out there. And certainly, on the supplier side, there’s so many businesses that are, you know, serving Southern California, but perhaps, you know, have chosen not to invest in specific industries or industry associations. The more content that we are able to get out there, we look at as an opportunity to bring new prospects, new members, into the association, educating them, giving them a sampling of what it means to be a member of the of AAOC, and entice them to, you know, give AAOC a try if they’re not currently members. And you know, start reaping those benefits. But yeah, I mean, as much as we can, we want to provide a a platform digitally to give people the information and the knowledge that will help them. We want to make them aware of the threats that do exist, whether it’s at the city level or at the state level, or even in Washington DC. You know, we’re going to be looking to bring on policy makers who have been supportive of our industry, to talk about what they are wrestling with at their, you know their level of government. And you know what our members can do to be more effectively engage and have their voice heard. Whether it’s, you know, through the association or individually, you know. We want to partner with as many of our members as we can. We as an association, obviously, are very effective in representing our members. But again, very much like getting our members together to interact and have that face to face time. When you go to a city council meeting, there’s nothing more powerful than having 30 or 50 or 100 rental housing providers showing up in that chamber, talking about the issue that is being deliberated by that governing body, and making their voice heard. It’s hard to say no to groups that show up. And that’s something that AAOC has been successful in organizing in the past, when the need has gotten to that point. We beat back an effort in bueno park a few years ago, where they were considering rent control and just cause eviction measures that were going to be stronger than what is currently mandated through state law. You know, we had people show up and talk about why this was a bad idea for the city of Buena Park. And ultimately, that city council changed course, and the proposal ended up being defeated. That’s the power of having an association like AAOC leading the charge and bringing its members with them. The ability to get the word out there online, through podcasting, obviously, other forms of digital communication is critical. And you know, as we evolve, I think you’re going to be seeing a lot more of that online content being put out there by AAOC.

Martin: Yeah, I think we’re probably one of the most amazing things right now that we’re in, is like the world of AI search and with AAOC, you know, that domain, that brand, that community, has been around for so long. You guys are already seen as a major authority, right? Just that domain, that power. So if we can amplify that messaging, whether it’s through the blogging, the videos, the podcasting, the webinars, the video. I mean, it’s just going to be an explosion of content out there and google, ChatGPT and all these other platforms that are more generative search now is just going to gobble all that up. And it’s just, you know, really gonna hopefully ignite the amount of website traffic you’re getting now.

David: Absolutely. And, you know, here’s the thing, we are an Apartment Association. We are not digital content creators by profession. Again, you know, the resources that we have to offer, it’s also about partnerships that exist out there. And again, you know we are grateful for, you know, the relationship we’ve had with apartment SEO over the years and with both of you individually. You know, we’ve got all sorts of resources that are out there. And you know, the ability to work together to advance you know initiatives is critical. And so, you know, we also look to our members, and you know, if there’s a desire to help the association, we’re more than happy to collaborate and find ways to amplify our voice and our members voices, and utilizing the resources and expertise of our members to make that happen. So, we’re grateful for our members and all that, they obviously trust with, you know, with AAOC. But we also are glad for that opportunity to work and collaborate on bigger topics that perhaps AAOC on its own, isn’t necessarily equipped to do.

Martin: I mean, you have a power of all your members. Each of them have their own voice, each of them have their own brand. And you know, you’ll be, you can help build them all up together, and it’s just going to be a game changer, I think, where we can actually tell their stories. Exciting. So David, this has been incredibly insightful, really fun. I mean, for our listeners who want to learn more or get involved, where should they go to find out more about AAOC?

 

David: Absolutely. Well, first and foremost, aaoc.com is a great starting point. Come to our website, you’ll be able to get a bunch of information that was sort of informed them about what we have to offer to our members and some of the issues that we’re tackling online, Facebook and Instagram. Our hashtag is #WeAreAAOC. And then, of course, we’re also on LinkedIn, you can find us there. And then you know, if you have any questions, obviously, you can always give us a call. 714-245-9500, is our office number. You can also reach us. You want to shoot us an email, just email contact@aaoc.com and one of our team members will be able to get back to you and answer any questions. And for anybody who’s already interested about joining the association as an owner or operator member or as a supplier member, you can always just go directly and email membership@aaoc.com and start that process. You can also join the association online. And, yeah, I mean, we are accessible, and we’re certainly glad to, you know, answer, you know, questions about membership or legislative issues or, you know, obviously, operational issues and landlord tenant questions they may have. You know, we’re ready here and eager to serve.

Martin: Ronn, final thoughts.

Ronn: Yeah, that’s amazing. I definitely wanted to say that you guys make it very easy, so there’s no excuses for anybody. Get involved.

David: Evolving is key. I mean, that’s critical to our long-term successes. Is that engagement and willingness to step out of your comfort zone, even. And that’s where growth occurs, whether as a business owner, but also just as a member of our society who maybe feels they’re not an expert in certain fields, but you know what? You have a voice. You’ve got ideas. When you share those ideas and those thoughts, things happen.

Ronn: That’s it, and you collaborate. 

David: Yep.

Martin: Thank you again, David Cordero for joining us today, and to all you listening, for joining us. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and share at MultifamilyPodcast.com, powered by Apartment SEO, where industry voices meet to collaborate. Make sure you get your free marketing analysis and let our team take your community’s digital presence to the next level. Until next time, bye, y’all. Bye. David. Bye. Ronn.

Ronn: Alright guys. Thank you.

David: Thanks so much.

Ronn: Amazing.