New Chapter for the Fort Worth Apartment Association
It’s truly an honor to serve as the new President of the Fort Worth Apartment Association (FWAA). If you had told me 25 years ago when I joined this association, starting on the education committee, that I’d someday be standing here as president, I’d probably have laughed. But here I am, and I’m filled with gratitude and excitement for the year ahead.
First, let me take a moment to acknowledge the incredible leadership from Bryan Downer and Amy Alvarez, who set such a strong example for all of us. They have both done amazing things for this association, and I have big shoes to fill. Thank you, Bryan and Amy, for your dedication and service.
None of what we do here would be possible without the leadership of our Board of Directors and the FWAA staff. These individuals are the heart and soul of our association, and I’m beyond grateful for their tireless work. To everyone who has worked alongside me, laughed with me, and even sat through some of my not-so-great training sessions—thank you. You’ve all helped shape my journey, and I truly appreciate each of you.
Remember Why You Had Fun
As I look ahead to 2025, I find myself reflecting on why we’re all here. What drew us to this association? What made us excited to get involved? I think back to the moments when this journey felt fresh and full of promise. And I want to challenge you to think about how we can bring that joy back. It’s easy to get bogged down by the demands of our daily work, but let’s remind ourselves of the fun we’ve had and the relationships we’ve built.
This year, I encourage each of you to reconnect with that spark—whether it’s through volunteering, networking, or simply showing up and supporting each other. The FWAA is more than a place of business—it’s a community. A place where we can grow, learn, and enjoy the journey together.
Looking Ahead: Exciting Things to Come in 2025
We’ve built an incredible association over the years, and I’m so proud of everything we’ve accomplished together. As we move into 2025, I want to continue to build on the work we’ve already done and make this year the best one yet.
There are so many exciting things happening this year, and I’m thrilled to be part of it. Kicking off the year with the Lone Star Awards, which was an unforgettable night thanks to Matt Jones and Jeff Hoster, LSA Winners and finalist and of course the FWAA Staff. We’ve got our upcoming UGM Bowling event in March, and one of the largest FWAA representatives at TAA Advocacy Week to represent our members in Austin. It’s always inspiring to see so many of you working to make our communities stronger and better.
For our supplier partners, we have sponsorship opportunities available. We need your support to help make FWAA even stronger, so please reach out and get involved. We have lots of great events this year, PICKLEBALL Anyone? And of course, a special thank you to Jeff McDaniel and the team for their leadership in the Military Veterans Golf Tournament, which raised a significant amount of money last year. We’re looking forward to another successful tournament this year.
Together, We Can Achieve More
As we move forward into this year, I’m more committed than ever to working together as a community. I’m incredibly excited to work with Kyle Gambrell as Vice President. As some of you may know, the VP is the highest-ranking supplier partner at FWAA, and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together. If you’ve served as a VP at FWAA or AATC, I’d like to take a moment to thank you for your service and continued support of our association.
It’s important to remember that if we teach, advocate, and network together, we can continue to make this community stronger. If you teach, they will grow. If you advocate, you will make change. If you network, you will build lasting connections. This is the foundation of FWAA—people helping people.
I’m excited to serve as your president and work with all of you to continue to make FWAA a place of connection, learning, and growth. Let’s make 2025 our best year yet!
