Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in Multifamily Companies
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have been top of mind in the business world in recent years, including in multifamily. As one of the major goals of such initiatives, employee buy-in stands out as a key business driver.
“It’s about seeing yourself and seeing career paths—and seeing that your company is diverse,” says Cynthia Adams, senior vice president at Bridge Property Management, a Salt Lake City–based company with more than 50,000 units under management.
Adams, who is Mexican-American and oversees the Florida, Texas, and Arizona markets for Bridge, got her first job in multifamily as a college student when the management of her apartment building asked her whether she spoke Spanish and wanted to work in the office a couple of days a week in exchange for her rent being compensated. She jumped at the chance and fell in love with the industry, leading to a now 30-year career.
But she remembers starting out and not seeing a lot of people with a Hispanic background or women she could look up to. That’s one reason she thinks focusing on DEI for younger employees is crucial.