When you choose a residential community, it’s nice when you have the chance to get to know the property staff on a first-name basis. Enter Kristina Davis, Resident Manager at Lakes of Valparaiso, whose focus is making those important connections with residents each day.
Davis claims that a career in leasing and residential managing was something she stumbled on by accident. Upon completing an Associate’s in Veterinary Medicine, she spent several years working with a local animal shelter. Finding certain aspects of the job to be emotionally draining, Davis decided to take a break from that line of work and sought the perfect job to support her four children. She took a leasing position and never looked back.
“I fell in love with it, and I’ve been in it ever since,” she said. “I love the interaction with residents, it’s the best part of my job. I like getting to know them one-on-one and on a more personal level.”
Davis takes care to let residents know they’re all part of the same community.
"I like to think that I'm strengthening relationships. It's an important part of my job because I want the residents to know that we don't just look at them as renters, but rather as members of our community. They matter and they're important," she said.
It’s also about the whole team at Lakes of Valparaiso bringing the community together.
“It’s really a team here, not just people. Even on the corporate level, they’re always available for help, it’s great. It truly is a team, and we all strive to give the best customer service,” she said.
When you work and live at Lakes of Valparaiso, you have the opportunity to be a part of a larger community. Through resident events like the Puppy Plunge or Mimosa Mondays, the staff and residents can connect on that important personal level, making the residences much more than just a place to live.
“We try to make this more of a community than an apartment complex,” Davis said. “Our resident events are what we use to bring everybody together. Not just so that we can build that relationship and community with them, but so that they can build it with each other. They get to know their neighbors and they get to know us. That’s why it’s really important for us to build those bonds and have those events.”
When Davis isn’t working, she is spending time with her family, which is extremely important to her. With four grown children and two grandchildren, she especially enjoys being outdoors.
“Family is number one, always,” she said. “We do everything from SkyZone to just going to the parks and going on walks. My youngest grandson loves walking the trails.”
Davis has also been an avid painter since she was seven. She particularly enjoys painting landscape scenes and working in watercolors and acrylic paint. The hobby is her way to relax.
“It’s my stress-reliever. Some people like a glass of wine, I like a good paint,” she said.
While Davis has only been with Lakes of Valparaiso since September, she has found a team, community, and position that she truly enjoys.
“I love it here,” she said. “I’m looking forward to building more relationships and making my bonds here stronger.”