It’s almost time for the LeadingAge Annual Meeting and Expo, a one-of-a-kind senior living conference. Each year, the event offers an opportunity to network with likeminded professionals, gain fresh perspectives and discover innovative technology solutions shaping the industry’s future. Team Yardi is excited to attend, we invite you to visit booth 1219 to connect with us! We’ll show you the latest advancements in the Yardi Senior Living Suite, our single connected solution designed for the unique needs of senior living. We also have a special giveaway in store (spoiler alert, it involves delicious, Chicago-style popcorn). Get the details below — we hope to see you there. About LeadingAge 2023 Hosted at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, this year’s LeadingAge Meeting and Expo is a can’t-be-missed experience packed with informative sessions. Focused on topics most relevant to the industry today, the sessions will offer impactful takeaways delivered by senior living experts. As LeadingAge puts it, it’s an event crafted to fuel your mission. The conference will span from November 5-8. If you’d like to explore what’s planned, preview the LeadingAge 2023 schedule. Meet with team Yardi & grab some gourmet popcorn Interested to see the newest innovations in the Yardi Senior Living Suite? Have questions for us? Wanting to simply come say hello? All are welcome at booth 1219 — we’ll be stationed there throughout the conference. If you’d like to schedule a specific time to meet, contact us and we’ll get something on the books. As mentioned, we’ve planned a neat surprise for our booth: gourmet popcorn! But it’s not just any popcorn — we’ll be offering snack bags from Garrett Popcorn Shops, a Chicago favorite. You can expect a combination of their staple flavors including CaramelCrisp, CheeseCorn, Buttery and Garrett Mix. Anyone who stops by is welcome to a snack bag, but we encourage you to stick around for a quick activity, too. We’ll have post-its available for you to write a short message sharing what you love about Yardi (plus a popcorn-themed board to stick your message to). If you’re new to Yardi solutions, you can also share what you love about the senior living industry — or what excites you about technology looking ahead. We hope you’ll pop in and participate! The popcorn and post-its will be available all hours the show floor is open on November 6 and 7. See you next week We’re looking forward to seeing you at LeadingAge 2023. If you’d like to get familiar with our dynamic senior living software before the conference, join an on-demand...
Seasonal Spirit
This Spooky Season
#TeamYardi had a wicked good time celebrating Fall and spooky season this year. The Atlanta office festivities started with a costume contest. The winners of the contest were as follows: Best: Static Shock costume, Amber Brown Funniest: Burger costume, Jonathan Singleton Scariest: Dr. Facilier costume, Gerald Valentine Most Creative: Frida Kahlo costume, RheaAnn Koppelman Best Group: Mario Party costume, Ciro Vellino, Tyler Edwards and Spencer Hardiman Those who participated brought some fun to the office and turned a typical Wednesday into an enchanted Wednesday. For lunch, three food trucks were provided with various foods for the office—Yaardie Eats, The Mad Greek and The Loaded Taco. Games were provided, and even a special guest was in attendance after making his rounds at the Atlanta HBCU scholarship programs Yardi supports. Jay Shobe, senior vice president, was impressed with Georgia’s southern hospitality. At headquarters in Santa Barbara, the office had a Fall Fest for Yardi employees and their families. The afternoon consisted of a pumpkin carving contest with pizza and gelato. The kids got dressed up and enjoyed a corn maze with trick or treating. What fun office collaborations for the end of...
Unlock Interactive Training...
With Unique, Powerful Tools In Aspire
Ready to unlock staff potential, reduce turnover and drive onboarding success? You need an interactive technology solution that offers personalized learning experiences — but not all solutions are built the same. In order to revolutionize the way you train and onboard staff, you need a multifunctional learning management system (LMS) equipped with unique, cutting-edge functionality. Yardi Aspire is just that — an easy-to-use LMS that offers more than your average solution. It takes your training and onboarding processes to the next level with unmatched functionality and usability, all within the Yardi platform your teams are already using. Sound interesting? Read on for a closer look at what makes Yardi Aspire a differentiator in the LMS space. What sets Yardi Aspire apart? Customizable programs and resources: Supplement your existing training program with an exclusive Yardi product that’s completely configurable. Access complementary webinars taught by product experts, dozens of personalized learning plan templates, searchable product information libraries and over 1,300 self-paced courses that are highly engaging and customizable. Enjoy a comprehensive catalog with hundreds of compliance, safety, professional and personal skills training. Aspire’s instructional design team uses innovative techniques and tools to maximize learner engagement, all while providing hands-free skill evaluations to optimize training effectiveness. Heighten engagement with our related training feature, which enables you to embed smart training links within the Yardi solutions your employees use every day. YardiOne provisioning and smart tiles: Ensure employees possess the necessary skills to succeed before gaining access to the production environment. Utilize YardiOne smart tiles to automatically provision Yardi software access based on learning completion data. Integrated mentorship module: Avoid purchasing third-party party software for mentorship. Upgrade your program administration from Excel to your centralized LMS where supervisors, HR staff and trainers can partner with mentors to bolster...
Student Housing Webinar
Matrix outlook remains positive
The Yardi Matrix team, including Jeff Adler and Tyson Huebner, delivered its final webinar of the 2023 year on the student housing sector’s performance and investment opportunities. If you missed it, you can view the recording and presentation slides here. Student housing maintained strong performance into the start of the 2023/2024 school year, though preleasing activity and rent growth showed some signs of slowing in the final weeks of leasing season. “The bottom line is that this sector compared to other sectors in the housing industry is looking very stellar. Good positioning, good rent growth – we don’t think (next year) will be quite as good as this year was, but still very strong,” said Adler, vice president of Yardi Matrix. “This is a great real estate segment and industry to be in, but picking the right schools is very critical to success.” Yardi Matrix has updated the schools whose housing is tracked in the Yardi 200, swapping out about 30 institutions less relevant to investors. The total tracked data set now includes 2,200 properties with 1.1 million beds. As of September 2023, 95.1 percent of beds at Yardi 200 universities were preleased, compared to 96.2 percent in September 2022. Lower preleasing in recent months can be partly attributed to slow lease-up of new 2023 deliveries, which were only 84.4 percent preleased in September. Rents are near an all-time high at $846 per bed, relatively unchanged in the past four months. Rent growth dropped to 6.1 percent in September, down from 6.5 percent in August and a peak of 7 percent in March 2023. But it is still well above previous years; it averaged 2.9 percent in September 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. (Read more findings from the latest student housing report here.) Student housing has seen a steep drop-off in transaction activity, which is attributed to ongoing strong performance and difficult financing conditions. But for owners and developers who completed new projects in time for fall leasing, rents were much higher than for existing properties. “New properties delivering this year had rents that were 29 percent above the national average,” said Huebner. Rents per bed for newly completed units averaged $1,088 as of September. “With continued rent growth in the sector and new supply coming at pretty high price points, I do think that will be an emerging investment opportunity when capital market conditions are ripe,” Adler said. He continued: “Everything’s a great place to put capital into; it’s a great place to participate. It does require an intense knowledge of each particular school and the sort of demand supply enrollment balances that make that all work.” Improve your market knowledge with a Yardi Matrix subscription: the industry’s most comprehensive market intelligence tool for investment professionals, equity investors, lenders and property managers who underwrite and manage investments in commercial real estate. Yardi Matrix covers multifamily, student housing, vacant land, industrial, office, retail and self storage property types. Email [email protected], call 480-663-1149 or visit yardimatrix.com to learn...
NMHC OPTECH
Yardi Reveals AI-Driven Tech
Yardi is showcasing new solutions at the 2023 NMHC OPTECH Conference & Expo, including the latest generation of Yardi Voyager, an artificial intelligence (AI) platform and a Microsoft® Power BI connector. The event is set to take place Nov. 1-3 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is a yearly gathering for leading figures in multifamily operations. Yardi is proud to be a longtime supporter of NMHC OPTECH and is once again a Platinum Sponsor for the event. Booth 105 will showcase new AI-powered and human-centered technology from Yardi. This includes solutions designed to help operators “compose their future,” leveraging the combination of one connected system and AI to drive performance and maximize efficiency. Eventgoers can schedule demos with the Yardi team at the booth to see the new solutions for multifamily, including: Yardi Voyager 8, the latest generation of the industry-leading platform, now with a fresh update to further enhance the user experience. Yardi Virtuoso is an AI platform built to complement Yardi solutions. It leverages AI, large language models and machine learning to drive operational efficiency between people and technology. RentCafe CRM IQ, a customer relationship management system that provides full visibility into prospect, applicant and resident workflows, in addition to enabling centralized leasing and operations. RentCafe Chat IQ, an automated attendant that answers prospect and resident questions via chat, text, email and calls. Yardi Data Connect, a secure data feed from Voyager to Microsoft Power BI that allows more customization capabilities and inclusion of third-party sources, along with preconfigured dashboards. Book a meeting to see all new solutions up close during the conference or join an on-demand...
Ghostly Real Estate
Historic, and Haunted?
Halloween is around the corner and got us thinking some spooky thoughts—the market for “probably haunted” real estate. In New Orleans, “haunted” properties are so common that some properties include “not haunted” tags on their For Sale signs. Let’s delve into some practical advice for individuals interested in purchasing a potentially haunted property. In a recent article, a funeral home in Massachusetts was listed. Instead of the traditional “for sale” sign, the real estate agent decided to pique the interest of paranormal enthusiasts and staked a sign outside that read “probably haunted.” Is the property haunted? Nobody can know for sure, but given the history, it’s a possibility. Every state differs on what is to be disclosed to buyers. Material defects such as a leaky roof or older HVAC systems are disclosed, but life gets a bit more interesting when the house’s flaws may be tragic, gruesome or paranormal. A murder-suicide inside the house is considered a psychological stigma and does not constitute a material defect. One caveat is that a seller cannot misrepresent a property’s history. If asked about crime scenes or family tragedies, a seller must be truthful. Buyer Beware: We are Haunted. Caveat emptor is a common law doctrine that places the burden on the buyers to reasonably examine property before purchasing. A buyer who fails to meet this burden cannot recover for defects in the product that would have been discovered had this burden been met. Buyers need substantial “due diligence,” especially if the price of the home is “too good to be true.” Knock on the neighbor’s door or hire a medium, because you’ll likely never know if you don’t ask. Research local town legends and the historical records of the building, especially if it is a particularly older...
Never Miss a Lead
With new Yardi bundle
Yardi is now offering to handle all incoming leads when a client bundles RentCafe Chat IQ with RentCafe CRM IQ. Chat IQ is an artificial intelligence-driven chatbot capable of answering questions instantly through chat, text, email and phone call. With this offer, Chat IQ will automatically connect customers to a dedicated Yardi specialist for assistance if it is unable to answer a question. “Chat IQ has always offered live-agent handoffs, but we’re taking it one step further and offering live agent support directly from Yardi when a client pairs Chat IQ with CRM IQ,” said Richard Malpica, vice president at Yardi. “Chat IQ already responds to over 95 percent of inbound inquiries effectively, but there will still be questions that need human attention. This offer will uphold our promise of automating routines and humanizing exceptions.” Yardi stands out as one of the few multifamily technology providers that currently offer to connect customers to agents. This feature is invaluable for companies with sufficient onsite resources to manage handoffs. However, not all companies have these resources readily available. By integrating Chat IQ with CRM IQ, organizations ensure immediate answers to customer inquiries — ultimately increasing the number of quality leads — even if onsite staff are not available to answer the customer’s questions. “We want to step in for those inevitable inquiries that can’t be answered automatically,” Malpica adds. “This means every question gets answered, every interaction gets documented and everything can be seen from one connected system.” If the Yardi specialist does not have the answer to a question, they will contact the property, relay answers to the customer, then store the response in Chat IQ as a custom intent to answer the question going forward. CRM IQ is a customer relationship management system that provides leasing teams with a clear view of the entire prospect and resident journey. Built to work together, Chat IQ and CRM IQ are complementary solutions that ensure seamless experiences for renters and seamless communication and management for staff. Speak to a representative to learn more about this...
Achievement Centers for Children
Recreation and support
Today, we introduce Achievement Centers for Children (ACC), founded in 1940 in Highland Hills, Ohio, with a mission to empower children and adults with disabilities to achieve their most tremendous potential through holistic and family-focused services. For 83 years, this organization has recognized the importance of recreation for children and adults with diverse abilities. In addition to recreation, they offer a wide range of services to individuals with disabilities and their families in three locations across Northeast Ohio. These locations provide the following services: Educational services, including autism schools at two sites. Family support and advocacy services, including home-based and early intervention services. Therapy services inclusive of physical and mental health Adult services through its day program at Camp Cheerful (circa 1947). All services are eligible to anyone regardless of the ability to pay. Over the years, ACC has adapted its work to meet the changing needs of the children and families they serve. The staff is committed to offering campers and athletes new recreational and sporting opportunities to enrich their lives and increase how they can participate via new adaptive equipment or techniques to improve access to a broader range of recreational experiences. Outdoor summer programs encourage children and adults to develop their confidence, independence and self-esteem in a beautiful setting within the Cleveland Metroparks. “Each year, hundreds of dedicated volunteers provide support, encouragement, and friendship to more than 600 children and adults who enjoy our recreation and sports programs – from day camp to therapeutic horsemanship to adapted sports,” says Susan Christopher, director of marketing and communications at ACC. ACC strives to be consistent for its clients and families. They seek to make their experiences positive and reliable in a world of barriers and irregularity. With the population growing and resources dwindling, especially for low-income families, ACC positions itself to serve the growing families seeking services with a strategic plan they started in August 2022. This three-year roadmap is hope for goals securing the future: Provide sustainable, exceptional and equitable services for children and adults with disabilities and their families. Establish and maintain strong partnerships and alliances that support organizational success and achieve broader systemic change for the health of the community and organization. Maintain a robust infrastructure that fosters a culture of inclusivity, anti-racism, innovation and trust. Funding from Yardi supports the programs and services ACC provides to children and adults with disabilities in Northeast Ohio, including recreational activities at Camp Cheerful. Philanthropic funds are directed to cover gaps in ACC’s budget, as the cost of providing these services is high, reimbursement from third-party payers is minimal, and they do not ask low-income families to pay more than they can for services. Funds are also used to improve sites, directed to maintaining accessibility for all and working to meet and exceed ADA requirements, which can be incredibly challenging in a natural setting like the camp. “Staff, volunteers, and families of Achievement Centers were thrilled to receive this gift from Yardi – it’s through the generosity of individuals and companies such as Yardi that enables our organization to continue to provide robust services to children and families more than 80 years after we were established,” shares Christopher. Camp Cheerful Children and adults enjoy traditional camp activities at Camp Cheerful, including swimming, canoeing, horsemanship, arts & crafts, and nature. “We offer adapted riding sessions in our Therapeutic Horsemanship program and the opportunity for athletes of all abilities to play year-round sports in our Adapted Sports program,” said Christopher. Watch the video of Julia’s story, her therapeutic horsemanship achievements, and footage of the adapted soccer and the kids in action with their volunteer leaders. Volunteer Opportunities ACC relies on corporate groups to help them with upkeep at its three properties, especially the beautiful 52-acre Camp Cheerful campus. Spend a day or a half helping with grounds upkeep and building maintenance projects. Those interested in learning more, please get in...
AI & Student Integrity...
A Brave New World
AI is advancing at a rapid pace. Education institutions should have clear academic integrity policies, communicate expectations to students and provide resources for them to understand and avoid academic misconduct. AI should complement these efforts rather than replace them entirely. Here are some various ways AI promotes student integrity. One of the most significant advancements in AI is Chat GPT and utilizing it for various content. However, how can educators ensure students are not just using it and turning in papers? Utilizing a plagiarism detector tool, teachers can scan academic papers, essays and assignments to identify instances of plagiarism by comparing the text to a vast database of educational and online content. These tools can help educators and institutions ensure students submit original work. In addition, if it is the middle of the year and suddenly the student makes a significant improvement and does not indicate such a leap in understanding or skill, the inconsistent performance is a sign that the student may have used external help. Gone are the days of easy cheating for online exams. AI proctoring solutions can monitor students’ behavior during tests for virtual learning and online classes. AI proctoring solutions use webcams and microphone feeds to detect suspicious behavior, such as looking away from the screen, talking to someone off-screen or using prohibited resources that can be flagged for review. AI can also employ facial recognition to verify the identity of the person taking the exam. AI proctoring solutions may lock down the test taker’s browser, limiting their ability to access external websites during an exam. AI proctoring can also work with recruiters to ensure the integrity of the candidate’s assessment and streamline the evaluation process. A study by IBM found that behavioral and cognitive assessments using AI technology...
John Napolitano
Yardi Employee Profile
Yardi’s global offices make essential contributions to property management and investors worldwide. Today, we introduce John Napolitano, a part of the Residential Practice Team 3 of the Long Island, NY office. Meet John Napolitano John Napolitano has worked as an associate technical account manager for just over a year. Napolitano spends his days assisting in client cases and helping teammates however much he can. “I love the atmosphere of being a Yardi employee. Everyone is always welcoming and helpful,” says Napolitano. “I have an amazing team!” Napolitano appreciates how Yardi does a great job incorporating teamwork into the day-to-day work. There are many resources and different individuals with different skill sets. Everyone is helpful and knowledgeable in their field. “We are encouraged to expand our Yardi Network and reach out to people from different teams. I love being able to reach out to people from all over the country and build those lasting relationships,” said Napolitano. In addition to teamwork, Napolitano describes Yardi as a second home after building lasting relationships with coworkers almost immediately. “Everyone wants to see you succeed and lend a helping hand when needed. I know how intimidating it can be for new hires, and I would like to be able to help however much I can in their transition with us,” shares Napolitano. Napolitano and his team recently volunteered and hosted a charity event for Yardi-supported nonprofit Island Harvest. They packed hundreds of boxes of food for people in need. “I love that we could organize an event like this and do our part for our community. It inspired me to do these events on my own time and more frequently,” says Napolitano. Yardi is hiring globally! Interested prospective employees can explore opportunities on the Careers site. Animal Enthusiast Outside...
Front Steps Housing & Services
Addressing Systemic Disparities
Yardi is committed to supporting the community in every city where our offices are housed. Each year, the company distributes philanthropic aid to organizations selected by its employees. Today, we introduce Front Steps Housing & Services organization, founded in 1986 in Cleveland, Ohio. This organization is a member of the Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services Continuum of Care and has over 35 years of experience working with homeless individuals in the county as transitional and permanent housing. Front Steps has served more than 4,000 clients with a 98% success rate during this time. Since opening its doors in 1986, they have developed a broad array of services to serve chronically homeless individuals and community members at risk of homelessness. Services include: Case Management Employment and Training Intensive Outpatient Program Community Support Services Behavioral Health Counseling Prevention Services Music and Art Therapies Front Steps has been recognized as an organization guided by internationally recognized service standards and best practices by the Commission of Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for: Case Management/Services Coordination: Mental Health (adults) Community Housing: Mental Health (adults) Outpatient Treatment: Integrated: AOD/MH (adults) Community Employment Services: Employment Supports Front Steps has also been certified by the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (OMHAS) to operate an outpatient alcohol and drug addiction program and has been approved to offer the following behavioral/mental health services: Behavioral Health Counseling & Therapy Employment/Vocational Referral and Information Community Psychiatric Support Treatment Mental Health Assessment Art Therapy Today, these services are needed on a broader scale for the aging, underserved communities that are facing barriers of systemic disparities. “We continue to respond to the call for housing assistance and behavioral health services desperately needed in this post-pandemic world. Our hands-on staff is second to none, offering life-changing support and one-on-one counseling to our residents and individuals in our community,” said Matthew Anderson, development director for Front Steps. Front Steps hopes to expand its reach in Greater Cleveland and broaden its presence with a campus including a women’s recovery center, sober living, drug and alcohol rehabilitation and health and wellness programs. “Help us realize these dreams by creating a safe haven for people recovering from a life of pain, suffering and intolerance,” Anderson shares. Funding from Yardi will help Front Steps achieve behavioral outreach efforts to serve individuals needing health services. It will allow them to enhance the case management treatment and connect with more individuals throughout the region. These therapy areas include: Mental Health Substance Abuse Music Therapy Art Therapy Horticultural Therapy “We’re ecstatic, not only for the financial support but for the relationship we’ve built with the Yardi Systems family over the past couple of years,” exclaimed Anderson. He continued, “We can’t say thank you enough for believing in our core value: to transform the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness. Thank you for your faith in Front Steps, and thank you for believing in our commitment to serving as an inclusive, equitable and accessible organization where everyone can realize their full potential.” James C. Venture James found his way to Front Steps after suffering a deep-rooted substance abuse and mental health diagnosis after a stint in the military. This resulted in angry outbursts, isolation and related behavioral health issues. He became an overwhelming burden to himself and his family. After arriving at Front Steps, James discovered his voice and self-expression through counseling with Life Skills coordinator Denise Jackson. Today, still overcoming his barriers, he’s an example for others and exhibits pride and self-assurance through his work in the community garden. (pictured here). Volunteer Opportunities Front Steps offers plenty of volunteer opportunities throughout the year. From sorting clothes to organizing its food pantry, they have various jobs inside and out. For those interested, please get in touch with Matthew Anderson at [email protected]. “We are passionate, dedicated, and unwavering in our commitment to provide essential wrap-around services that help our clients...
Using Tech Against Fraud...
Industry Leaders Speak Out
How protected are you against residential applicant fraud? Could you be more secure with the right tech in place? Yardi Vice President Michael Tuer recently discussed fraud challenges and strategies with LUMA Residential President Ian Mattingly and Wood Partners Property Applications Administrator David Searles. From false pay stubs to fake IDs, fraud can cost businesses a fortune — but the good news is that you don’t have to rely on the naked eye to detect false documents. Read on for key takeaways including the different types of fraud, what industry experts are doing to combat it and strategies you can implement today. Different types of fraud There are many ways applicants can falsify their way into getting approved for your community: Synthetic fraud is when someone fabricates entire identities, including Social Security numbers, photos and stolen information. This type of fraud can be offered as an “approval package” online, giving people complete sets of phony documents for the application process. Rental application fraud is when an applicant provides incorrect or invalid information, like a falsified paystub or an altered Social Security card. Third-party fraud happens when an applicant misrepresents who they are by misusing another person’s identity — like an image of their driver’s license — to pass credit or criminal background checks. The amount of fraud out there can be overwhelming, but there are many tools and strategies to deter fraudsters from the start or reduce it significantly. Decrease fraud by leveraging AI and automation “About 15% of our total monthly revenue could have been lost to fraud had we not put the right technology and strategy in place,” Ian Mattingly said. Mattingly estimated that LUMA’s fraud prevention efforts over the past three years saved them between $1 million to $1.5 million per...
Family Promise of Greater Cleveland
Homeless, yet full of hope
Yardi is committed to supporting the community in every city where our offices are housed. Each year, the company distributes philanthropic aid to organizations selected by its employees. Today, we introduce Family Promise of Greater Cleveland, OH, founded in 2011. Though headquarters is in Summit, New Jersey, this location operates independently. Family Promise is a family homeless shelter and supportive services for up to 21 families in a former elementary school building in Cleveland’s Mt. Pleasant neighborhood. The agency serves an average of 75 families that consist of 200 individuals each year. Most of them are children with an average age of four with younger parents. The homeless families served by Family Promise are received through active participation in Cuyahoga County’s Coordinated Intake. Families will stay in the shelter for an average of 12 weeks, receiving all the basic needs such as food, clothing, cleaning supplies and access to medical care. Immediately after a family enters a shelter, a case manager conducts a thorough assessment to determine the family’s housing options, benefits eligibility, employment readiness and life skills level. “The case manager then works with each family to develop a plan for housing, employment and long-term stability,” said Connie Sievers, grants and communications manager for Family Promise. They assist the parents by: Searching for affordable housing. Help them to secure an income/employment. Link them to needed medical, mental health and legal services. Ensures children’s needs are met with school and daycare services. All families are also offered Employment Services: Job readiness by eliminating any challenges. Develop and implement job plans. Assistance with resumes Job searching and interview skills. Finding business-appropriate clothing. “They also provide interested clients with links to workforce development programs and educational opportunities,” Sievers explained. Once a family transitions to a permanent home, they will continue to receive case management treatment through Family Promise’s Community Stabilization Program for at least one year to help them maintain their housing and not return to homelessness. “Family Promise’s consistently positive outcomes speak to the effectiveness of its services. In 2022, 100% of positive housing outcomes were achieved with 90% remaining housed upon case closing,” shared Sievers. Family Promise’s core services are growing and expanding its efforts to help address its client’s mental health. Training by The Sanctuary Institute with its evidence-based Sanctuary Model for trauma-informed care began in October 2020 and is ongoing. In addition, Family Promise has also increased its community awareness and taken steps to diversify its revenue sources. Funding from Yardi helps Family Promise’s shelter and supportive services, including occupancy costs and salaries for direct staff. “These two large expenses are key to the help we provide for homeless families, and funding from corporations like Yardi is vital to their continuation,” Sievers shared. She continued, “We are so grateful! The staff was thrilled about the unexpected support and knew it would go a long way to help with their work with homeless families. Many great non-profits were represented in the presentation to Yardi employees, so it was a wonderful surprise to be chosen.” Dina’s Journey Dina and her 13-year-old daughter found themselves homeless after their landlord sold the building they were living in, and the new owner did not want anyone residing on the premises. They first tried living at Dina’s mother’s house, though the conditions were inadequate. Dina had considered seeking services to help her, but her pride wouldn’t let her. Then, a violent confrontation occurred between family members at her mother’s house, and she knew she had to leave the property to keep her daughter safe. Dina contacted Coordinated Intake and was referred to Family Promise. She and her daughter didn’t know what to expect and were nervous, but the staff soon helped her to feel comfortable and safe in their living unit. They ensured that all their essential needs were met and the daughter could remain in the same school she had been attending....
Executive Insights
Yardi IM Briefing
At the recent Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference in San Diego, leaders in real estate investment management exchanged insights into industry challenges, trends and how Yardi solutions make a difference in their business. Participants in the briefing were: Adam Vanni, senior portfolio manager for Fairfield, a San Diego-based multifamily property investment company with about 42,000 units under management Bailey Breish, CFO for Alturas Capital Partners, which manages a real estate investment fund with more than 45 assets. Donnie Penney, principal business analyst for Invesco, a real estate investment manager based in Dallas. Josh Gladstein, chief technology officer for Berkshire Residential Investments, which manages more than 120 multifamily properties and about $27 billion of assets under management from its Boston headquarters. Taylor Waldo, director of IT project management for San Francisco-based Prime Finance, which invests across all real estate asset classes through 10 active funds. The session was moderated by Yardi Investment Management team members Vicki Dodig, director of sales, and Susan Freehauf, senior director of professional services. Discussion at the session, edited for length and clarity, included: Keeping Pace with Evolving Technology Waldo: “The accounting cycle doesn’t change, the tax cycle doesn’t change. But our team members need to constantly adapt to get their business done. So we try to create a culture of change that helps our team feel comfortable. I work to make sure everybody from the leadership team understands the impact that change will have on them and be trained on using the new technology. If you want somebody to give up their beloved spreadsheets, there has to be something in it for them, even if that’s just words of encouragement, words of acknowledgment that they’re getting help to do things the right way. My job is to get all our business...
Optimize Community Wellness Programs
With RentCafe Wellness
Ready to effectively manage your community wellness programs? With RentCafe Wellness for senior living, you’re equipped with online activity calendars, attendance tracking and real-time information sharing — all accessible on a single platform — making it easy to optimize your wellness initiatives. Learn how RentCafe Wellness will take your wellness programs to the next level (and benefit your staff, residents and their families) in our infographic below. Schedule activities Manage RSVPs from residents and family members Flag registrations as required or optional and set fees as needed Track resident attendance and monitor changes in behavior Forecast staffing needs for each activity Create digital calendars Share calendars on your community’s RentCafe website and via RentCafe Senior Living Portal Offer a single calendar per community or multiple calendars categorized by care Easily designate which details remain consistent and which vary month to month Download and print calendars to display across your community Empower staff Unlock intuitive dashboards equipped with KPIs Generate analytic reports to assess an activity’s impact Plan and execute follow-up care using activity wellness information Save time thanks to simplified workflows Offer convenience Enable residents and families to sign up for activities, manage registrations and more from RentCafe Senior Living Portal and the mobile app Allow residents and responsible parties to submit monthly payments for paid wellness activities with Payment Processing Keep family members in the loop with real-time information sharing Ensure residents’ wellbeing is continuously monitored Help everyone stay connected from anywhere Learn more about RentCafe Wellness Let’s enhance your wellness programs together. Check out the full RentCafe Wellness infographic then select get in touch to schedule a personalized demo! Want to see RentCafe Wellness in action today? Watch this on-demand webinar....
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Providing hope and compassion
Yardi is committed to supporting the community in every city where our offices are housed. Each year, the company distributes philanthropic aid to organizations selected by its employees. In 2022, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will bring you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities. Today, we introduce The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), founded in 1949 in Rye Brook, New York, impacting the cancer community. LLS is the world’s largest voluntary nonprofit health organization that funds blood cancer research and provides education and patient services. Since 1949, LLS has invested nearly $1.6 billion in groundbreaking research, pioneering many of today’s most innovative approaches. “We work tirelessly to find cures and ensure patients can access the lifesaving treatments they need. When someone experiences the fear and uncertainty of a cancer diagnosis, we provide hope, compassion, education and support,” said Becca Gregory, campaign development director for LLS. LLS is starting a new project called The Dare to Dream Project—a new phase for the Children’s Initiative. LLS recognizes kids are different, and their blood cancers must be treated differently, so they hope to change the standard of treatment and care for pediatric blood cancers. LLS has funded the first-ever pediatric AML Data Commons. This platform ensures consistency in global data reporting—and launched the first-ever acute leukemia LLS PedAL Master Clinical Trial, matching patients to treatment based on their cancer’s unique tumor biology. “Our dream is to help as many children as possible get treatment for their cancer. We’re daring to improve the quality of life for every child with blood cancer, daring to dream of them thriving. And we’re just getting started,” exclaims Gregory! Funding from Yardi helps support research, education, policy and advocacy. LLS is committed to providing information, resources and support to those affected by blood cancers. Offerings include: LLS Scholarship for Blood Cancer Survivors Financial Support Food and Nutrition LLS Podcast Support Groups Caregiver Support “We are so grateful for the amazing support we are receiving from Yardi,” says Gregory. “It will truly make a difference in the lives of our patients!” Making a Difference The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has made a tremendous difference in the community, and its advocates sent more than 33,900 letters to lawmakers in 2022. Nationwide, they have helped patients all over. In Minnesota, LLS led a coalition whose efforts resulted in a new state law making drug copays more affordable. In the Cleveland market just last year, LLS had 950 patients who received $9,190,000 financial assistance through the Co-Pay Assistance Program. After hundreds of meetings and thousands of letters from LLS advocates, congress passed the landmark Childhood Cancer STAR Reauthorization Act, which LLS helped write. The law expands opportunities for children’s cancer research, including survivorship research. Education and Services served 2,166 patient households in the Cleveland market. Some services are not accessible for some patients. However, LLS helped to make clinical trials more accessible. 66 patients in the state of Ohio received $33,000 in financial assistance through local travel assistance programs. LLS helped secure landmark policies enabling more patients—including underrepresented—to access treatments. Trial sponsors will now be accountable for diversity targets, and patients should have access to trial services closer to home. And in New York and California, LLS has generated momentum for a successful passage, ensuring millions have in-network access to top cancer centers. Thus ensuring robust provider networks. Volunteer Opportunities LLS always seeks volunteers for event days and the Light The Night event. If interested, please get in touch with [email protected]. Find future non-profit profiles...
AI Engineering
Can it end extinction?
The advancements in today’s technology are incredible. Biologists are now discovering AI-powered genetic engineering to de-extinct animals of the last Ice Age, from wooly mammoths to the Tasmanian tiger and even the return of the dodo bird. Let’s discuss how they are doing this and what simulations and optimizations will be used to make this all possible. Scientists and biologists are starting with the comeback of a wooly mammoth to help the endangered African elephants. These elephants have declined by nearly 90% in the past three decades. Poaching took more than 100,000 African elephants between 2010 and 2012. Using genome reconstruction optimization, AI algorithms optimize reconstructing extinct animal genomes from fragmented DNA. AI could assist in filling gaps, identifying suitable genetic material from related species and predicting genetic issues. An Asian elephant with wooly mammoth DNA would be more of a hybrid animal that looked and acted like a mammoth but shares DNA with the living species. Ecosystem integration simulations create AI-driven simulations that predict how reintroduced extinct species might influence food chains, habitats and biodiversity within their ecosystems. This could help guide decision-making on whether to proceed with de-extinction efforts. As far as genetic diversity is concerned, ethical and social implications are a part of the assessment. AI tools can gather and analyze public opinions, ethical concerns and potential social impacts of bringing back extinct animals, which will help scientists, biologists, and policymakers make informed decisions about de-extinction projects. For example, de-extinction research in Neanderthals could start a new chapter in the search for antibiotics and other valuable biomolecules, allowing scientists to harness AI and systematically explore long-extinct organisms to help us better understand life’s molecular diversity and sequence space. Genetic diversity enhancement uses AI algorithms to guide the selection of individuals for...
Alondra Valenzuela
Yardi Employee Profile
Yardi’s global offices make essential contributions to property management and investors worldwide. Today, meet Alondra Valenzuela, Yardi technical analyst from the Dallas office. Meeting Alondra Valenzuela Alondra Valenzuela has been at Yardi for just over two years. While each day differs from the previous, every day brings an exciting new challenge that requires her to think outside the box. From utilizing data to digging into other applications to locate the cause of a client’s deteriorating performance, Valenzuela assists with getting many clients access back into the systems. “I love the challenge of learning something new every day and having the opportunity to utilize new tools that I can bring to my team. I also love the occasional rush of adrenaline when getting a critical item thrown my way and having the opportunity to relieve our clients,” says Valenzuela. Valenzuela enjoys the openness of everyone she works beside. In her two years of working at Yardi, she’s never felt alone, and the willingness of everyone who helps brings great relief, knowing she is not alone and someone is always there to help get a solution to our clients. “Yardi is a place that will allow you to grow in whichever direction you feel best. There is such a wide range of opportunities to explore at Yardi that you can always find something new to learn and do,” Valenzuela said. Yardi is hiring globally! Interested prospective employees can explore opportunities on the Careers site. Climbing Mountains When Valenzuela is not working, she enjoys spending time in nature. When she cannot get to the mountains in Colorado, she enjoys health and fitness in other areas. She cycles through either the gym, muay Thai or rock climbing. “I like adrenaline-packed adventures, which is why I love dealing with high-pressure...
Dog Assist Association...
Animal Therapy in Cluj
In 2022, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will bring you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities. Let’s travel to Cluj-Napoca, Romania and introduce the Dog Assist Association, founded in 2013. This NGO works in human-animal interaction (HAI) in a unique center in Romania that offers multidisciplinary programs for the community, such as therapy, activities, education, research, and training in the field of HAI. Its life-changing team includes four psychologists, one physiotherapist, one veterinarian, six beloved therapy dogs and two alpacas. The center is also a permanent residence for several saved animals—one goat, four ducks, two chinchillas, three rabbits and two fish tanks. “We aim to enhance the quality of life of our beneficiaries through the understanding and use of animal-human interaction methods,” said Camelia Mosoia, Psychologist and program coordinator for the Dog Assist Association. Therapy dogs participate in therapeutical programs along with specialists such as psychologists and physical therapists who motivate their clients towards success. At Dog Assist, they promote respect, compassion and empathy for all living beings, integrating animals positively into the community’s life. “We fight with old mentalities, putting ourselves in the service of humans’ and animals’ wellbeing. We believe that the human–animal bond is unique, with therapeutical valences that offer unconditional love and support,” shared Mosoia. The Dog Assist works in four strategic work directions: Animal-assisted interventions: programs offered at various locations, such as schools or daycare centers for children with disabilities or deficiencies. Education for the community: workshops for future or present animal guardians on animal responsibility, animal rights and welfare. Along with events both locally and regionally with activities and awareness campaigns. Research on HAI in partnership with academic partners. Training new...
Mary Beth Snyder
Yardi Employee Profile
Yardi’s affordable housing compliance expertise got a big boost this summer. Mary Beth Snyder joined the team in a new role of Verification Services Industry Principal, and her work history is sure to make an impact. Prior to joining Yardi, Mary Beth spent eight years at Equifax® working in the government segment on eligibility verification for government benefit programs. Her duties included managing Equifax’s The Work Number® product, which verifies employment and income of households applying for government benefit programs such as housing assistance, child support, workforce agencies and unemployment insurance. That experience is particularly valuable as Mary Beth transitions to her leadership role on the Yardi Verification Services product team. Yardi Verification Services is an affordable housing compliance solution that verifies the income and assets of households seeking to qualify for a unit. Let’s get to know more about Mary Beth. Mary Beth, where do you call home? I live in Cape Girardeau, Missouri which is approximately two hours south of St. Louis. Beyond your work with Equifax, what is your history in the affordable housing industry? I’ve worked in affordable housing for years promoting the benefits of automating eligibility verification. I’ve been a member of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), and have presented during conference sessions as well as writing posts for the NAHRO blog. I’m thrilled with my new opportunity here at Yardi and look forward to continuing my advocacy for those needing housing assistance and the community of housing assistance providers. What benefits do the affordable housing providers you support bring to their communities? Affordable housing providers are critical to the growth and development of the community they serve. A decent and affordable place to live helps families and those who are disadvantaged by freeing them from physical and mental hardships, placing them on a path to success and growth for themselves and future generations. A quote that resonates with my thoughts comes from a sociologist named Matthew Desmond who said, “Housing is absolutely essential to human flourishing. Without stable shelter, it all falls apart”. Have affordable housing resources affected the lives of you or your family? Yes. My brother and sister-in-law are both learning disabled and receive social security disability insurance and other government benefit programs to help them live independently. They currently live in market rate housing with the support of a roommate, but in the future may need to seek out an affordable housing unit. Filling out government forms and getting documentation ready to submit to qualify for government benefits is often frustrating for them. Luckily, they have me to step in and help – not everyone has that kind of support. And I totally understand and share their frustration. I have similar trouble sometimes understanding what the various forms are requesting. What do you think could help simplify the process for affordable housing and other program applicants? My philosophy has always been don’t require applicants or tenants to provide documentation that can be easily found with automated data. Instead, programs should take the burden off those who are disadvantaged and use automated data to complete forms required for eligibility. Automating verifications would save agencies time and money while improving customer support and assistance. That sounds like a big process improvement. Is there a Yardi product that can help achieve that level of simplicity? Yes. Yardi Verification Services automates the way affordable housing providers and public housing authorities verify the income and assets of their applicants. What are the benefits of Yardi Verification Services? Eliminating the stack of forms to fill out is a win-win for both applicants, compliance specialists and site staff, because there are no more back-and-forth requests for information. That type of work takes so much time away from affordable housing and PHA staff and frustrates the applicant or tenant, so Yardi Verification Services really helps streamline the process. Up to 90% of income and...