NAA DE&I Awareness Week is Back!
It’s time once again for NAA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Awareness Week! This year, we have five full days of learning to help you grow as a DE&I advocate and policy leader, both in the workplace and your community.
Starting on Monday, October 21, each day will feature an expert-led session that builds on the previous day’s lessons. These webinars will explore key DE&I topics and provide strategies to support an inclusive environment in the rental housing industry. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to strengthen your skills and understanding in creating sustainable DE&I practices!
Webinar Schedule:
- Oct. 21, 2 p.m. – Convergence: Connecting DE&I and Mental Health
- Oct. 22, 2 p.m. – Don’t Talk About It, Be About It! Busting Performative DEI
- Oct. 23, 2 p.m. – Breaking Free: Overcoming Impostor Syndrome
- Oct. 24, 2 p.m. – Unfiltered: Executive Caregiving & the Work/Life Balance
- Oct. 25, 2 p.m. – Tough Talk: Keeping an Open Dialogue About DE&I
Make sure to tune in, take notes, and be part of the conversation as we continue to foster a culture of inclusion at Royal American Management and beyond. Let’s use this week to empower ourselves and each other to lead with purpose!
At Royal American, we are fortunate to have employees with tenure extending 20 years and beyond. Their knowledge and expertise are pivotal in the success and growth of our company all the while staying tied to the deep roots it was founded on. It is our honor to interview these amazing employees and hear their stories.
What position did you start out in at Royal American?
Community Manager
Tell us a little bit about your career journey with Royal American.
I was hired in July of 2004 as community Manager and then a short while later was made Area Manager over Brook Forest in Quitman, and Lakeside Villa in Hawkinsville. I honestly cannot remember the exact years I spent as an Area Manager, but I began serving overseas on medical mission trips using my vacation time as well as ministering on weekends at different churches. I gave up my area manager’s job to be able to have time to focus on ministry and serving overseas.
Share a favorite memory from your time with Royal American.
On February 14, 2008, at our annual meeting in Panama City, I was given a special award and acknowledgement from Frank Johnston and RAM for my serving in other countries and I am so thankful that at times RAM has also given to help sponsor my trips, as I have to raise the funds to serve on the trips. Frank allowed me to change from working Monday through Friday to working Monday through Thursday 10 hour days so I would be free to travel and preach and speak on weekends. I will be forever grateful.
Share some of your interests and hobbies outside of Royal American.
I love serving others! I have, since 2006, served all over the world doing medical camps. We go to very poor countries and give free medical, optical, dental care, medicines to those who cannot afford nor have access. I work the triage area getting patients ready for the doctors. I just got back from Chile where I served my first time for 5 days with an optical team where I fitted patients with readers. I have also served in Palestine several times doing a Vacation Bible school in Bethlehem at a Christian school. I am a minister, and I also fill in for churches without pastors, speak at Ladies retreats and meetings, whenever a door opens, I serve and speak. Since my first trip to India to serve in 2006 I have served in 29 countries, several of them two and four times each, for a total of 37 trips in 18 years. Hoping I will be able to serve for many, many more years!
What advice would you give to someone just getting started?
You can work hard and go as far as you would like in the company. I am thankful God led me to RAM as they have been a blessing to me. I love my Job, and I honestly cannot see myself retiring. I want to stay and work until I cannot.
Thank you, Cathy, for your hard work and dedication to Royal American over the past 20 years. We invite you to help us celebrate her 20 years in the comments! Thank you for sharing with us, Cathy!
Our Town Hall is taking place today at 1:00PM Central (2:00PM Eastern). This town hall will be hosted by the Training Department and will feature Susan Haselden, Director of Contracts, and the Contracting Department team. Susan and her team will discuss cure notices, terminations, and ethics in contracting. We hope you will join us today!
