With 24 years of service at First Service, I take pride in my achievements and the company’s role in supporting my career journey. Here’s a look into how my path with First Service began:

My roots were deeply embedded in a community-centric upbringing.  Born and raised in Panama City, Florida, my educational journey began and continued in my hometown, eventually leading me to Gulf Coast Community College. In 1987, I embarked on a transformative chapter of my life by moving to Virginia Beach, Virginia after marrying a Navy sailor.  This period marked the beginning of numerous challenges and opportunities for growth in my roles as a woman, mother, and employee.  After experiencing life in various states due to military-related relocations, my journey led me back to Panama City in 2000.  These experiences across different locations strengthened my resilience and adaptability. Read more

 

“In 1996, at the age of 27, I started working for Royal American Management, not fully grasping how this role would shape my career and personal growth for years to come.

My journey here started after working in the accounting department of a chain of convenience stores located in Panama City, FL — Sunshine Jr. stores. 

When I joined Royal American Management, the landscape was vastly different—way fewer sites, less technology, and everything was managed on paper.

I worked for Donna Brill at the time, and she trained me on Rent Manager software.  Before the internet and Microsoft era, we balanced accounts using a pegboard system, requiring a meticulous hands-on approach. Read more

 

“In honor of Women’s History Month, I’m proud to reflect on my journey with Royal American Management. I joined RAM with the hopes of improving the lives of residents in our community through educational opportunities.  Lakeside Towers partnered with the local adult community center to bring English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes of different levels and at different times of the day to our Hispanic residents with the desire to find a better paying job or climb the ladder of success at the place they were working. The program then expanded to provide citizenship preparation courses along with the cooperation of the local immigration office which provided staff visits to help with the application process.

The Miami-Dade library also got involved in our on-site program along the way with weekly visits by the mobile unit, guest speakers and lately, techno bus with all music and electronic material onboard for residents to receive instruction by a technology teacher who rides in the bus. Children and their families have been able to be tutored after school by high school volunteer students working in their required graduation hours and other adult volunteers.

It’s definitely a win-win for everyone in our community.

This holistic approach to community development, combining education, social engagement, and local partnerships, has truly been a gift to everyone involved.”