We are proud to celebrate the successful completion of our first Pathway to Career Development Maintenance program — a new initiative designed to support and advance the careers of our maintenance professionals.

Five dedicated team members from Central Florida participated in this inaugural session, and we’re thrilled to share that three of them have already been promoted as a result of their growth and hard work throughout the program!

Congratulations to our participants:
Jean Francois Lamond – Sunset Oaks
Landon Price – Holly Point (Promoted to Tech)
Benjamin Derricotte – Holly Point (Promoted to Supervisor)
Eric McCrimmon Jr. – Sunset Oaks
Carlos Jones – Gardenia Gardens (Promoted to Supervisor)

The final class was held at San Juan Apartments and facilitated by mentors Dave, Nic, and Francisco, who led engaging sessions packed with knowledge, hands-on skills, and leadership development. Our participants were enthusiastic, asking thoughtful questions, taking notes, and expressing how much they appreciated the opportunity.

As a token of recognition, each graduate received a tool bag with essential items provided by Chadwell Supply, who also generously sponsored lunch and took the time to speak with the class.

The event concluded with a special ceremony where mentors presented diplomas and shared reflections on the journey. Vanessa Erazo and Corey Brooks joined virtually to offer heartfelt congratulations and encouragement as our graduates take the next steps in their careers.

This program reflects Royal American’s commitment to investing in our team members and building pathways for growth from within. We are so proud of these five individuals and can’t wait to see what they achieve next!

Royal American Management is proud to announce the launch of the Pathway to Leadership Excellence Program, beginning March 24, 2025. Designed exclusively for Royal American employees, this comprehensive leadership development initiative provides a structured, multi-phase approach to building essential leadership skills, fostering mentorship, and driving career growth.

About the Program

Powered by Royal American University in collaboration with the ACE Committee, the Pathway to Leadership Excellence program is designed to equip employees with critical leadership competencies through:

• DiSC Assessment & Leadership Workshops – Enhancing self-awareness and leadership style adaptability.
• Online Learning & Leadership Development Courses – Interactive training which will be completed within Grace Hill. Training courses were provided courtesy of a new partnership with Open Sesame Elearning Marketplace.
• Mentorship & Career Development Guidance – One-on-one mentorship with senior leaders.
• Workshops on Emotional Intelligence & KPIs of keeping talent – Hands-on sessions to strengthen decision-making and performance.

Why This Matters

At Royal American, we believe in investing in our people—because strong leadership fuels success. This program will empower participants to hone their leadership skills, expand their professional network, and create a meaningful impact within their teams.

Congratulations to the twenty employees that will pilot this program over the next 12 months. This program will be available in the future to current and aspiring leaders within our organization. We are excited to embark on this journey with you… Let’s lead the way together!

Last Wednesday marked an exciting milestone as we kicked off Day One Orientation for Pathway to Career Development (PCD), our inaugural professional development program, at the Orlando office. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., participants joined us to learn about the journey ahead and connect with their mentors, who will guide them throughout the program.

Lori Agudo, Director of Training & Talent Development, had the pleasure of opening the session, sharing an overview of the PCD program, and setting expectations for the months to come. Following this introduction, each participant was paired with one of our dedicated program mentors: Dave Kennedy, VP of Maintenance, Nic Price, Senior Regional Maintenance Specialist, and Francisco Santos, Regional Maintenance Specialist. To help our mentors and mentees lead with purpose, Sonya Knight, Director of Resident Services and Vanessa Erazo, Regional Manager (Miami office) conducted a mentorship training session, equipping them with the tools to support and inspire each other.

Kim Maggard, Executive Vice President, also shared words of wisdom and encouragement, motivating our participants to embrace the learning journey ahead. Lunch, generously sponsored by The Liberty Group, gave everyone an opportunity to relax, connect, and build camaraderie as a group.

Congratulations to our program participants: Jean Francois at Sunset Oaks, Eric McCrimmon Jr. at Sunset Oaks, Carlos Jones with Gardenia Gardens, Benjamin Derricotte at Holly Point, and Landon Price at Holly Point.

With eager participants and a supportive team of mentors, we are thrilled to launch this new program and see our employees develop their skills, achieve their goals, and grow with our organization. We are also looking forward to extending this program to other areas and positions in the future. This is just the beginning of a meaningful journey in career development, and we look forward to all the growth and success to come!