Getting to Know the Compliance Department

Jim Ricard: Compliance Editing

I am originally from Massachusetts. I moved to Florida in 1997. I still have a pretty bad accent, or so I’m told. I joined RAM in 2004 as a Maintenance Tech at Oak Hammock Apts. A couple of years later I became the Maintenance Supervisor. After approximately 6 years as the supervisor, I became the Assistant Manager. I remained in the Assistant Manager position for 4 years and was offered the Manager position at Mayfair Village. I stayed at Mayfair Village for approximately 2 years and was then offered the manager’s position back at Oak Hammock as the current manager was retiring. I went back to Oak Hammock for almost 1 year, when RAM sold the property. I stayed with RAM and moved back to Mayfair Village as the manager once again. I stayed there until December 2021 when I joined the Compliance Department.

Michelle Cripe: HUD/RD Admin Specialist

I have been with Royal American since 2013 when I started as a leasing consultant at Peachtree Commons in Pensacola, FL. Peachtree was a 218-unit, tax-credit property. I was promoted to Assistant Property Manager in 2015 and then ultimately transferred to Wind Meadow Apartments in 2016 as a Property Manager. Wind Meadow is a 46-unit, RD property in Gulf Breeze, FL. I learned everything I know about RD while working at Wind Meadow. After 6 successful years, I transferred once more in November 2021 to my current position with the Affordable Compliance Department. I am so grateful for all the opportunities that Royal American has given me to grow.

Wilmary Santiago – Compliance Auditing Specialist

I started my journey throughout the property management field with Royal American on February 2015, when I received the opportunity to occupy the position of a leasing consultant at Golden Oaks Apartments in Orlando, FL. Golden Oaks Apt is a 96-unit, tax credit / HOME property. In 2018 I was transferred to the TC Compliance Department getting a portfolio with 19 blended properties – 1833 units.  At that moment, I discovered that my passion for this field was growing every day, and as personal achievements, I have obtained various certifications and endorsements, such as Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP) – NAHB 2021, and the Certified Occupancy Specialist (COS) – NCHM 2020. After four successful years, I decided to try new adventures, but after eight months I realized that my passion, commitment, and knowledge obtained during my time with RAM were not comparable with no other, so now in 2022 I decided to return to my team at RAM – Compliance Department and hopefully for a long time.