Meet the Property Manager: Elizabeth Wood of Cushman & Wakefield
Facility and property managers work so hard each and every day to ensure the job gets done and we know it’s not easy. We think all facility and property managers deserve to be celebrated!
While commercial carpet cleaning is our expertise, we really care deeply about our clients. We love what we do because of who we get to work with. We’re excited to shine the spotlight on one of the great people we work with at DPM Care in the Nashville area!
Our Meet the Manager series continues with Elizabeth Wood. Elizabeth is a Senior Property Manager for Cushman & Wakefield in Nashville, TN.
Keep reading to learn more about Elizabeth and her experience as a property manager.
Meet Nashville Property Manager Elizabeth Wood of Cushman & Wakefield
What is your role at the company, under this title?
I manage the day to day operations of a 500,000 square feet multi-tenant Class A office building in the Cool Springs area. Additionally, I provide senior oversight to a five building corporate office park in Cool Springs.
How did you get involved with facility management?
I started my professional career in property management. My first job was as a Property Administrator for the above mentioned 500,000 square feet office building with Crescent Resources. I worked diligently to advance my career and have served in all of the administrative positions in Property Management.
How big is your facility?
501,959 square feet
What is the biggest challenge you face in your current role?
Multi-tasking. When you manage a multi-tenant office building there is always something going on that impacts one or more of your tenants. I have found that keeping open lines of communication with your employees, vendors, tenants, and owners leads to success. There is no such thing as over communicating in this field.
What is your best piece of advice to others in your role?
Build a great team. In my office, we work hard, but we have a sense of family and have fun. We take the time to spend 10-15 minutes in the morning talking about our day, what tasks need to get accomplished, how we can help each other, and we also share about our personal lives. If you are going to spend so much time at work, you need to love and trust the people you work with.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part about the job is that no two days are the same. There are always going to be different situations that arise when you work with people. I love the problem solving aspect, and coming to resolutions that please everyone.
What’s unique about your role with Cushman & Wakefield?
I office out of a secure building with 24/7 onsite security guards. If you do not have an access card you are not getting in. We have employees that work around the clock, and with the addition of technology and smart phones an after hours call or request isn’t unusual for anyone on our team.
Describe what a day in your role looks like.
A day in my role is always different. However, it always starts with an email or phone call. I typically check my phone before driving into the office. We have a brief team meeting each morning, and then I set out to complete the tasks of the day. I usually will have phone calls or emails with tenants, vendors, and owners. There is always a project or a report underway, so I am consistently managing due dates.
How does having a clean building help your business?
A clean building is one of my top priorities. It is one of the easiest ways to take care of your building. It directly impacts your tenant base, and a happy tenant will likely always stay.
How does preventative maintenance create value for you, or your business?
We use an electronic system to track our Preventative Maintenance program at the building. The program increases the useful life of equipment, but also helps us to budget and plan for necessary repairs and replacements. The planning helps to keep our tenants operating expenses under control, and manage our owner’s expectations for how we maintain their asset.
How has DPM Care’s service impacted your business?
DPM regularly performs work in our building. We work hand in hand each month to create the schedule and notify our tenant base. Their work is like no other. They consistently invest in learning the best ways to take care of your flooring. Their staff and equipment are top notch. I am always amazed at the results after their visits, and recommend them to all of our tenants.