2013 South Carolina SAHMA State Conference - Theme: Winning Team

Left to right: HUD Larry Knightner, George Caruso, SAHMA President, Sandra Wood, Director, Columbia Multifamily Program Center, Jamie Kerr, SAHMA SC State Director.

The Southeastern Affordable Housing Management Association (SAHMA - www.sahma.org/) recently held its annual state meeting in Columbia, South Carolina. More than 400 state members attended the event, which offered participants a host of educational and networking opportunities and provided a forum for recognizing outstanding achievements in the fields of management and maintenance. Staff from HUD's South Carolina Multifamily Program Center, South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority (www.schousing.com/) and Rural Development participated in the event.

Larry Knightner, HUD Director, Columbia Field Office, welcomed participants and commended SAHMA members, the HUD Multifamily Housing Division and the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority (Contract Administrator) for their outstanding contributions in helping the Department provide decent, safe, sanitary and affordable housing for the residents of South Carolina. Sandra Wood, Director, Columbia Multifamily Program Center, also gave welcoming remarks, thanking all for the teamwork among the players in South Carolina.

Following the welcome, SAHMA recognized individuals and organizations that demonstrated professional excellence in 2012. Glenda Fesperman, HUD Supervisory Project Manager-Asset Management recognized 71 properties and 32 management companies for achieving REAC physical inspection scores of 90 and above and certificates were presented by Larry Knightner and Sandra Wood.

The awards luncheon provided an opportunity for SAHMA to recognize the 2013 Drug Free Poster Contest Winners by category (grade). The winners were as follows:

• K-1: Anijah Dantzler, Irmo Village Apartments, Westminster Management Company, Mimi Richardson, Coordinator
• 2-3: Dalaun Pettigrew, Ashley Oaks Apartments, AMCS, Nick Geary, Coordinator; Overall Winner
• 4-6: Leonard Shelton, EME Of Conway, Southern Development Management Company, D. Katrina Reaves, Coordinator
• 7-9: Tyuana Johnson, Woodstream Apartments, Westminster Management Company, Mary Jean Johnson, Coordinator
• 10-12: Michael Peters, Greenville Arms Apartments, UAH Management, Larry Wilkins, Coordinator
• Elderly/Disabled or Special Needs: Teresa Chandler, Towers East Apartments, Lawler Woods LLC Management, Angela Satterfield, Coordinator.

Left to right: Dalaun Pettigrew, Age 8, Overall Winner of Drug Free Poster Contest with Cynthia Brown, Drug-Free Chairperson.

Several management companies partnered together to donate a laptop computer to Dalaun Pettigrew, the overall winner of the contest. She also received an award of $300 and a plaque; all other winners received $50 and a plaque. A total of 434 posters were submitted from 13 management companies and 50 properties.

In February, 2013, HUD began gathering "Success Stories" to share HUD activities on our social media. One of the first stories submitted by the Columbia HUD Office was about "Val", a resident of Creekside Apartments located in Clemson, SC, recommended by Pam Broome, Resident Service Coordinator with Westminster Company. Val was using the property's Neighborhood Network computers to check her son's school progress daily. Val McDowell, a single mother, had dropped out of school in 10th grade, had a serious heart condition and lacked self-confidence. She was accepted into the "Ripple of One" program in July 2011, received her GED with the highest score of 50 people, received needed dental work and began classes at Tri-County Technical College in August 2012. Her goal is to earn an Associate's Degree in Administrative Office Technology, with a current GPA of 3.0. She volunteers 10-15 hours per week in a medical office to earn practical experience and her projected graduation date is December, 2013. Val was recognized for her "Success Story" at the awards luncheon.

Conference educational opportunities included breakout sessions including Managing LIHTC Combo Properties, Income/Asset Calculations, EIV Challenges, Fair Housing Ideas, Bed Bug Biology and Identification, HVAC Systems, Rural Development, Mental Health Awareness, Hit a Home Run on your Next MOR, and Conflict Resolution.

The meeting featured a trade show with a host of vendors and suppliers ready to solve maintenance and management challenges. Keynote Speaker, Karyn Ruth White (www.sahma.org/storage/meetings/KRW%20Stresstips.pdf), got the crowd doubled over in laughter as she discussed "When Your Sense of Humor Goes South; Laughing Beyond Stress". The event ended with a Regulatory Q&A session with representatives from Rural Development, State Housing Finance and Development Authority and HUD, with closing remarks and door prizes.

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