Asset Living Executive Vice President of Multi-Family Operations, Bonnie Smetzer, recently was awarded the first-ever Advocate of the Year Award at the Golden Key Awards in Orlando, Florida, by AAGO (Apartment Association of Greater Orlando). Smetzer was recognized for her work advocating on behalf of the apartment industry at the local, state, and national levels. AAGO represents all segments of the multifamily industry in central Florida, including apartment communities, owners and management companies, multifamily developers, investors, suppliers of products and services, and the thousands of individuals that work within the multifamily industry. In this blog, Bonnie Smetzer shares what this award win means to her and what she is looking forward to in 2023.
What does winning this award mean to you?
“I am deeply honored to receive the first ever Advocate of the Year award given by AAGO (Apartment Association of Greater Orlando). Years ago, when I was first learning how to be an effective advocate for the apartment industry, it was the AAGO group that I learned from. I try to give back to the apartment industry by helping others understand how to be an advocate for our industry.”
Can you share a few examples of your advocacy over the past year?
“Over the last year, I have advocated at the local, state, and national level, talking to elected officials about how building more apartments will help increase supply and stabilize rents. At Asset Living, we believe everyone deserves a place to call home and the best way to make that happen is to build more apartments to house our increasing population.”
What are you most looking forward to in 2023?
“Helping lawmakers understand that rent control negatively impacts and restricts apartment development and the best way to increase supply and lower rents is to put in an expedited approval process to bring more apartments to market. I will be asking for support of the “Yes in My Back Yard” initiative. Many times, new apartments, especially affordable apartments, are not approved at the local level, because voters and lawmakers want only single-family homes in their back yard.”
For more background on Asset Living, visit our about page or learn more about available career opportunities by visiting Asset Living’s careers page.
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