 |
 |
Members Login | Join |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Board Members Rental Owners Association, Lane County is a non-profit association that is managed by members who volunteer their time and expertise to serve on the board of directors to address matters important to the association and its members. Board members are confirmed by the general membership for two year terms. The board elects officers from within its group. Current Officers and Board Members John Tronrud - Past President Mitch Allen Biographies of current officers and board members are provided below. Individual board members may be reached by telephone or email through the ROA office. Board Member Biographies Property Management Instructor
Jim Straub – Vice President Jim Straub is a native Oregonian and third generation investment property owner/landlord in the Eugene/Springfield area. He presently manages 48 houses and a few duplexes. While completing his studies at the UO in the early 1990's, Jim and his two older sisters started a real-estate investment company. They would purchase fixers, do all the work on them themselves and then keep them as rentals. Jim would usually live in them while the work was being performed. After graduation, Jim was surprised that he was not able to find any jobs locally in his field of study: physical anthropology. He considered moving to a larger city but felt that he had a good thing going with the rental properties and was hesitant to give them up. He worked for a year as a carpenter foreman on the construction of the Hyundai computer chip factory in west Eugene, then close to another year working on the construction of the HMT hard drive factory also in west Eugene. After the stint in commercial construction Jim ventured back in to residential construction where he had worked several summers framing houses in Bend during college. Crossing his fingers, he borrowed money to the hilt and bought a couple of lots in NW Eugene. Jim did his own excavation, foundations, framing, interior finish and landscaping. Luckily they sold and Jim did the same thing a few more times until he could afford to start hiring out the framing and interior finish. This process worked great for a number of years until Jim’s father decided, after being a landlord for 30 some years, that he was ready to retire from that line of work and asked if it was something that Jim would be interested in pursuing. Feeling a bit skeptical that the new housing market could keep booming forever and seeing investment property as a more stable career, Jim said yes to his father’s question. Jim still builds occasionally but only to keep for a rental. He presently manages only his rentals and those of his family, priding himself on doing 100% of the maintenance (carpet and drapery cleaning excluded). Being involved with the ROA has proved to be an invaluable learning experience for Jim, providing a great venue for networking and career growth.
Patrick R. Costello – Treasurer Costello bought his first investment property in St. Louis in 1980, and with his current business partner, Norton Cabell, now owns and manages 42 apartment units in Eugene. He has served as a Director and the Treasurer of the Rental Owners Association (ROA) since 2000. He is a Vice President of Business Lending at SELCO Community Credit Union, and is actively involved in the financing of real estate including rental properties from 1 to 100+ units as well as commercial and industrial properties. He represents the ROA at Eugene Chamber of Commerce events and has been active with Eugene Springfield Commercial Brokers. With an MBA in Accounting & Finance from the University of Chicago, he spent twenty years in the retail and commercial lending sides of banking before leaving to start two retail stores in Eugene and Medford and rediscovering that rental ownership and management is a much better business opportunity. “I am pleased and proud to be associated with the ROA. It is a terrific organization that helps new as well as experienced landlords to do a better job, resulting in more satisfied tenants and higher returns. ROA provides the opportunity for networking with other landlords, regular training seminars, monthly meetings with topical speakers, forms and law books that are regularly updated based on Oregon law changes, and a helpline to deal with the urgent and most difficult questions. And it is a bargain to boot; annual dues are often less than a half hour billing from many lawyers”.
Dennis Chappa currently serves as Secreatary for ROA of Lane County. He also represents ROA of Lane County as a delegate to the state association (ORHA). He serves on the board of directors of ORHA, assuming the office of President effective in June of 2006. He and his wife have been landlords for over 20 years, becoming members of ROA of Lane County shortly after they moved to Eugene, 11 years ago. Dennis was “talked into” joining the board about 5 years ago. His board service has turned out to be a great educational experience and he feels that he gets back as much as he contributes.
Mitch Allen is St. Vincent de Paul’s State Licensed Property Manager. Since 2001, Mitch has overseen the management of over 500 affordable housing units (apartment complexes, single-family homes and duplexes). Buildings range from a five-story geothermal heated building in downtown Eugene to a manufacture home park. He received a BS in Business Management from Linfield College. Prior to his work in property management, he spent the last seven years of his forestry career as Land Use Forester for Weyerhaeuser. He has over 30 years experience in the forest industry. During the time his daughters were involved in Boys and Girls Campfire, he became an active camp volunteer. He later served three terms as President of the Walini Council and received the highest Campfire Volunteer Award for his service to community. For the past 18 years, Mitch continued his volunteer work through Rotary International in various District-wide leadership roles including the Rotary Duck Race. As a United Way Loan Executive, he assisted the United Way in fundraising activities to assist local families and individuals. Mitch enjoys his work and looks forward to the new construction of St. Vincent’s five-story high-rise in downtown Springfield.
Bev Bjurling, Section 8 Supervisor, started life as a stubborn Missouri mule before being transplanted to Lane County at the age of 11. Much of the stubbornness remains, but Oregon has captured her devotion, even though she is a lonely Beaver in Duck country. Prior to her 19 years of employment with the Housing and Community Services Agency of Lane County (HACSA), she spent many years in various government funded positions where a degree in English and graduate work in counseling were considered an asset. After a variety of jobs finding training and employment for welfare recipients, parolees and probationers, and other low-income folks, she spent several years working in and eventually managing private rehabilitation counseling offices for worker's compensation clients. Needing a break from intensive one-on-one counseling, she was fortunate enough to be hired by HACSA, where she has had the joy of providing housing subsidies to thousands of local residents who qualify for Section 8 assistance and the delight of working with landlords who are willing to jump through the regulatory hoops to help the homeless. No one who sees her office would have to ask, "What's your sign?". She is definitely an organized, neat-freak Virgo with the desire to have life be fair to everyone. Any moments of spare time are spent in the company of fictional fantasy, science fiction and mystery characters in lands near and very, very far away. As a former percussionist, music with a good, strong beat is a delight. Having divested themselves of the hard work of raising farm animals, she and her husband of nearly 35 years enjoy quiet time together in their country home on the all-too-rare occasions when his work allows him to be in Oregon.
Dennis Cassidy got an early interest in residential income property because his parents and a couple of rentals which he helped clean, paint and panel. In 1972, while attending the University of Oregon and still living at home, he purchased his first two rentals. Upon graduation in 1973, Dennis moved into one of them and purchased another that fall. Borrowing his down payment from the credit union, he always had more than one mortgage payment. Dennis joined Rental Owners Association in the early 1980s and has been a board member since about 1985. For 10 years he put together the newsletter on his living room floor, cutting and pasting articles and advertising, until the ROA office opened in 1998. Dennis has been a truck driver since 1999, working for a national freight company while managing his rentals in his “spare” time.
Devin Gates is a native to Eureka, California having moved to the greater Eugene/Springfield area in 1999. A couple months later, he purchased his first duplex immediately throwing himself into the world of landlord ship. After several years of work, Devin transformed a formerly rundown property into a premium quality rental. Like many landlords, it took an experience with a progressively worsening tenant for Devin to become involved with ROA. Shortly after joining ROA he began duties on the board with the purpose of rental management education, further involvement in the rental market scene, and the possibility of being part of the legislative process at the city/county/state levels. Devin is currently an electrician also taking classes in the evenings after work. Hobbies include swimming, biking, and most ironically building, fixing, and designing.
Heather Hannah was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon. She went to college in Seattle,
Washington and came back to live in Eugene because she loves the people and the city. Heather owns Preferred Northwest Property Management and currently manages about 75 units for a variety of owners. She is also licensed Real Estate Broker with Preferred Northwest Realty.
Ed Johnson has owned a duplex in Corvallis since 1975. He realizes that being a member of the Rental Owners Association is critical to being a profitable and knowledgeable landlord. The ROA forms, seminars, speakers at the monthly meetings and networking with other ROA members is invaluable. Ed joined the ROA Board in December 2006. Ed Johnson grew up in Michigan and moved west to attend law school at Willamette University in Salem. After graduating from law school he practiced law in Corvallis with an emphasis on criminal defense, workers compensation and family law. Ed then followed his interest in labor relations by taking a job in labor relations at Teledyne Wah Chang. He subsequently worked in human resource management at WTD Industries, American Cemwood and most recently for eight years with Franz Bakery (William’s Bakery). Ed’s other interests include participation in Cascade Toastmasters (public speaking) and gardening (dahlias, iris and raspberries).
Darrell Naro is a seasoned 20 year veteran as self employed Insurance and Financial Services Professional. He has provided expert assistance to countless individuals, families, businesses, and associations with products and services to accomplish their strategic plans throughout Oregon and Washington. His professional career has been built on excellent organization and administration skills with experience aimed at high customer service. Believing that a hands-on approach to management has brought him to a place of achieving significant year-on-year sales targets and growth. In 2000 Darrell and his wife Judy added to their portfolio of products and services Pre-Paid Legal Service Plans and Identity Theft Shield, adding strength to the business and to those who take advantage of the products to round out their personal family, business, employee benefit package protection. Having a strong desire to diversify, He and his wife Judy launched their Real Estate Division in 2000 with the sole purpose of educating and investing in Real Estate Property. With acquired holdings of 3 properties in Lane County in just over 29 months they continue to seek knowledge and understanding as it would pertain to the real estate market and investment timing.
KEY SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS
COMMUNITY INVOLVMENT
Born in Eugene, Oregon and raised in Oakridge, Darrell met his wife Judy, in Corvallis. They have been married for 31 years and gave their 25 year old daughter Dezerae, away in marriage on September 23, 2006. The Naro family lived and operated a recreational business in San Francisco, CA for 12 years before returning to Oakridge and Eugene Oregon to raise their daughter.
Scott Smith began actively managing residential rental property in 1996. He works from a home office on-site in a subdivision of 44 of the 70 total units that he manages. He is involved in all facets of property management: showing, screening of applications, bookkeeping, and all phases of maintenance. Scott handles all tenancy issues including the occasional court eviction. “I find property management to be an interesting business because, on the one hand, we must keep tenants in compliance with the minimum standards (pay rent, get along with neighbors, take reasonable care of home), but ewe ar also effectively closing a sale every month that the resident chooses to stay instead of giving notice to move. There is an on-going element of salesmanship of the property and my service. I enjoy the fact that I am directly assisting people by providing a basic need of shelter, and I take pride in offering good service for well kept properties. I also strive to have the highest rents in the neighborhood, because it is a challenge to me to provide a nicer, cleaner home and better service than my competitors. I have also found that upper-scale rents typically go hand in hand with responsible, quality residents. Further, the value of the property I manage is increased through higher rental rates.” Scott is very active in the hobby of collecting and enjoying early heavy diesel trucks from the 1940s and 50s. He is on the board of the Pacific Northwest Truck Museum in Brooks, Oregon and is regional vice president for Oregon of the American Truck Historical Society. Scott feels that everyone benefits when landlords and property managers are well informed and practicing in accordance with the law and the standards of our industry. He has gained much useful knowledge and many valuable connections through the Rental Owner’s Association for Lane County and hopes that others can benefit as he has from association with this group. Feel free to contact Scott with any questions or ideas. Phone 541-484-6844, email: thatdarnscott@yahoo.com
Michael Steffen became a member of the ROA after purchasing his first rental property in 2003 and joined the board of directors shortly thereafter. Steffen has worked at a variety of positions in general manufacturing, from shop floor to engineering to management, and briefly assisted in the management of an online bookstore. He founded and operated a software development, distribution and consulting company in Minneapolis MN for 12 years, providing software support to a variety of manufacturing, distribution and retail companies’ nationwide. With a business degree from the University of Minnesota, Steffen also provided accounting, bookkeeping and business support services as part of his general consulting services. He has also served on the board of various small non profit organizations. For the past 8 years, he has operated a software consulting business in downtown Eugene. Steffen finds his association with Rental Owners Association to be a valuable tool for keeping abreast of the rules and regulations associated with managing rental properties. “Before my involvement with ROA, I had no idea of the potential pitfalls associated with owning rental properties. The education I have received concerning the rights of tenants and the obligations of landlords is exceptional and the advice from members is invaluable. I can only imagine the difficulties I might have encountered had I chosen to manage my properties myself without the assistance provided by the ROA. I look forward to my continued association with the organization.”
|
|
about us | news & events | affiliates | classified ads | links | contact us | back home Rental Owners Association Lane County Oregon |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |