I recently had the honor of being voted in as your new Lane County Rental Owners Association (ROA) President. It’s a privilege I don’t take lightly. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and share my vision for the months ahead.

I live in Springfield with my amazing wife, Katherine, and our two boys, Ryder and Camden. My business partner and I operate several real estate-related companies, including a holding company for buy-and-hold rentals, a property development firm, and a high-performing real estate team—The Operative Group—where I serve as Principal Broker. Over the past five years, we’ve closed more than $100M in real estate transactions right here in Lane County, supporting dozens of landlords through 1031 exchanges, portfolio liquidations, and first-time acquisitions. Most recently, The Wall Street Journal and RealTrends ranked us the #6 team in Oregon for sides and #7 for volume. In addition, I serve as a local real estate consultant and provide my insights, asset management, and creative strategies to running profitable rental properties.

What I bring to this role is more than industry experience—it's a relentless commitment to advocacy. I’ve testified on a wide range of legislation that directly impacts housing providers like us and have worked at both the state and federal level to fight for common-sense landlord protections. I’m stepping into this role with deep respect for the leadership that came before me, especially Tia, whose decade of service laid the foundation we stand on. She will continue to be an essential part of this organization, and we owe her immense gratitude.

Our theme this month is “Evolving as Landlords to Serve the Community While Providing a Profit-First Model.” It’s not about charity—it’s about clarity. Landlords are not villains. We are housing providers, asset managers, and community stakeholders. A profit-first mindset doesn’t mean tenant needs come second—it means we run sustainable, well-managed properties that allow us to reinvest in safer homes, better amenities, and higher standards of service. The stronger your investment, the stronger our housing market becomes.

That evolution starts with education and accountability. Are you building systems? Tracking performance? Vetting tenants thoroughly while staying compliant? Have you reviewed your leases to reflect today’s legal realities—or are you still using last year’s templates? These daily decisions move us from passive ownership to professional management. My mission is to provide you with more tools, sharper training, and the resources needed to thrive—not just survive—in this evolving landscape.

I look forward to growing with you, advocating for you, and helping lead this association into a future where landlords are not only respected, but essential. The Lane County ROA exists because of its members, and I thank you for the trust you’ve placed in me to represent our shared mission. Let’s continue to evolve—and let’s do it together.

Daniel Gandee
President, Lane County Rental Owners Association
Principal Broker | The Operative Group