Dear ROA Members,

As we begin a new year, I want to take a moment to reflect on where we are as an organization, where we are headed, and to recognize someone who has helped guide ROA through much of its journey.

I want to offer my sincere thanks to Dennis Cassidy. Dennis has served ROA with exceptional dedication, sound judgment, and a deep sense of responsibility to the organization. Over many years, he has witnessed ROA grow, adapt, and mature, and his perspective, shaped by that long view, consistently brought clarity and balance to board discussions. His contributions were measured, thoughtful, and substantive, and his steady presence helped ensure that decisions were made with care, foresight, and respect for the mission of this association.

Dennis joined the Rental Owners Association shortly after its founding in 1975 and has been a board member since 1985. For ten years, he put together the monthly newsletter on his living room floor, cutting and pasting articles and advertising, until the ROA office opened in 1998. In 2018 Dennis was granted a Lifetime Membership, an honor that appropriately recognized his long-standing commitment and service. As he now steps away from board service, I want to formally acknowledge the value of his leadership, counsel, and willingness to serve. ROA is stronger because of the time and thought he invested, and we are grateful for the role he played in shaping the organization we are today.

Looking ahead, the theme for this year is Fresh Start.

For many of us, that begins with tax season and financial cleanup. But a true fresh start is not about closing last year’s books. It is about deciding how intentionally we are going to operate going forward, especially in an environment shaped by inflation, legislative pressure, and economic uncertainty.

Despite these challenges, ROA continues to grow. Membership is increasing, engagement remains strong, and our community continues to attract owners and professionals who want to operate at a higher level. That growth does not happen by accident.

As we move into 2026, I want to share three hard earned truths that separate landlords who remain stuck from those who build lasting momentum.

First, many landlords remain emotionally attached to underperforming properties, and it quietly erodes long term wealth. Holding a property simply because it has been owned for years is not a strategy. Capital does not reward sentiment. A fresh start requires the discipline to evaluate each asset as if it were being purchased today, and the resolve to act when it no longer earns its place in the portfolio.

Second, most operational chaos is self-inflicted. Owners often believe they have tenant problems or maintenance problems, when the real issue is unclear decision making. When standards, thresholds, and consequences are vague, everything becomes urgent and personal. The most effective landlords remove discretion from routine issues and reserve judgment for strategic decisions. That is how true agility is created.

Third, many landlords struggle not because rents are too low or expenses are too high, but because they manage backward. They respond to legislation after it passes, adjust rents only after margins disappear, and review financials only when something goes wrong. Strong operators plan forward. They assume pressure is coming and position themselves well before it arrives.

These ideas are not comfortable, but they are durable. Applied consistently, they change outcomes.

Finally, I want to ask for your help. If ROA has been valuable to you, please tell a friend. That friend may be a fellow landlord looking for education and community, or an industry partner seeking meaningful exposure and connection. Strong organizations grow through relationships, and the right people make us stronger. 

Thank you for your continued involvement, your trust, and your commitment to ROA. I look forward to the year ahead and to building it together.

Sincerely,

Dan Gandee
President & Your Friend
The Rental Owners Association