Charlene Gardner
Charlene Resch-Gardner is a dedicated community manager with extensive experience in the manufactured housing industry, currently overseeing a 402-site park in Holland, Michigan. She manages all aspects of the property, including vendor relationships, infrastructure responsibilities such as water, sewer, and electrical systems, financial performance, and resident relations. In addition to her onsite responsibilities, Charlene serves as a mentor for new community managers, traveling across the country to train and support colleagues in managing properties effectively.
Charlene’s career in community management began five years ago after transitioning from administrative and assistant roles. She quickly learned the complexities of the industry, including fair housing regulations, property management, and emergency operations. Her hands-on approach has allowed her to successfully manage multiple communities, including challenging properties in Osseo and southern Rochester, Minnesota, where she focused on turning around operations while maintaining resident satisfaction. She takes pride in resolving long-standing resident issues and providing access to safe, well-maintained homes.
Educationally, Charlene was the first in her immediate family to graduate high school and earned an Associate of Arts and Sciences in Business Administration and Management with a concentration in Human Resources from Ivy Tech Community College Northeast. She also holds a human resources certificate and has a long-standing history of volunteerism, including over a decade with Junior Achievement. Charlene’s professional philosophy centers on practical, hands-on management, fostering positive relationships with residents and staff, and finding fulfillment in making life easier and more rewarding for those she serves.
• Human Resources Certificate
• Ivy Tech Community College Northeast- A.A.S.
• Minnesota Manufacturer Housing Association (former member)
• Junior Achievement USA
• Northrop's Instrumental Music Parent Association
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having great mentors, especially Tanya Wiebold, my regional manager from my first company. She was very instrumental in giving me the confidence to do what I was doing and letting me know that when you're new in the industry, mistakes happen, and even when you've been in the industry, mistakes happen. You just learn from them and keep moving, and she was always very encouraging. Tanya is probably the best boss I've ever had. I was also the first one in my immediate family to graduate high school, and I went back to college after 15 years to get my associate's degree in business management concentrated in human resources. But honestly, most of my education and success has come from just rolling up my sleeves and putting the work in. This industry has given me most of my knowledge about how to function in business, even more than what they teach you in college. I've always been the one that's learned from where I'm at, and I've definitely absorbed a lot because I love the job that I do.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received came from my regional manager, Tanya Wiebold: mistakes happen, whether you’re new or experienced, and the key is to learn from them and keep moving forward.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage them if it was something that fit their personality. It does take a person who can handle a lot of people yelling at you when you're a landlord, basically. But if it's within their personality, I would definitely encourage them because it's very gratifying. You're constantly learning, and it's always an ever-evolving industry. You get to meet all different people, and once you get into the status with the company like I've gotten in, if you want to do the traveling, you can do the traveling. There's a lot of benefits, and the promotion opportunities are there. You can go all the way up through this type of industry, not even just staying at community manager. You can go into the regionals. There's a lot of room for upward motion in this industry, and you can make a lot of money.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The biggest challenges in my field include navigating cultural and language barriers, addressing aging or unsafe housing, and coordinating vendor responses while maintaining both NOI and resident satisfaction. Opportunities lie in on-the-job learning, mentorship roles, professional mobility, and gaining broader exposure through travel and training assignments.