Josephine McCrary

One of my most successful achievements is being able to juggle my current career path with also being a full-time mom to a three-year-old. For me, it is very challenging because three-year-olds are just a handful, and my industry, property management alone, is very hands-on, full-time, around the clock. Being able to balance both of those, to me, is a huge achievement, and just where I have landed in my career path. I started in this industry very young without really having a career path in mind - I was just kind of seeing where I fit in and what I was good at at the time. I really took to helping residents, helping my community, finding resources for everyone, and just being that middle person for my residents and their everyday lives. The company recognized my efforts and the impact that I had and my skills, which led to multiple promotions throughout my career.

I've had two extremely influential mentors throughout my career who shaped my journey. When I started with Lakeshore as an Assistant Community Manager, my community manager, Anel Marshall, was such a breath of fresh air. She was such a positive person who helped me and taught me everything that I know. She had a huge impact on my life when I was younger and helped keep me going - she was just such a positive person in my life, and she still is to this day. Then there's Everett Vance, who has his own company and does a lot within the communities in Florida - he's in real estate, he's my landscaping vendor, he's a little bit of everything. He has put me in positions where I have been able to network more and meet other people in our industry, and just kind of grow my relationships. He has just been an amazing mentor to me.

I would tell them, keep going. Keep trucking and overcome everything that is just in your path that is there to stop you. You're capable, you can do it. I would just say to keep going and not let those shortcomings stop you, and break your faith on it, because there's people out there that we make an impact on.

As a regional manager, we are kind of the dumping zone - we're just that middle man. We take all the dumping from the executive team and the owners of the company, but then we also have to make sure that we are protecting our team at the same time. A challenge that I face is just being able to be that person in between that makes sure that everything runs smoothly for both sides of the team - being that liaison between the two, making sure that you're keeping the owners happy, but still making sure you're doing the right thing for your managers on the ground. In my industry, we have that opportunity more so than a lot of others, because we are dealing with people's homes, and where they live, and this is their life. Wherever I can help just relieve a little bit of something for anybody is really where I'm always geared towards - how can I help you, what can I do, just so that's one less thing that you are worrying about.

Family is everything to me. As I have gotten older, and since I've had a kid, our time here is limited, and it's important for me to spend time with my family and my friends that I consider family. I don't have necessarily really any hobbies, but anything that I can do outdoors or with the people I love, that is just where you'll find me. In my work, I really took to helping residents, helping my community, finding resources for everyone, and just being that middle person for my residents and their everyday lives. I was able to be a positive, impactful person with the company and in residents' lives. I've been involved in volunteer work and donations with Metropolitan Ministries, especially around the holidays, and I help with Hopes of Love, where we get food donations, clothing donations, hygiene products and disperse that to our residents in the communities. Wherever I can help just relieve a little bit of something for anybody is really where I'm always geared towards - I'm always looking to how can I help you, what can I do, just so that's one less thing that you are worrying about.