Monica Areford, HCCP
Monica Areford is a senior property management executive with more than 25 years of experience leading large-scale, mission-driven housing portfolios across the Mid-Atlantic. Currently serving as Senior Vice President of Property Management at Columbus Property Management, a member of Mission First Housing Group, she oversees operations spanning D.C. through New Jersey and brings deep expertise in affordable housing, compliance, and organizational leadership. Over the course of her career, Monica has managed more than 100 properties and 12,000 affordable housing units, while successfully launching and stabilizing new management operations.
Monica is widely respected for her ability to balance operational excellence with a people-first approach. Beginning her career as a leasing agent in 1997, she advanced through regional and executive leadership roles by building strong systems, mentoring emerging leaders, and fostering resilient organizational cultures. Known for steady leadership in challenging moments, she notably guided teams through a corporate receivership while preserving jobs and maintaining resident care—an experience that reflects her calm, values-driven leadership style.
Deeply committed to community impact, Monica is passionate about advancing affordable housing and empowering youth. She is an active leader with the Young Marines, where she mentors and supports leadership development at both the unit and state-regiment levels. Grounded in resilience, empathy, and accountability, Monica thrives in mission-driven environments where she can combine strategic vision, operational rigor, and human connection to create lasting impact for people and communities alike.
• Housing Credit Certified Professional
• MMHA
• The Young Marines
• PMA
• VFW Auxiliary
• Church Involvement
• Young Marines
What do you attribute your success to?
The support from my husband, to allow me to put in the hours that I needed to put in was unquestionably the biggest impact. I also had great female mentors who led me along the way.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The importance of self care and work life balance. You have to lead by example and you never know who is watching and looking up to you.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I feel that as women, we tend to minimize ourselves in the professional world, and the one very simple piece of advice that I give to young women is take the word 'just' out of your vocabulary. 'I'm just reaching out.' 'I just wanted to know.' You have the right to ask the question. Remove the word just.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In my particular field of property management we deal in affordable housing. With the ever changing political climate funding sources can be an unknown. While funding and programs continue to be cut, the need for safe affordable housing for both families and seniors continues to grow. While it would be easy to say sorry that program is no longer available, we choose to find other ways to serve our residents so their quality of living does not change.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
A leader's greatest strength is not their title, but the people who choose to walk beside them. I believe my job is to mentor people and help them grow as leaders - that's my job. Don’t get me wrong, I have a lot of tasks I do to get paid. My job is to create leaders and mentor each person in the way they need to be mentored, because it's different for every person, so they can be successful and grow as a leader. As women, we've spent many years justifying our position and saying 'this is why we deserve to be here,' you don’t typically see that with men- they just walk into the room and take their seat. To any woman still wrestling with that inner critic, you deserve to be in every room you've worked to enter. You do not need to justify your knowledge, your voice, or your leadership. Take your seat at the table, then pull up a few more chairs for the women coming behind you.