List of Top Education Sessions at Boston NAA Conference Sheds Light on Industry Issues

Thanks for checking out my blog. I just discovered this blog posting by Maureen Lambe and wanted to share it with you. Of course, I am overjoyed that the Apartment All Stars made the top of the list. 10 years strong and loving it!! - Kate

David Letterman isn’t the only one with a Top 10 list. We have our own list here at the National Apartment Association Education Institute, and ours doesn’t include the “Top 10 Things You Don't Want To Hear At A Barbecue” or the “Top 10 Superhero Pet Peeves,” though we did like the one about people not understanding the difference between “tights” and “leotards.” No, our Top 10 list identifies the most highly attended sessions at last month’s NAA Education Conference and Exposition. (Yes, we do count, halfway through each session; after people have discovered that they are in the wrong session and leave.)

Before I unveil this year’s top conference sessions, let me share with you some of the feedback I have received about this year’s conference. In the past few weeks, I have talked to a lot of people. The ones who attended the conference cannot stop raving about it. They were overwhelmed – in a good way -- by the trade show and the opening party, where they had fun reconnecting with friends and making new ones. They also enjoyed the variety and the useful information of our education sessions. I couldn’t agree more.

Now, without further delay, take a look at the Top 10 Most Highly Attended Education Sessions at the 2012 NAA Education Conference and Exposition. Note that the number in the parentheses following each identifies the number of attendees.

Drum roll, please.

1. Apartment All Stars – Idea Factory 2012 (500)

2. Trends in Resident Technology & Communication Preferences – What Do Residents Want? (500)

3. Did I Just Say That Out Loud? – 468

4. Grass Roots Marketing at Its Finest - Riding Your Creative Edge (468)

5. Five Trends Changing the Face of the Multifamily Industry (468)

6. Improve Performance through Personal Accountability (400)

7. Law and Order — Fair Housing Implications for Criminal History Screening (325)

8. The Epidemic of Hoarding (302)

9. How To Own Your Busy...Stop Wasting Time Getting Productive! (300)

10. Put Your Best Facebook Forward – The Benefits, Dangers and Pitfalls of Social Media (270)

It’s a great list, but what does it say about those of us working in the industry? Obviously, many of us are worried about hoarding – whether among our residents or people we know. This list also tells us that we are all trying to stay ahead of the game. We want to hear what is working for others, how we might apply that to our own jobs and what is looming on the horizon. We see the importance of social media, and we are demanding more from ourselves in terms of improving our own job performance and how we interact with others.

It’s a good list. Hopefully, you’ll use it to come up with training programs at your company or your local apartment association. In the meantime, know that you can order the complete set of 20 video and 17 audio-synced PowerPoint recordings here. You will also access and view these sessions at this website. These are great resources to have unlimited access to, so I encourage you to take advantage of them.

Byline: Maureen Lambe, CAE-National Apartment Association Education Institute | Published: 7/31/2012 10:07 AM