Newport Beach and Brea Apartment Communities Win Top Honors at the 12th Annual GEMM Awards

Anaheim, CA, March 28, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Promontory Point in Newport Beach was one of four multi-family projects to earn the prestigious “Community of the Year” honors Thursday night at the California Apartment Association South Coast’s 12th annual Greater Excellence in Management and Maintenance (GEMM) awards.

Promontory Point, a project of Irvine Company Apartment Communities, earned the top award in the category of projects with 300 or more units that are up to 20 years old. For projects of the same size that are more than 20 years old, the winner was Raintree, Western National Property Management’s property in Brea.

Two other apartment projects earned the prestigious “Community of the Year” honors: Emerald Court in Lake Forest, Western National Property Management (up to 300 units, up to 20 years old); and Mariner Square in Newport Beach, Irvine Company Apartment Communities (up to 300 units, more than 20 years old).

Hosted by CAA South Coast, more than 1,200 multifamily executives, industry vendors, elected officials - including California Assemblymen Jim Silva, Don Wagner and Chris Norby - and community leaders gathered at the Hilton Anaheim to honor the industry’s top projects and professionals. The emcee was award-winning Fox 11 News anchor Christine Devine.

“Every year, it’s an honor to shine the spotlight on the many stellar professionals in the property management field who excel at achieving that important goal of added to the quality of life for all apartment residents in our region,” said Judith Legan, Executive Director of CAA South Coast..

“It’s also a privilege to bestow awards on the numerous excellent apartment communities that make Orange County, Long Beach and Signal Hill truly special places to live,” she added.

The association also presented a $5,000 check to the Orange County United Way, and honored the event’s platinum sponsors, OUT-FIT and Generations Construction.

The other top awards:

Affordable Community of the Year
Western National Property Management, Seasons Senior Apartments, San Juan Capistrano

Senior Housing Community of the Year
Western National Property Management, Heritage Park, Ladera Ranch

Repositioned Property of the Year -- Over 15 Years Old
AvalonBay Communities Inc., Avalon at South Coast, Costa Mesa

The event’s platinum sponsors were Out Fit and General Construction.

The rest of the winners:

Regional Manager of the Year
Michelle Arch, AvalonBay Communities Inc.

Community Manager of the Year
16-199 Units
Andrea Olson - AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

200-299 Units
Scott Frick - Irvine Company Apartment Communities

300-399 Units
Ashley Roe - Irvine Company Apartment Communities

400+ Units
David Trow - Irvine Company Apartment Communities

Education/Training Department of the Year
Sequoia Equities

Marketing/Advertising Department of the Year
Sequoia Equities

Industry Partner Company of the Year (tie)
Cox
Brook Furniture Rental

Industry Partner Individual of the Year
Deborah Glenny -- Cox

Assistant Manager of the Year
16-199 Units
Genaro Luna -- AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

200-299 Units
Craig Failla -- AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

300-399 Units
Kellie Casey -- Western National Property Management

400+ Units
Christina Kim -- Irvine Company Apartment Communities

Administrator/Bookkeeper of the Year (tie)
John Slanker -- Irvine Company Apartment Communities
Nicole Weiner – Irvine Company Apartment Communities

Leasing Professional of the Year
16-199 Units
Mike Esteban -- Archstone

200-299 Units
Shaun Payton -- Camden Properties

300-399 Units
Nina Martinez -- SARES-REGIS Group

400-599 Units
Amanda Smith -- Western National Property Management

600+ Units (tie)
Elle Farmand -- Irvine Company Apartment Communities
Stephanie Serwe -- Irvine Company Apartment Communities

Maintenance Supervisor of the Year
16-199 Units
Magdaleno Ocegueda – Archstone

200-299 Units
Joey Aguilar -- Arnel Management Company

300-399 Units
Michael Joseph -- AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

400+ Units
Brian Pike -- Camden Properties

Maintenance Technician of the Year
16-199 Units
Jorge Rios -- Western National Property Management

200-299 Units
Art Duarte -- Far West Management Co.

300-399 Units
Tyler Gay -- BRE Properties, Inc.

400+ Units
Edgard Marquez -- Gerson Bakar & Associates

Porter/Housekeeper of the Year
16-299 Units
Lorenzo Manzo -- Irvine Company Apartment Communities

300-399 Units
Ismael Vargas -- Irvine Company Apartment Communities

400+ Units
Luis Flores -- Western National Property Management

Recreation/Activities Director of the Year
Carrie Anderson-Riela – Irvine Company Apartment Communities
CAA South Coast represents rental housing owners and managers throughout Orange County, Long Beach and Signal Hill. Its membership owns and operates more than 105,000 rental homes. For more information about the CAA South Coast, please call (949) 955-3695 or visit www.caanet.org.