Passion Meets Purpose: How TAA Volunteers are Making a Lasting Impact
Synopsis
Getting involved as a volunteer with the Texas Apartment Association (TAA) is an excellent way to discover your passion while positively contributing to the Texas rental housing industry. Volunteering not only benefits the association and its members but also provides personal and professional growth opportunities.
As part of TAA’s Volunteer Leadership Initiative, leaders can actively participate in various committees and work alongside other industry professionals. This engagement offers a platform to make a meaningful impact, share innovative ideas, and help shape the future of the TAA and the industry more broadly. As volunteers demonstrate their commitment by stepping into leadership roles, they also build valuable relationships, enhance their skills, and gain visibility within the association.
Recognizing the efforts of outstanding volunteers is a priority for TAA. The association’s tradition of highlighting MVP volunteers began in 2021 with the creation of Volunteer MVP awards to acknowledge members of the Board of Directors and committees who have gone above and beyond and demonstrated an “MVP” role during their board term.
Receiving an MVP award not only reflects your passion for the industry but also enhances your credibility and professional reputation. It’s a recognition of your hard work and leadership, and illustrates how you ultimately make a difference.
For the fourth consecutive year, TAA Executive Committee members and staff committee liaisons weighed in to nominate stellar volunteers who shined during their term at TAA. While each of these exceptional leaders has a unique volunteer story, they all share a passion for and commitment to our association and our industry. They also have a track record for leaning in, leading, and getting things done.
TAA President Kelley Liserio has chosen the following five members as TAA’s 2024 MVP Award recipients for their significant contributions, and were recently recognized at the Board of Directors meeting on September 20 in Austin, TX. Read on to learn about the newest cohort of TAA MVPs and get inspired!
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2024 TAA MVPs
Michelle Bridges | Century Air Conditioning Supply
Co-Chair of the TAA Education Committee’s Video Workgroup
Houston Apartment Association
Michelle Bridges is a longtime volunteer at the local, state and national apartment association levels and is one of those leaders who is always willing to help.
This year, with the reboot of the TAA Education Committee, Michelle’s expertise as co-chair of the committee’s Video Workgroup is helping TAA deliver a fresh take on education programming. Michelle’s contributions, along with Co-Chair AJ Tibbits, are shaping education offerings that will be part of TAA’s new Learning Management System launching this fall, and other new education offerings that members will see in the coming months.
Leah Christian | WeDoTrash
Chair, Texas Suppliers Council
Apartment Association of Greater Dallas
As chair of the newly renamed Texas Suppliers Council, Leah Christian, CAS has been instrumental in helping TAA implement significant change for the benefit of the association and its supplier partners.
According to TAA President Kelley Liserio, “Leah has been an amazing collaborator and has really helped TAA drive change as we implement our strategic plan. In particular, her partnership on our new statewide community service blood drive initiative and her leadership on the overhaul of TAA’s sponsorship program have been critical to our success this year.”
Mindy Price, CAS
Transformational Real Estate Investing
Chair, TAA Education Committee
Houston Apartment Association
This has been a big year for TAA’s Education Committee. After a hiatus and a strategic reboot, Mindy Price, CAS was selected as chair of this year’s committee and is the first supplier partner to serve in this capacity.
As a speaker and trainer, along with her previous experience as both an apartment association staff professional and tenure on the owner/manager side of the business, Mindy was the perfect choice to lead this year’s efforts. Her unique blend of experience has helped shape the committee’s contributions during a pivotal year, with the launch of TAA’s new Learning Management System later this fall.
Toni Rackley
Flooring Warehouse
Member, Texas Suppliers Council Local Association Outreach Workgroup
Apartment Association of Central Texas/Austin Apartment Association
Enthusiasm. Energy. Passion. These are all words that describe Toni Rackley and her outreach efforts on behalf of TAA’s Texas Suppliers Council this year.
Toni has never met a stranger, and she has stepped up in a big way to assist the Texas Suppliers Council in accomplishing its initiatives.
Whether the goal is promoting booth sales for TAA’s 2025 ONE Conference, reaching out to local associations about the role of supplier partners in their success or just welcoming new Board members, Toni embodies TAA’s hospitality culture and has been a tremendous ambassador for the association.
AJ Tibbitts
Cavalry Family Housing
Co-Chair, TAA Education Committee’s Video Workgroup
Apartment Association of Central Texas
AJ Tibbitts has brought a fresh perspective to her role as co-chair of the TAA Education Committee’s Video Workgroup. Along with her co-chair Michelle Bridges, AJ is helping TAA deliver education programming to meet the needs of its members.
As a newer volunteer for TAA and a participant in this year’s Leadership Lyceum Program, AJ has pushed the workgroup to consider different and diverse perspectives on industry education.
Personal Fulfillment Leads to Professional Recognition
Volunteering with TAA can lead to personal fulfillment, professional recognition, and even industry awards, all while contributing to a cause that aligns with your passion. Learn more about how you can kick start your journey by volunteering at your local association. Twenty-four local apartment associations around the state of Texas are affiliated with TAA. Find your local association today at https://www.taa.org/about/local/