When Michelle Jenson joined Scottsdale, Arizona-based multifamily developer and manager P.B. Bell as its new chief property officer in October, she was pleased to find that the average length of tenure in the corporate office was 10 years. In an industry where employee turnover is higher than average, that is no small feat. 

Coming to P.B. Bell with 23 years of experience from positions at Greystar and Sares Regis Group, Jensen aims to maintain this standard of employee satisfaction among the company’s property managers — both for their sakes and to maintain a base of experience from which property operations can benefit. 

“I consider myself a good leader because I prioritize the needs of the team and their wellbeing,” said Jenson. “I motivate them by staying positive, passionate and energetic about their growth, so they can reach their full potential.”

Here, Jenson talks to Multifamily Dive about her past experience, her approach to property management and staffing and her plans for the future in her new role.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

MULTIFAMILY DIVE: How will your previous industry experience inform your work at P.B. Bell?

MICHELLE JENSON: I've actually had the privilege of working in every position on site. I've worked in leasing, as an assistant manager and as a community manager, so I've been in the shoes of a lot of our team members. And then I spent over a decade in leadership positions. 

My experiences have provided me with invaluable insights into the intricacies of property management and have really shaped my approach to leadership.

How do you plan to ensure employee wellbeing?

I am committed to a culture of collaboration, open communication and continuous improvement. I believe that happy people create results. 

So what's great for me is, walking into P.B. Bell, they already do so many great things that I can just build on. Going back to the third-party management side, I think leveraging our expertise and expanding our reach will help us provide more property management services to great clients in the market.

Do you plan to expand P.B. Bell’s Arizona property portfolio? 

Yes. Since we are a boutique management company, it allows us to offer a more custom management approach to our clients. We are able to be nimble and adapt quickly to changes in the market, which allows us to be able to implement innovative strategies and leverage new technologies to maximize value. 

What is your plan for the future?

My plan is to create opportunities within the company for growth and opportunities for our current employees. I plan to create a culture that allows everyone to bring me new ideas, new insights and valuable feedback. 

I think that encouraging our team to share things that have worked for them in the past as we work toward our shared goals will allow us to work together, support each other and strive for excellence in everything we do. I firmly believe that success is a collective effort. And I'm confident that together we're going to do really big things.