Career Spotlight: Chris Tester

Name: Chris Tester Company: Phillips Management Group Title: Senior Regional Service Manager  Email: christ@phillipsmanagement.com Local NC Affiliate: PTAA

Tell us about your career:

Upon graduating from high school, I was uncertain about my career path. I began as a temporary painter and groundskeeper at an older property in Greensboro. A month later, I became a permanent employee, spending two years exclusively painting and performing grounds-keeping duties. At the end of three years, I advanced to the role of maintenance technician, where I started handling service requests. It was then that I discovered my passion for this work and envisioned a long-term career in it. Five years later, I seized an opportunity with Equity Residential in Greensboro, starting as a maintenance technician. There, I quickly recognized the chance to expand my experience with pools, HVAC systems, and other appliances not available at my previous job. After two years, I was promoted to maintenance engineer, and a year later, to maintenance supervisor when the property changed ownership. Eventually, I moved to a company in High Point overseeing multiple properties. In 2011, I joined Phillips Management Group as a maintenance supervisor for several Greensboro properties. Four years later, I was elevated to Area/Regional Service Manager, supervising multiple sites and teams. Over two years ago, I was promoted to Senior Regional Service Manager. Throughout my career, numerous individuals have provided guidance, influence, and mentorship, all of which I deeply value and wouldn't exchange for anything.

What advice do you have for someone just starting in your field:

When you encounter something new, take your time to understand it thoroughly. Learn every aspect of the task at hand. If you are being instructed on how to perform a task, be attentive. Utilize the knowledge gained from others and integrate it into your approach to enhance your work and progress in your career. As a newcomer to the field of apartment maintenance, be patient the knowledge will accumulate in due time. Persevere, as there are numerous methods to achieve the same outcome.