Career Spotlight: Kelly Willis
Name: Kelly Willis, NALP, CAM, CAPS
Company: Davis Gardens with Blue Ridge Companies
Title: Community Manager
Email: manager@davisgardensapartments.com
Local NC Affiliate: PTAA
LinkedIn Profile
Tell us about your career:
Kelly Willis began her career in property management in 2013 as a Residential Service Specialist with Blue Ridge Companies at the Crossing at Chester Ridge. She came to Abbotts Creek in November 2013. She went to Palladium Park in August of 2014 as an Assistant Community Manager and in July of 2016 began at Legacy at the Point as Community Manager. She is currently the manager of Davis Gardens Apartments which opened in July of 2017.
She has her NALP designation, which she received in 2014. She has her CAM designation which she received in 2017. She has her CAPS designation which she received in 2018. Kelly was the PTAA rookie leasing professional of the year for 2013 and PTAA leasing professional of the year in 2014. Kelly is very active in raising donations for Second Harvest Food Bank, Toys for Tots, the Jimmy V Foundation, and the American Red Cross. She is active in the Piedmont Triad Apartment Association through her work on the Food Drive Committee raising money for Second Harvest Food Bank and the PTAA Diamond Awards Committee.
She has served on the Blue Ridge Company's group for Special Interest Group for Crafts and Hobbies. Kelly's teams received the 2019 PTAA Community of the Year Diamond Award (Davis Gardens) and the 2020 PTAA Community of the Year Diamond Award (Legacy at the Point). Through her eight years of experience, she has worked in Affordable (Section 8) communities, lease up communities, 55 plus communities, third party owned communities, and conventional housing.
What advice do you have for someone just starting in your field:
I believe that with a positive attitude and hard work, you can do anything. No matter how hard it may look, you can get it done. You also are part of a team, learn as much as you can from each member, it will make you better.