Supplier Spotlight: Michael Simos
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Name: Michael
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Tell us about your career:
Prior to starting my career in multifamily, I spent seven years in healthcare recruiting. In December 2019, I took a leap of faith and decided to work for myself, entering the multifamily industry with no prior experience. The smartest thing I did early on was join the Greater Charlotte Apartment Association (GCAA). When the pandemic hit just a few months later, the association became my only connection to the industry, and the connections I made during those early Zoom calls in lockdown I still carry with me today as friends.
Like many newbies, I made plenty of mistakes. I cold-called leasing offices religiously on Mondays and the first of every month, often at the worst possible time. If it weren’t for the support, advice, and encouragement of fellow GCAA members, I might have left the industry entirely. Here I found mentors, peers, and friends both on the supplier and owner-operators side who helped me find my footing. In fact one of my first mentors was a client.
Over the past few years, volunteering for the GCAA has been personally and professionally rewarding. I’ve chaired a committee for three years, served on several others, lobbied at both the state and national levels, am a Leadership Lyceum graduate and currently hold the position of Supplier's Council President for the GCAA. One of the most fulfilling programs I’ve recently been a part of is the GCAA Ambassador Program, where I help mentor new suppliers to the industry. Watching them gain confidence and understand the value of doing the right thing for their clients has been very rewarding and an opportunity to gain new friends.
Beyond supporting my family, my greatest sense of professional accomplishment comes from being regarded as a trusted resource and a subject matter expert known for going the extra mile for his clients. As I launch Smart Amenity Solutions, a new venture focused on EV chargers and Water Damage Protection systems, the first thing I did was enroll the company in the GCAA as a member. My goal is to build the same strong reputation in this new space that I’ve earned with locker systems. I’m really excited about the future of multifamily development in the Carolinas and I’m deeply grateful to the GCAA staff and its community for helping jump-start my career, build a brand, and giving me the chance to pay it forward for others just starting their own journeys.
What advice do you have for someone just starting in your field:
- Don’t Quit – this industry is transient. It’s tough. People quit all the time, and it takes time to become recognizable amongst all the quitters.
2. Be Patient – It takes time to build relationships, don’t ruin it by being too thirsty for the sale. Don’t be so thirsty that you are cold calling on Mondays 😊
3. Show Up – 50% of this success is just being seen. The apartment association gives you an opportunity to be seen, to be talked about, even if you don’t feel like talking to anyone! Show up!
4. Participate – Participate in your supplier council meetings, your committee meetings, volunteer.... Your continuous involvement in the association showcases your commitment to the industry which encourages people to want to work with you. (*stolen quote – Michelle O’brien)
5. Make Meaningful Relationships – Suppliers can be a supplier’s best friend. My mentee taught me ways to engage clients he brought from a different industry. Senior suppliers give me advice. Others have become referrals. My first mentor was a client because I was myself.
6. Don’t Act Like You Know it All – Everyone can see you are new the moment you walk in the door. If you act like you know it all, you’re toast. Be honest and open and someone is going to offer you an olive branch. It’ll be more beneficial than a sale.
7. Social Media – Yes, it’s another opportunity to be seen. Increase your exposure and build your brand and influence. Having a bad day? Not on social media. Struggling in your job? Not on social media. You might not work for the same employer forever, but if your next employer sees you on social media they’ll think you’re always successful and happy… even if you’re not. Post, like, share and comment! Easy!