Key takeaways
What property managers can take from Christina’s approach
- Put your hand up for the tasks nobody wants. Christina credits her fast career growth to volunteering for unglamorous projects that built trust with her managers.
- Ask to sit in and learn. Early on she asked to observe property management and asset management meetings, even when the answer was sometimes no.
- Amenities need programming. Tenants check boxes like fitness centres and bike rooms, but how a landlord activates those spaces after move-in is what keeps them engaged.
- Keeping young talent takes a team. Christina sees building operations, security, and housekeeping as part of one team, and makes time for team activities and proper breaks after hard days.
- Onboard new tenants before they move in. Clear meetings about what the landlord handles and the building rules prevent a stream of questions and complaints later.
About the guest
CM
Christina Martin
Property Manager, Hines
Christina is a property manager at Hines in Calgary, where her team manages two downtown office towers. She studied urban planning and environmental sustainability at Dalhousie University, worked in hospitality at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, and joined Hines on its development team before moving into property management. She co-chairs the BOMA Calgary NextGen committee.
Episode summary
In this episode
Jared Sarbit talks with Christina Martin, a property manager with Hines in Calgary. Christina studied urban planning, worked at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, and joined Hines as an administrative assistant on a downtown development before moving into property management, with a short stint at Colliers along the way.
Christina explains how volunteering for extra work sped up her career, why she joined so many committees, and what BOMA Calgary’s NextGen committee does for people under 35. She shares how her urban planning background shapes the way she thinks about office space, how her buildings approach sustainability, and the challenges her generation faces in property management.
She also covers how she onboards new tenants, the unusual problem of geese nesting on a patio, and what Hines expects from the janitorial teams that work in its buildings.
Chapters
- 0:00Episode preview
- 1:19Introducing Christina Martin
- 1:34From urban planning to property management
- 3:53Putting your hand up
- 7:01A drive to keep learning
- 8:20BOMA Calgary NextGen
- 10:41Committees and mentorship
- 13:39What urban planning brings to property management
- 15:40Sustainability in practice
- 17:52Challenges for the next generation
- 20:00Attracting and keeping talent
- 21:53Collaboration and networking
- 23:23Advice for new property managers
- 24:59Onboarding tenants and a goose problem
- 28:41What Hines expects from janitorial partners
- 32:54The property she would love to manage
- 34:16Book recommendation: Start with Why
Jump to a chapter (17)
- 0:00Episode preview
- 1:19Introducing Christina Martin
- 1:34From urban planning to property management
- 3:53Putting your hand up
- 7:01A drive to keep learning
- 8:20BOMA Calgary NextGen
- 10:41Committees and mentorship
- 13:39What urban planning brings to property management
- 15:40Sustainability in practice
- 17:52Challenges for the next generation
- 20:00Attracting and keeping talent
- 21:53Collaboration and networking
- 23:23Advice for new property managers
- 24:59Onboarding tenants and a goose problem
- 28:41What Hines expects from janitorial partners
- 32:54The property she would love to manage
- 34:16Book recommendation: Start with Why
From the conversation
Transcript excerpts
I kind of just put my hand up for the tasks or the projects… that nobody really wanted.
Christina MartinPlay from 4:34
I think it’s better to be busy than bored.
Christina MartinPlay from 13:30
Some days are hard so it’s good to have team building activities and activations for our staff as well to get to know each other and debrief from a bad day.
Christina MartinPlay from 0:46
Want hotel-level service from your cleaning team?
We’ll walk your building with you and send a written cleaning scope and price. Free, no obligation.
Read the conversation
Full episode transcript
Show transcript
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FAQ
Questions about this episode
What is BOMA Calgary NextGen?
It is a BOMA Calgary committee for industry members 35 and under. Christina Martin, its co-chair, says it runs four main events a year, two focused on networking and two on education, and gives newer professionals a place to ask questions and build relationships.
How can property management companies keep young talent?
Christina says it comes down to building a good team, including building operations and service providers, and making people excited to come to work. Team activities, fun Fridays, and encouraging proper breaks after hard days all help.
What does Hines expect from janitorial partners?
Christina says housekeeping staff often see tenants more than the property management team does, so they take part in Hines training and are expected to deliver the same consistent, hotel-level service. She also values janitorial companies that offer recommendations in their proposals, not just a price.
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