Speak Up! by AvalonBay Podcast

This is the final episode of our three-part Summer Series, Lessons in Leadership. We have three very special women leaders, Debbie Coombs, Karen Hollinger, and Cathy White, retiring from AvalonBay in 2022. This series is our opportunity to showcase their unique transformational leadership stypes and their invaluable wisdom. You won't want to miss this conversation with Cathy White, SVP Associate General Counsel, and Ted Shulman, EVP and General Counsel, about leaning into your style, trusting your ability to learn and taking ownership of your career.

This episode continues our three-part Summer Series, Lessons in Leadership. We have three very special AvalonBay women leaders, Debbie Coombs, Karen Hollinger, and Cathy White, retiring from AvalonBay this year. This series is our opportunity to showcase their unique transformation leadership styles and their invaluable wisdom.    Get ready to be inspired by this conversation with Karen Hollinger (Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives) and Jennifer Coogen (Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives) as they discuss the past, present, and future!

This episode launches our summer series, Lessons in Leadership. We have three very special AvalonBay women leaders, Debbie Coombs, Karen Hollinger, and Cathy White, retiring from AvalonBay in 2022. This series is our opportunity to showcase their unique transformation leadership styles and their invaluable wisdom. Debbie Coombs (Senior Vice President, Property Operations) and Kate Brown (Vice President, Property Operations Massachusetts) kick off our series with a wonderful conversation filled with moments of inspiration, humor, and humility.  Enjoy!

In this episode of the WLN Speak Up! Podcast, we are joined by Sarah Mathewson (SVP, Property Operations), Lindsey Romano (VP, Asset Management), Chris Milne (Director, Construction), and Margarita Wynn (Director, Portfolio Operations), as they discuss “Jumpstarting Your Confidence.”   During this episode, these successful AVB leaders share their journeys with confidence, offering valuable insight and tools for anyone looking to move forward on their path toward success.

In this episode, we are joined by two AvalonBay associates; Jennie Rivera (Senior Director, Human Resources), Sophia Del Bianco (Sales and Service Supervisor), and a very special guest,  Cindy Persico, the Regional Vice President for EAP and Work/Life Services for Health Advocate. Cindy is a member of the EAP Leadership Team, and key contributor to delivering continued first-class clinical services. Cindy has a Masters of Health Science in Counseling and specializes in the development and growth of high-quality employee assistance programs (EAP). She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Certified Employee Assistance Professional and has been involved in all areas of EAP management including training, evaluation of program effectiveness, and program integrity. They discuss the hidden effects of Anxiety; how to recognize it, and tools to help manage it.

In this episode, we are joined by four AvalonBay associates; Liz Smith (Senior VP, Asset Management), Susie Maglich (Sr. Director, Design), Parks Underdown (Program Manager, Maintenance), and Angela Keckler (Director, Ancillary Services), as they discuss “Creating Your Own Career Path.”   They share their own stories during this episode and offer valuable advice to those thinking about their next step (which isn’t always along a clearly defined path).

In Episode 8 of the WLN Speak Up Podcast, we are joined by Erika Saldivar (Dir, Special Projects), Sarah Tullo (Sales Manager), Chawn Jackson (Sr. Dir, Talent Acquisition), Lauryn King (Sr. Auditor), and Gauri Paydenkar (Dir, Pricing & Revenue Mgmt), as they discuss “Microaggressions & The Workplace.”   During this episode, they not only demystify the meaning of “microaggression,” but also share their personal experiences and lessons learned around this important topic.

In Episode 7 of the WLN Speak Up Podcast, we are joined by Cassandra McFadden (Director, Energy Mgmt) and Christine Coutts (Community Consultant) as they discuss what it means to “Bring Your Whole Self to Work.”  If you are interested in beginning your journey toward being more authentic, vulnerable, and seen for who you truly are, don’t miss this episode!

In this episode, we are joined by a group of AvalonBay associates; Jennifer Cooper (Project Manager), Denise Evans (Regional Operations Manager), Josh Spalasso (Health & Safety Director), Gina Roberts (Portfolio Operations Director), and David Ridlehuber (Superintendent II), who share their experiences managing work and home as single parents.  Their stories of selflessness and perseverance inspire us to reach for success and Speak Up for what we need.

Throughout 2020, we heard from AvalonBay associates who were discovering or rediscovering things that brought value and meaning to their lives – things they want to keep doing.   In Episode 5 of the WLN Speak Up Podcast, we are joined by Jackie Todesco (SVP, Asset Mgmt), Joby Doffek (VP Operations Svcs & Support) & Jennie Rivera (Sr. Dir, Human Resources) who count down the top 6 things that our AvalonBay Women's Leadership Network (WLN) members started doing last year that they want to continue into the future.

These are challenging times for so many of us and that’s why taking care of ourselves is more important than ever. In this episode, we are joined by three AvalonBay associates who share their journey into mindfulness techniques and how they can help us all to move forward and stay calm in difficult times.  Their inspirational stories encourage us to slow down, take a breath, and try something new.

In this episode, Jackie Todesco, Senior Vice President of Asset Management at AvalonBay, interviews four AvalonBay mothers, all in different stages of motherhood (toddler to teen). These mothers share their experiences and advice on having successful careers and being great moms.

Debbie Coombs, Senior Vice President of Property Operations at AvalonBay, and Katie Nyberg, Director of Asset Management at AvalonBay, discuss  "Failing Fast", a concept explored in the book The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman.

Cathy White talks with Kathy Romeo Nunez about her experiences as a Maintenance Supervisor in a male-dominated role.