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President of Beacon Management Services Lisa Simmons joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss the Atlanta-based management firm as well as her numerous hikes across the world to raise money for BlazeSports. Simmons joins hosts Carol Morgan and Todd Schnick for the All About Real Estate segment.
Beacon Management Services, a 10-year-old real estate management firm based in Atlanta, manages property throughout the state in virtually every county. The company primarily focuses on homeowner’s associations (HOAs), community and condominium associations, mixed-use developments and commercial projects. Currently, outreach from apartments and multi-family developments may soon lead to a new, exciting offering from the company by the end of the year. Atlanta is experiencing a boom in apartment development and Beacon Management Services is incredibly interested in the prospect.
The market is great for developers and home builders, and with seasoned managers and services, Beacon Management Services has been able to capitalize on the market’s current state. With financial astuteness and organic growth, the company has experienced double-digit growth since its founding in 2011 purely by word-of-mouth.
“Our customers are our best form of advertising. They are the ones that give us referrals [and leads] and tell us who to contact,” said Simmons.
When a community is in development, Beacon can step in at virtually any point, but it is more beneficial to begin the partnership during construction to review documents with the builder, attorney and team members to guide them towards the best practices and policies for that particular development.
The community sales team is a critical component of the process and Beacon Management Services makes it a priority to introduce themselves to the sales team as soon as possible. The eyes and ears of a community, the sales team knows what is happening on the ground, which is very beneficial when Beacon cannot be there in person.
Simmons shared, “That kind of intelligence gives us the background and information we need to better serve our clients and developers.”
Formerly an onsite salesperson herself, Simmons understands the importance and necessity of the role. The sales team is there to sell homes and is not expected to understand every aspect of an HOA. There are many components to understand in an HOA and Beacon offers training to inform the sales team and attend sales meetings for additional clarity.
The main focus is for Beacon to partner with them to sell more homes quickly to satisfy the builder and developer’s goals. The relationship between Beacon Management Services and sales teams is an essential partnership.
BlazeSports is a legacy organization born out of the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta. It serves physically challenged children, youths and veterans by providing them ways to participate and compete in sports. Simmons discovered the exceptional organization three years ago when she was interested in doing a fundraiser in conjunction with her hike across the Grand Canyon. She gravitated towards the organization’s mission and, in turn, formed another meaningful partnership.
Due to the pandemic’s complications, Simmons had to cancel a summit she initially intended to hike in Russia and find a fast replacement. After discovering the Inca Trail in Machu Pichu, she signed up immediately and secured the final spot. Tourism in Peru dwindled to virtually nothing during the pandemic and despite opening the country for tourism, Simmons encountered no one apart from her group while hiking the trail.
“I was pleasantly surprised, and it surpassed every expectation,” said Simmons. “Machu Pichu is gorgeous. I can’t say enough good things about it.”
Depending on the trail’s location and altitude, the weather can vary from tropical to freezing temperatures. Another incredible aspect of the hike is the culture and history learned along the way, and Simmons shared that she came away from the summit with a renewed appreciation for humanity and its current struggles.
While the United States might be struggling with the pandemic, it is nothing compared to countries whose economies experienced decimation in the stall in tourism. Simmons encourages everyone to explore and visit the beautiful and culturally rich former base of the Inca empire, aspects tour guides make concentrated efforts to preserve through sustainable and responsible trekking.
Simmons also shared that she has raised $70,000 raised in support of BlazeSports through her hikes.
The COVID-19 pandemic also greatly wounded the nonprofit sector and BlazeSports did not escape the sting. The funds raised help children, youths and veterans participate and compete in sports such as tennis, basketball, track and more. The sports programs, training, coaching and in some cases travel, are also covered by the organization. Two BlazeSports alumni have gone on to participate in the Paralympic Games and qualify for the Junior Olympics. The organization has a solid program run by professional athletes and sports psychologists to help participants strive in sports.
The money raised by Simmons specifically funded a two-week-long summer camp for children and young adults to experience a “normal” summer camp. There is an overwhelming need for this program since many parents cannot afford to send their children to a summer camp. Her contributions made up for budget shortfalls in one of BlazeSports’ more popular programs.
“We’ve sent about 250 now to camp and it’s been delightful to see them,” said Simmons.
The next big adventure for Simmons is the Aconcagua summit in Argentina, the tallest mountain in South America and the tallest mountain in the western hemisphere. This hike will be the second of her seven summits, the tallest mountains on every continent. Argentina opened its hiking trails for six weeks at the beginning of 2022, a time frame that normally spans over eight months, and Simmons will be leaving with 15 men and one woman to hike the 22,837-foot summit in the Andes Mountain range. The hike will take place over 21 days.
Simmons said, “Anything can happen, and it usually does, so you just have to roll with it.”
To discover the mission of BlazeSports and to donate, visit www.blazesports.org for more information. To explore the services, history and senior management team of Beacon Management Services, visit the website or call 404-907-2112 to speak to a representative.
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Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee, License #22564. NMLS ID #6606. Subject to borrower and property qualifications. Not all applicants will qualify. Beacon Management Services and New American Funding are not associated. Click here to view the terms and conditions of products mentioned during the show. Corporate office 14511 Myford Rd., Suite 100, Tustin, CA 92780. Phone: (800) 450-2010. (October/2021)
New American Funding is a family-owned mortgage lender with a servicing portfolio of over 123,000 loans for $30.4 billion, 198 branches, and about 3,100 employees. The company offers several niche loan products and has made Inc. 5000’s list of Fastest-Growing Companies in America six times. It has a state-of-the-art career training facility and develops innovative technology, including the GoGo LO mobile application. For more information, visit www.branch.newamericanfunding.com/Atlanta.
The Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio “All About Real Estate” segment, presented by Denim Marketing, highlights the movers and shakers in the Atlanta real estate industry – the home builders, developers, Realtors and suppliers working to provide the American dream for Atlantans. For more information on how you can be featured as a guest, contact Denim Marketing at 770-383-3360 or fill out the Atlanta Real Estate Forum contact form. Subscribe to the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast on iTunes, and if you like this week’s show, be sure to rate it.
