A World of Good: A Conversation with WAHNderful Woman of the Year Beth Baar

In this inspiring episode, Ashley Northcutt, President & CEO of WAHN, sits down with Beth Baar, Vice President of Asset Management, Construction & Stabilized Assets at Cinnaire and our 2025 WAHNderful Woman of the Year.

Beth shares her journey from volunteering at a small community nonprofit in rural Wisconsin to leading asset management across multiple states. She reflects on how a single moment helping a senior apply for affordable housing showed her the life-changing impact of this work, and why she’s committed to creating what she calls “a world of good.”

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
Welcome to WAHNcast, the official podcast of the Women's Affordable Housing Network.
This is our space to connect, get real, and talk about what's really happening in housing.
From bold leadership to resident stories that ground us in purpose.
We're here to amplify voices, strengthen each other, and share the kind of conversations you'd have with a friend who gets it.

(00:21):
Because when our voices are amplified, our communities grow stronger, and so do we. 6 00:00:29,969.932 --> 00:00:37,319.932 I'm happy to share our latest conversation led by Ashley Northcutt, president and CEO of the Women's Affordable Housing Network. 7 00:00:37,799.932 --> 00:00:50,134.932 Joining her is this year's inspiring honoree, Beth Barr, vice President of Asset Management Construction and stabilized assets at Sunner and our 2025 Wonderful Women of the Year. 8 00:00:51,14.932 --> 00:00:58,94.932 Together, Ashley and Beth dive into leadership innovation and what it means to make lasting impact in affordable housing. 9 00:00:59,939.932 --> 00:01:10,529.932 So Beth, I'm so excited to talk to you today because one of the things I love about Women's Affordable Housing Network is we don't know all the great people and you were nominated as WAHNderful Woman of the Year. 10 00:01:10,529.932 --> 00:01:16,379.932 And the little bit of time I've been able to spend with you has just been, the word I was thinking about when I was getting on was lovely. 11 00:01:16,409.932 --> 00:01:21,529.932 Like you're just your energy is so nice to be around, so strong, so smart. 12 00:01:21,689.932 --> 00:01:27,389.932 Easy to talk to, and so I can only imagine that impact on people that get to work with you every single day. 13 00:01:28,169.932 --> 00:01:35,99.932 I very much try to be positive and keep it positive, and I encourage everyone who's around me. 14 00:01:35,884.932 --> 00:01:38,584.932 If I ever start getting negative, please call me on it. 15 00:01:38,644.932 --> 00:01:42,544.932 Let me know right away because that is not the way I want to be. 16 00:01:42,814.932 --> 00:01:45,684.932 And it's really funny because it, most of the time I'm no problem. 17 00:01:45,684.932 --> 00:01:49,384.932 But every so often, that little negative thought slips in there. 18 00:01:49,384.932 --> 00:01:51,754.932 And it's usually someone who's close to me. 19 00:01:51,754.932 --> 00:01:53,374.932 Like Miranda Bio, I worked with her for years. 20 00:01:53,374.932 --> 00:01:55,709.932 She's yeah, let's talk about this. 21 00:01:55,759.932 --> 00:02:00,689.932 Let's think about how it this happened and she's just so good about helping me recenter. 22 00:02:00,689.932 --> 00:02:07,299.932 But yeah, I really wanna be positive for people because I want them to be positive and surround themselves with positivity. 23 00:02:07,539.932 --> 00:02:12,129.932 So I'm very big on trying to make things pleasant for everyone. 24 00:02:12,769.932 --> 00:02:16,339.932 It's good to know you're human in that sometimes it sneak in. 25 00:02:16,339.932 --> 00:02:16,764.932 That's amazing. 26 00:02:18,114.932 --> 00:02:28,974.932 Can you tell us about your path into affordable housing? I know you went from volunteering at a community action agency to now leading at Cinnaire so I would love to hear a little bit about that journey. 27 00:02:29,604.932 --> 00:02:30,504.932 Sure, yeah. 28 00:02:30,504.932 --> 00:02:35,424.932 Yeah, I started out just volunteering at this local nonprofit that was in my little tiny town. 29 00:02:36,109.932 --> 00:02:37,489.932 Of Oma, Wisconsin. 30 00:02:37,749.932 --> 00:02:41,799.932 I started doing a newsletter for the Family Literacy program. 31 00:02:41,959.932 --> 00:02:43,639.932 Helped with literacy events. 32 00:02:43,639.932 --> 00:02:46,789.932 I basically just did whatever they asked me to do. 33 00:02:47,169.932 --> 00:02:53,169.932 Eventually I was offered a job as a babysitter, so I watched babies while their parents were working on getting their GEDs. 34 00:02:53,199.932 --> 00:02:54,39.932 I loved it. 35 00:02:54,459.932 --> 00:02:56,469.932 Loved babies came from a huge family. 36 00:02:56,469.932 --> 00:03:01,379.932 We always had babies, that was something that was special for me and it fit right just perfectly for me. 37 00:03:01,659.932 --> 00:03:05,964.932 But then when the littles left, I stocked the hallways looking for someone to help. 38 00:03:06,804.932 --> 00:03:15,764.932 I'd hear comments of people making, frustrated comments and I'd peek my head and say, can I help with something? And usually it was computer issues that I was helping with. 39 00:03:15,844.932 --> 00:03:20,914.932 Sometimes stuffing envelopes, designing flyers, whatever needed being done, I was there to help. 40 00:03:21,284.932 --> 00:03:23,384.932 Eventually I was offered a position. 41 00:03:23,589.932 --> 00:03:29,559.932 As a business development coordinator where I would help entrepreneurs write business plans and start businesses. 42 00:03:29,869.932 --> 00:03:32,749.932 And that kind of kicked off my search of what I wanted to do. 43 00:03:33,239.932 --> 00:03:38,129.932 I went through almost every department in that nonprofit and I landed in housing. 44 00:03:38,579.932 --> 00:03:44,564.932 I still wasn't sure about what I really wanted to do, but got me on the ground floor in the affordable housing industry. 45 00:03:45,564.932 --> 00:03:52,824.932 I worked my way up to a property manager and eventually I had this experience that helped me decide what I really wanted to do. 46 00:03:53,184.932 --> 00:03:56,694.932 I went to this elderly woman's home in a rural area. 47 00:03:56,774.932 --> 00:03:58,664.932 Helped her complete an housing application. 48 00:03:58,664.932 --> 00:04:07,514.932 But as I got there, overgrown lawn, there's this protective layer of dust on the car, stairs to the door that were broken. 49 00:04:07,894.932 --> 00:04:11,44.932 She shuffles to the door, opens it, we sit at the kitchen table. 50 00:04:12,169.932 --> 00:04:14,89.932 Sits down a cup of coffee in front of me. 51 00:04:14,89.932 --> 00:04:20,419.932 I don't drink coffee, but the good girl that my mom raised, I drank every drop with a smile on my face. 52 00:04:20,879.932 --> 00:04:25,439.932 She tells me about herself, tells me her husband passed away the year before. 53 00:04:26,129.932 --> 00:04:29,499.932 He had worked hard their whole life, but now all that was left was their home. 54 00:04:30,324.932 --> 00:04:31,824.932 She didn't have any other assets. 55 00:04:31,824.932 --> 00:04:36,84.932 She had very little income and she realized she could not stay in that home. 56 00:04:36,864.932 --> 00:04:40,734.932 They lived there for so many years, but now she can't take care of it. 57 00:04:40,734.932 --> 00:04:44,664.932 She can't do the maintenance, she can't get up the stairs to the second floor. 58 00:04:44,784.932 --> 00:04:47,304.932 She had to move her bedroom to the living room downstairs. 59 00:04:47,454.932 --> 00:04:51,54.932 She's concerned about getting her to her doctor in town. 60 00:04:51,54.932 --> 00:04:54,684.932 She can't drive, and I'm thinking, wow. 61 00:04:55,314.932 --> 00:05:00,174.932 She needs this housing that, that it's designed for seniors. 62 00:05:00,174.932 --> 00:05:04,44.932 It's located right in town, near her doctor, near the grocery store, the library. 63 00:05:04,254.932 --> 00:05:05,4.932 It's perfect. 64 00:05:05,844.932 --> 00:05:10,224.932 So I'm just thinking this as we're going through, finishing up the application. 65 00:05:10,284.932 --> 00:05:17,794.932 We finish it up and I tell her I'll have to go through and verify everything, but it looks like you qualify to live in our housing. 66 00:05:18,424.932 --> 00:05:20,674.932 She stood up, tears and running down her face. 67 00:05:20,674.932 --> 00:05:22,9.932 She slowly walks towards me. 68 00:05:22,834.932 --> 00:05:30,544.932 Puts my hands or hands on my face and kisses me on the lips as a recovering germa fold. 69 00:05:31,354.932 --> 00:05:32,764.932 That was a little startling. 70 00:05:33,44.932 --> 00:05:43,64.932 But I did realize that was pure gratitude coming from her that we were gonna provide affordable, safe, healthy housing. 71 00:05:43,734.932 --> 00:05:46,374.932 And that is when I realized, okay. 72 00:05:47,214.932 --> 00:05:52,884.932 This helping this woman get into a house that is designed for her, perfect for her. 73 00:05:53,274.932 --> 00:05:54,714.932 This is what I wanna do. 74 00:05:54,984.932 --> 00:05:57,144.932 I want to work in affordable housing. 75 00:05:57,894.932 --> 00:06:01,914.932 So through that process I did not go to college right outta high school. 76 00:06:01,914.932 --> 00:06:03,114.932 I got married right away. 77 00:06:03,114.932 --> 00:06:07,464.932 And so I didn't get my bachelor's degree in nonprofit leadership until I was 41. 78 00:06:07,954.932 --> 00:06:08,349.932 Because Good for you. 79 00:06:09,49.932 --> 00:06:10,69.932 Working full time. 80 00:06:10,69.932 --> 00:06:15,889.932 So I had to basically do it remotely back when they were just starting to do remote education. 81 00:06:16,99.932 --> 00:06:17,989.932 So we were all figuring it out. 82 00:06:18,349.932 --> 00:06:28,399.932 But since then, I've, me worked my way up various positions, always in affordable housing the last 23 years, focusing on managing and developing affordable housing. 83 00:06:29,404.932 --> 00:06:40,664.932 Eventually I managed various departments worked my way up to where I am now at a different organization, but now I'm the pre vice president of asset management construction and stabilized assets. 84 00:06:41,154.932 --> 00:06:45,544.932 So that's, it was a long winding journey, it got me here today. 85 00:06:46,769.932 --> 00:06:49,919.932 And it's amazing 'cause you got to see little pieces of everything. 86 00:06:50,249.932 --> 00:06:56,759.932 But I love that story that you tell, like when that lady kissed you on the lips, like what a raw emotion. 87 00:06:56,759.932 --> 00:06:58,49.932 She didn't know you either. 88 00:06:58,269.932 --> 00:07:04,629.932 And what a raw, like you just changed her whole life and I'm just glad you stayed in housing. 89 00:07:04,629.932 --> 00:07:06,519.932 And I was like listening to your story thinking. 90 00:07:06,874.932 --> 00:07:12,544.932 At any point were you thinking, oh my gosh, I can get paid for doing this and changing people's lives. 91 00:07:12,754.932 --> 00:07:14,404.932 That's what we do in affordable housing. 92 00:07:14,764.932 --> 00:07:22,404.932 But before we move on, one of my favorite facts about you, 'cause you did, you talked about impacting the babies, holding the babies, and that was part of your job. 93 00:07:22,644.932 --> 00:07:24,144.932 Tell everybody how many siblings you have. 94 00:07:25,194.932 --> 00:07:28,804.932 So I have 10 siblings six sisters, two brothers. 95 00:07:29,84.932 --> 00:07:30,564.932 Yeah, we're a big family. 96 00:07:30,564.932 --> 00:07:31,644.932 We love each other. 97 00:07:31,674.932 --> 00:07:31,814.932 It was. 98 00:07:32,634.932 --> 00:07:37,74.932 Loud and opinionated and lots of voices, but I love it. 99 00:07:37,134.932 --> 00:07:42,804.932 To this day, I still feel like I need to, have noise around me because I'm so used to that. 100 00:07:42,804.932 --> 00:07:46,794.932 I still feel when I cook, I have the hardest time cooking for two people. 101 00:07:46,794.932 --> 00:07:48,754.932 I still cook these giant meals and. 102 00:07:49,34.932 --> 00:07:50,79.932 Stick 'em in the freezer. 103 00:07:50,79.932 --> 00:07:51,59.932 We'll have some later. 104 00:07:51,789.932 --> 00:07:59,289.932 You have me beat with that many siblings, but I have three brothers and my mom actually had a home daycare and when I was older in life. 105 00:07:59,319.932 --> 00:08:01,539.932 But she did it for teachers, so she had the summer off. 106 00:08:01,539.932 --> 00:08:05,179.932 So our house had five babies at all times under three, except for the summer. 107 00:08:05,179.932 --> 00:08:07,759.932 And then my brothers and I feel the same way. 108 00:08:07,759.932 --> 00:08:10,219.932 I am like, I need noise, we need more food. 109 00:08:10,439.932 --> 00:08:13,949.932 But I also think that we got set up early in life for leadership. 110 00:08:14,354.932 --> 00:08:16,194.932 When you say opinionated loud. 111 00:08:16,194.932 --> 00:08:18,444.932 Like chaotic, like I think that's very good. 112 00:08:18,444.932 --> 00:08:19,164.932 Home training. 113 00:08:19,764.932 --> 00:08:20,904.932 You learn to negotiate. 114 00:08:21,774.932 --> 00:08:22,374.932 Exactly. 115 00:08:22,764.932 --> 00:08:40,264.932 So when you talk about being the VP of construction, lease-up asset Management why is that work so critical? Like why did you decide to take all your talent and focus on that sector? As I was working my way up my amazing boss gave me this choice of. 116 00:08:40,714.932 --> 00:08:48,124.932 Either working in development or doing a small grant-based position that I would have to reapply for every year. 117 00:08:48,484.932 --> 00:08:54,184.932 I chose development specifically because my dad was a contractor who built single family homes. 118 00:08:54,214.932 --> 00:08:56,884.932 So I'd been around construction sites my whole life. 119 00:08:57,434.932 --> 00:09:00,74.932 I enjoyed going to the jobs and helping us. 120 00:09:00,164.932 --> 00:09:09,644.932 Girls usually had the cleaning jobs, which was fine, but we'd go around and clean up and clean up after the contractors, make everything look good. 121 00:09:09,644.932 --> 00:09:13,829.932 And then once it was completed, we'd clean the whole house and then we'd put it up for sale. 122 00:09:14,434.932 --> 00:09:17,834.932 But that was, kind of part of it, part of what we were providing. 123 00:09:18,124.932 --> 00:09:26,929.932 When I was a young mother, my son got sick and he woke up one night at me and looked at me and he goes, look at all the pretty birds flying around in the room. 124 00:09:27,349.932 --> 00:09:31,69.932 And I put my hand on his head, took his temperature. 125 00:09:31,74.932 --> 00:09:33,259.932 He had a fever of 104, was hallucinating. 126 00:09:33,349.932 --> 00:09:34,579.932 Oh my gosh. 127 00:09:34,579.932 --> 00:09:40,699.932 So there is that split heart wrenching second where I thought, oh my goodness. 128 00:09:41,119.932 --> 00:09:51,979.932 How will I pay for those doctors though? Even as I thought that I was picking him up, putting his coat on, getting his sister ready and going into the emergency room. 129 00:09:52,219.932 --> 00:09:57,409.932 But I remember having that thought and how other people go through that every day. 130 00:09:57,799.932 --> 00:10:12,419.932 They're worried about how are they gonna pay the basic expenses? How are they gonna ha provide this housing? How are they gonna pay for the doctor's bills? This housing that we provide in affordable housing takes that one thing off their plate. 131 00:10:13,139.932 --> 00:10:15,509.932 They can focus on the other priorities. 132 00:10:15,599.932 --> 00:10:22,189.932 They hopefully don't have to have that, terrifying half second, where they're worried about if they're gonna be able to pay the doctor's bill. 133 00:10:22,879.932 --> 00:10:23,749.932 But that's not enough. 134 00:10:24,679.932 --> 00:10:31,609.932 The United States has only 35 rental housing units for every 100 extremely low income renters. 135 00:10:32,929.932 --> 00:10:37,309.932 This shortage is in every state, every major metropolitan area. 136 00:10:38,149.932 --> 00:10:48,469.932 The development of affordable housing and getting it to stability is crucial to increasing the avail availability of this housing to provide this help. 137 00:10:48,919.932 --> 00:10:55,309.932 The affording affordable housing development needs to get billed, so we have to make sure the construction is on budget. 138 00:10:55,489.932 --> 00:10:59,479.932 We've gotta make sure they're following the regulations of the affordable housing program. 139 00:10:59,869.932 --> 00:11:07,489.932 We have to be sure it leases up, gets the cash to pay the bills of the development and needs to stay occupied. 140 00:11:07,489.932 --> 00:11:10,9.932 What do we gotta do there? We've gotta be sure it has good management. 141 00:11:10,339.932 --> 00:11:13,279.932 Keep the property and good repair, keep the property safe. 142 00:11:13,769.932 --> 00:11:23,609.932 Build and keep a reputation that makes, shows that people, it shows people that this property provides safe, affordable housing to those who need it. 143 00:11:25,79.932 --> 00:11:27,829.932 Not a place where someone's I don't want that to be near me. 144 00:11:28,624.932 --> 00:11:29,614.932 No, it's okay. 145 00:11:29,614.932 --> 00:11:31,744.932 This is a good housing property. 146 00:11:31,834.932 --> 00:11:32,614.932 I want it here. 147 00:11:33,754.932 --> 00:11:38,824.932 So this work helped me towards my personal life vision, which is a world of good. 148 00:11:39,214.932 --> 00:12:00,374.932 I know it sounds Pollyanna-ish, but I try to make every decision by thinking about will this health the world be a better place? My vision is of a world where parents don't have to think, have that split Second thought about, can I pay for this? Ultimately my goal is to put us out of business. 149 00:12:01,4.932 --> 00:12:02,924.932 Yes, me too. 150 00:12:02,924.932 --> 00:12:05,324.932 Housing industry outta business. 151 00:12:06,314.932 --> 00:12:07,544.932 A world where we're not needed. 152 00:12:08,534.932 --> 00:12:09,854.932 That would be a dream. 153 00:12:10,509.932 --> 00:12:21,139.932 All of these components, just call me into the affordable housing world of construction and lease up and getting me, getting those units stabilized and keeping me here. 154 00:12:21,169.932 --> 00:12:22,579.932 This is really what drives me. 155 00:12:24,874.932 --> 00:12:28,759.932 That's amazing and it's, I am digesting everything you just said. 156 00:12:28,759.932 --> 00:12:29,869.932 It's so true. 157 00:12:29,869.932 --> 00:12:37,219.932 And the foundation like that, when someone has a safe, comfortable, clean home, so many other problems become less. 158 00:12:37,219.932 --> 00:12:47,179.932 And one thing I always think through, like you were saying, like in that split second you were worried about your son, how are we gonna pay for this? And people live with that pressure all the time, day in and day out. 159 00:12:47,824.932 --> 00:12:58,434.932 How would you show up at work or even in public with all that pressure differently than if you had that safe, affordable housing? It changes the whole world. 160 00:12:58,434.932 --> 00:13:03,564.932 So doing your piece where you are is changing the world slowly but surely. 161 00:13:03,564.932 --> 00:13:04,224.932 And I agree. 162 00:13:04,224.932 --> 00:13:07,794.932 I love that you said, I hope the whole affordable housing business goes out. 163 00:13:08,24.932 --> 00:13:10,34.932 Goes out the door one day and we don't even have to talk about it. 164 00:13:10,34.932 --> 00:13:11,174.932 We can go do something else. 165 00:13:11,594.932 --> 00:13:19,964.932 So when you're balancing that feeling, because we all know it, there's a, there's an intangible feeling in the affordable housing industry no matter what you're doing. 166 00:13:19,964.932 --> 00:13:22,424.932 I stayed in public accounting for years because of this. 167 00:13:22,454.932 --> 00:13:25,274.932 'cause I was so into the affordable housing industry itself. 168 00:13:25,514.932 --> 00:13:27,854.932 Not so much debits and credits and tax returns. 169 00:13:28,104.932 --> 00:13:33,534.932 But those, when you are dealing with that and focused on the mission, how do you guide through. 170 00:13:34,474.932 --> 00:13:42,64.932 Complex projects and the people you're working with through the development lifecycle, knowing all that you're changing at the same time. 171 00:13:42,64.932 --> 00:13:45,64.932 But there are these complexities that you have to work through to get there. 172 00:13:47,374.932 --> 00:13:51,754.932 Really be willing to change, be flexible. 173 00:13:51,964.932 --> 00:13:54,44.932 If someone has an idea, let's try it. 174 00:13:54,609.932 --> 00:13:55,719.932 And go back to it. 175 00:13:55,719.932 --> 00:14:01,209.932 Talking to those people who are in the trenches so that you can really understand, get a holistic view so you can see. 176 00:14:01,524.932 --> 00:14:06,984.932 What's happening on the micro level and apply that to the bigger picture. 177 00:14:07,494.932 --> 00:14:11,594.932 Listening, understanding that you keep your vision at the forefront. 178 00:14:11,724.932 --> 00:14:23,684.932 What is your vision? Because I have my personal life vision, but every project has a vision, how's it supposed to look like at the end of the day? And then just, working to make that vision a reality. 179 00:14:23,734.932 --> 00:14:38,744.932 Listening, looking for ways to make things better, being willing to chain providing tools, what can they, what can my people do if they have the right tools to do it to make it easier, to make it faster. 180 00:14:39,24.932 --> 00:14:47,519.932 And then they, if they have something that makes it easier and faster, then they have time to apply thinking power to, the big picture or the other items that are happening every day. 181 00:14:49,74.932 --> 00:14:52,224.932 That's a good time for me to highlight your AI skills and your tech skills. 182 00:14:52,224.932 --> 00:14:54,564.932 I know you touched on it earlier that you were walking down the hall. 183 00:14:54,564.932 --> 00:14:57,984.932 How can I help? How can I help? And one of the things you helped with was fixing computers. 184 00:14:58,284.932 --> 00:14:59,334.932 I'm always intrigued. 185 00:14:59,334.932 --> 00:15:01,584.932 I always, you pop in my brain first, you and Ann. 186 00:15:01,884.932 --> 00:15:08,874.932 I'm always like, what would Beth do in this situation? Because I know she uses AI more efficiently, which frees you up to do the bigger things. 187 00:15:09,814.932 --> 00:15:10,174.932 Yeah. 188 00:15:10,174.932 --> 00:15:10,939.932 Ann is. 189 00:15:12,214.932 --> 00:15:13,144.932 So amazing. 190 00:15:13,144.932 --> 00:15:14,404.932 And Holland, she's great. 191 00:15:14,454.932 --> 00:15:17,574.932 She 100% has this in hand. 192 00:15:17,844.932 --> 00:15:19,854.932 I still think of myself as a newbie. 193 00:15:20,64.932 --> 00:15:22,704.932 She told me, I'm not, you're not compared to me. 194 00:15:22,704.932 --> 00:15:23,154.932 You're not. 195 00:15:23,674.932 --> 00:15:29,424.932 But, looking at when you think of ai, you gotta look at it can be used in so many different places. 196 00:15:29,524.932 --> 00:15:35,264.932 AI can be used during underwriting, if you're going through and looking at a environmental report. 197 00:15:35,569.932 --> 00:15:45,859.932 And you can put a prompt in there that will help you pull out the things that are important that you need to know about, as opposed to having to read a, 40 page document. 198 00:15:46,339.932 --> 00:15:46,399.932 Yeah. 199 00:15:46,579.932 --> 00:15:51,49.932 That, AI can help you put together a tool that will help your team. 200 00:15:51,49.932 --> 00:15:57,629.932 I created an asset management it started out as a construction and lease up asset management workbook. 201 00:15:58,404.932 --> 00:16:03,474.932 And basically takes 'em from the moment they touch the project through stabilization. 202 00:16:03,604.932 --> 00:16:18,49.932 Now we've added some tools that turned it into a just regular asset management workbook, not just for the construction team, because now they can track things and just understand how things that are happening on a project are impacting the project. 203 00:16:18,844.932 --> 00:16:21,184.932 Helps us identify emerging risks. 204 00:16:21,364.932 --> 00:16:31,994.932 So before it really becomes a big problem, this, it can tell us about little trends that it's seeing that we can pay attention to that will help us keep it from becoming a risk project. 205 00:16:32,434.932 --> 00:16:35,624.932 Yeah, I huge advocate of ai. 206 00:16:35,624.932 --> 00:16:37,109.932 It can be used by the property managers. 207 00:16:37,109.932 --> 00:16:37,679.932 I, I. 208 00:16:38,144.932 --> 00:16:48,334.932 Still am amazed at the phone call that I listened in at our presentation at Cham conference where the, it sounded like Ann was talking to a person. 209 00:16:48,634.932 --> 00:16:58,324.932 She was throwing things in there, different situations, different scenarios that you would think an AI would never know about, and it was able to answer everything. 210 00:16:58,594.932 --> 00:17:02,314.932 So it's, there's so many things that it can be applied to. 211 00:17:02,614.932 --> 00:17:06,564.932 I think it's very important and I think it's gonna be very important for the future because. 212 00:17:06,879.932 --> 00:17:15,669.932 If you won't embrace it and at the very least, learn so that you understand how it works and how to write a basic prompt. 213 00:17:16,179.932 --> 00:17:18,249.932 I don't think you're gonna be here long. 214 00:17:18,249.932 --> 00:17:28,649.932 People are going to be looking, businesses are looking for people who understand how to use this, how to, just maximize your work and your time by using ai. 215 00:17:29,129.932 --> 00:17:31,134.932 So yeah, I think it's amazing. 216 00:17:32,219.932 --> 00:17:33,419.932 It's fascinating. 217 00:17:33,419.932 --> 00:17:34,79.932 I can't wait. 218 00:17:34,79.932 --> 00:17:42,49.932 She's gonna teach a free course virtually for Juan in October, and then we're gonna do some paid series training for anyone that wants to learn more. 219 00:17:42,319.932 --> 00:17:44,479.932 And I cannot wait because I keep reading about it. 220 00:17:44,479.932 --> 00:17:45,469.932 You guys are my goals. 221 00:17:45,469.932 --> 00:17:46,219.932 I try every day. 222 00:17:46,219.932 --> 00:17:46,849.932 I'm like, okay, wait. 223 00:17:47,179.932 --> 00:17:48,919.932 Let me ha, let me try and build an agent. 224 00:17:48,919.932 --> 00:17:52,329.932 That's my new challenge because you taught me about that when I saw you. 225 00:17:52,569.932 --> 00:17:56,19.932 But yeah, even in the accounting industry, they're saying we're not hearing hiring staff anymore. 226 00:17:56,19.932 --> 00:18:02,469.932 At some of the big four, it, the staff position will be done by ai and I guess it's just fascinating to see how quickly it's changing. 227 00:18:02,469.932 --> 00:18:03,279.932 I have a friend that. 228 00:18:03,609.932 --> 00:18:10,359.932 Son just started at Georgia Tech and he wanted to do commun computer science or computer programming, and they said, you don't wanna major in that. 229 00:18:10,359.932 --> 00:18:11,559.932 It's gonna be very hard to get a job. 230 00:18:11,559.932 --> 00:18:13,924.932 So yeah I like your enthusiasm for ai. 231 00:18:13,924.932 --> 00:18:19,984.932 I hope everyone's listening closely to embrace that no matter where you are in your career to see what it can do for us. 232 00:18:20,444.932 --> 00:18:36,934.932 To continue on that conversation and teaching your people through the development cycle and balancing compliance and construction realities, how do you focus on community needs when you're overseeing? These investments? I think feedback is so important. 233 00:18:37,304.932 --> 00:18:43,814.932 Understanding, you can't just go to a city and plop a development in there and assume it's gonna work. 234 00:18:44,294.932 --> 00:18:47,84.932 You have to understand the background, the history. 235 00:18:47,344.932 --> 00:18:57,274.932 And so I think it's very important to have these feedback sessions where you sit down with, whether it's the people, the developers, the contractors. 236 00:18:58,109.932 --> 00:19:17,884.932 Talk to them, what are their needs? What are their concerns? What are their dreams? What can we do to make them happy in a location where we're gonna be? And I think it's just so important to hear from them, getting, having, have a feedback session have a session where they can just express what's on their minds. 237 00:19:18,424.932 --> 00:19:24,124.932 That's gonna help you provide something that is very useful to the area and help the area develop. 238 00:19:25,349.932 --> 00:19:26,399.932 And so efficient. 239 00:19:26,429.932 --> 00:19:31,919.932 'cause you're going to the people that are living this life, right? Like we're not, you don't have to guess. 240 00:19:31,919.932 --> 00:19:33,179.932 Then you're taking the guesswork out. 241 00:19:33,179.932 --> 00:19:43,689.932 And it seems like from that answer you're working at Ners quite a match made in heaven as a nonprofit financial organization committed to empowering its communities. 242 00:19:44,109.932 --> 00:19:49,899.932 How does your role there advance that mission? I think I'm like. 243 00:19:50,499.932 --> 00:20:00,139.932 The steward of the mission, one of many, one of them I had helped translate the organization's high level goals into tangible, long lasting, affordable housing. 244 00:20:01,219.932 --> 00:20:12,899.932 By protecting the financial investment, make sure that there's physical quality there and just championing the long-term wellbeing of our properties and our tenants. 245 00:20:12,899.932 --> 00:20:15,629.932 We want to make them happy. 246 00:20:15,629.932 --> 00:20:18,419.932 We want them to be happy and living in safe housing. 247 00:20:18,659.932 --> 00:20:23,609.932 So ultimately we create these homes where people can live safely. 248 00:20:24,269.932 --> 00:20:30,299.932 Be productive members of society and then develop these communities to be vibrant, great areas to live. 249 00:20:33,269.932 --> 00:20:37,649.932 Seems like a dream role, Beth, it seems like a dream role, and especially for you. 250 00:20:37,979.932 --> 00:20:39,514.932 I pitch myself everywhere. 251 00:20:39,604.932 --> 00:20:39,664.932 Yeah. 252 00:20:39,889.932 --> 00:20:43,109.932 It's just, yeah, this is, it's just a really great match. 253 00:20:43,109.932 --> 00:20:45,179.932 I just feel I can like, feel the energy. 254 00:20:45,179.932 --> 00:20:45,614.932 I feel like. 255 00:20:46,304.932 --> 00:20:57,74.932 When someone finds the right place to work for them, that celebrates who they are and they celebrate who the company is because you all have the same dream and it's all, in this case, it seems like it's all about the residents really. 256 00:20:57,74.932 --> 00:21:01,154.932 And then you build based on that, which is just very amazing. 257 00:21:01,154.932 --> 00:21:05,109.932 And I see this in affordable housing, but it's so nice to get to talk to the people that are doing it. 258 00:21:05,679.932 --> 00:21:11,349.932 When Mark McDaniel set up the company, he, one of the first things he said was, I wanna make this about the people. 259 00:21:12,54.932 --> 00:21:16,644.932 About the people that live in the housing that we build, but then also about the people that work for us. 260 00:21:16,644.932 --> 00:21:16,704.932 Yeah. 261 00:21:17,34.932 --> 00:21:20,604.932 And they very much make that the forefront. 262 00:21:21,444.932 --> 00:21:22,194.932 That's great. 263 00:21:23,184.932 --> 00:21:33,924.932 And I believe you Beth too, not that I wouldn't trust you, but I know several people that work at or have worked at Ner and I never hear anything but great feedback and stories about working there, so that's really nice. 264 00:21:34,254.932 --> 00:21:41,154.932 Let's highlight a recent scenario initiative, like maybe fund 42 or 43 that you're particularly proud of. 265 00:21:41,794.932 --> 00:21:42,334.932 So yeah. 266 00:21:42,334.932 --> 00:21:43,244.932 Fund 43. 267 00:21:43,694.932 --> 00:21:45,494.932 I feel like I gotta take a step back. 268 00:21:45,494.932 --> 00:21:51,884.932 So the asset management team helps bring or keep investors with NER by managing the risk well. 269 00:21:52,544.932 --> 00:21:56,554.932 So by reporting on time, making sure the properties are run well. 270 00:21:56,894.932 --> 00:22:04,214.932 So when our team created Fund 43, which is the largest fund in our organization's history, that was a major accomplishment. 271 00:22:04,264.932 --> 00:22:08,464.932 It, it was accomplishment and testimony to what the asset management team does. 272 00:22:09,14.932 --> 00:22:15,324.932 So the fund provides 33 separate affordable housing developments, so various sizes. 273 00:22:15,754.932 --> 00:22:30,874.932 It provides 2,455 affordable housing units developed or preserved for people who are low to moderate income, and it is going to support 5,647 residents. 274 00:22:31,384.932 --> 00:22:38,949.932 So we're gonna take a bite out of that the housing deficit that we have for low income people and affordable housing. 275 00:22:38,949.932 --> 00:22:40,989.932 So that was, that's huge. 276 00:22:41,39.932 --> 00:22:44,219.932 And I do feel, I feel proud that we are, asset management team. 277 00:22:44,219.932 --> 00:22:45,539.932 We are a big part of that. 278 00:22:45,779.932 --> 00:22:51,809.932 We keep the investors here, keep them coming back, and we bring in new investors just because we're doing good work. 279 00:22:53,684.932 --> 00:22:55,274.932 Congratulations. 280 00:22:55,364.932 --> 00:22:57,164.932 I cannot wait to hear more about that. 281 00:22:57,164.932 --> 00:22:58,604.932 That is a huge accomplishment. 282 00:22:59,144.932 --> 00:23:00,584.932 How fantastic. 283 00:23:00,614.932 --> 00:23:01,784.932 And I can just see it on your face. 284 00:23:01,784.932 --> 00:23:05,594.932 I wish this was a video so everyone could see this is a proud moment. 285 00:23:05,594.932 --> 00:23:09,164.932 Like we are sair Beth are changing the world right now. 286 00:23:09,734.932 --> 00:23:10,544.932 That's what's happening. 287 00:23:11,204.932 --> 00:23:11,264.932 Yeah. 288 00:23:11,264.932 --> 00:23:14,44.932 And that's gonna be in Michigan? Yes. 289 00:23:14,44.932 --> 00:23:14,254.932 Yeah. 290 00:23:14,284.932 --> 00:23:14,434.932 No. 291 00:23:14,434.932 --> 00:23:14,854.932 I'm sorry. 292 00:23:14,884.932 --> 00:23:15,214.932 No. 293 00:23:15,454.932 --> 00:23:17,44.932 Michigan it's like the. 294 00:23:17,989.932 --> 00:23:20,809.932 Yeah, it's the Midwest, but part of coast too. 295 00:23:20,809.932 --> 00:23:30,989.932 Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana let's see, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia. 296 00:23:32,669.932 --> 00:23:33,454.932 I think that's all of it. 297 00:23:34,529.932 --> 00:23:36,719.932 So many areas with so much more housing. 298 00:23:36,779.932 --> 00:23:37,379.932 Amazing. 299 00:23:37,874.932 --> 00:23:38,594.932 Oh good. 300 00:23:38,834.932 --> 00:23:40,754.932 I'm glad that's the one you wanted to share about. 301 00:23:40,754.932 --> 00:23:41,414.932 How amazing. 302 00:23:42,674.932 --> 00:23:42,734.932 Yeah. 303 00:23:42,734.932 --> 00:23:43,4.932 That's awesome. 304 00:23:43,964.932 --> 00:23:47,714.932 So Cinnaire lucky to have you and we feel extremely lucky. 305 00:23:47,714.932 --> 00:23:50,384.932 We're disappointed that we just met you recently, most of us. 306 00:23:50,434.932 --> 00:23:56,474.932 We wish we'd met you earlier but we feel so lucky to have you as a part of WAHN freely offering your time and talent. 307 00:23:56,474.932 --> 00:24:01,704.932 Most recently agreed to serve as our professional development lead and. 308 00:24:02,664.932 --> 00:24:15,114.932 To continue that excitement knowing that you were named WAHNderful Woman of the Year this year, what does that mean to you? Oh it was a huge surprise and a huge honor. 309 00:24:15,424.932 --> 00:24:21,374.932 But like in, in my role it's the intersection of complex finance and critical social needs. 310 00:24:22,184.932 --> 00:24:23,894.932 The work is behind the scenes. 311 00:24:23,894.932 --> 00:24:25,424.932 It's not out in front. 312 00:24:25,424.932 --> 00:24:29,414.932 There's not a lot of accolades, it's just, this is, I quietly. 313 00:24:29,819.932 --> 00:24:32,489.932 Work hard and soldier along behind the scenes. 314 00:24:32,919.932 --> 00:24:40,309.932 It's about spreadsheets, construction schedules, compliance documents but this award tells me what I do matters. 315 00:24:41,119.932 --> 00:24:52,669.932 It's a public acknowledgement that my work has impact on people's lives, and it makes me feel like I'm a key player in providing transformative housing to strengthen communities. 316 00:24:53,209.932 --> 00:24:56,689.932 So it just, it was a surprise. 317 00:24:57,79.932 --> 00:25:15,799.932 An amazing surprise, and it just, it makes me feel like, okay, now this is big and it makes me want to give back more and help others, whether it's the individual people that we're helping or mentoring people to help them along in their journey through life. 318 00:25:16,954.932 --> 00:25:19,594.932 Which helping people has been a theme through your whole life. 319 00:25:19,774.932 --> 00:25:20,224.932 That's one. 320 00:25:20,284.932 --> 00:25:37,714.932 I love hearing the story from the beginning and all the different jobs you had, and one thing I do love about the network is we have such a variety of people across the industry involved that when we do ask for nominations and look for awardees, people highlight everyone doing the great work. 321 00:25:37,714.932 --> 00:25:39,364.932 We get amazing applications. 322 00:25:39,364.932 --> 00:25:44,974.932 But I do love that it highlights people that maybe we don't always see on every list, but without them. 323 00:25:45,529.932 --> 00:25:47,389.932 Those deals will probably not be getting done. 324 00:25:47,389.932 --> 00:25:54,709.932 So that, it's nice to hear you say that, and I'm glad that we are highlighting, like our members are highlighting everyone involved in the industry. 325 00:25:55,69.932 --> 00:26:04,339.932 How do you support and mentor the women in development and construction spaces? You talked about that, of wanting to do that more, and especially like in an often male dominated field. 326 00:26:05,634.932 --> 00:26:05,924.932 Sure. 327 00:26:06,19.932 --> 00:26:06,319.932 Yeah. 328 00:26:06,369.932 --> 00:26:15,309.932 I see that as not just the right thing to do, but it's just, it's something that will really help the industry. 329 00:26:15,909.932 --> 00:26:18,189.932 This male dominated industry. 330 00:26:18,249.932 --> 00:26:22,359.932 Having a diversity of voices and perspective leads to better outcomes. 331 00:26:22,364.932 --> 00:26:27,904.932 So I think if I'm mentoring a woman to do that, it's only gonna make the entire industry better. 332 00:26:28,594.932 --> 00:26:35,464.932 And thinking back, my dad, the single family housing contractor always said, I bill for my wife. 333 00:26:36,214.932 --> 00:26:40,264.932 So the men on the crew there worked on the technical bill. 334 00:26:40,264.932 --> 00:26:42,544.932 They figure stuff out technically. 335 00:26:42,804.932 --> 00:26:54,234.932 My mom was, would walk through and look about, okay, how can we live in this space? What do I want? What would help? So my dad took her comments and applied them to the homes he built. 336 00:26:55,74.932 --> 00:27:00,994.932 Those homes sold life hot cakes, they were gone put 'em on the market, we're done. 337 00:27:01,474.932 --> 00:27:05,734.932 So having that women's point of view just didn't make the home beautiful. 338 00:27:05,734.932 --> 00:27:09,454.932 It made them more desirable and the business more successful. 339 00:27:10,54.932 --> 00:27:14,434.932 So what I saw in my dad's business is what I champion in my work today. 340 00:27:15,154.932 --> 00:27:20,884.932 I support women like Miranda Bial in her development and construction, and now in the stabilized team. 341 00:27:21,244.932 --> 00:27:23,74.932 Not just giving them a leg up. 342 00:27:23,629.932 --> 00:27:33,529.932 I feel like we should ensure our projects are better designed and more thoughtfully managed and ultimately more successful in serving the families. 343 00:27:33,649.932 --> 00:27:44,539.932 If we mentor these women to have a job in the affordable housing industry, women bring a different thought, style and insights than men. 344 00:27:45,19.932 --> 00:27:48,19.932 And having women and men is a good thing. 345 00:27:48,119.932 --> 00:27:53,969.932 Getting more women in this industry, having them be part of the construction process, it's gonna make it better. 346 00:27:54,659.932 --> 00:27:58,919.932 And I've always believed in, share what you know, so I mentioned Miranda bio. 347 00:27:59,189.932 --> 00:28:03,569.932 I feel like I taught her everything I knew and now she's teaching me everything she knows. 348 00:28:04,769.932 --> 00:28:13,809.932 So that mentoring can be, grow into a lifelong friendship and really a two-way street in ideas and thoughtfulness. 349 00:28:15,669.932 --> 00:28:18,459.932 That is the definition of a great mentorship program. 350 00:28:18,509.932 --> 00:28:29,589.932 Or a match when you've taught what you knew at that section, but then like you said, friendship and then you're both learning from each other because everyone has strengths as they, flower into what their leadership looked like. 351 00:28:29,969.932 --> 00:28:32,69.932 I love that your dad. 352 00:28:32,684.932 --> 00:28:42,284.932 Took your mom's opinions back then on the house and really respected that and said, I billed for her approval basically, because then I know both brains have come together. 353 00:28:42,644.932 --> 00:28:46,154.932 I was listening to a podcast earlier this week, and I'm trying to remember who said it. 354 00:28:46,154.932 --> 00:28:46,664.932 I can't remember. 355 00:28:46,664.932 --> 00:28:51,374.932 It was on Oprah's podcast, but they said if you have, if you're only, it was a nun. 356 00:28:51,644.932 --> 00:28:58,454.932 She was saying, if you're only serving, like only leading with all male or all women, then. 357 00:28:58,929.932 --> 00:29:02,949.932 You only have half the brain power that you need to get done in society. 358 00:29:03,309.932 --> 00:29:05,889.932 And what you just said brought that back up in my memory. 359 00:29:05,889.932 --> 00:29:06,519.932 It's so true. 360 00:29:06,519.932 --> 00:29:18,559.932 Like we have a whole brain when we all work together because we think about things so differently and our strengths coming together just makes us that much stronger, I like what you said about mentoring, helping the industry now and in the future. 361 00:29:18,949.932 --> 00:29:28,584.932 What do you think is the biggest opportunity or challenge in affordable housing in the next five years? I think the opportunity is gonna be innovation. 362 00:29:28,954.932 --> 00:29:33,364.932 The financial challenges that we're working with force us to think differently. 363 00:29:33,734.932 --> 00:29:38,714.932 So the traditional methods of building housing might be essential, but. 364 00:29:39,149.932 --> 00:29:41,579.932 They may not be enough to meet our current need. 365 00:29:41,759.932 --> 00:29:43,799.932 They're definitely not enough to meet our current need. 366 00:29:44,849.932 --> 00:29:51,449.932 So I feel like the biggest opportunity is gonna be to leverage innovation to help us get through it. 367 00:29:51,849.932 --> 00:29:53,679.932 Modular and offsite construction. 368 00:29:53,949.932 --> 00:29:56,439.932 Those are a huge opportunity. 369 00:29:56,489.932 --> 00:30:03,499.932 We were, I was talking with someone about it the other day and they're like, yeah, you need this big factory and to build and make sure you have what you need. 370 00:30:03,499.932 --> 00:30:08,389.932 And so we were talking to it and I'm like, how about building a big temporary factory? Because they do that. 371 00:30:08,389.932 --> 00:30:09,684.932 They build temporary factories. 372 00:30:10,834.932 --> 00:30:20,734.932 Do that, it's less expensive and now you can pull it apart and move it to the next location so that you're close to it so that it doesn't have a lot of transportation costs. 373 00:30:21,274.932 --> 00:30:27,834.932 But, we can really reduce the build times, lower labor costs, achieve a higher level of quality control. 374 00:30:28,344.932 --> 00:30:30,924.932 Not just about building faster, but building smarter. 375 00:30:31,944.932 --> 00:30:34,794.932 The other thing I think is harnessing ai, which. 376 00:30:35,514.932 --> 00:30:39,404.932 I went into that earlier, so I won't, discuss a lot of that now. 377 00:30:39,404.932 --> 00:30:46,774.932 But I feel like AI can help us with, some of the basic things that anyone today can use is for summarizing reports. 378 00:30:47,429.932 --> 00:30:51,209.932 Getting further into it a little deeper is analyzing big data sets. 379 00:30:51,559.932 --> 00:30:55,849.932 You can pull data that gives a holistic view of potential markets in minutes. 380 00:30:55,849.932 --> 00:31:02,729.932 Instead of waiting days weeks you could identify potential risks that might be missed by humans. 381 00:31:03,179.932 --> 00:31:06,899.932 For instance the likelihood of a project falling out of compliance. 382 00:31:06,899.932 --> 00:31:10,559.932 If there are little situations that happen on a frequent basis. 383 00:31:10,934.932 --> 00:31:20,984.932 That could be a, just a reminder or a red flag that you can watch for and plan for you could identify trends that would impact the property's long-term financial stability. 384 00:31:20,984.932 --> 00:31:25,304.932 For instance, like a big, HVAC system going out of out of service. 385 00:31:25,354.932 --> 00:31:34,384.932 The, it can identify trends that are, maybe maintenance issues that are coming up on a more frequent basis that's gonna, it could predict when it's going to go down. 386 00:31:34,909.932 --> 00:31:40,519.932 So you can develop then a preventative maintenance plan that's gonna help you stay away from that. 387 00:31:41,239.932 --> 00:31:44,689.932 So I think AI is gonna be huge. 388 00:31:45,139.932 --> 00:31:48,289.932 The challenge is the financial gap. 389 00:31:48,289.932 --> 00:32:00,919.932 The construction costs make it more in difficult, expensive higher interest rates make it harder for projects to pencil the cost of labor and materials, all of that directly impacts. 390 00:32:01,459.932 --> 00:32:04,9.932 The ability to develop these properties. 391 00:32:04,699.932 --> 00:32:11,749.932 So I think, in, in a nutshell, the opportunities are, finding, using modular and offsite harnessing ai. 392 00:32:12,229.932 --> 00:32:15,79.932 And the challenge is financial. 393 00:32:16,339.932 --> 00:32:18,19.932 Yeah, financial. 394 00:32:18,259.932 --> 00:32:31,539.932 Do you have advice that you would give emerging women leaders approaching complex projects or capital driven work, considering that Okay, I think an overall thing is embracing lifelong learning. 395 00:32:32,229.932 --> 00:32:47,189.932 We will never know it all, but taking a few moments in the morning to read an article about the industry or something coming up, or maybe it's a way of doing or solving a problem, reading more about ai. 396 00:32:47,379.932 --> 00:32:51,339.932 All of that, you embrace that thought that you don't know it all. 397 00:32:51,339.932 --> 00:32:52,659.932 You never will know it all. 398 00:32:52,719.932 --> 00:32:55,539.932 Let's learn something every day that's gonna be helpful. 399 00:32:55,929.932 --> 00:32:57,609.932 Learn and use ai. 400 00:32:57,969.932 --> 00:33:00,729.932 I always say, that is gonna be very helpful. 401 00:33:01,29.932 --> 00:33:03,129.932 If you don't, you might be left behind. 402 00:33:03,129.932 --> 00:33:07,299.932 If you do, you're gonna have a tool that you can use and make you marketable. 403 00:33:07,959.932 --> 00:33:09,339.932 Embracing the numbers. 404 00:33:09,579.932 --> 00:33:14,79.932 Capital driven work is a language of data, so you gotta learn it fluently. 405 00:33:14,979.932 --> 00:33:21,309.932 You have to have a command of the financials, understand the pro forma, understand the operating budget. 406 00:33:21,589.932 --> 00:33:29,149.932 That's really gonna give you huge credibility if you can go in and talk the talk with people about the financial situation. 407 00:33:29,879.932 --> 00:33:33,89.932 Speak with conviction in a male dominated field. 408 00:33:33,119.932 --> 00:33:36,89.932 You hear those men, talk about, Hey, this is what it is. 409 00:33:36,329.932 --> 00:33:39,899.932 I had a, I had an early situation where I was on a phone. 410 00:33:39,899.932 --> 00:33:51,384.932 I was the developer and I was on a phone with our architect who knew me, liked me, had a great relationship, and then two new contractors and I would say something and they'd talk over me. 411 00:33:52,124.932 --> 00:33:59,384.932 And so then they'd start talking again, and then I'd give a comment and they'd talk over me, and that wasn't right. 412 00:33:59,654.932 --> 00:34:03,224.932 And I needed to come out and say, Hey, you know who I am. 413 00:34:04,4.932 --> 00:34:06,254.932 I'm the owner, I'm the developer. 414 00:34:06,404.932 --> 00:34:07,544.932 You need to listen to me. 415 00:34:10,799.932 --> 00:34:18,404.932 And it did work for that meeting, but I had to remind him every meeting we had after that, and I'm so glad you did. 416 00:34:19,9.932 --> 00:34:19,339.932 Yeah. 417 00:34:19,339.932 --> 00:34:26,79.932 Speaking with conviction, making sure that your opinions and thoughts are clearly understood by everyone. 418 00:34:27,284.932 --> 00:34:30,974.932 Another little thing, be a problem solver, not a note taker. 419 00:34:31,214.932 --> 00:34:46,514.932 So if you focus on understanding the core issues, proposing solutions actively contribute to the strategy rather than furiously taking notes the whole time, it's gonna be difficult for you to really be seen as that problem solver. 420 00:34:46,904.932 --> 00:34:50,324.932 So take the time, be present, and listen and. 421 00:34:51,989.932 --> 00:34:54,29.932 Use AI to take notes for you. 422 00:34:56,489.932 --> 00:35:07,229.932 I was just gonna say, this is all such great advice and two of my favorites are like speaking with the conviction, telling people who you are in the room and then don't be the note taker. 423 00:35:07,229.932 --> 00:35:13,199.932 And then I was gonna say, Beth, can't we use AI to take notes nowadays on all of our calls? So that frees everyone up. 424 00:35:14,594.932 --> 00:35:17,654.932 So one, one final thing I just wanted to mention. 425 00:35:17,689.932 --> 00:35:18,19.932 Yeah. 426 00:35:18,69.932 --> 00:35:19,509.932 Find your sponsor. 427 00:35:19,539.932 --> 00:35:31,919.932 That mentor who's gonna give you advice give you influence or to advocate for you, or seek out leaders who will put your name forward as so as solution or someone who can solve the problem. 428 00:35:32,109.932 --> 00:35:36,999.932 Just making sure that you have that person who is gonna help you along the way. 429 00:35:37,299.932 --> 00:35:38,319.932 That's gonna be huge. 430 00:35:39,384.932 --> 00:35:42,904.932 That's huge and how do you do that? Networking is a great way, right? Yep. 431 00:35:42,904.932 --> 00:35:55,594.932 Get getting out there, getting to going to visit, different properties and then going to the conferences, talking to people, being willing to put yourself out there and make sure that they know who you are so that they can call on you. 432 00:35:55,594.932 --> 00:36:01,264.932 But then if it's someone that you feel might be a good mentorship, you can follow up on that as well. 433 00:36:02,159.932 --> 00:36:02,519.932 Yes. 434 00:36:02,519.932 --> 00:36:03,479.932 We wanna repeat that. 435 00:36:03,479.932 --> 00:36:06,239.932 Rewind that everyone, and listen to it one more time. 436 00:36:06,459.932 --> 00:36:08,859.932 Because people are key in this work. 437 00:36:08,889.932 --> 00:36:10,569.932 Beth, the work we do is heavy. 438 00:36:10,569.932 --> 00:36:12,9.932 We've touched on that a little bit. 439 00:36:12,39.932 --> 00:36:13,719.932 You're very passionate about it. 440 00:36:13,719.932 --> 00:36:16,359.932 So there's a mental load. 441 00:36:16,789.932 --> 00:36:23,869.932 That goes on in this kind of work, and I'm so thankful that you use AI because I know it frees up some of your time. 442 00:36:23,904.932 --> 00:36:37,239.932 So what do you do to keep grounded outside of work, whether it's hobbies or vow or sources of inspiration? What, how do you spend your time so that you can come back full and do this work? With your positivity? Yes. 443 00:36:37,239.932 --> 00:36:38,439.932 With the positivity. 444 00:36:38,549.932 --> 00:36:39,869.932 Couple of different things. 445 00:36:39,869.932 --> 00:36:41,569.932 I read I love reading. 446 00:36:41,599.932 --> 00:36:54,569.932 My mom, I used to get yelled at the dinner table because I'd sit there with my little book and read and, mom and dad wanted me to talk and tell people about my day, but I was a reader that's huge, taking time for you to just. 447 00:36:54,929.932 --> 00:36:57,269.932 And it might be reading for pleasure. 448 00:36:57,269.932 --> 00:36:59,39.932 I love historical fiction. 449 00:36:59,289.932 --> 00:37:04,179.932 So it might be something like that, but sometimes it's about learning a new concept, that kind of thing. 450 00:37:04,489.932 --> 00:37:10,699.932 But then completely personal is, just looking for beauty in our world. 451 00:37:10,819.932 --> 00:37:17,339.932 I go to the beach and I look for, shell look for, as I'm walking along, I'm looking for neat little rocks. 452 00:37:17,339.932 --> 00:37:18,989.932 I'm a amateur rock hound. 453 00:37:20,114.932 --> 00:37:23,414.932 And then going out at night and looking at the stars. 454 00:37:23,604.932 --> 00:37:29,424.932 The poster behind me, which no one will be able to see, is the Pale Blue dot poster. 455 00:37:29,424.932 --> 00:37:36,774.932 It was an image taken by Voyager one on February 14th, 1990, and it was at a distance of 3.7 456 00:37:36,774.932 --> 00:37:38,874.932 billion miles from our sun. 457 00:37:39,294.932 --> 00:37:46,464.932 But it's a picture of our earth, and that's a picture of every last one of us that were alive in 1990. 458 00:37:46,464.932 --> 00:37:48,54.932 And that little tiny dot. 459 00:37:49,344.932 --> 00:37:52,584.932 That helps keep me grounded, helps keep me humble. 460 00:37:52,894.932 --> 00:37:59,494.932 We are here to help people and to make sure that we can all live and have a rewarding life. 461 00:38:00,94.932 --> 00:38:07,594.932 And so that this going out, looking at the stars and contemplating, the fact that it's all of us together. 462 00:38:08,134.932 --> 00:38:09,124.932 That's very helpful. 463 00:38:09,124.932 --> 00:38:13,384.932 So yeah, reading and then just taking the time to enjoy beauty and naked. 464 00:38:14,719.932 --> 00:38:16,189.932 That's such an inspiration. 465 00:38:16,229.932 --> 00:38:17,129.932 It's so true. 466 00:38:17,129.932 --> 00:38:19,379.932 Like we're just here to help each other. 467 00:38:19,379.932 --> 00:38:23,249.932 Like you just said, I've seen the quote we're all just here walking each other home. 468 00:38:23,669.932 --> 00:38:28,999.932 And we're, we all deserve the same access to resources and homes and all the things. 469 00:38:28,999.932 --> 00:38:30,739.932 So that was nice, Beth. 470 00:38:30,839.932 --> 00:38:40,184.932 What's one piece of advice, if you were asked by someone, what's one piece of advice you would give women working in affordable housing? It could be about anything. 471 00:38:43,754.932 --> 00:38:47,264.932 You can't pour anything from an empty cup. 472 00:38:48,434.932 --> 00:39:00,44.932 And what that means is you do have to take time core yourself to keep yourself relaxed and able to do the job. 473 00:39:00,494.932 --> 00:39:04,364.932 And how do you keep that cup full so you have some decor Is. 474 00:39:05,69.932 --> 00:39:08,69.932 Take time to do what makes you happy. 475 00:39:08,99.932 --> 00:39:09,689.932 Do what relaxes you. 476 00:39:09,689.932 --> 00:39:15,209.932 Whether it's a massage or beach walks or reading it, it can be anything. 477 00:39:15,209.932 --> 00:39:21,569.932 But making sure that you practice self-care is so important to keep you at your best. 478 00:39:23,819.932 --> 00:39:25,409.932 That is great advice. 479 00:39:25,709.932 --> 00:39:26,309.932 It's so true. 480 00:39:26,309.932 --> 00:39:32,99.932 You gotta put your seatbelt on for, what is it? The, you gotta do your air mask first on the airplane, right? So that you can help everybody else. 481 00:39:32,409.932 --> 00:39:33,429.932 That is great advice. 482 00:39:33,969.932 --> 00:39:44,249.932 Now everyone got to hear exactly why you are the WAHNderful Woman of the Year Anyone that just listened to this WAHNcast will have no question on how you were nominated, why you were chosen. 483 00:39:44,489.932 --> 00:39:45,419.932 We're so excited. 484 00:39:45,419.932 --> 00:39:49,799.932 You're part of our community, Beth, and I can't wait to celebrate all the things we do together in the future. 485 00:39:49,799.932 --> 00:39:51,629.932 And thank you for your time today. 486 00:39:52,229.932 --> 00:39:53,99.932 Yeah, thank you. 487 00:39:53,639.932 --> 00:40:03,114.932 This was fun and I very much enjoy it and I very much enjoy just sharing the mission and sharing, what we can do to spread it and make it work. 488 00:40:04,509.932 --> 00:40:05,109.932 Yes. 489 00:40:05,169.932 --> 00:40:06,489.932 And I can't wait to see what we do. 490 00:40:06,609.932 --> 00:40:07,509.932 It's gonna be amazing. 491 00:40:07,959.932 --> 00:40:08,679.932 Absolutely. 492 00:40:09,439.932 --> 00:40:10,219.932 Thank you Beth. 493 00:40:11,629.932 --> 00:40:16,999.932 Thanks for being here with us on WAHNcast the official podcast of the Women's Affordable Housing Network. 494 00:40:17,389.932 --> 00:40:25,609.932 Every guest, every story, every listen, helps us keep this space real rooted and resonant, and we're so glad you're a part of it. 495 00:40:26,29.932 --> 00:40:28,909.932 Big thanks to our guests for sharing their time and knowledge with us. 496 00:40:29,344.932 --> 00:40:37,114.932 To our sponsors for making this platform possible and to you for tuning in, sharing and helping us keep this conversation going. 497 00:40:37,804.932 --> 00:40:43,234.932 Be sure to follow rate and share WAHNcast wherever you listen and bring a friend next time we save them a seat. 498 00:40:44,209.932 --> 00:40:44,329.932 I.