As Q3 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on how much of our chapter’s success is built through connection and through the work our members do behind the scenes to create opportunities for others.

On July 22, we gathered at The Valen for our Float Your Boat Fête Summer Party. It was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, welcome new faces, and enjoy the relationships that make IREM so meaningful beyond our day-to-day work.

I’m also delighted to share that our chapter was awarded the 2026 Robert K. and Gladys M. Beal Chapter Grant. The $5,000 award will support our engineering apprenticeship program with Edison Academy, an initiative that allows us to introduce students to our industry and help create a path for the next generation of building professionals. I’m grateful to everyone whose work helped bring this program to life and earn this recognition.

While we’ve been enjoying the summer, our officers have also been looking ahead. On July 20, we met to begin developing our 2027 Board of Directors and planning for the chapter’s continued success. This is thoughtful work that our volunteer leaders undertake outside their already full schedules. Their commitment to developing future leaders and ensuring a strong succession plan speaks to the care they have for this chapter.

There is still plenty ahead of us this year. We’re looking forward to our Boro property tour on September 30 and IREM’s Leadership Conference in Chicago on November 14 and 15. Both are opportunities to learn, exchange ideas, and strengthen the connections that make membership so valuable.

And since we are already thinking about 2027, allow me a shameless plug: now is the time to get involved! Tell us what genuinely interests you and where you would like to contribute. We want to connect you with a committee that aligns with your interests and gives you a meaningful way to help shape what comes next for our chapter. You do not have to wait for a board position to make a difference!

Thank you for your continued engagement and for the many ways you support our chapter and one another. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished this quarter and excited to finish the year together.

Beal Grant

The Robert K. and Gladys M. Beal Chapter Grant is a funding program offered by the Institute of Real Estate Management. It provides financial assistance to help IREM chapters test creative ways to deliver education, recruit new members, and retain existing ones. Preference is given to innovative, scalable ideas that can be adapted by other real estate management markets.  

IREM Northern Virginia was awarded a grant of $5,000 to help fund our Service Technician Apprenticeship Program with Edison Academy.  These funds will help offset the cost to hire and train apprentices. There has been great success in hiring apprentices in our region and we are hoping that with this additional grant money we will be able to hire more apprentices this year and give more students the opportunity to work in the property management industry.  

The Edison Academy is holding a career fair on October 15th from 9 am 2 pm. Any companies that are IREM Northern Virginia members are welcome to participate. If your company is interested in hiring a maintenance apprentice, please reach out to Lauren Hall lhall@legend-mgt.com, our Workforce Development Chair, to discuss this opportunity in more detail and to reserve a table at the event.

Join fellow IREM members and industry professionals for our upcoming September General Membership Meeting in Tysons! The evening will feature your choice of two exclusive property tours beginning at 4:15 PM: Rise Apartments, showcasing a modern residential community, or Boro Tower, a prominent Class A office property located in the vibrant Boro neighborhood.

Following the tours, we’ll gather for happy hour from 5:00–6:30 PM in the 9th Floor Bolden Club Room, with appetizers and drinks provided. Weather permitting, guests can also enjoy the 9th Floor Skypark with bocce, cornhole, and jumbo chess. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore local properties, connect with fellow professionals, and enjoy a fun evening with the IREM community.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Summer Party! It was a fantastic evening filled with great conversations, new connections, and plenty of fun with our IREM community.

A special thank you to our Industry Partner Sponsors for their generous support in making this event such a success. We also appreciate everyone who attended and helped support our Workforce Development Partnership with Edison High School.

On September 23rd, IREM members and industry professionals came together for a meaningful Community Action Event at Women Giving Back, an organization dedicated to supporting women and children in crisis by providing quality clothing at no cost.

Volunteers spent the morning giving their time and energy to support Women Giving Back’s mission while connecting with fellow IREM members and industry professionals. The event provided a great opportunity to step away from the day-to-day and make a positive impact in the community.

A special thank you to everyone who volunteered and helped make the event a success. We are proud of our IREM community for continuing to come together, give back, and support organizations making a difference in the lives of others.

Managing Your Stress During Budget Season

October 6, 2026

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Join us for this engaging webinar, built for anyone leading a team through the most demanding stretch of our year!

Don't forget a great place to look for resources - our Industry Partners! These companies support our chapter and provide a multitude of services to property managers. See all of our Industry Partners here.