Leadership

Michael Mendillo is an equity partner with FirstService Residential, the largest residential management company in North America. As president and principal, Michael’s responsibilities include client retention, leadership development, culture building, organizational growth and strategic initiatives. Michael possesses first-hand knowledge of industry and corporate trends and challenges, having directly pitched and closed some of the largest communities in the region. Michael is responsible for identifying, due diligence and negotiation of all regional acquisitions – through closing and integration. He has been involved in 24 such strategic acquisitions including The Niles Company, Community Management Group and the Abbott Group, attributing to the key growth of the organization. 
 
In 1997, Michael’s organization, The Wentworth Group partnered with FirstService Residential, becoming FirstService Residential’s East Region serving community associations across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Washington D.C., Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Tennessee. Prior to the Wentworth Group and FirstService Residential, Michael founded and served as CEO of Mandell Investment Inc., a real estate investment management firm, working with national and regional residential real estate developers.
 
Michael is responsible for creating two region-specific, associate-centric events aimed at education, development and motivation – L.E.A.D.S. in its 12^th year and the company’s Annual Meeting in its 22^nd year. L.E.A.D.S. attracts industry partners, clients and sponsors, giving them a unique opportunity to introduce their brand to all of the region’s associates, and features compelling motivational speakers, year-after-year. Both have evolved into two-day events that feature educational programming, a review of previous year accomplishments and goals and objectives for the current year, as well as allowing for associate interaction, networking and engagement.
 
Through a charismatic personality, a genuine connection with and passion for people, Michael has become a prolific public speaker on such topics as community association management, entrepreneurialism, leadership, vision, corporate culture and the relationship between service and business. He has appeared as a keynote speaker and panel member on such topics as customer service, leadership, human resources management, achieving and sustaining business success and growing your company in today’s climate. Michael’s speaking engagements have included Columbia University, New York University Stern School of Business, William Paterson University, The International Builders Show, Community Associations Institute (CAI) and the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM).
 
Michael graduated from William Paterson University with a Bachelor of Science in Business and currently sits on the University’s Advisory Board for the College of Business. Michael has taught on community association management at Monmouth University, highlighting industry principles community association management as a career path. Additionally, he sits on the board of Rutgers Customer Experience Program through Rutgers University Center for Innovation Education.

Dennis Abbott serves as the President of the Carolinas for FirstService Residential. Abbott has been an equity partner with FirstService Residential since 2011. He is responsible for executing the company’s strategic initiatives, and defines the organization's long-term and short-term objectives within the Carolinas.

He has worked in the community association field for almost a quarter century, founding Abbott Enterprises in 1989, which became a FirstService partner company in March 2011. The company is one of fewer than 300 community management firms to have earned CAI’s Accredited Association Management Company (AAMC) designation. Since joining FirstService Residential, Abbott quickly established himself as a leader within FirstService Residential guiding his team to record results in revenue, profitability growth, and client satisfaction scores.

Abbott is the 2013 President of the Community Associations Institute (CAI). Among many CAI leadership positions, he has served as chair of CAI’s Association of Professional Community Managers Board and as President of CAI’s North Carolina chapter. A member of CAI’s professional education faculty, Abbott has also served as vice chair of the National Board of Certification for Community Association Managers and as vice chair of the CAI Designation Ethics Committee. He is a member of CAI’s prestigious President’s Club. He is the recipient of various awards including the 2007 Excellence in Designations Award, 2006 Rising Star, and 2012 Recruiter of The Year – all awarded by CAI.

Abbott attended Francis Marion University from 1977-1981 where he studied Business Administration. He is among 5% of all community managers to hold the most- prestigious industry designation as a Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM®).

Jesse DiGiovanni, vice president of human resources, is responsible for the oversight and direction of all human resources activities, including planning and development of initiatives to align with company policies, culture and best practices. She will also serve as a strategic business partner, working closely with market and operational leaders to help meet and exceed organizational goals.

DiGiovanni has vast experience working with leadership teams to advise on talent management, associate engagement, HR metrics analysis, workforce and succession planning, performance management and learning and development functions. Most recently she served as the HR Leader – East Coast for The RealReal. Jesse has an MBA in human resource management from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a Bachelor of Science in human resources management and industrial psychology from Ramapo College of New Jersey.

Steve Peck has managed Associations and condominium regimes since 1991 and been involved with construction and development since the 1980s and has offered no excuse for why he still does it. Steve served two terms on the Board of the Community Associations Institute (CAI-SC) and several years as Vice President. Steve earned a degree in Management and Entrepreneurship from the University of South Carolina Moore School of Business in the days back before there were computers. He has earned the designations of Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) from the National Board of Certification for Community Association Managers and Association Management Specialist (AMS) from CAI and has completed all of the coursework in CAI’s Professional Management Development Program. Steve is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Steve has created and conducts seminars on the topics of budgeting, Board governance and Board operations as well as many other topics in the field of Community Management. He is also a South Carolina Certified Pool Operator and the person who named this company Community Management Group.

Raymond Tate serves as a key member of the region’s executive team that sets our strategic direction, spearheading business development initiatives consistent with this strategy. In addition, he is responsible for building and managing the region’s business development team always leading by example in maintaining FirstService Residential’s mission and core values.
 
Raymond Tate came to FirstService Residential with over 15 years of progressive business development experience. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President of Business Development for Planned Companies. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Hampton University.

As vice president, Barger is responsible for daily oversight of the company’s Charleston market, a key area for growth for FirstService Residential. He works with local teams to increase brand awareness, deliver on the company’s commitment to service excellence, and contribute to growth and retention in the market.

Barger is a proven operations leader with a diverse background in the restaurant, hotel and sports and entertainment industries. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in budget development, capital investment strategies, contract negotiations and client relationship cultivation. He holds an associate degree in culinary arts and a Bachelor of Science in hotel and restaurant management from Widener University.  

 

Allan joined FirstService Residential in 2020 and oversees all aspects of lifestyle and large-scale communities in the Carolinas, including planning and developing of initiatives to align with company policies, culture and best practices. Irwin serves as a strategic business partner, working closely with our leadership teams.

Allan has vast experience working at large-scale lifestyle communities throughout the country, where he successfully achieved board member and homeowner objectives. Most recently, he served as the general manager at Cypress Lakes in Lakewood, Florida. Allan has his B.S. in engineering/management from the USFA Academy and his master’s in business/finance from Webster University. He is a member of CMAA, Community Associations Institute (CAI) and the National Eagle Scout Association.

Krista Westbury is a regional director with FirstService Residential overseeing the Charleston area. Krista has been part of our team since 2013. She brings with her over 12 years of community management experience. Working in operations and leading our management and administrative teams, her strong leadership has contributed greatly in creating procedures which are aimed towards increased client service and satisfaction.

Sandy Westland, LPM®, RAM®, CAM®, serves as a regional director in the Charleston market, where she is a native. Westland brings with her over 35 years of property management experience. She began her career in 1985 as a leasing agent and quickly became a Licensed Property Manager (LPM). During the next 20 years of her career, she rose to a regional vice president in the multi-family property management field. She has also earned her Registered Apartment Manager (RAM®) and Certified Apartment Manager (CAM®) accreditations.

In 2006, Westland joined the organization, quickly learned the association property management side and became a member of the Community Associations Institute (CAI). She is responsible for ensuring the community managers under her leadership meet all homeowners’ needs and interacting with the board members. She has developed and implemented several leasing and renewal programs, taught financial and marketing classes and developed budgets. Her vast experience and attention to detail allow her and her team to deliver exceptional service and solutions that enhance the value of every property and the lifestyle of every resident in the communities they manage.

Westland attended the College of Charleston, where she studied business

Rose Hallam serves as a regional director with our South Carolina team. Hallam joined FirstService Residential in 2019, bringing over 8 years of experience in the property management industry.

Prior to entering the property management industry, she owned her own business for 10 years. Her diverse background and strong business acumen serves her well in supporting and guiding the associates and boards of the communities that she oversees.

Hallam has obtained her Certified Manager of Community Association (CMCA®) and is an active member of the South Carolina Chapter of the Community Association Institute (CAI). She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey

Judy Julison recently joined the FirstService Residential team as the Senior Vice President of Lifestyle Programming.  In this capacity, She facilitates lifestyle training for new Associates and oversees the development and execution of lifestyle programs and support operations at our active adult and multi-generational lifestyle communities across the East Region.

Prior to making the decision to join the FirstService Residential team, Julison worked as the National Director of Lifestyle Operations for PulteGroup, working exclusively with the company’s Del Webb brand.  Over her 14 year tenure with this homebuilder, she was responsible for supporting more than 50 Del Webb community teams in 21 markets across the country with planning, development and delivery of active adult lifestyle amenities, programs and Association management and governance operations.  Ensuring quality, continuity and alignment with the ever changing consumer needs and interests were a primary emphasis.

Earlier in her career, Julison worked as the Vice President/Executive Director of the Homeowner's Association at Del Webb’s Sun City Huntley, a 5,750 home large-scale active-adult lifestyle community in the state of Illinois. Concurrently, she also supported smaller-scale Del Webb residential properties in the area with lifestyle programming and Association operations.  Prior to employment at Sun City, Julison worked as the Superintendent of Recreation and in other management capacities in the leisure service/parks & recreation industry for over 15 years. 

Julison completed undergraduate studies in Education at Northern Illinois University and holds a Master of Science in Management & Leadership from National Louis University.  She is also certified as a National Parks & Recreation Industry professional and holds the CMCA and AMS professional designations through the Community Association Institute.

Scott Lang is Senior Vice President of Finance for the East Region at FirstService Residential where he is responsible for driving revenue enhancement and cost control initiatives across the region. Additionally, he is responsible for providing leadership and oversight to our Corporate Accounting, Client Accounting, HR and Legal groups.
 
Prior to joining FirstService Residential, Lang was a Managing Director at the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) where he advised large financial institutions on derivative and market matters. Prior to RBS, Lang had a successful career at Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and Pricewaterhouse Coopers. In total, Lang brings over 25 years of financial, business management, and customer service expertise to FirstService Residential.
 
Lang has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting/Finance/Economics from the State University of New York at Oswego, an MBA in Finance/Management of Organizations from Columbia University in New York City and is a Certified Public Accountant.
 
Lang is actively involved in his local community, serving as Treasurer of the Cub Scouts and of the town library.

Scott Bresnick drives and supports a wide range of strategic and operational initiatives. He is also responsible for transferring best practices across the operations and business units to impact positive change throughout the organization.

Bresnick brings over 15 years of strategic management and process development experience. He has hands-on experience with businesses ranging from start-up to enterprise with extensive knowledge of corporate operations and business management including business planning, strategic management, and project planning.

Bresnick received his Bachelors Degree in Business Management and his Masters in Business Administration, both from Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey.

Montanaro is often asked to visit our client sites to work with and advise our residential boards during the selection process of their sited managers. She also provides our clients with extensive associate evaluations ensuring their communities are properly staffed and managed accordingly.

Montanaro has over 18 years of experience in staffing services. Prior to joining FirstService Residential in 2008, she was President and founder of an Executive Search Firm specializing in service related industries, where she placed and coached Executive level management nationally. She worked closely with “C” level management to identify their associate needs and improve their selection processes.

Montanaro is an active member of Community Associations Institute (CAI) New Jersey, including serving on the Beach Party Committee. She attended Monmouth University in New Jersey where she majored in Communications with a concentration in Radio and Television.

Alan Trachtenberg has centralized legal oversight responsibility including contract initiation, review and negotiation; oversees corporate compliance; provides education, advice and assistance to associates on their responsibilities and legal related industry topics; litigation oversight and management; risk management including mitigating and reporting and liaison for national risk management and insurance programs; consults on and assists with employment law and related matters.

Trachtenberg has over 20 years experience in the professional community association management having previously provided direct community management services, as well as providing oversight and guidance to community managers and board members. He also has served as Director of Human Resources for FirstService Residential, coordinating and overseeing personnel management and administration.

Trachtenberg graduated from Rutgers College with a B.A. in Economics and received his J.D. from New England School of Law. He is a member of the New Jersey and Massachusetts Bars and is an active member of Community Associations Institute.

Ilene Jablonski, vice president of marketing and communications, is responsible for the marketing strategy and execution, internal and external communications and development of new business development initiatives for the East Region of FirstService Residential.

With many years of marketing leadership experience, llene has developed and implemented marketing, branding and communications programs for the real estate industry. Prior to joining FirstService Residential in 2018, Ilene spent over 17 years with Mack-Cali Realty Corporation and Roseland Residential Trust. With over 20 years of related experience, Ilene has a proven track record of building successful marketing teams, developing award-winning campaigns and increasing brand recognition.

Ilene remains active on the Hudson County landscape, serving on the board of the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce and the Jersey City Economic Development Association and member of the New Jersey City University School of Business Advisory Council. In addition, she is a member of Community Associations Institute of New Jersey (CAI-NJ) and IREM NJ.

Ilene graduated, with honors, from Kean University with a Bachelor’s degree in Management Science and Marketing.