Business
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,