The Georgia and Atlanta Apartment Associations are excited to announce that Lisa Russo has been promoted to workforce development manager for the Georgia Apartment Association Foundation, formerly known as GAIEF.

The Foundation, formed in 2004 by industry leaders who recognized the need for career promotion as well as an education platform that prepared individuals to enter the apartment industry, is a 501(c)(3) organization that promotes career opportunities within the apartment industry.

“I am honored to serve in this role,” said Russo. “Historically, the apartment management profession was viewed as a job that one fell into by chance, but today our industry is recognized as a career of choice across the nation, primarily as result of hard work and dedication by Georgia's most visionary multifamily industry leaders forging partnerships with Georgia's educators.”

As workforce development manager, Russo will be responsible for helping establish strategic partnerships with high schools, career academies, technical colleges and other institutions to provide a platform for employers, students, educators and other stakeholders to share opportunities and resources. By partnering with these institutions and workforce organizations, the foundation can continue to promote career opportunities and showcase training that is available to those looking towards careers in the multifamily housing industry.

Russo earned her Bachelor of Science degree in human development and family studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

About the Georgia Apartment Association (GAA):

Representing an industry that provides homes to millions of Georgians, the Georgia Apartment Association (GAA) is made up of over 2,000 member companies that manage more nearly 500,000 apartment homes from seven affiliated associationsacross Georgia. The apartment industry and its residents annually contribute $20.6 billion to the economy and support over 200,000 jobs. For more information, please visit: https://www.ga-apt.org/.

About the Atlanta Apartment Association (AAA):

The Atlanta Apartment Association is the multifamily housing trade association for the Atlanta Metro area. Founded in 1975, AAA is one of the largest local apartment associations in the country and an affiliate of the Georgia Apartment Association and the National Apartment Association. Currently, AAA represents over 1,450 member companies consisting of 350 companies managing 380,000+ apartment homes, and over 1100 businesses that provide products and services to the industry. Additionally, AAA’s commitment to the community produces one of the largest annual food drives in the nation, contributing nearly 8 million meals to hungry families in metro Atlanta and north Georgia in 2017. For more information, please visit: https://www.atl-apt.org.