Best COCM Podcasts (2024)

1
Transforming student housing spaces with Liz Toombs 15:09

3h ago15:09

15:09

In this episode, we’re chatting with Liz Toombs of PDR Interiors, about her experience in transforming student housing spaces into havens of mental well-being. Liz, a Certified Interior Decorator, has channeled her expertise into creating spaces that not only look beautiful but also promote mental health across numerous campuses. Her work, recogniz…

1
Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence: Financial Reporting in Student Housing with Emily Hill and Stephanie Lachina 14:28

6M ago14:28

14:28

I've always enjoyed the collaborative team aspect and problem-solving with clients,” - Stephanie Lachina Join us as we celebrate COCM's 20th anniversary with the theme "Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, and Building the Future." On this episode of "Student Housing Matters," Emily Hill, COCM Corporate Accountant, and Stephanie Lachina, COC…

1
Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence: Inside COCM's DEI Task Force with Dr. Mecca Marsh, Corey Reedy, and Kern Williams 33:02

7M ago33:02

33:02

"I think that the important part is making sure that we have a variety of voices at the table... looking at what their concerns are and their perspective. That's going to be important as the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) task force moves forward," - Kern Williams Join us as we celebrate COCM's 20th anniversary with the theme "Honoring the …

1
Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence: How COCM's Student Housing Calculator Revolutionizing Student Housing with Doug Brown 20:27

8M ago20:27

20:27

“Housing is a critical activity that relates directly to the status of the university, and if it's not healthy, the rest of the institution is not either,” - Doug Brown, President, COCM Join us as we celebrate COCM's 20th anniversary with the theme "Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, and Building the Future." On this episode of "Student Ho…

1
Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence: Fostering Leadership Excellence with Dr. Sharon McDade 20:12

8M ago20:12

20:12

"Strike up conversations with everyone you possibly can while you're at conferences, you never know what threads will come from them. Thank you, Doug, for talking with me on a bus ride, oh, so many years ago. And [to COCM] for being such engaged participants in addressing leadership issues for the fellows," - Dr. Sharon McDade Join us as we celebra…

1
Leading Maintenance Teams with Care & Respect – with Hermond Lawson, Chris Adams & Chenal Alford 32:29

8M ago32:29

32:29

What makes a Director of Facilities successful in leading their maintenance team? It’s more than just showing up and doing the job. And it’s more than just taking good care of the facility. Success comes from taking care of the students and staff as well, building relationships with them as people to make sure they have what they need to thrive. Ch…

1
Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence: COCM's Early Days and Path to Success with Patrick Savolskis 10:55

9M ago10:55

10:55

"The great thing about Capstone is it gives you the ability to get some skills that you wouldn't have, otherwise, for years. Especially because in housing, it's not like you're back in the office somewhere, just pushing paper; you're right there on the frontline with students," - Patrick Savolskis Join us as we celebrate COCM's 20th anniversary wit…

1
Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence: Green River College and COCM: A Partnership for Student Success with George Frasier 20:02

9M ago20:02

20:02

"I've really enjoyed working with Capstone. Capstone is truly a learning organization, and our relationship has evolved over time. I've never doubted that we had their attention. I appreciate that commitment to the project and making sure the resident life experience is where it needs to be," - George Frasier, Green River College Join us as we cele…

1
Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence: COCM and BGSU A Powerful Partnership with Sheri Stoll 24:14

10M ago24:14

24:14

"It was just this juxtaposition of people from very different places with their heads down working on stuff. And I thought, you know, this is going to work, and it's going to work well. And everything that we couldn't have hoped for, and more has happened. And I'm very appreciative." - Sheri Stoll Join us as we celebrate COCM's 20th anniversary wit…

1
Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence: Lasting Connections and Leaving a Legacy with Dr. Amy Lorenz 11:37

10M ago11:37

11:37

"COCM is receptive to hearing from their team. So…speak up if there's something that you need or have feedback on. Most people are really willing to listen and work with you to help create something better."— Dr. Amy Lorenz Join us as we celebrate COCM's 20th anniversary with the theme "Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, and Building the F…

1
Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence: Professional Development, Relationships, and the Power of Campus Living with Erik Elordi 20:38

10M ago20:38

20:38

"You've got something unique here with COCM with so many different types of schools. One of the things I loved about COCM is the ability to move on within the company and grow and progress. I would really encourage people to do that as much as possible. It's really worth it,"— Erik Elordi Join us as we celebrate COCM's 20th anniversary with the the…

1
Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence: From Unexpected Hire to Key Player with Tamiko Thompson 9:20

11M ago9:20

9:20

"I may not have direct contact with our clients and owners and residents, but when I can fix a problem, or solve an issue for someone, that's what gives me satisfaction every day," — Tamiko Thompson Join us as we celebrate COCM's 20th anniversary with the theme "honoring the past, celebrating the present, and building the future." On this episode o…

1
20 Years of Growth and Innovation: Celebrating COCM's Impact on Student Housing 21:43

11M ago21:43

21:43

In this episode of the Student Housing Matters Podcast, host Alton Irwin, Chief Marketing Officer COCM, celebrates the 20th anniversary of Capstone On-Campus Management by looking back at the company's early days. He is joined by three longtime employees of COCM: Doug Brown is the President and Founder of COCM. Doug's passion for higher education a…

1
Creating a Positive Living Experience - with COCM's Maria Saad 11:55

1y ago11:55

11:55

For Maria Saad, of the COCM team providing guidance and making a positive impact on students' lives is not just a job—it's a passion. On this episode of Student Housing Matters, Maria sits down to share her insights on the student housing industry. As someone who believes that 'it's more of a learning experience for the students,' Maria shares why …

1
Introducing COCM’s New EVP of Operations – with Jeremy Biddy 5:26

1y ago5:26

5:26

“It's been an interesting, interesting time since early spring of 2020. And I think what we have learned are some lessons about how we can better provide service for both our students and our employees… Those folks on the front line really are the key to our success. We know that, and we're going to work really hard to make sure they understand tha…

1
From Desk Attendant to EVP of Operations, a Look Back-with Sandy Hill 7:52

1+ y ago7:52

7:52

"I think I'm the proudest of how much growth we've had. By expanding, we got to get on so many different diverse campuses. And we get to meet so many different administrators in the business of student housing, and that gives you the opportunity to provide jobs for folks, which gave me all the interactions I've had with the incredible employees we'…

1
Web3 and Using Smart Contracts in Student Housing with Michael Huereque - with Michael Huereque 32:50

1+ y ago32:50

32:50

Web3 is coming and it will revolutionize the internet and how we transact business in all aspects of our lives. In the student housing arena, technologies like blockchain and smart contracts can offer digital credentialing, making the real estate process faster, more efficient, and even more secure. But, like with all new technologies, many new ter…

1
Advocating for Gender Equality Through the COCM Women’s Alliance - with Hannah Mountford 16:42

1+ y ago16:42

16:42

Sexism, racism, and economic and educational inequality are just some of the significant challenges and barriers women face today. There are gender injustices everywhere, and women often struggle to make their voices heard. So, what can student housing organizations do to make gender equality a priority? Hannah Mountford serves as the Director of F…

1
Immersive Marketing for Student Housing – with Rami Kalla 20:32

1+ y ago20:32

20:32

It’s one thing to see photos or even watch a two-dimensional video of a student housing complex you’re interested in. But what if you could experience what it’s like to walk around the apartment, sit by the pool and even play cornhole with other students on the property—from anywhere in the world? Or even well before the property is built? Rami Kal…

1
Dynamic Women in Leadership – with Erica Steele 15:17

1+ y ago15:17

15:17

Women and other minorities often struggle to make their voices heard, especially in the tech industry. But Erica Steele proves that a dynamic, young Black woman can rise through the ranks and become a C-suite leader in the technology space. Erica is the Chief Marketing Officer for the proptech startup EZ Turn, where she oversees the planning, devel…

1
Proptech to Serve Student Housing – with Chase Minnifield & Lincoln Ogata of EZ Turn 25:34

2y ago25:34

25:34

Do you seem to have the same issues with turn year after year? Are you still using paper lists? And communicating with vendors in a fragmented way? What if you could use a proptech platform to streamline the process, making turn season (and many other aspects of your student housing operations) run much more smoothly? CEO Chase Minnifield and COO L…

1
Storytelling for Student Housing – with F.J. Talley 17:50

2y ago17:50

17:50

Storytelling is a powerful teaching tool. It helps us engage with history and make sense of complex ideas. Telling stories is also an effective way to demonstrate the value of a business or organization and help consumers make informed decisions. So, what does that mean for us in the student housing industry? How can we best use storytelling to com…

1
Digital Marketing Strategy for Student Housing – with Matt Pavlick 40:49

2y ago40:49

40:49

The bar for providing an unforgettable student housing experience gets higher every year. And it’s crucial for a student housing community to develop a digital marketing strategy that showcases its differentiators and truly stands out from the rest. That's where a strong agency collaboration comes in. Matt Pavlick is President at GRO, a full-servic…

1
The Role of Mental Toughness in Facing Life’s Challenges – with LaRae Quy 26:15

2y ago26:15

26:15

Circumstances in our world have challenged individuals to be resilient in ways they never have before. The pandemic was new territory for all of us. As our world is changing, we need to activate new skills in order to land on our feet. Mental toughness is believing you will prevail when confronted with the unknown. So, how do you develop the mental…

1
Diversity in American Higher Education - with Frank Wu 28:06

2y ago28:06

28:06

There are over 100 languages spoken at Queens College. It is one of the most diverse higher education institutions in the United States. So how can other colleges, universities, and companies across the country become more proactive in their diversity efforts? Frank Wu is the first Asian American President of Queens College in New York. He is also …

1
The Supply Chain’s Effects on the Furniture Industry and Student Housing - with the Division Twelve Team 27:20

2y ago27:20

27:20

We all know about the supply chain issue. Manufacturers, companies, and even individual buyers know they’re more susceptible to issues receiving their products than ever before. But what is the impact on the furniture and student housing industries? Division Twelve is a minority-owned contract furnishings company, representing the finest manufactur…

1
How Strategic Leadership Can Change the Face of Higher Education - with Richard Gaumer, Dr. W. Joseph King, and Brian C. Mitchell 30:27

2y ago30:27

30:27

Higher education has evolved drastically over the last century. These unprecedented times have put the strategic leaders of colleges and universities inside a whirlwind of financial, demographic, and social challenges. On today’s episode of Student Housing Matters, guest host Alton Irwin sits down with Richard Gaumer and the authors of the new book…

1
Emotional Intelligence in Student Housing – with Natalya Cook 24:46

2y ago24:46

24:46

It’s important for students to feel valued in the place where they live. And emotional intelligence is key in giving Gen Zers that sense of belonging and connection. So, what can student housing organizations do to make EQ a priority? How can we create a culture where students feel seen, heard and understood? Natalya Cook is one of the newest team …

1
Achieve 100% Occupancy in a New Student Housing Community – with ReNesha Martin 10:03

2+ y ago10:03

10:03

How do you achieve 100% occupancy in a new student housing community—during a pandemic? ReNesha Martin is the Director of Affiliated Housing at Bowie State University’s Christa McAuliffe Residential Community and Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community (ELLC), a new development designed to support aspiring entrepreneurs and other business-minded…

1
3 Things You Should Be Doing Now for 2022 Summer Conferences Recovery – with Erik Elordi 16:36

3y ago16:36

16:36

Conference service programs have been in survival mode through the pandemic, adapting to challenging circumstances one day at a time. But in-person events are starting to come back, and it’s time for colleges and universities with summer programs to get prepared for the 2022 season. Erik Elordi is the National Director of Conference Services at COC…

1
Meeting People Where They Are – with Corey Reedy 17:58

3y ago17:58

17:58

Corey Reedy doesn’t do what he does for the recognition. He truly cares about the student housing professionals he works with, and that inspires him to meet people where they are and pour into them as much as possible. But Corey does appreciate being recognized with the Excel Award because it lets him know he’s doing something right! Corey Reedy is…

1
Why the Excel Award Is a Win for Your Team– with Michelle Smith 13:34

3y ago13:34

13:34

“The [COCM Excel] Award is given to one person, but it’s really comprised of everybody on the team. It just happens to be that one person who received it because everybody pushes you to be better and do better. You always see the head coach gets all the kudos, but it’s really the folks that are behind the scenes working day in and day out—they’re t…

1
To Earn Respect, Be a Team Player – with Kerissa Hobstetter 12:37

3y ago12:37

12:37

Some student housing professionals are only inclined to perform the duties listed in their job description. And others are team players, willing to get their hands dirty to keep things running smoothly. Kerissa Hobstetter falls into the second category, doing whatever needs to be done to provide the best possible experience for her residents. Keris…

1
A Day in the Life of a Servant Leader – with Scott Schatzer 12:06

3y ago12:06

12:06

If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. And lucky for COCM, Scott Schatzer loves to serve others. Scott is the Talent Recruitment and Wellness Coordinator at the Capstone corporate offices, assisting the operations team in the recruitment, hiring and onboarding of field staff and managing COCM’s Learning Management System and…

1
Leading with Calm in a Crisis – with Jeremy Williamson 15:27

3y ago15:27

15:27

A strong leader stays calm in a crisis, taking whatever is thrown at them in stride and simply doing what needs to be done. And it is Jeremy Williamson’s ability to stay cool, collected and confident when problems arise that his colleagues admire most. Jeremy is the Director of Housing Operations and Facilities at University Village and The QUAD St…

1
Connecting with the Students We Serve – with Meera Ramsoondar-Cuevas 14:17

3y ago14:17

14:17

Western University of Health Sciences takes a whole-student approach to educating future healthcare professionals. And that complements the way COCM’s Meera Ramsoondar-Cuevas serves her team and the students she works with, connecting with people through the lens of their individual experience. Meera is the Director of Housing Operations at The Dau…

1
Summer Internship Housing – with Emily Eskridge-June 10:37

3y ago10:37

10:37

Most of us associate summer on campus with conference programs. But summer interns need housing, too, and many campuses are capitalizing on this need. So, what does a summer internship student housing program look like? Would it work on your campus? And what are summer interns looking for in a place stay? Emily Eskridge-June is the Director of Hous…

1
Facilities & Operations in Student Housing – with Patrick Shanahan 13:30

3y ago13:30

13:30

What does it look like to serve students from the facilities and operations side of student housing? What does it take to keep a residence hall complex well-maintained and running smoothly? Patrick Shanahan is the Director of Facilities and Administration at The Heights, Montclair State University’s newest residence halls complex. Patrick has worke…

1
Solving Complex Problems in Student Housing – with Kern Williams 24:34

3y ago24:34

24:34

As you rise through the ranks of a career in student housing, you face more and more complex problems. Imagine, for example, taking on a site that has occupancy concerns, building issues AND staffing challenges. So, what do successful leaders do to avoid overwhelm and focus their energy on finding solutions? Kern Williams serves as Regional Manager…

1
Marketing & Leasing in the Student Housing World – with Brittany Pieper 20:32

3y ago20:32

20:32

How do you design a marketing plan that attracts residents to a particular student housing community? What if you’re responsible for promoting 35 different sites, each with their own unique culture and set of amenities? Brittany Pieper is the Site Marketing Coordinator for COCM, where she works with our 35-plus partner institutions and their onsite…

1
Residence Life in the COVID Era – with Katherine Warren 13:13

3+ y ago13:13

13:13

Student housing professionals have faced one challenge after another in 2020. When it comes to residence life, this has not been an ideal year, as the pandemic has kept us from doing most of our traditional programming. So, how are housing directors building community in the COVID era? Katherine Warren is COCM’s Assistant Director of Residence Life…

1
Emerging Touchless Security Technology Coming Out of COVID-19 - with Charlie Regan 15:07

3+ y ago15:07

15:07

Over the course of 2020, different industries have been impacted in a variety of ways. Today, we take a look at the topic of security – specifically the tracking of the coming and going of people within facilities. Students come and go from student housing facilities all hours of the day – so how do we keep them safe and secure during a pandemic? C…

1
The New Normal of Conference Services – with Christine Sismaet 21:55

3+ y ago21:55

21:55

The conference services team at the University of Washington was looking forward to serving 11,000 overnight guests and facilitating 200 overnight conference sessions this summer. But 2020 had other plans, and though the campus did not close, Christine Sismaet and her team had a very different season than expected. Christine is the Operations Manag…

1
Utilizing Conferences and Summer Programming for Income Growth and Positive Net Revenue – with Erik Elordi 28:18

3+ y ago28:18

28:18

Conferences and summer programs offer institutions an opportunity to generate revenue that can reduce the financial burden placed on students during the academic year. And it’s not just housing – a strong, efficient summer program brings revenue to other campus entities as well, including dining services, athletics, facilities, and even academic de…

1
COVID-19’s Impact on JHU Off-Campus Housing – with Kristen Franklin 9:35

4y ago9:35

9:35

Serving university students who live off-campus puts Kristen Franklin in a unique position. Yes, she works closely with the highly regarded research institution her residents attend. But her team also has the freedom to individualize their services and work independently. So, what are the pros and cons of this arrangement when a global pandemic clo…

1
Adapting to Coronavirus Guidelines at ‘Gator Pond’ – with Lupita ‘Pete’ Morales 11:20

4y ago11:20

11:20

When the Coronavirus shut down college campuses across the US, most student housing facilities closed as well. But what do you do if the majority of your residents are not from the US and may not have the option to simply go home? How do you continue to serve students and stay connected with them when you’re required to stay at least six feet apart…

1
Caring for our Student Residents and Personnel during COVID-19 12:16

4y ago12:16

12:16

COCM understands the importance of motivating a team and driving engagement during a time of isolation and unfamiliar work environments. In order to determine how residential faculty working on campus and remotely at Marshall University are adapting to conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic we interviewed Heather Smith, Assistant Director of Opera…

1
Addressing Workplace Bullying in Student Affairs– with Heidi Yoder 22:41

4y ago22:41

22:41

We all want to work in an environment that somehow feeds our souls. What happens when we encounter a workplace that does the exact opposite? Heidi Yoder began researching workplace bullying within student affairs in the Fall of 2018. Now, she’s sharing some of her insights on preventing toxic workplace environments and handling instances of abusive…

1
Building a Community Beyond Higher Ed – with Nicole Terrell 15:14

4y ago15:14

15:14

It’s well known that a career in higher education leaves you with many transferable skills. Are those skills useful outside of your workplace? How can we use what we’ve learned working with students to better ourselves and our communities? In 2009, Nicole Terrell joined COCM as a first-time Assistant Director in a brand-new residence hall at Marsha…

1
Chosen for a Career in Higher Ed – with Rafael Cordwell 28:13

4y ago28:13

28:13

Rafael Cordwell believes that you don’t choose your profession, your profession chooses you. And in the beginning, Raf resisted a career in student affairs—despite encouragement from more than one of his supervisors at Southern Connecticut State. But higher education had other plans for Raf, and today, he aspires to impact campus culture and policy…

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