Tree Frog Profile: Mark McConnell
Mark McConnell is a graduate of the first cohort of North Seattle College’s Residential and Commercial Property Management Bachelor of Applied Science program. Originally from Muncie, Ind., he is a classically trained musician who played with U.S. Navy Fleet bands. We appreciated the opportunity to ask Mark some questions about his experience at North.
NSC: How does a musician with the U.S. Navy Fleet bands get into property management?
MM: I helped manage my parents’ college rentals when I was younger. I started with groundskeeping, some maintenance and leasing. I managed 35 units across six properties. I did it for extra income.
Why did you choose North Seattle College?
North offered the career focus on property management that I was looking for, with a reasonable commute and online instruction. It also was highly recommended by people in the field.
What was your experience like?
It was a good college experience, particularly with older professors who appreciated and could mentor older, nontraditional students like me. You can have a day job and do quite well at North. It’s all about communication, goal setting and time management.
What faculty members had the most impact on your experience?
All my faculty members were professionals in the field with decades of experience. It helped that my instructors came from all walks of life. I also appreciated the number of veterans involved in the program and the area employers that hired veterans.
Peter Lukevich handled the professional, ethical and legal approaches to communicating with customers and vendors, and emphasized that we must be prepared and professional at all times. Lyle Crews spent a lot of time with us on operations, developing management plans and how to present them. That involved budgeting, financing, forecasting revenue and how to collect it. Mark Potter focused on deal-making and negotiations, and shared a lot about energy consumption and conservation, with an emphasis on lighting. And then we had Cate O’dahl, the glue who kept the whole thing together.
The subject matter doesn’t come alive, unless you have faculty like this.
How did the RCPM program meet your needs?
It was a reasonable commute to campus; I commuted by ferry and buses. Class sizes were small, and instructors were engaged and passionate about the field. I looked forward to coming to class. And it got me on the path to steadily working in related fields. I’m currently working security across residential, commercial, and industrial sites, while pursuing an MBA in Healthcare Administration at WGU.
What are you hoping to achieve career-wise?
I just finished two years of state service as a public benefits specialist. I am on track with the income level targeted by the degree. I’m hoping to work for the state again, when I finish my MBA, and concentrate on improving employment opportunities for veterans. That will include housing, education and training, and life satisfaction post military service.
What would you tell others who might be interested in the RCPM program at North?
Contact and work with the adviser, take the classes, and get on that internship. Real estate and especially property management, is never boring. It’s full of possibilities.
If you had to name one takeaway from your overall experience, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions, engage with the professors and guest speakers. Do more than the minimum needed for each project; it only gives you more experience. Networking with and promoting your fellow classmates are also essential to getting good jobs.
Anything else?
Study hard, play hard and be friendly and outgoing.