William H. Choice III, CPM® - President
As First Choice's Vice President Operations, Bill Choice heads the Houston branch office, which supervises over half of the company`s management portfolio. Additionally he oversees the computer information systems department for the company. Doubling as a Property Manager, he currently supervises four properties, one of which is undergoing extensive rehab.
Bill's experience with property management began during his high school years when he served as maintenance worker during the summers and after school. This grass roots experience continued during his college years where he worked in the maintenance department on the property where he lived.
Bill's previous experience includes eight years in consulting with Arthur Young, Ernst & Young after the merger, and a three-year stint with BSG Consulting. During this period Choice managed multiple consulting projects concurrently while developing new business and mentoring new staff members. His experience in multitasking has helped his transition from systems consulting to property management.
Bill is actively involved in the implementation and training of all onsite personnel in computer related matters, as well as the analysis and negotiation of contracts for supplies and services for First Choice managed properties. He is a Certified Property Manager® and holds a Texas real estate sales license.
Linda Gross
ARM®,
CPM®
Senior Regional Manager
Working through the ranks as an on-site manager and assistant property manager, Linda has gained superior direct property management skills, making her a valuable asset to the First Choice Management team. With fifteen years of intensive management experience, her hands-on approach and thorough understanding of the inner workings of a residential community allow her to successfully supervise an array of diverse properties in a variety of markets.
Particularly attuned to the needs of older properties, Linda`s portfolio includes major rehabilitation projects involving long standing deferred maintenance and poor resident profiles. Linda is also experienced in Class A upper end community management and working with institutional ownership clients.
Instrumental in developing and implementing innovative procedural and training programs, she holds the designation of Certified Property Manager® and Accredited Residential Manager®; she is active in the San Antonio Apartment Association and the San Antonio IREM Chapter, and holds a Texas real estate sales license.
Lisa
Towne
ARM®,
CPM®
Senior Regional Manager
Working in the property management field for over fifteen years, Lisa worked her way up through the ranks beginning as a leasing agent, followed by several assistant manager positions to prepare her for the management of several distressed properties through minor and major rehab projects. She has been a District Manager since 1997.
Lisa`s current portfolio includes properties ranging in size from 50 to 300 in locations throughout the Texas market. In addition to property management, Lisa has been instrumental in developing and implementing innovative procedural and training programs designed to maximize the efficiency and motivation of on-site personnel. She has strong training and marketing skills, gained from her extensive onsite background.
A licensed Texas sales agent, Lisa holds the designations of Accredited Residential Manager® and Certified Property Manager® and is active in the San Antonio Apartment Association and the San Antonio IREM Chapter.
Deborah Morgan
ARM®, CPM®
Senior Regional Manager
Heading First Choice`s startup East Coast operations, Debbie brings a background onsite experience starting with eight years at a 880 unit student property as a leasing consultant, assistant and community manager. Her knowledge of the local markets and laws solidifies First Choice`s position in the area. She has managed multiple properties as a Regional Manager since 1995 throughout the Southeast with concentrations in North and South Carolina and Virginia.
Debbie`s prior assignments include positions with both fee management companies and a REIT and properties of varying age, size and profile. She has been recognized as a resourceful problem solver and a strong leader and team builder. Serving as an asset manager she has a background of financial analysis and planning and investor communication.
She is both an Accredited Residential Manager®, a Certified Property Manager® as well a CPO (Certified Pool Operator) and has been active in local and state apartment associations in Virginia and North Carolina.
F. David Humes, SRA (RET), CPM®
Senior Regional Manager
Joining First Choice in 2006 in a dedicated consulting arrangement, David is currently supervising the West Texas portfolio. A talented property management veteran, Dave adds value to his assignments with years of experience including brokerage, building a fee management property management company, serving as Vice President of a national morgage banking firm and regional development firm.
Other experience includes leasing of office, retail, specialty properties and consulting assignments in areas of workout, bankruptcy, feasability inspection and audit for private and institutional clients.
Humes was President of the San Antonio Apartment Association in 1987 and the Society of Real Estate Appraisers in 1981-82, as well as the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the CID of the San Antonio board of Realtors. He has been honored as the CPM of the Year by the San Antonio IREM chapter in 1994 and by the San Antonio Apartment Association in 1998 with the prestigious Stanley Hammer award. He is a CPM and Texas real estate broker.
Eileen Haas, CPA
Controller
A seasoned Certified Public Accountant with Big 4 experience, Eileen Haas recently joined First Choice as controller, heading up the accounting department. Eileen relocated from Washington DC where she held the position of Partner Compensation and Tax Director of an international law firm. She has over 20 years of accounting experience in positions with Ernst and Young, Coopers & Lybrand, and Deloitte, Haskins & Sells.
Rounding out her business experience, Haas successfully started, owned and operated a Denver, Colorado restaurant with sit-down, take-out and local delivery. This background brings a valuable perspective to her position. Successfully overseeing a major systems conversion for the company during her first year demonstrated her ability to thrive in a collaborative work environment while testifying to her abilities as an innovative and self-motivated team builder.
Eileen holds a BBA with a major in accounting from The University of Houston and is a Certified Public Accountant.
