- Susan Choice
- Ursula Schlaeger
- Deborah Morgan
- William H. Choice
- Earlene Jacques
- Linda Gross
- Lisa Towne
- Glenda Arnett
- Demoine Menn

- Derek Mauney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Susan Choice  
CPM®, CCIM  

President

Susan's commitment, persistence, and energy have resulted in her transition from a property manager of 100 units of houses and duplexes in 1978, to positions of senior property manager with over 2,000 units in multiple locations by 1981 and vice president of a fee management company supervising six property managers and nine thousand multifamily units in five states from 1985-1991. The experience, expertise and relationships established during the fourteen years of hands-on management lead to the formation of First Choice Management Group in 1992.

Susan's strong organizational and leadership skills have directed the steady growth of First Choice, a well-known and respected Texas fee management company. Susan has combined a talented team of management specialists and created structured programs for hiring and training, new property takeover, safety procedures, and property/corporate office operations. This provides the framework for the superior management services First Choice clients deserve.

Recognized as the CPM® of the Year in San Antonio in 1993, she has been a Certified Property Manager® since 1981, is a licensed broker in Texas, Oklahoma and Virginia, and is a Past President of both the San Antonio IREM chapter and San Antonio Apartment Association. She is a recipient of the prestigious Stanley Hammer Award of the SAAA.

 

Ursula Schlaeger  CPM®

Vice President

Fulfilling the dual role of Controller and District Manager, Ursula is a Certified Property Manager® and a CPA, has a Bachelor of Science degree with honors, as well as holding a Texas real estate license. With over fourteen years of accounting and property management experience, she brings a high level of analytical skill to the company.

Ursula enhances the management team with her knowledge and background in accounting procedures and systems. In addition to supervising the accounting staff and related functions, she is responsible for ensuring that accurate and timely financial data is provided to clients, utilizing available resources efficiently and productively.

 

 

Deborah Morgan ARM®, CPM®

District Property 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.

 

William H. Choice III   CPM®

Vice President of Operations

As First Choice's Vice President Operations, Bill Choice heads up the growing 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 three Houston 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.

 

Earlene Jacques   CPM®

Vice President

Earlene brings a strong background in training and budget management to her day-to-day responsibilities as District Manager. Operating from the First Choice office in Austin, Texas, her portfolio is spread throughout Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama with properties ranging in size and age. She has expertise in multiple property types including new construction/leaseup, distressed properties needing rehab, homeowner's associations, individual homes and duplexes, as well as convention garden type and affordable housing units

Earlene has been instrumental in directing corporate training schools and seminars, as well as developing standard forms and operating procedures. Additionally, she is a licensed real estate sales agent in the states of Texas and Oklahoma, a Certified Property Manager® and has served on the Board of Directors for the Austin IREM Chapter.

 

Linda Gross  
ARM
®, CPM®

District Property 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®

District Property 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.

 

 

Glenda Arnett 
CPM®

District Property Manager

Working in the Houston office of First Choice, Glenda brings over twenty-five years of multi-family management experience to the First Choice team. Her training from the "ground up" has established the basis for her strong team building, marketing and administrative skills. A variety of property types including LIHTC, conventional older rehab and new construction, of sizes ranging from 50 to 600, give Glenda the broad base to easily assess property needs and establish marketing and operational plans tailored especially to the owner's goals.

Glenda's strong communication and training skills have been put to use in revising and rewriting policy and procedures manuals and developing advertising and marketing plans for multiple properties.

Glenda is a Certified Property Manager® and a Certified Apartment Manager. She has a B.S. from Sam Houston State University and is active in the Houston Apartment Association and the Houston IREM Chapter.

 

Demoine Menn   
ARM®
, CPM®

District Property Manager

A strong foundation in day-to-day operations provides the basis for the outstanding management skills of Demoine Menn, one of three District Managers in the First Choice Houston office. Her twelve-year background includes management, assistant management and leasing positions on properties ranging from 60 to 300+ units as well as multiple site assignments. Her hands-on experience strengthens her marketing and motivational expertise

Active participation in company projects such as procedures development, due diligence assignments and operations research make Demoine an integral part of the First Choice management team. Energetic and talented in marketing, training and goal-oriented operations, Demoine brings a positive and upbeat direction to her assigned portfolio. Demoine holds both the ARM® and CPM® designations and is a licensed Texas real estate agent.

 

Cindy Choice-Garmhausen

District Property Manager

The newest addition to the First Choice Houston office, Cindy Choice-Garmhausen, brings a background of management and marketing to the First Choice supervisory team. As the former business owner of a specialty retail store located in a resort town, she gained expertise in employee management, financial planning and reporting, inventory and product management, as well as marketing and public relations, based on market analysis and forecasting.

Cindy's initial assignments since joining First Choice have included hands-on site management and auditing of property operations of the managed portfolio. Acting as an assistant district manager she handled numerous troubleshooting assignments and participated in due diligence and takeover operations. Currently she supervises a portfolio of over 1000 units.

Energetic and talented in people management and motivation, Cindy brings a positive direction and fresh outlook to her assigned portfolio. Cindy has a BA from Fort Lewis College in Durango , Colorado and holds a Texas real estate sales license. She is a candidate for the CPM® designation.

 

 

Derek Mauney

Systems Administrator

Based in the growing Houston branch office, Derek is responsible for the information systems of all First Choice managed properties. He provides hardware and software support to the corporate office and the site locations, installs new and upgraded systems and troubleshooting services for all First Choice personnel. Derek also maintains the company website.

Derek comes to First Choice with a background in systems administration for two e-business consulting firms and the Pasadena school system. In these positions he installed and supported various operating systems, diagnosed and repaired hardware problems on laptops, desktops and servers and maintained network servers, network backups, phone systems, copiers and email systems. He has also worked as a call center helpdesk technician.

Derek has A.A.S. in Electronics from San Jacinto Community College , and a B.S. in Information Technology from the University of Phoenix . Additional training includes receipt of Dell Certified Systems Expert, multiple MS training courses, A+ Certification, and both Ricoh and Mita training courses.