TAA Education Foundation

Over the course of this season, Unlocking Doors has done exactly what its name promises—opened doors into the Texas rental housing industry and, more importantly, into the real stories behind the people who make it thrive. Through conversations with professionals from across the industry, one thing has become clear: there is no single path into…

In this episode of Unlocking Doors, Dani Brown of Weidner shares a career journey that highlights one of the multifamily industry’s greatest strengths: the ability to develop leaders from diverse and nontraditional backgrounds. Dani didn’t begin her career in property management. After college, she worked in customer service and sales before eventually transitioning into multifamily…

One of the greatest challenges facing the Texas rental housing industry is attracting and developing skilled maintenance talent. In this episode of Unlocking Doors, we hear a story that speaks directly to that challenge—and to the opportunity in front of us.  Coby Racine’s journey into multifamily didn’t begin with property management or trade school. Like many…

One of the most powerful things about the Texas rental housing industry is the speed at which talent can grow when given the opportunity. In this episode of Unlocking Doors, Makenna Caffey’s story is a reminder of what’s possible when leadership development, education, and mentorship align.  Makenna didn’t begin her career in multifamily. While attending college,…

In this episode of Unlocking Doors, Derek DeVries of Redux Construction shares a story that will resonate deeply with those already in the Texas rental housing industry. Derek’s story demonstrates that diverse skill sets can open multiple career paths in multifamily. After beginning his career as an educator and coach, Derek transitioned into multifamily construction sales more…

The Texas Apartment Association Education Foundation (TAAEF) is proud to announce the 2026 Be the Next: Room to Grow Local Edition Ambassadors, a dynamic group of early career professionals who represent the future of Texas multifamily.  The Be the Next Room to Grow Ambassador program was created to recognize and elevate leaders who are actively shaping the future of our…

Unlocking Doors is a new podcast dedicated to exploring career growth and advancement in the Texas rental housing industry. Each episode highlights the diverse opportunities within multifamily, the unique paths professionals have taken, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Whether you’re just entering the industry or looking to take the next step in your career, the series offers…

The Texas rental housing industry is built on people: people who lease apartments, maintain or provide services to communities, manage teams, develop properties, and serve residents every day. Unlocking Doors is a new podcast created to highlight those people and the career journeys that shape our industry, while also helping build the future workforce that will carry it forward.  Hosted by Christy Rodriguez,…

The Texas Apartment Association Education Foundation (TAAEF) has released the Executive Summary for its 2026 Workforce Research Study, a statewide exploration of how Texans perceive careers in the apartment industry and what truly shapes their employment decisions. Grounded in feedback from 1,500 Texans across generations and backgrounds, this study provides a data-driven look at awareness,…

The TAA Education Foundation Digital Magazine is a resource guide filled with tools, templates, and ideas to help your team thrive. Organized into three key areas—Recruit, Retain, and Advance—this resource connects you to practical support for every step of the employee journey. Whether you’re building out your hiring toolkit, improving onboarding, or investing in professional…