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Bacteriologist, bookkeeper, electrical contractor,maintenance technician, general manager of a construction and plumbing company,operator of an outdoor nursery and landscapingcompany, owner of a pool supply and

maintenance firm, real estate broker and property manager—those are just some of the positions held by Lee Harvey, CCAM,CAMT, CAPS, PCAM, who has been a key member of San Diego’sapartment industry for more than 30 years.

She—yes, “she”—started in the construction industry in theearly 1970s. At the time, Harvey and her first husband ran anelectrical contracting business. When he died of cancer at age 38,she was left with three children to support. Men dominated theindustry at the time, and they had no desire to work with awoman. So, Evalee Harvey decided to become just plain Lee Har-vey. It was a different time back then.

In the November 1999 issue of the San Diego County Apart-ment Association’s (SDCAA) Rental Owner magazine, Harveyrecounts taking the test for her electrical contractor’s license in 1974. She showed up to find a room filled with 82 other test-takers—all men. At one point, one approached her and said,“Honey, I think you’re in the wrong place. They’re taking thebeauticians’ test on the other side of campus.”

Thankfully, she says, the industry has come a long way sincethen.

Harvey remained in the construction industry for 18 years andworked with a developer who built apartment communities. Shewas charged with hiring managers and maintenance staff for theproperties. The developer tired of the increasingly difficult per-mitting process, which seemed designed to slow developmentrather than support it. In 1987, she made the leap to propertymanagement because she believed it was a good fit with her construction industry background.

“It’s a business that’s about people and problem-solving,” shesays. “Where a lot of people run from a problem, I like to face ithead on and solve it.”

She spent two years working with a friend who was a realestate broker so that she could earn her own real estate broker’slicense. Soon after, her construction industry friends approachedher about managing their properties.

Today, she is Owner/President of Professional Real EstateManagement, which operates 17 properties, of which four areapartment communities totaling approximately 600 units.

“I tell young people to ‘just do it,’” she says. “Young peoplethink everything has already been done, so there’s no way theycan contribute, especially without a lot of money. I started my

With nearly 40 years in the local apartmentmanagement business,trailblazer Lee Harvey has seen (and done) it all.

Lee Harvey CAMT, CAPS

San Diego Owner Extraordinaire

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BY MARK EVANS

business with $10,000. Today, I could get up in the morning andthink of at least five new businesses our industry needs. You justhave to grab the opportunities because they are out there.”

Loving Her JobHarvey still gets excited about working in property manage-

ment and says she loves what she does. The apartment industry isthe “backbone of the United States” because so many people can-not afford to own their own home, she says. The laws regardingrental properties are constantly changing—especially those inCalifornia—so it is a business that never stops.

It does take a special type of person to succeed in the industry,Harvey says. Those who choose a career in the apartment indus-try have to not only enjoy working with people but also be able tolisten to them to help solve problems.

“When it comes right down to it, we’re caregivers for our resi-dents,” she says.

Knowing all areas of the business also is key. Lee requires newproperty managers to work in maintenance for at least sixmonths so that they learn how to work—and negotiate—withcontractors. It’s a standard to which she also holds herself. Sheearned her Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT)designation from the NAA Education Institute (NAAEI) so that

she could better work with maintenance companies.She believes in the importance of education and has earned

numerous professional licenses and designations, includingCAMT, Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor (CAPS), realestate broker, Professional Community Association Manager(CCAM/PCAM) and Certified Nurseryman.

“Education is the most important thing in the world becausewhen you learn something no one can take that knowledge awayfrom you,” she says. “I went back to college 15 years ago to getmy degree because I felt it was necessary.”

She also occasionally teaches CAMT and Certified ApartmentManager (CAM) courses. As chair of the California ApartmentAssociation (CAA) Education Committee, she worked on theethics text used by the association. Over the years she has taughthundreds of courses for CAA and SDCAA. She twice chaired CAA’seducation committee.

Even today, Harvey’s receptionist knows to put studentsstraight through to her. Harvey says she doesn’t take calls fromjust anyone, but she makes an exception for her students. Shefigures that if they are calling, then they must need her help.She’s happy to oblige. Harvey hopes her knowledge and experi-ence can help them avoid the same hurdles she had to leap dur-ing her career.

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Staying Involved LocallyOne piece of advice she always gives her students is to become

involved in their local professional development association.Harvey worked in property management for five years beforefinally joining SDCAA. Looking back, Harvey said she wishes shehad joined sooner because SDCAA’s learning opportunities couldhave made those first five years a bit easier.

Though nowadays she only occasionally teaches SDCAA cours-es, she says she still values the role the association has played inher career. She served on its board for most of the 1990s, includ-ing one term as its president. In 1999, the association recognizedher with its Industry Achievement Award. She’s also a founder ofthe California Association of Community Managers.

Throughout her long career, a supportive family has sur-rounded her. She has six children, eight grandchildren and two

great-grandchildren. One son is CEO of Professional Real EstateManagement, and her daughter is the company’s CFO. She hasbeen married to her second husband, Dick, for almost 40 years.

Before she agreed to marry him, she said she had two condi-tions. “I told him that I wanted to go on vacation every yearbecause I work hard, and I deserve it,” she says. “I also told himhe had to support my love of reading.”

He agreed, though at the time he didn’t realize she read sevenbooks a week. Realizing he couldn’t afford to keep buying herbooks, she says, he soon started going to yard sales on weekendsand bringing home trash bags full of books. He is now sick withemphysema, she says, but he has always been her “rock.”

“If I didn’t have him to back me up, I wouldn’t be able to dothe things I do,” Harvey says. “Many husbands and wives don’tgive you that freedom to do what you want. That freedom is thegreatest thing in the world.”

Harvey says she has no plans to slow down, saying her childrenwould have to fire her to get rid of her. She says she will know forherself the time to quit has come when she wakes up one morningand thinks that she HAS to go to work. She always looks forward togoing to work because it’s fun, and it keeps her mentally alert.

“My goal in life is to live to 105 and then be shot by a jealouswife,” she says. “I don’t feel my age. I just returned from Peru, andI recently visited Egypt and China. I’m just doing my thing.”

Mark Evans is Staff Writer for Catalyst, a public relations firmbased in Austin, Texas.

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“Honey, I think you’re in the wrong place. They’re takingthe beauticians’ test on the other side of campus.”

—Fellow student at industry training event

Meet Us In San DiegoThe 2013 NAA Education Conference & ExpositionJune 20-22, 2013

Lee Harvey with son, Jeff Greene, and daughter, Sherri Aguilar.Greene is the company’s CEO and Aguilar is CFO.

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