At Bay Property Management Group, we are property management professionals focused on customer service. Furthermore, our goal is to make property ownership both a pleasurable and profitable experience for our clients. We know that our success is due to our awesome team members and how they each contribute something special to our Baltimore property management company.
Therefore, we are initiating our Employee Spotlight to help you get to know more about our talented employees and how their unique backgrounds and expertise help us stay a “cut above the rest.” Today, we proudly introduce Devin Montgomery, Maintenance Supervisor for BMG. Read on to discover all about Devin, his professional background, and what he enjoys most about working here at Bay Property Management Group.
Meet Devin Montgomery, Maintenance Supervisor for BMG
Devin Montgomery started with Bay Property Management Group as a Maintenance Technician around 18 months ago and quickly became a Maintenance Supervisor. He’s worked in the property management industry for 15 years and holds several certifications and licenses, including:
- CFC Universal Certification
- HVAC Universal Certification
- Bedbug Identification Certificate
- Appliance Repair Certificate
- First Aid/CPR Certificate
- Security Certification
- MD Locksmith License
- MHIC License
- MD Real Estate License
He started working at an early age, landing his first job at McDonald’s while he was still in high school. During this time, he learned many valuable lessons that still apply to his career today. He says:
“I didn’t know it then, but the principles I learned in customer service, organization, and cleanliness would greatly help me along the way in my journey to being a top-tier maintenance supervisor.”
The hard work and hustle stimulated by excessive ambition cultivated by his experience as a team leader at McDonald’s led him to seek all educational opportunities. His journey started with Woodstock Job Corps, where he studied Facility Maintenance and Security. It was here that he learned the importance of professionalism and etiquette in the workplace and started his training in the trades.
After completing the Job Corps, he started a job in security, but he didn’t love it. So, he went back to work at McDonald’s to work while simultaneously enrolling and attending TESST College of Technology for HVAC. He graduated from TESST College with a certificate in refrigeration, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, a 3.2 GPA, and a CFC Universal Certification.
During this time, Devin switched jobs from McDonald’s to Shoppers Food Warehouse, where he worked in almost every department, mainly customer service. Here, he led a team of cashiers, counted tills, and made sure front-end operations ran smoothly.
Devin’s Journey in Property Management
Devin got his start in property management a few years later after signing on as an independent contractor with a small rental company called Rent-All. Here, he began hands-on training in painting, landscaping, drywall, and all the odd jobs that come with property management.
This job lasted a few months, but it was the catalyst, coupled with his HVAC certificate and progressive work experience, that led him to apply and obtain his first official maintenance technician position at Oakhill Townhomes in Baltimore City with CT and Associates. He says,
“It was on the rooftops of these two-story townhomes where I honed my HVAC troubleshooting and installation skills, making hundreds of repairs over the years. Soaking up and learning everything I could, I quickly moved up the ranks to Assistant Maintenance Supervisor, until finally–I was made Supervisor.”
As time went on, Devin’s overreaching ambition led him to seek out more lucrative positions within the property management industry. He was ultimately looking for a property management company that valued its maintenance team, had stable management, and had no on-call work. He explains,
“I worked with over a dozen or so different property management companies and obtained a Locksmith License, MHIC License, and Real Estate License before coming across my golden ticket–Bay Property Management Group. From the start, I could see that they valued their maintenance team.”
He signed on with BMG as a Maintenance Technician on May 2, 2022, and hasn’t looked back since. He was promoted to Mount Vernon Apartments Maintenance Supervisor within five months after ferociously pounding the pavement, showcasing his skills and abilities day in and day out.
A Day in the Life of Devin Montgomery
Devin’s day starts at around 7:30 AM, and he begins with an email and work order review, where he goes over all the previous day’s work orders and emails. During this time, he also advises technicians on work orders, checks out equipment, and ensures they have everything they need for a successful day.
After catching up on emails and messages, he completes a shipping and handling review where he checks for packages of parts and materials. Then, he updates the materials sheet, marks parts, and distributes them to the technician’s shelves.
Once he’s done with his “office work,” he transforms into a vacant turnover inspector, inspecting vacant units and relaying any important information straight to the APM. Then, he assists and advises technicians throughout the day on everything from solutions and parts to keys and logistics.
When Devin is not assisting technicians and vendors or completing turnover inspections, he’s addressing outstanding work orders, researching parts, distributors, manufacturers, and the latest best practices to implement into the procedures and protocols to increase work productivity and efficiency among the technicians.
His favorite part of the job is when a technician overcomes a hurdle using the knowledge and training he’s provided. He also loves the appreciation you get from a resident when pesky household repairs no longer compromise their lifestyle.
One thing that’s surprised him about working in this industry is the amount of respect and credit that property maintenance technicians don’t get. He says,
“Becoming a well-rounded technician who can complete almost any trade or repair takes several years. Your average contractor may specialize in one or two trades, but your average maintenance technician will have to generalize in all of them to become successful.”
Why Devin Loves Bay Property Management Group
Devin loves Bay Property Management Group because they understand the value of the maintenance team and the value of good people in general. He explains,
“Since starting with BMG, I’ve grown my skillset exponentially. BMG gives you the space you need to learn and grow.”
His best piece of advice for those considering this field or those in the industry already is:
“Continuous learning and improvement, self-determination, self-development, and great customer service are the building blocks to a strong foundation in this industry and in life.”
Getting to Know Devin Montgomery Outside of the Office
- When you’re not in the office, what do you like to do? – “I like to build websites, marketing campaigns, and sales funnels. I also create content on social media, study artificial intelligence applications, and read up on new and emerging technologies. I’m working even when I’m not at work. Other than that, I’m a full-time Dad and Fiancee.”
- Tell us something off your bucket list – “Invent, patent, profit, and become famous from something.”
- If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you want to meet and why? – “Jeff Bezos. Meeting Jeff Bezos could offer valuable insights into entrepreneurship, business strategies, and leadership. Engaging with successful individuals like him can provide inspiration and opportunities for networking.”
- What is the best book you have ever read? – “Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki.”
- If you could dis-invent one thing, what would it be? – “Drugs.”
- What are three words to describe yourself? – “Prolific, Ambitious, and Determined.”
Bay Property Management Group is a full-service property management company here to help you with all your residential and multi-family property needs. Our business is strictly property management, so our specialization enables us to serve you better. Contact BMG today to learn more about our rental property management services and speak to one of our fantastic employees like Devin Montgomery.
