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 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 Cristina Villanueva Castillo, Director of Property Management for BMG. Read on to discover all about Cristina, her professional background, and what she enjoys most about working here at Bay Property Management Group.
Meet Cristina Villanueva Castillo, Director of Property Management
Cristina is one of BMG’s dedicated team members, and she was just recently promoted to Director of Property Management! She started working at Bay Property Management Group in 2022, was promoted to Assistant Director of Property Management in April 2023, and is now promoted to DPM for our Baltimore location.
One thing about Cristina is that she has a ton of diverse work experience. She started working in customer service at a call center when she was 18 but didn’t like the repetitive nature. So, she went on to work and study simultaneously, which included the following positions.
- Teaching in person + studying for a Bachelor in Architecture
- Working in an Architecture firm + teaching in person + studying to get her TEFL certificates to teach
- Teaching in person + phone Interpreting
- Teaching in person + phone Interpreting + teaching online
- Video interpreting + teaching online
- Teaching online + supervising online teachers
- Property management + online teaching
As you can see, Cristina wears many hats! For now, she has just one job, working full-time in property management.
Cristina has been working in the Baltimore property management industry for two years now after being recruited by BMG with little experience! She learned from our Director of Recruitment that anyone willing to put in the work could do the property management role–and her background in Architecture was a plus!
She has her Bachelor’s degree and teaching certificates and is interested in studying for a Master’s degree and potentially a PhD in the future. Cristina loves to learn!
A Day in the Life of Cristina
Cristina starts working around 7:30 EST (5:30 am where she is!), but sometimes has so much to do that she starts even earlier! As the Assistant Director of Property Management, she had to be a second pair of eyes for her crew’s work. She supervises half of our Baltimore property managers, assists them by answering any questions they have, runs reports, and gives guidance. However, in her new role as Director of Property Management, she will delegate these tasks and reports to her successor.
Currently, Cristina is learning how to do her tasks as a Director. She says:
“There’s a lot more reporting to do but on a larger scale. A lot of looking, reading, and ensuring we are not missing deadlines as time is sensitive.”
There isn’t really a “typical” workday for Cristina. She had two babies under two, so she’s in and out a lot. That’s why she likes to supervise–she has 1:1 meetings early in the morning when it’s quieter. She has to monitor, supervise, and clear out emails throughout the day. Additionally, she must follow up on flagged items and assist property managers with questions. To help her stay relaxed and get through the day, she keeps music playing and coffee on hand.
Cristina’s Favorite Part of Her Job
Cristina likes the freedom her job gives her. She can keep her windows open, listen to music, and complete tasks at her own pace, which she couldn’t do as an online teacher or medical video interpreter. Additionally, Cristina LOVES the support from her supervisor, Megan Schofield, and her leadership style. She says,
“I hope one day I can be half as good as she is. She has always encouraged our PM team to take our time, ask away if we don’t understand something, and reach out for guidance.”
One thing that surprised Cristina about working in property management for BMG was the non-toxic work environment! She appreciates that all four BMG offices have heard and implemented her suggestions.
“Companies that hear their employees and implement improvements are worth working for.”
One thing she wished people knew about her job is that you aren’t always going to know what to do! She says,
“I didn’t know what I was doing when I first got hired. Onboarding and training are guided, and your Assistant Director of Property Management is 100% your support when you don’t know what the right answer is.”
Why Cristina Loves Bay Property Management Group
According to Cristina, several things set Bay Property Management Group apart from other management companies. One is the exponential growth, along with the guided training and constant feedback from ADPMs. She also enjoys the competitive nature of reviews via Yelp, Google, BBB, and Angi.
When asked about her best piece of advice for those considering the property management field or those already in it, Cristina says,
“I highly recommend to not think about it and go for it. I came here without any experience at all but just the will to work. It’s hard to find an online job that trusts its employees to do their tasks. It just takes a little bit of computer knowledge, determination, and thick skin. Ultimately, you have to be willing to learn and work hard.”
Getting to Know Cristina Villanueva Castillo Outside of the Office
- When you’re not in the office, what do you like to do? – “I like to do pilates, garden, watch movies, and cognitive games. I enjoy learning, so I may study an online course every now and then.”
- Tell us something off your bucket list – “I would like to visit a French-speaking country as I learned a bit of French, but I’m scared to speak the language. Maybe if I visit a Francophone country, I’ll be forced to practice.”
- If you could meet someone, living or dead, who would you want to meet and why? – “I would love to attend a concert of Darren Hayes in Australia. He’s still very much alive but doesn’t sing as much as he used to. He is my FAVORITE singer of all time. I also wanted to attend the Blink-182 concert in Las Vegas but had trouble renewing my Visa. My husband ended up going on my behalf, and I still curse him for it.”
- What is the best book you have ever read? – “The Sound of Rain by Anita Stansfield. It’s a good old chick novel I loved–It’s #1 of 5 from her series. That book is the reason why I like to call people “Lady” here at work. It’s such a respectful word and a wonderful story. I keep track of my readings on Goodreads.com if anyone else is a bookworm!”
- If you could dis-invent one thing, what would it be? – “Mosquitos, flies, and roaches. There’s no need for them to exist.”
- What are three words to describe yourself? – “I’d say bossy, organized, and creative.”
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 Cristina Villanueva Castillo.
