How to Speak Maintenance - Tips For And From The Multifamily Industry
How to Speak Maintenance is a weekly podcast from the Texas Apartment Association Education Foundation (TAAEF) about why everyone in the multifamily industry should understand maintenance. Host Jason Fein, National Maintenance Service Director with Camden, and Becca Ramati of TAAEF discuss how maintenance knowledge can strengthen relationships between office and maintenance teams and improve the resident experience. Each episode features new topics and guests, and the show began as a live video series on Facebook. It is a TAAEF project aimed at raising awareness of careers in the multifamily industry, with a focus on opportunities in the Texas apartment industry.
Episodes
How to Speak Maintenance: Maintenance Burnout
A can't miss episode of How to Speak Maintenance episode with our guest Jen Piccotti with Swift Bunny as we tackle a critical topic for every maintenance team: burnout.The employees who always say “yes” may be the ones who need your support the most. Maintenance professionals are often the first to respond, the last to leave, and the ones everyone counts on to get the job done. But when relia
How to Speak Maintenance: What Good Work Actually Means -Part II
How to Speak Maintenance: What Good Work Actually MeansGuest: Wade Nauman, GreystarMost teams struggle because no one has clearly defined the standard. This month we're asking the same question about what "good work" actually means but to a property manager. What this month hits:Why “good job” means something different to everyoneThe danger of unclear expectationsHow inconsistency s
How to Speak Maintenance - What Good Work Actually Means
How to Speak Maintenance: What Good Work Actually MeansGuest: Christopher Faddoul with LUMA ResidentialMost teams struggle because no one has clearly defined the standard.What this month hits:Why “good job” means something different to everyoneThe danger of unclear expectationsHow inconsistency shows up across techs and teamsWhy standards matter more than speedThe Shift: Stop assuming people know
How to Speak Maintenance - Say it So it Gets Done
It's not a matter of skill, it's a matter of communication! Michael Garcia of Greystar joins How to Speak Maintenance with Jason Fein and Becca Ramati to share insights on communication, leadership, and why sometimes you just have to “say it so it gets done.” 🔧
How to Speak Maintenance - Why the Best Techs Don't Always Make The Best Supervisor
Promoting your best technician seems like the obvious next step… but what happens when technical skill doesn’t automatically translate to leadership?The truth is almost every company faces this challenge.Join our hosts, Jason Fein and Becca Ramati as we break down how to better support the transition from “player” to “coach” with Cerwin Thompson & Katy Polanco, SHRM-CP, NAAEI Faculty.We’re div
How to Speak Maintenance: The Work that Residents Never See
In today's episode of How to Speak Maintenance, we’re diving into the work residents never see and why it matters more than you think. Joining Jason Fein and Becca Ramati is Angel Davila CAMT, CPOI, NAAEI Faculty, National Service Trainer & Performance Manager, Gables Residential. We unpack what it really takes to keep a community running behind the scenes and how to build stronger respec
How to Speak Maintenance: Meaningful Gratitude for Maintenance Teams.
In this episode of How to Speak Maintenance, we’re talking about what meaningful gratitude really looks like for maintenance teams.Joining us:🔧 Jesus Zepeda with Camden Property Trust and Texas Apartment Association’s 2026 Maintenance Professional of the Year🔧 Russell Rubin with HD SupplyWe’ll break down what actually matters to maintenance professionals — from real investment and career growth to
How to Speak Maintenance: 2026 Kickoff
We’re kicking off 2026 with a powerhouse roundtable on what it really means to “speak maintenance”—and why it matters now more than ever. Joining Jason Fein and Becca Ramati are two of the most respected voices in the industry: Paul Rhodes and Mark Cukro, who bring years of onsite experience, leadership insight, and a passion for elevating maintenance teams.This episode is not to be missed and set
How to Speak Maintenance - Winter is Coming
Join us for a new episode of "How to Speak Maintenance" with Jason Fein, Dominium, Becca Ramati with TAA and their guest Michael Drake also with Dominium as they break down getting ready for winter. What maintenance teams should be doing now and how office and management teams can help make it a little easier on the maintenance team and better serve their residents.
How to Speak Maintenance - Changing Career Paths in Maintenance
Next up on How To Speak Maintenance Podcast, Hosts Jason Fein (Dominium) and Becca Ramati (TAA Education Foundation), are joined by Jesus Zepeda with Camden Property Trust for a conversation on Changing Career Paths in Maintenance.
How to Speak Maintenance - Protecting Your Maintenance Team’s Time
Join us for a new episode of How to Speak Maintenance with Jason Fein with Dominium and TAA's Becca Ramati. Today we're speaking with LUMA Residential's Jon Sanchez, CAPS, CAM, CAMT and Christopher Faddoul, CAMT about all things communications, emergencies, teams messages and how to protect your maintenance team's time throughout it all.
How to Speak Maintenance - The Importance of Effective Communication
Join us for a new episode of How to Speak Maintenance. Each month, host Jason Fein with Dominium and TAA Education Foundation's Becca Ramati chat with guests on different topics to establish a deeper understanding of the role maintenance teams play to improve communication among the onsite staff and elevate the resident experience. In this episode we hear from expert trainer, Mark Cukro as we
How to Speak Maintenance - What Your Shop Says About The Health of Your Team & Business!
Join hosts Jason Fein (Dominium), Becca Ramati (TAAEF) and guest Ryan Mascorro with Camden Property Trust as they dig into what really drives maintenance teams to quit and how better communication can fix it.
How to Speak Maintenance - Summer (and beyond) Hiring Tips for Maintenance
Join hosts Jason Fein with Dominium and TAAEF's Becca Ramati for another episode of "How to Speak Maintenance". Today we have guests Cassidy Ristad and Socrates Flores both with Greystar as we discuss one of the most crucial aspects of running a successful property—hiring the right maintenance team.
How to Speak Maintenance - Is a Maintenance Shortage Coming?
Join us for the newest episode of How to Speak Maintenance! 🚨 Your hosts Jason Fein (Dominium) and Becca Ramati (TAAEF) are back with guest Matthew Smith, CTS from The Liberty Group, to tackle a BIG question: “Is there a maintenance employee shortage coming?” With shifts in oil and gas production and workforce trends, now’s the time to talk strategy on how you can prepare for the possible slide of
How to Speak Maintenance - Recognizing and Promoting your Maintenance Team Members
Join Jason Fein (Dominium), Becca Ramati (TAAEF), and special guest Tony Sousa (Sousa Consulting) as they dive into "Recognizing Your Maintenance Team Members." From small shout-outs to big wins, discover powerful ways to appreciate the teams that keep our communities running.
How to Speak Maintenance - 2024 Wrap Up
How to Speak Maintenance is closing out 2024 with a must-watch episode as hosts Jason Fein from Dominium and TAAEF's Becca Ramati chat with Paul Rhodes of Brookfield Properties about what every team needs to know heading into 2025.
How to Speak Maintenance - Budget Season
Join Jason Fein from Dominium, Becca Ramati with TAA and our special guests from Camden Property Trust, Andrea Wynn and Jesús Zepeda as we break down budgeting for maintenance and share tips to make your budgeting process smoother this season!
How to Speak Maintenance - More Preventative Maintenance
Join us for How to Speak Maintenance! - ⏰Join us for the newest episode of the How to Speak Maintenance podcast. 🛠️🎧 🎙️ Jason Fein from Dominium, Becca Ramati with TAA and our special guest, Ryan Mascorro with Camden Property Trust will share expert preventative maintenance tips to keep properties in top shape and avoid costly repairs down the road.
How to Speak Maintenance - Emergency Proceedures
Tune in as Jason Fein from Dominium, Becca Ramati with TAA and our special guest, Josè Patiño with RPM Living share essential tips on staying prepared for maintenance emergencies & proper emergency maintenance protocol.
How to Speak Maintenance - Environmental Sustainability and Maintenance
On this episode of How to Speak Maintenance host Jason Fein with Dominium and TAA's Sarah Chezbro talk with Jake Reid, AMLI about how eco-friendly and sustainable maintenance practices can benefit both property owners and residents alike while maintaining the quality and value at your property.
How to Speak Maintenance - Resident Education
Join us for a new episode of How to Speak Maintenance discussing resident education and the top 5 things you wish your resident could do for themselves. Join Jason Fein and Becca Ramati as they welcome Greystar's Tiffany Blankman and Robert Brown.What would be on you top 5 list?
How to Speak Maintenance -Technology for Maintenance and Training
Join Jason Fein, Dominium, and TAA's Becca Ramati for a new episode of How to Speak Maintenance. Today we'll be talking to Dominic Maddalena with Camden Property Trust and Dan Clapper, CPTD with Interplay Learning as we talk about technology to make life easier for both maintenance and office teams. Check it out!
How to Speak Maintenance: Stories from the Field Pt. 2
Join us as we share more stories from the field of how “speaking maintenance” can impact careers in meaningful ways. Join host, Jason Fein, Camden Property Trust, and TAA’s Becca Ramati and hear from our guests Jason Simpson and Dominic Maddalena who will share how not only speaking maintenance but speaking the same language as the office has done for their careers.
How to Speak Maintenance - Apprenticeship Programs for Maintenance
Hear success stories from maintenance apprenticeship programs and why programs like these can be transformative for your company. Join host, Jason Fein, Camden Property Trust and TAA's Becca Ramati who will be joined by Coby Racine, a graduate of Camden's apprenticeship program.The Texas Apartment Association Education Foundation’s live series, wants everyone in multifamily to “speak mai
How to Speak Maintenance - How Speaking Maintenance Can Benefit Your Career
On this episode of "How to Speak Maintenance" we’re sharing stories from the field of how “speaking maintenance” can impact careers in meaningful ways. Join host, Jason Fein, Camden Property Trust and TAA’s Becca Ramati and our guest, Shannon Roliard Castillo as she shares her story of what being able to “speak maintenance” has done for her career. #howtospeakmaintenance #taaef #taaeduca
How to Speak Maintenance - Technology and the Service Field
On this episode of "How to Speak Maintenance", Jason Fein with Camden Property Trust and TAA’s Becca Ramati will be joined by Adrian C Danila CAPS, CAMT with RPM Living and TJaye Cupit Sanders, CAM, CAPS with Madera Residential to discuss how new technology can assist our Service Teams. How can we harness the power of new technology like AI to support their work instead and lessen the lo
How to Speak Maintenance - Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork!
Join us for a new episode of How to Speak Maintenance. Today, host Jason Fein, Camden Property Trust and TAA's Becca Ramati will be joined by Floyd A Smith of The Dinerstein Companies and Audrey Kupovics with AMLI Residential to discuss the importance of teamwork.
Assessments and Hiring for Maintenance Positions
Join host Jason Fein with Camden, TAAEF's Becca Ramati and our special guest Sarahlee Reyna with Indio Management for a new episode of How to Speak Maintenance. Today, we'll be talking about hiring for maintenance, assessments and how to make them help not hurt the hiring process.
How to Speak Maintenance - On-Call & Emergencies
In the rental housing industry are emergencies still considered “Fire, Flood or Blood” or have expectations changed? How does this affect being “on-call” for our maintenance and service teams? How can we rethink this pain point for our current service teams and stop it from being a barrier to bringing new talent into maintenance.Host Jason Fein with Camden and TAAEF's Becca Ramati welcome our
How to Speak Maintenance - Mechanical Asset Tracking
On this episode of How to Speak Maintenance we will be joined by Missy Saez with LDG Development LLC and Robert Hills with Camden as we discuss mechanical asset tracking and the importance of preventative maintenance. Like Robert said during the show, "if you stay ready, you don't have to get ready!"
How to Speak Maintenance - What's a Mainten-ger?
Join us today for a new episode of "How to Speak Maintenance." Our host, Jason Fein with Camden and TAAEF's Becca Ramati talk with Michelle Bridges-Pahl with Century A/C Supply all about their "Mainten-ger" training, what it is and why it matters to you!
How to Speak Maintenance - Pool School!
On this episode of "How to Speak Maintenance" host, Jason Fein with Camden, will be talking to our guest, Grant Almquist with Texas Apartment Pool Services. It's already hot in Texas and it is important that everyone on property be aware of how they can "speak maintenance" when it comes to the pool maintenance and safety.
How to Speak Maintenance - Hire, Engage and Retain Your Team
What an amazing episode of How to Speak Maintenance with Mark Cukro, President of Service Team Training. Mark shares so many important take aways with us about about hiring, training, speaking maintenance and more.
How to Speak Maintenance - Technology Tips!
On this episode of "How to Speak Maintenance" we're talking about tips, tricks and technology to improve the day to day, communication and to help get things done! Join Jason Fein with Camden and TAAEF's Becca Ramati as they talk with special guests, Monique Lara with The Guild and Floyd Smith with The Dinerstein Companies.
How to Speak Maintenance - Walking Your Property!
How to Speak Maintenance is back! Join Jason Fein and Becca Ramati and our special guests, Andrea Borjon with Berkshire and Jesus Zepeda with Camden as we talk about walking property and why it's the perfect time to 'speak maintenance'.
How to Speak Maintenance - Bringing you new episodes soon!
Thank you for listening to "How to Speak Maintenance". We're going to take a short break as we prep for more great episodes! While you wait, check out past episodes or check out our other series, "Hints from HR" You can find it wherever you listen to podcasts or at https://hintsfromhr.buzzsprout.com/.We will be back soon!
How to Speak Maintenance - Making training a priority - part 2
Want to know how you can make going on vacation much easier for you and your team? Making the time for training for your maintenance team is so important! Join Jason Fein, Becca Ramati and our special guests, Chelsea Odom, with Camden, and Russ Rubin formerly with HD Supply.This podcast is a project of the Texas Apartment Association Education Foundation (TAAEF). TAAEF raises awareness of careers
How to Speak Maintenance - Making training a priority!
TAAEF How to Speak MaintenanceWant to know the $500 Billion mistake companies are making in not making training a priority for the maintenance teams? Take a listen and learn the importance and tips to help make training happen!This podcast is a project of the Texas Apartment Association Education Foundation (TAAEF). TAAEF raises awareness of careers in the multifamily. There's room to grow in
How to Speak Maintenance - Fire Safety
Join us for "How to Speak Maintenance" with host Jason Fein and TAAEF's Becca Ramati. In this episode we're talking about fire safety, that we're ready for winter and making sure that we're all thinking about preventative maintenance for our sprinkler systems.. Our special guests will be Chris Walulik with Oasis Fire Protection, Inc. and Debbie Wiatrek with Asset Liv
How to Speak Maintenance - Holiday Break!
Thanks for taking the time to listen to How to Speak Maintenance! We're going to take a break for the rest of December and will be back in January.If you haven't already, check out our other podcast, "Hints from HR." We feature HR professionals in the multifamily industry who share tips and tricks for both job seekers and employers in the apartment industry. Join our hosts, Ni
How to Speak Maintenance - Getting Ready for the Holidays!
The holiday season is here! Join us as we talk about getting ready for the holiday season and why it’s the perfect time to learn to Speak Maintenance. Cayce Coon with Madera Residential will join Jason Fein and Becca Ramati to discuss what you and your whole team need to do now to have a happy and easier holiday season.
How to Speak Maintenance - Getting rid of the whiteboard!
On this episode of "How to Speak Maintenance" we're talking about getting rid of the whiteboard but really it's about how how teams (both in the office and maintenance) are increasing productivity by utilizing technology! Thank you to Christy Thomes-Sanchez and Scott Heffernan with Greystar for joining Jason Fein and Becca Ramati.This podcast is a project of the Texas Apartment
How to Speak Maintenance - Don't Skip the PM Work!
Being proactive instead of reactive when it comes to maintenance work can save you some major headaches, unhappy residents and after-hour calls. On this weeks episode of "How to Speak Maintenance" we'll be talking about the importance of preventative maintenance! Join host, Jason Fein, Camden, Becca Ramati and special guests, Christy Rodriguez with Judwin Property and Jimmy McClung
How to Speak Maintenance - It's Getting Hot in here...AC season!
Summer in Texas is H-O-T! When A/C units across the state are being turned on they need more care than just flipping a switch. It may be cold now but what can we do today or before it is hot again to save time, money and being out in the heat fixing units during the summer? And how thinking about those things and learning to speak maintenance help not just the maintenance team but the whole proper
Introducing "How to Speak Maintenance"
How to Speak Maintenance is a weekly series that focuses on why it's so important for everyone in the multifamily industry should learn to speak maintenance, how it can build relationships between office and maintenance teams and create a better experience for our residents. On Hints from HR, TAAEF's other series to help both job seekers and employers navigate the recruiting and hiring p
