Leadership Matters

Developing and Celebrating Talent Across The Johnson Group

JDA Company-Wide Meeting  

This spring, JDA hosted team members from across the country in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The company came together for a few days of collaboration, learning, updates, planning, and team building. Team members found this togetherness refreshing, with attendees leaving energized and enthusiastic to achieve JDA’s vision.  

During a plenary session, Spencer Levy, Senior Economic Advisor at CBRE, shared insights on the economy and drew upon personal experiences and industry knowledge to engage the audience. Company leaders shared JDA’s overall and division goals as well as plans to achieve them. The session ended with OTO Development CFO Charlie King and American Credit Acceptance CEO Jason Bynum providing insights into their companies’ goals and plans.  

One JDA team member summed up the plenary session by sharing that he looks forward to “supporting the company as we execute on the strategy of converting turbulence to opportunity.” 

Divisional and cross-functional breakouts provided valuable opportunities for attendees to share knowledge and best practices, and to learn from each other’s experiences. The breakouts led to rich and meaningful discussions with practical action items.  

On the fun side, the JDA team competed in cornhole; socialized at FR8yard, a live music venue in downtown Spartanburg; and tried to outwit a magician. These activities encouraged collaboration and communication among team members, strengthened relationships, and built camaraderie.  

The team also left with a commitment to improving our craft by reading and applying the learnings from “How Big Things Get Done” by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner. In follow up, JDA’s development teams across all divisions reconvened in Spartanburg in June to discuss how to practice the advice of “think slow, act fast,” among other heuristics outlined in the book. With the goal of mitigating design issues and producing better project outcomes, the team will apply a more iterative approach to the design and construction planning process and openly share knowledge across divisions and functional teams.

Overall, the company meeting was a success, providing a valuable opportunity for employees to come together, learn, grow as a team, and align on our goals and plans.  

OTO Development THRIVE Leadership Conference 

OTO Development hosted its THRIVE Leadership Conference this spring at Lumina on Wrightsville Beach, a Holiday Inn Resort. The three-day gathering on the North Carolina coast brought the company’s general managers, directors of sales, regional leaders, and corporate team members together under one roof to share energy, ideas, and plenty of inspiration.  

Themed “Together We Thrive,” the conference comprised a vendor tradeshow, a dynamic keynote speaker, multiple plenary and breakout sessions, community service and social activities, and an awards gala. 

Day 1 was a celebration of Partnership. Employees partnered in a beach sweep with Plastic Ocean Project, a conservation group based in Wilmington, North Carolina. A tradeshow featured 66 of OTO’s vendor-partners showcasing the people, products, and services that support the company’s every effort. Team members also had the good fortune to mix, mingle, and make merry during a festive Casino Night. 

Day 2 emphasized the varied processes and procedures that collectively deliver an exceptional guest experience. The morning session highlighted a Q&A with CEOs Todd Turner and Geordy Johnson, who sat down for a wide-ranging chat about all things OTO, especially the company’s legacy of leadership, integrity, and infinite energy.  

Keynote speaker Christine Trippi, aka “The Wise Pineapple,” provided practical tips on how to transform the guest experience via passion and positivity. Attendees learned that no matter the question, Yes Is the Answer (which happens to be the title of Trippi’s book about delivering legendary service). That evening, team members headed out to the beach for a Coastal Cookout.  

Day 3 focused on OTO’s commitment to continuous improvement and enthusiasm for executing at the highest level. Interactive sessions highlighted the strategies that help people and properties thrive. The Guiding Principles are action words, so the final plenary session included recognition of the team members who best exemplify each one.  

The culmination of the THRIVE Leadership Conference was the “Black & Lights” gala, a celebration of OTO’s highest achievers of 2021 and 2022. Awards were presented to the top directors of sales, general managers, real estate directors, development teams, and home office contributors; property award categories included overall hotel, opening hotel, service champion, community care, and most improved.   

ACA Leadership Institute 

ACA’s Leadership Institute recently celebrated the graduation of its latest participants.  

Designed to develop the leadership skills of ACA associates and support their professional development goals, the Leadership Institute consists of three levels, each geared toward people at various points in their careers. The graduation ceremonies marked a significant milestone for those who had worked hard all year to complete the rigorous programs.  

The ceremonies were held at the AC Hotel Spartanburg featuring a lunch, networking opportunities, and remarks from graduates chosen by their peers and ACA leaders. In their speeches, graduates shared their experiences in the program and the impact it has had on their professional and personal lives.  

“I was grateful to be selected as one of the participants in the inaugural Leadership Institute 201 class. I have built strong Partnership with both other leaders in the class and leaders across ACA. I have grown professionally by becoming a better communicator and gained more self-confidence,” said IT Manager Mark Parrish. 

ACA’s Leadership Institute curriculum is built around ACA’s Competencies, which focus on People, Business, and Communication. The program is designed to be interactive and practical, with participants working on real-world projects and receiving feedback from multiple leaders at various levels. Projects completed through Leadership Institute often have significant impacts on the business, by developing new tools and improving key processes.  

The program has been highly successful in developing the leadership skills of ACA associates, and many graduates have gone on to take on more significant roles within the company with the program resulting in a 31% promotion rate. The program’s focus on practical skills has ensured that graduates are well-prepared for the challenges they will face in leadership roles. 

Since ACA’s Leadership Institute launched in January 2020, 136 associates have graduated from the program.  Another 78 participants joined the most recent cohorts in March 2023 and will graduate in February 2024.  

Pictured below: At ACA’s Leadership Institute graduation, from left: (front row) Mahesh Kosgi, Manager of IT Quality Assurance; Christy Jacqmein, Manager of Knowledge Management; and Karen Adams, Director of Credit Reporting; (back row) Mark Parrish, Manager of Information Technology; Vivek Gurgude, Manager of Process Improvement; Brittany Petty, Manager of Talent Acquisition; Amber Lineberry, Senior Manager of Compliance; Chuck McHenry, Senior Manager of Finance; and Salvador Alvarez, Senior Manager of Servicing.