Challenging Times Create Opportunities While Difficult Times Define You

Michael Mendillo is an equity partner with FirstService Residential, North America’s residential property management leader. As president and principal, Michael’s responsibilities include client retention, leadership development, culture building, organizational growth and strategic initiatives. Michael possesses first-hand knowledge of industry and corporate trends and challenges, having directly pitched and closed some of the largest communities in the region. Michael is responsible for identifying, due diligence and negotiation of all regional acquisitions – through closing and integration. He has been involved in 24 such strategic acquisitions including The Niles Company, Community Management Group and the Abbott Group, attributing to the key growth of the organization.

In 1997, Michael’s organization, The Wentworth Group partnered with FirstService Residential, becoming FirstService Residential’s East Region serving community associations across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Washington D.C., Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Tennessee. Prior to the Wentworth Group and FirstService Residential, Michael founded and served as CEO of Mandell Investment Inc., a real estate investment management firm, working with national and regional residential real estate developers.

Michael is responsible for creating two region-specific, associate-centric events aimed at education, development and motivation – L.E.A.D.S. in its 12^th year and the company’s Annual Meeting in its 22^nd year. L.E.A.D.S. attracts industry partners, clients and sponsors, giving them a unique opportunity to reach (or introduce their brand to) all of the region’s associates, and features compelling motivational speakers, year-after-year. Both have evolved into two-day events that feature educational programming, a review of previous year accomplishments and goals and objectives for the current year, as well as allowing for associate interaction, networking and engagement.

Through a charismatic personality, a genuine connection with and passion for people, Michael has become a prolific public speaker on such topics as community association management, entrepreneurialism, leadership, vision, corporate culture and the relationship between service and business. He has appeared as a keynote speaker and panel member on such topics as customer service, leadership, human resources management, achieving and sustaining business success and growing your company in today’s climate. Michael’s speaking engagements have included Columbia University, New York University Stern School of Business, William Paterson University, The International Builders Show, Community Associations Institute (CAI) and the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM).

Michael graduated from William Paterson University with a Bachelor of Science in Business and currently sits on the University’s Advisory Board for the College of Business. Michael has taught on community association management at Monmouth University, highlighting industry principles community association management as a career path. Additionally, he sits on the board of Rutgers Customer Experience Program through Rutgers University Center for Innovation Education.