Our History
The Apartment Association of Tarrant County has served the collective interests of the rental housing industry throughout north central Texas for the past 41-years. Our mission is simple; we strive to advocate, educate, communicate and work each day to inspire the highest levels of professional service.
AATC is headquartered in northeast Tarrant County and represents nearly 1,400 rental housing owners, managers and associate members who own, manage and provide industry-related products and or services designed to benefit the residents of more than 170,000 apartment homes. We are an affiliated member of both the Texas and the National Apartment Associations.
The apartment association’s policies and the wide variety of professional education and networking programs, as well as several communications tools and advocacy services are overseen by an elected 24-member board of directors representing a broad cross section of AATCs membership. The association’s daily business activities are managed by a 7-member professional staff.
The apartment association has a long history of excellence. We’ve been honored with numerous recognitions during our rich history from both TAA and NAA. AATC is an active member of the communities we represent and works hard to serve the multihousing industry with programs and services that define the marketplace.
MISSION STATEMENT- The Apartment Association is designed to inspire those we represent with a commitment to award-winning education curricula, exemplary public advocacy initiatives, effective communication mediums and a diverse network of forums for business exchange; each designed to define the marketplace.
Historical Review
Inception – A charter meeting of the Apartment Association of Tarrant County was held at the Green Oaks Inn in Fort Worth on August 30, 1967. Del Barron chaired the meeting and Bob Woody served as its acting Secretary. Minutes recorded that charter members Buster Kirkpatrick, Wes Alston, Bub Fleet, Gene Mitchell, Opal Perry, and Warren McKeever cast votes to form the association. The first official business meeting was held on January 3, 1968. Bub Fleet was elected President, John Maddux, First Vice-president, Buster Kirkpatrick, Second Vice-president; Mrs. Steve Hankins, Secretary; and Bob Woody, Treasurer. The Apartment Association of Tarrant County was officially incorporated by the State of Texas in 1970.
Presidents and Chief Executives – During the Apartment Association’s 35-year history, 32 members have been elected to serve as President, AATCs chief elected position. During that same period of time, only five chief executive officers have been employed as the Association’s Executive Director. This distinguished group includes Mrs. Steve Hankins (1967-1977), Leslie Bears (October 1978 through July 1979), Linda Pellett (May through October 1979), June Bass (November 1979 through December 1991, and the Apartment Association’s current CEO, John Mitchell.
Facilities – Four locations have served as home to the Apartment Association since its inception: 6900 Bailey; 3839 West Freeway; 6900 Baker Boulevard; and the current location at 6350 Baker Boulevard in Richland Hills. The current site was purchased in 1984, with groundbreaking ceremonies on July 1, 1987 and a building dedication conducted on March 31, 1988.
Publications – Highlights and Sidelights was the name of the Apartment Association’s first membership newsletter. It was published for the first time in March 1968 as a one-page commentary, updating members on a variety of association activities. Over the years, Highlights and Sidelights has grown to become what members now know to be a comprehensive 32-page monthly professional management journal. It was named Apartment Management Newsline in August 1978 and renamed for a third time in July 1995 to Dimensions Magazine. In November 1973, a list of vendor members became a part of the Association’s monthly newsletter. This publication is now known as the Metroplex Buyers Guide and Membership Directory. Published jointly with the Apartment Association of Greater Dallas since 1977, the Buyers Guide is the nation’s largest multifamily index publication, including membership listings and advertisements for over 2,800 members of both Metroplex associations.
Education – The first fruits from the Apartment Association’s education program came in 1968 when 35 students graduated from AATCs inaugural Apartment Manager’s School. In 1976 Gloria Cashman was the first AATC recipient of the National Apartment Association’s Certified Apartment Manager designation. Today, AATC provides the gamete of NAA designation programs including CAM, NALP, CAPS, CAMT, CAS and CAPS. In addition, the Association offers many opportunities for advancement through its national award winning Professional Education Program. PEP is a comprehensive program providing the basic principles for a sound foundation in property management. All PEP courses qualify for continuing education credits from NAA.
Education Recognitions – A commitment for recognizing professional excellence is a celebrated tradition for the Apartment Association. Linda Bowman became Tarrant County’s first recipient of the prestigious CAM of the Year Award in 1988. In 1990, Past-president Dan Odom was recognized by NAA as the nation’s Professional Designate of the Year. Larry Duncan was awarded the Texas Apartment Association’s Professional Designate of the Year award in 1994. In that same year, AATC member Michael Curry received TAAs CAMT of the Year Award. Another prestigious state recognition, the Olin Steele Award, named in honor of an outstanding Tarrant County member and presented each year by TAA in recognition of contributions made by an association vendor member, was given for the first time to AATC member Danny Beck. The Tarrant County Apartment Association also recognizes its own members annually for their community, association, and corporate efforts and contributions. AATCs Lone Star Awards program recognizes outstanding apartment properties, property management, and community teams. The Association’s past award recipients include: Professional Designate – John Ross (1995), Terry Jones (1996) and Ron Wenzel (1997); CAM – Penny Murphy (1995 and 1996), Deborah Alexander (1998); and CAMT – Darrell Krebsbach (1995&96) and David Arnold (1997&98).
Legislative Services – Government Affairs activities have always been an important part of the Association’s business plan. AATC serves its members by influencing public concerns at every level of government – local, county, state and national. The Apartment Association has backed candidates for public office, initiated legal steps to stop intrusive public measures and intervened especially at the local level of government to help influence law and regulatory procedures less restrictive and more beneficial to rental housing owners and operators. The Apartment Association works closely with a state and national federation of multifamily housing professionals. The Texas Apartment Association, National Apartment Association and the National Multifamily Housing Association employ full-time professionals to represent Tarrant County’s interests both in Austin and Washington DC. As the Apartment Association has grown, public interests have intensified. The AATC Political Action Committee was formed on May 5, 1980. From meager beginnings, the AATCPAC currently raises and distributes annual contributions in excess of $30,000 for important political campaigns and public causes determined to have an impact on the multifamily housing industry.
Standing Committees and Councils – The Apartment Association has established six standing committees: Education, Government Affairs, Membership, By-laws, Community Services, and Programs. AATC has also formed three special councils to better serve its members. The Products and Services Council (PSC) was formed in 1970 to provide a networking forum for vendor members of our Association. The Independent Rental Owners Council (IROC) was formed in 1994 to provide opportunities for networking and education to rental housing owners with a smaller number of units. And, the Property Managers Council (PMC) was formed in 1998 to offer a forum for local property managers to address both civic and industry related issues. In addition, numerous annually appointed special committees, or task force groups focus their attention on programs ranging from golf tournaments to membership retention.
Stewardship – A deep sense of civic pride and charity have always been characteristic of Association members. Residents of the CASA Apartment Community in Fort Worth, a facility limited to elderly, as well as mentally and physically impaired residents, were recipients from 1979 through 1999 of what became known as the CASA Christmas Party. In many cases, the generosity of Association members was the only Christmas many CASA residents knew each year. The Apartment Association has also chosen in years past to serve the needs of area women who find themselves in unfortunate life-threatening circumstances. The Association’s Easter Food Drive benefited people in need for several years by collecting food, clothing and many other necessities of life for citizens in need of a loving hand. Beginning in 2000, AATC turned its focus in a new direction. Fort Worth’s Union Gospel Mission was selected to partner with the Association’s Community Services Committee to assist people in desperate need of housing, training and the assistance required to bring less fortunate citizens back into a productive live-style. Net proceeds from the Association’s annual UGM Charity Bowling Tournament have contributed thousands of food items and over $115,000 to help meet UGM needs.
State and National Leadership – The Apartment Association has been actively involved at the state and national association levels since its very beginning, with 3 past- presidents having served as the President of the Texas Apartment Association: John Maddux (1972-1973), Arles Mason (1975-1976) and Jim Norman (1979-1980). Roland Freeman, AATCs 1974 President, went on to serve the National Apartment Association as its President in 1984. Dan Odom, AATCs 1991-1992 President and Carolyn Fleet, the Association’s 1990-1991 President faithfully represented the professional education interests of the multifamily housing industry for many years as members of the NAMAB, NAAs education oversight organization. AATCs 1992-1993 President become known as the “father” of what is now known as the Independent Rental Owner Council. John Ross served simultaneously as the local, state and national Chairperson for IROC, earning him acclaim in 1993 a the recipient of NAAs prestigious President’s Award. In addition, AATCs Executive Director, John Mitchell, has served terms as President of the TAA and the NAA Executive Councils, as well as being named Executive of the Year by both TAA and NAA in 1995.
Special Recognitions – The Apartment Association strives to recognize excellence among its most active and faithful members by presenting more than 100 service awards annually including the acclaimed Member of the Year Award. Robert Martin was the Apartment Association’s very first Member of the Year recipient in 1970 and Claude Whitley was recognized as the Association’s first Committee Chairperson of the Year in that same year. In addition, AATC Past-president Jerry Earnhart was recognized in 1993 as the Association’s Silver Anniversary Award recipient. Past-presidents Dan Odom, Steve Thurber, Celia Huff and Terry Jones have been recognized by receiving the Apartment Association top service recognition, the Jerry Earnhart Distinguished Service Award. In 2007 Larry Duncan became the first non past-president to win this prestigious award.
AATC Past Presidents
Mike Clark 39th, 2009-2010
Darnell Harris 38th, 2008-2009
Jim Whitehead 37th, 2007-2008
Cindi Scoggins 36th, 2006-2007
Vivian Dunagan 35th, 2005-2006
Jeff Hoster 34th, 2004-2005
Marlene Walker 33rd, 2003-2004
Jan Carroll 32nd, 2002-2003
Pamela Smallwood 31st, 2002-2002
Robert Tinning 30th, 2000-2001
Terry Jones 29th, 1999-2000
Steve Roach 28th, 1998-1999
Linda Marshall 27th, 1997-1998
Celia Huff 26th, 1996-1997
Doug Jackson 25th, 1995-1996
Steve Thurber 24th, 1994-1995
Dick Eudaly 23rd, 1993-1994
John Ross 22nd, 1992-1993
Dan Odom 21st, 1991-1992
Carolyn Fleet 20th, 1990-1991
Ron Shelton 19th, 1989-1990
Tom Day 18th, 1988-1989
Al Dumois 17th, 1987-1988
Malcolm Fleet, Jr 16th, 1985-1987
Jerry Earnhart 15th, 1984-1985
Marian Morriss 14th, 1983-1984
Michael Cowan 13th, 1981-1982
Gloria Cashman 12th, 1980-1981
Rachel McMahon 11th, 1979-1980
John Staples 10th, 1978-1979
Johnnie Johnson 9th, 1977-1978
Jim Norman 8th, 1975-1977 & 1982-1983
Roland Freeman 7th, 1974
Arles Mason 6th, 1972-1973
Pat Patterson 5th, 1971-1972 & 1973
Del Barron 4th, 1970-1971
Buster Kirkpatrick 3rd, 1969-1970 & 1974-1975
John Maddux 2nd, 1968-1969
Malcolm Fleet, Sr, 1st 1967-1968
Products and Services Council Past-chairs
2009-2010 Brenda Carpenter, Superior Floors
2008-2009 Leah Christian, Apartment Data Services
2007-2008 Celia Huff, Web Intelligent Laundry Systems
2006-2007 Mindy Chapman,
Apartment Finder
2005-2006 Bill Penn, BG Personnel
2004-2005 Brenda Miller, Coinmach
2003-2004 Bill Thoma, Creation Construction
2002-2003 Cindy Tatum, Vendor Guide (Apt. Home Living)
2001-2002 Pat Sutherland, TD Industries (Trident Mechanical)
2000-2001 Val Wilson, Solar Contract Carpet
1999-2000 Larry Duncan, Real Page (Duncan Consulting)
1998-1999 Lisa McQueeney, Freedom Furniture (Apartments.com)
1997-1998
Deborah Valencia, Automatic Laundry (HD Supply)
1996-1997 Dean Jarman, White Knights (Roadside America)
1995-1996 Sharon Purcell, GE Appliances
1994-1995 Pierre Rouly, Solar Contract Carpet (Rasa Floors)
1993-1994 Bill Thoma, Century Supply
1992-1993 David Newman, Newman Painting
1991-1992 Ed Yeats, The Apartment Guide
1990-1991 Urcel Meyers, Web Service Co
1989-1990 Otis Lemley, Lemley Insurance
1988-1989 Nick Nichols, Sears Contract Sales
1987-1988 Joe Wolff, Fit Exercise Equipment
1986-1987 Ken Blakely
1985-1986 Tom Hatton Schmitz, Carpet Care (Subfloor Syst)
1984-1985 Lonna Hoffman, FW Star Telegram
1983-1984 Noel Matthews, American Termite & Pest
1982-1983 Sherri McQueen, Apartment Selector
1980-1982 Jack Bass
1979-1980 Randy Scott, Finger Furniture
1978-1979 Jane Lock, Smith Protective
1977-1978 Buddy Roberts, Roberts Carpet
1975-1977 Claud Whitney, Texas Utilities
1974-1975 Gene Womack
1973-1974 Claudine Reed, United Coin Meter
1972-1973 Ken Flosser
1971-1972 Kelser Franks, United Coin Meter
1970-1971 Claud Whitney, Texas Utilities
AATC Members of the Year
2010 – Cindi Scoggins & Carrie Gebhart
2009 – Angi Pusateri & Michael Walker
2008 – Mike Clark & Bradley Taylor
2007 – Susan Weston & Sarah Skinner
2006 – Megan McCadden & Brenda Miller
2005 – Marlene Walker & Bill Penn
2004 – Jeff Hoster & Mindy Chapman
2003 – Wanda Schertz & Larry Duncan
2002 – David Howard & Pat Sutherland
2001 – Terry Jones & Pat Sutherland
2000 – Susan Weston & Pat Sutherland
1999 – August Schilling & Bob Thompson
1998 – Steve Roach & Larry Duncan
1997 – Steve Thurber & Deborah Valencia
1996 – Terry Jones & Lisa McQueeney
1995 – Penny Murphy & Ed Yeats
1994 – John Ross & Pierre Rouly
1993 – Linda Marshall & Bill Thomas
1992 – Larry Duncan & Dean Jarman
1991 – Ed Yeats
1990 – Al Dumois
1989 – John Schiffman
1987 – Jane Locke
1986 – Carolyn Fleet
1984 – Marie Cole
1983 – Nancy Franke
1982 – John Schiffman & Jack Bass
1981 – John Maddux & Jim Norman
1980 – Gloria Cashman
1979 – Rachel McMahon
1978 – Olin Steele
1976 – Jonnie Johnson
1974 – Buster Kirkpatrick
1973 – Arlen Mason
1972 – John Maddux & Nola Crew
1971 – Pat Patterson
1970 – Robert Martin