My RPM Careers Story - Justine Lopez

My journey into property management wasn’t planned or traditional. After experiencing housing insecurity earlier in my life, my focus was simply on finding stability, which eventually led me into a steady career in sales. At the time, I didn’t even know property management existed—I had heard of real estate, but not the people behind the scenes. When I came across an opportunity to show apartments and help people move into their homes, something clicked. For the first time, I saw a career where I could be creative, work closely with people, and genuinely make a difference during an important moment in their lives.

That discovery changed everything for me. I later had the opportunity to serve on the board of the nonprofit F.I.S.H., supporting individuals and families facing eviction, medical needs, car repairs, and education—work that deeply connects to my personal journey. In 2025, I was honored to be selected for the Kari Anderson Emerging Leaders Program, which became a pivotal experience in my career. Being mentored by one of the industry’s best, Yolanda Armijo, helped solidify not only my commitment to property management, but also my desire to support and guide others as they find their place in the industry.

Today, I’m grateful to work as a Property Manager with Pillar Properties, where I’ve grown into roles with greater responsibility, including operations, maintenance coordination, team collaboration, and resident experience. I also create the agenda for leasing meetings across our entire portfolio, which allows me to empower others to explore their own paths within property management. I proudly serve on the WMFHA Gives Committee and the Events Committee for IREM, and I truly believe property management is a fun, meaningful, and rewarding career. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunities it has given me and the ability to help others along their journey.