Leadership

Michael Mendillo is an equity partner with FirstService Residential, the largest residential management company in North America. 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 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.

As President, Trent Harrison is responsible for providing leadership and operational oversight to our associates and communities. Harrison joined FirstService Residential in 2009 and has over 25 years of experience in all facets of residential and commercial real estate management. While at FirstService Residential, Harrison has achieved average client retention of more than 97% with steady growth in new clients each year.

Prior to joining FirstService Residential, Harrison served as President for Trenton Property Services, Inc. of Bel Air, Maryland. This regional management company provided third-party management services to homeowners associations, condominium associations, shopping centers, office buildings and industrial properties. He directly oversaw all company operations serving three states, one million square feet of commercial space, 15,000 residential units and over 100 properties. He more than doubled the portfolio of business through organic growth and developer relationships.

Harrison is a graduate of Millersville University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree with honors in Business Administration with a Concentration in Management.  He is an active member in the Community Associations Institute (CAI) and the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM). He holds the Accredited Management Specialist (AMS®), Certified Manager of Community Association (CMCA®) and Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM®) designations through CAI. Harrison is a Certified Property Manager (CPM®) Candidate through IREM.

 

As Executive Vice President, Donald Perper’s responsibilities include mentoring and oversight of a team of regional directors, vice presidents and property managers. He also plays a key role in working with developers during the planning, building and opening of newly constructed properties.

Donald is an active member of the Community Associations Institute (CAI®) and has served on several committees, including Chairperson of the Publications Committee for three years. He holds the designations of CMCA® (Certified Manager of Community Associations) and PCAM® (Professional Community Association Manager). In 2018, Donald was appointed to serve as a Commissioner with the Montgomery County, Maryland Commission on Common Ownership (MCCOC).

Donald attended the George Washington University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology, Bachelor of Arts in Applied Music and Master’s Degree in Applied Music.

Airielle provides leadership and operational oversight as the high-rise division leader for client communities in the DC Metro area. She is also a member of the executive leadership team for FirstService Residential in the DC area.  Airielle brings to the company 14 years of progressive property management experience for various community types including condominiums, cooperatives, HOAs and large-scale communities.  She started her career in the hospitality business. Airielle’s experience in association management allows her to offer a high degree of physical and governance structure knowledge, customer service expertise, and leadership skills.

Airielle Hansford has been an active volunteer with the Washington Metropolitan Chapter of Community Associations Institute (WMCCAI) since 2007, earning the Chapter’s Rising Star Award in 2011. She was elected to the Chapter Board of Directors in 2015 and currently serves as the President Elect. Hansford also served as the Member Services Council Chair from 2014 through 2015, chaired the Annual Awards Dinner Committee from 2011 through 2013, sat on the Social Media Task Force, has written articles for the chapter’s publication, Quorum, and proctored the M100 test.

Hansford has earned the CMCA® and AMS® designations as well as the PCAM®, the industry’s highest designation, through Community Associations Institute (CAI.)

Scott Lang is Senior Vice President of Finance for the East Region at FirstService Residential where he is responsible for driving revenue enhancement and cost control initiatives across the region. Additionally, he is responsible for providing leadership and oversight to our Corporate Accounting, Client Accounting, HR and Legal groups.
 
Prior to joining FirstService Residential, Lang was a Managing Director at the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) where he advised large financial institutions on derivative and market matters. Prior to RBS, Lang had a successful career at Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and Pricewaterhouse Coopers. In total, Lang brings over 25 years of financial, business management, and customer service expertise to FirstService Residential.
 
Lang has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting/Finance/Economics from the State University of New York at Oswego, an MBA in Finance/Management of Organizations from Columbia University in New York City and is a Certified Public Accountant.
 
Lang is actively involved in his local community, serving as Treasurer of the Cub Scouts and of the town library.

Montanaro is often asked to visit client sites to work with and advise our residential boards during the selection process of their sited managers. She also provides our clients with extensive associate evaluations ensuring their communities are properly staffed and managed accordingly.
 
She has over 18 years of experience in staffing services. Prior to joining FirstService in 2008 she was the President and Founder of an Executive Search Firm specializing in service related industries where she placed and coached Executive level management nationally. She worked closely with “C” level management to identify their associate needs and improve their selection processes.
 
Montanaro is an active member of Community Associations Institute (CAI) New Jersey including serving on the Beach Party Committee. She attended Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey where she majored in Communications with a concentration in Radio and Television.

Jesse DiGiovanni, vice president of human resources, is responsible for the oversight and direction of all human resources activities, including planning and development of initiatives to align with company policies, culture and best practices. She will also serve as a strategic business partner, working closely with market and operational leaders to help meet and exceed organizational goals.

DiGiovanni has vast experience working with leadership teams to advise on talent management, associate engagement, HR metrics analysis, workforce and succession planning, performance management and learning and development functions. Most recently she served as the HR Leader – East Coast for The RealReal. Jesse has an MBA in human resource management from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a Bachelor of Science in human resources management and industrial psychology from Ramapo College of New Jersey.

Ilene Jablonski, vice president of marketing and communications, is responsible for the marketing strategy and execution, internal and external communications and development of new business development initiatives for the East Region of FirstService Residential.

With many years of marketing leadership experience, llene has developed and implemented marketing, branding and communications programs for the real estate industry. Prior to joining FirstService Residential in 2018, Ilene spent over 17 years with Mack-Cali Realty Corporation and Roseland Residential Trust. With over 20 years of related experience, Ilene has a proven track record of building successful marketing teams, developing award-winning campaigns and increasing brand recognition.

Ilene remains active on the Hudson County landscape, serving on the board of the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce and the Jersey City Economic Development Association and member of the New Jersey City University School of Business Advisory Council. In addition, she is a member of Community Associations Institute of New Jersey (CAI-NJ) and IREM NJ.

Ilene graduated, with honors, from Kean University with a Bachelor’s degree in Management Science and Marketing.

Alan Trachtenberg has centralized legal oversight responsibility including contract initiation, review and negotiation; oversees corporate compliance; provides education, advice and assistance to associates on their responsibilities and legal related industry topics; litigation oversight and management; risk management including mitigating and reporting and liaison for national risk management and insurance programs; consults on and assists with employment law and related matters.

Trachtenberg has over 20 years experience in the professional community association management having previously provided direct community management services, as well as providing oversight and guidance to community managers and board members. He also has served as Director of Human Resources for FirstService Residential, coordinating and overseeing personnel management and administration.

Trachtenberg graduated from Rutgers College with a B.A. in Economics and received his J.D. from New England School of Law. He is a member of the New Jersey and Massachusetts Bars and is an active member of Community Associations Institute.

Judy Julison recently joined the FirstService Residential team as the Senior Vice President of Lifestyle Programming.  In this capacity, she facilitates lifestyle training for new Associates and oversees the development and execution of lifestyle programs and support operations at our active adult and multi-generational lifestyle communities across the East Region.
 
Prior to joining the FirstService Residential team, she worked as the National Director of Lifestyle Operations for PulteGroup, working exclusively with the company’s Del Webb brand.  Over her 14 year tenure with this homebuilder, Julison was responsible for supporting more than 50 Del Webb community teams in 21 markets across the country with planning, development and delivery of active adult lifestyle amenities, programs and Association management and governance operations.  Ensuring quality, continuity and alignment with the ever changing consumer needs and interests were a primary emphasis.
 
Earlier in her career, she worked as the Vice President/Executive Director of the Homeowner's Association at Del Webb’s Sun City Huntley, a 5,750 home large-scale active-adult lifestyle community in the state of Illinois.  Concurrently, she also supported smaller-scale Del Webb residential properties in the area with lifestyle programming and Association operations.  Prior to employment at Sun City, she worked as the Superintendent of Recreation and in other management capacities in the leisure service/parks & recreation industry for over 15 years. 
 
Julison completed undergraduate studies in Education at Northern Illinois University and holds a Master of Science in Management & Leadership from National Louis University.  She is also certified as a National Parks & Recreation Industry professional and holds the CMCA and AMS professional designations through the Community Association Institute.

Raymond Tate serves as a key member of the region’s executive team that sets our strategic direction, spearheading business development initiatives consistent with this strategy. In addition, he is responsible for building and managing the region’s business development team always leading by example in maintaining FirstService Residential’s mission and core values.
 
Raymond Tate came to FirstService Residential with over 15 years of progressive business development experience. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President of Business Development for Planned Companies. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Hampton University.

Jim Stanton brings value to our associates and customers by conducting all on-site inspections, as well as organizing and teaching on-site staff training programs and boiler/engineering classes. Many of those staff members went on to receive their Stationary Engineer’s license. 

Jim has over 30 years of experience in the maintenance and engineering field and holds a NIULPE-1 license as well as CCI, CCC and CCPM designations.